Mussels like at Paddy’s Bar Harbor ME

Jul 28, 2021

I recommend Bar Harbor, would love to go back. We had some fabulous meals on this trip. Paddy’s is a restaurant that is connected to the hotel where we stayed. We went back specifically for this dish several times, even brought some to the room.

Most of the ingredients are listed on the menu, but if you tip well, you can get some inside info from the wait staff. Still, it took me a few tries to get it right because something kept making the dish bitter. It was the way I handled the ale.

1 medium leek
½ tablespoon butter
1 shallot
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup Irish ale
1 teaspoon grainy mustard
Crumbled goat cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon sugar
2 LBS of the best mussels you can find
1 baguette

Melt the butter in a wok

Add the shallots and leeks over low medium heat

Season with a little salt and pepper

Sauté until soft and starting to caramelize

Add the cream – reduce to half

Add the mustard

15 minutes before you want to serve, add the mussels and cover

Add the ale at the end. Don’t cook the ale for more than 30 seconds or the whole thing becomes bitter.

Crumble goat cheese on top and serve with toasted baguette slices

Side note: Boone’s Fish and Oyster House in Portland Maine has a similar dish. Instead of ale, they use Down East apple cider and omit the goat cheese. Equally delicious.