Dreamers, artists, and doers have always been drawn to the enchanting Maine coast. E.B. White found inspiration for “Charlotte’s Web” on a saltwater farm in Brooklin, while Andrew Wyeth created his famous masterpiece, “Christina’s World,” in Cushing. Among the new generation of creatives is Jay and Alison Carroll, the creative minds behind Wonder Valley, a brand known for its exquisite olive oils, skin-care products, and home goods. They have made their home on Bailey Island, a picturesque rocky piece of land in Casco Bay, just an hour’s drive from Portland.
In 2020, the Carrolls purchased a property at a foreclosure auction, affectionately known as B.I.B.S., which stands for “Bailey Island Beach Shack.” As owners of El Rey Court, a boutique hotel in Santa Fe, N.M., and the newer Waymore’s Guest House and Casual Club in Nashville, they are no strangers to renovations. They wasted no time in transforming the shingled cove-side cottage into a charming retreat. However, before completing the interior, they decided to prioritize two quintessential coastal Maine experiences: buying a boat and building a wood-burning oven in the backyard with the help of a neighbor.
Unlike the endless summers of Joshua Tree, summers in Maine are fleeting. Mainers make the most of the long, hot days in July and August, cherishing every moment. Alison explains, “There’s a sense of needing to make the most of it. So we take every opportunity to get together with friends.” On a recent Saturday, their gathering held another significance: a superstition. Their newly acquired boat, named Looking at Lucky, needed a proper renaming ceremony to avoid bad luck. So, on a sunny Saturday afternoon at high tide, Jay performed the necessary rituals to please Poseidon, asking for “fair winds and following seas.” The boat was christened Moon Snail, inspired by a recent sighting of the predatory marine mollusk with a distinctive whorled shell on a camping trip.
After the rechristening, the group set sail for a celebratory cruise around the bay, with a brief attempt at fishing for mackerel. They then returned to dry land for an authentic Maine-style feast cooked in the backyard wood oven, savoring the flavors as the sky transitioned from blue to blush.
The event brought together a diverse group of attendees, including Jay and Alison Carroll, accompanied by their 9-month-old daughter, Bo. They were joined by friends such as Sharon and Paul Mrozinski, the owners of Marston House, a shop specializing in French antiques on Vinalhaven Island. Sarah Xiao, a shellfish procurement specialist, represented the Duxbury-based company Island Creek Oysters. Kate Jones, the owner of the jewelry line Ursa Major, and her husband, Chris, also attended. Zinzi Edmundson, a writer and creative director, brought her two children, James and Russell. Other guests included Carter Smith, a renowned horror filmmaker and fashion photographer, Adam McPherson, an artist and woodworker, and Marjory Sweet, a cookbook author and baker.
The guests were seated at two long tables adorned with an elegant yet understated décor. The tables were beautifully set under a backyard arbor, featuring a blend of printed tablecloths, leather place mats, and napkins from a collaboration with Madre Linen, an Oregon-based textile company. Since Alison realized she didn’t have enough tableware, Zinzi Edmundson graciously brought some from her home. Wonder Valley olive oil bottles doubled as unique candlesticks on one table, while a pair of French antique pewter candlesticks, a thoughtful housewarming gift from the Mrozinskis, adorned the other. Rustic ceramic pitchers brimmed with vibrant summer floral arrangements, including sunflowers. Bo, the littlest guest, held tight to a silver Elsa Peretti bubble wand, using it as a teething toy, a gift from Carter Smith.
Before the exquisite dinner, guests enjoyed an array of snacks on the front porch, overlooking the serene waters. Icy trays of New England oysters on the half shell pleased their palates, while Jay presented tins of delectable smoked mussels sourced from Portugal. Alison crushed raspberries into a bowl of Wonder Valley olive oil, serving the mixture with grilled sourdough bread. As an appetizer, she quickly fired up the wood oven to make mouthwatering pies. Alison said, “Entertaining is in our DNA, and now that we have the pizza oven, we all gather around that.” The delightful feast continued with fresh scallops, shucked by Sarah Xiao and quickly grilled in their shells.
Once seated, the guests indulged in a sumptuous feast that showcased the flavors of Maine. Wood-oven-roasted lobsters, caught just hours before, were topped with butter and gremolata. A green salad featuring nectarines, cucumbers, and nasturtium flowers from their raised garden beds added a refreshing touch. Wood-oven-roasted tomato and Romano bean salad and roasted potatoes completed the meal. For dessert, Marjory Sweet, known for her exceptional breads and pastries, delighted everyone with sugar-dusted rhubarb galettes. The galettes were perfectly complemented by homemade chamomile-and-olive ice cream made with Wonder Valley oil.
While enjoying the Maine coastal ambiance, guests had a variety of delightful drinks to choose from. An oversized copper vessel held bottles of rosé and sparkling water on the front porch. Alison also treated the guests to pint-sized martinis garnished with Castelvetrano olives. The rechristening ceremony was celebrated with glasses of Domaine Carneros brut rosé, although a less valuable bottle was chosen to be smashed against the hull of the boat. During dinner, Kate Jones expertly selected bottles of light-bodied Massimo Ronca Bardolino and Billecart-Salmon Champagne, while some guests opted for ginger kombucha.
Portable speakers delivered the perfect musical backdrop, transitioning from Hawaiian slack-key guitar during snacking hour to a playlist featuring Talking Heads’ “The Big Country” and songs by the legendary Cuban singer Celia Cruz for dinner.
The conversations flowed naturally, even in the midst of summertime bliss in Maine, the topic inevitably shifted to winter. Marjory Sweet passionately advocated for winter swimming, claiming it fixes everything, while Zinzi Edmundson revealed her past experience as an editor for a surfing magazine. This sparked a discussion about full-time Mainers who face the harsh winter and part-time Mainers who only embrace the summer. Guests also exchanged recommendations for the best local spots for antiquing, including Samuel Snider Antiques in Wiscasset and Modern Underground in Waterville.
Jay and Alison share a deep appreciation for al fresco dining, and their beloved Fire Sense yakitori grill is a cherished centerpiece in both their Joshua Tree and Bailey Island homes. Jay explained, “You get the binchotan charcoal going early in the evening and then just spend the whole night gathered around it. Every meal becomes a sprawling three-hour affair.”
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