Memorial Day marks the official start of summer and what better way to celebrate than with an outdoor feast. Although many associate the three day weekend with barbeque fare and grilling, we chose to switch things up with a coastal-inspired menu of delectable seafood and fresh seasonal produce. Today on the blog we’ve joined forces with Blue Lobster Wine Company, a local urban winery, to bring you tips on how to host your own coastal-inspired Memorial Day dinner party. 

Blue Lobster is committed to offering exceptional wine in the convenience of a can. Located in the part of town that is dominated primarily by beer, they are not only an outlier in that they are competing with the many local breweries, but also they constantly fight the stigma of canned wine. There is a misconception that canned wine is not the same quality of wine in a bottle. Not only is this not true as the flavor profile is not affected by the aluminum, but also cans have the added benefit of having a smaller environmental impact, less risk of spoilage, and are more economical. Also since they are portable they are perfect for boating, camping, or poolside barbeques.

This Memorial Day whether you visit the beach or stay in town, why not (or rather “wine not”) opt for an unconventional outdoor meal complete with canned wine? Not only is Blue Lobster fun to enjoy, but it is also wonderful to cook with. To test this we enlisted the help of our dear friend Ashlee, known on Instagram as The Beer Mama, who is both a seasoned home chef and craft beer advocate to help develop the summery menu. As well as we asked our friend Kat to be an unbiased taste tester. Together, we met with the owner, Chris Gamble, of Blue Lobster at the newly opened tasting room to host a wine pairing and have ourselves an urban picnic. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, company, or wine! We want to help you all create a similar experience for your friends and family! Here’s how…

The Decor 

For our urban picnic, we wanted the focus to be on the wines and food, so we opted to keep the tablescape minimal. We enlisted the help of our friend Anika of Bad Rabbit Flowers to create a floral arrangement that pulled directly from the color theme of the cans of wine. We served the food on white plates so as to not compete with the rich bold colors of both the floral accents and tantalizing dishes. 

Since we were eating outdoors we kept it simple by serving the meal family style in bright blue serving bowls that just so happened to match the exterior of the building. It’s important to note that it’s not necessary to use fancy dinnerware, but rather feel free to use paper plates or melamine dinnerware to make transporting food easy and make clean up a breeze.

The Location

We hosted our coastal-inspired dinner party at a picnic table at the Blue Lobster tasting room. What an incredible experience it was to immerse ourselves in the setting where they can the wine itself. It was also so nice to have Chris present at the tasting room that evening to be able to answer our questions and he even joined our dinner.

Whether you are hosting your outdoor gathering at the beach, lake, or in your backyard, the key is to set up in a location that has access to shade and has plenty of seating options. Other than that, just make sure you bring trash bags for clean up. 

The Wines

For now, the wine is being sourced from California and is barrel-aged, blended, and canned here in Portland. In the future, they hope to eventually transition to bringing in whole fruit to make the wine at the Blue Lobster winery. They currently make four wines: a Rose, a Chardonnay, an old vine Zinfandel, and the Bayside Blend. 

For our dinner and wine pairing, we chose to keep the pairing focused by working exclusively with the rose and chardonnay. 

Wine Pairing Notes:

• Start from the lightest wine and work your way to the darkest.
• Make sure the wine is sweeter than the food.
• Consider weight—if the food is light, the wine should be too.

The Menu

Starter

Oysters on the Half Shell with Rose Mignonette

Tasting notes: The crisp and delicate rose blends perfectly with earthy Ramps and briny oysters for serious flavor.

Entree & Sides

Classic Mussels with White Wine

Tasting notes: The bright, unoaked Chardonnay is a perfect complement to rich and sweet Maine mussels. Plus the kelp we tossed into the chardonnay to steam the mussels added a wonderful, unexpected umami taste for balance.

Local Greens with Shaved Asparagus and Chardonnay Vinaigrette 

Tasting notes: Chardonnay marries with Dijon mustard for a slightly sweet and zingy dressing to complement seasonal asparagus and local greens.

Roasted Salmon with Fiddleheads and Lemony Parmesan Risotto

Tasting notes: Chardonnay’s delicate edge makes it a fine companion to lighter fare like seafood. It pairs very well with delicious salmon, mild fiddleheads, and a Parmesan risotto lifted up by sunny lemon.  Bonus: we actually cooked the risotto with chardonnay as the base. 

Open on Friday 4-7PM and Saturday & Sunday from 12-7PM, Blue Lobster Wine Company is a spot we highly recommend to visit this summer whether you are visiting for the weekend or are a native looking for a new special spot. No matter what your Memorial Day plans include or where your summer plans take you, we hope you are less afraid to experiment with pairings and play around to see what your palette prefers. Don’t be afraid to try red wine with fish or white wine with meats. Summer is meant to be enjoyed whether that includes canned wined with friends at a picnic or simply cooking a dish you’ve never tried before.

Photography by Elle Darcy

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Thank you Blue Lobster for collaborating on this post!