china

Have you ever wondered how much the world leaders of the most powerful countries in the world get paid? Their salaries are right here.

I spend a fair amount of time at the China Dine-ah and it seems whenever I'm there at the same time Lisa Wardwell, the owner, is, she doesn't have time to talk because she's bussing tables, serving orders, greeting customers or cleaning tables. She's has the same philosophy as former owner, Norm Elvin, has. When something needs to be done, if you're there and the crew is busy, you do it.

I love looking at old snowmobiles. I've traveled to Millinocket to visit the museum before. That's a long ride to see old sleds. Thankfully, it's just a hop, skip and a jump to China to see them tomorrow (Sunday). For me, it's barely a hop!

I was having a pretty good day. Talked with my Marie-Anne for awhile this morning before she left for Portland with our daughter, Michelle. Got a few groceries. Covered the generator. Went to the transfer station. That last one...that's when my day turned on a dime!

When Lisa Wardwell purchased the China Dine-ah from Norm Elvin earlier this year, she knew she was going to add a lounge. After all, the lounge at her Augusta eatery, Lisa's Restaurant, is very popular and there had never been anything like it in the China Lakes Region. The closest thing ever was Nick and Nora's in Vassalboro, which has been gone for years.

The photo above is my friend Angie. She's one of the reasons I enjoy going to China Hannaford or, as we call it locally, Chinaford. She agreed to pose while holding my favorite entrée from the deli, the rotisserie turkey breast. I'm not sure if they spin it on a skewer like they do those poor little chickens, but I'm sure it must be something similar.

Holy cow! $1000 worth of home heating fuel...whether it's oil, propane or pellets. You can use your $1000 for heating or plumbing service, too. Or toward a new stove or furnace, from M.A. Haskell Fuel in South China!

As of Friday morning at around 11 o'clock, Lisa Wardwell, owner of Lisa's Restaurant and Catering on Bangor Street in Augusta, added another feather to her cap: The China Dine-ah, to be exact. Norm Elvin, owner of G&E Roofing of Augusta and Norm's Chicken and Seafood in South China, wished Lisa the best of luck as they all gathered at "The Dine-ah" on Friday night!

My friend Norm Elvin barely choked back tears as he spoke to the large group that had gathered for trivia at the restaurant he started nearly seven years ago. That really hit me because, it seems like just a year or two ago, I was walking in to the Dine-ah for the first time. That first weekend was happy chaos as the crew inside (a bunch of whom are still there) were getting their sea legs. Read M

Sorry I look so drab....nobody was in makeup this morning and the cameraman didn't show up, but I shot this quick vid anyway to tell you what's up for grabs with Meal or No Meal this morning.

One of my best friends is Norm Elvin and, in the recent past, he's struggled with his love of the restaurant that he founded and his diminishing time to do the things he knew he should be doing. In the end, love of his family and desire for some much needed rest won out...

22 year old Jordan Maroon died at the scene of a car crash early this morning (Feb.21) in China, ME.

It was so good to see Bridget Conlogue serving up meals at the China Dine-ah. To understand why, you need to know that, in August, she was in a horrible car crash in Augusta that nearly took her young life, less than 2 months after graduating from Erskine Academy...

According to a report, her name is Lou Ann Gedmint of South China and she allegedly walked out of the Elm Plaza Hannaford in Waterville the other night with $200 worth of groceries and refused to submit to police requests to stop as she went to her car. She drove off and was, eventually, tracked to her residence...

Kevin Boucher is a meat cutter at Tobey's Grocery in South China. Right now, he wishes he could be back behind the counter greeting smiling customers and giving advice on cuts of meat, but he can't. You see, Kevin is very sick...

The China Dine-ah Too's inaugural season is in the books. Norm Elvin spent most of his summer behind a fryolator, cooking up chicken, fries and seafood for hungry tourists. That's how he rolls. When he starts a business, he's in it for the long haul and, to him, there's no such thing as a menial job!