Undercover food writers from The New York Times spent the past year traveling across the United States trying to find the top desserts in the country, and dishes from two restaurants in Maine were named among the best in the nation.The blueberry bread pudding at McLoons Lobster Shack in South Thomaston and the dulce de leche flan at Franciska Wine Bar in Portland both made The New York Times list of the 14 Best Restaurant Desserts in America.Food writer Peter Wells stumbled upon McLoons and was impressed by the blueberry bread pudding. Wells said he liked the small wild Maine blueberries and white chocolate chips folded between cubes of leftover lobster roll bread. “For a dessert served at a seasonal establishment with no indoor toilets or running water, it’s impressively accomplished,” Wells wrote.”He’s probably had some pretty fantastic desserts, so for this to leave an impression on him was pretty cool,” said Bree Birns, owner of McLoons Lobster Shack.Birns said she could not believe it when she heard the Times had named her blueberry bread pudding one of the 14 best desserts in the country.”It was super exciting. To be a lobster shack and have our dessert featured is pretty cool, right?” Birns said. “A little love in December for the summer lobster shack is always nice.”New York Times writer Melissa Clark, meanwhile, praised the Argentine-style dulce de leche flan she tasted at Franciska back in August.”I love flan. I love custard. I love puddings. I love butterscotch pudding. Just imagine the deepest, richest, caramelized butterscotch pudding in the world and that is what it’s like,” Clark said.Clark also said she loves coming to Maine and visits the state often.”The food scene is incredible,” she said. “You can go to a beautiful place and the food can be just mediocre. But you go to Maine, and it’s a beautiful place and the food is fantastic.”Franciska Wine Bar, located at 111 Middle Street in Portland’s Old Port, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. during the winter.McLoons Lobster Shack is closed for the season. The establishment is located along Island Road in South Thomaston.

PORTLAND, Maine —

Undercover food writers from The New York Times spent the past year traveling across the United States trying to find the top desserts in the country, and dishes from two restaurants in Maine were named among the best in the nation.

The blueberry bread pudding at McLoons Lobster Shack in South Thomaston and the dulce de leche flan at Franciska Wine Bar in Portland both made The New York Times list of the 14 Best Restaurant Desserts in America.

Food writer Peter Wells stumbled upon McLoons and was impressed by the blueberry bread pudding. Wells said he liked the small wild Maine blueberries and white chocolate chips folded between cubes of leftover lobster roll bread.

“For a dessert served at a seasonal establishment with no indoor toilets or running water, it’s impressively accomplished,” Wells wrote.

“He’s probably had some pretty fantastic desserts, so for this to leave an impression on him was pretty cool,” said Bree Birns, owner of McLoons Lobster Shack.

Birns said she could not believe it when she heard the Times had named her blueberry bread pudding one of the 14 best desserts in the country.

“It was super exciting. To be a lobster shack and have our dessert featured is pretty cool, right?” Birns said. “A little love in December for the summer lobster shack is always nice.”

New York Times writer Melissa Clark, meanwhile, praised the Argentine-style dulce de leche flan she tasted at Franciska back in August.

“I love flan. I love custard. I love puddings. I love butterscotch pudding. Just imagine the deepest, richest, caramelized butterscotch pudding in the world and that is what it’s like,” Clark said.

Clark also said she loves coming to Maine and visits the state often.

“The food scene is incredible,” she said. “You can go to a beautiful place and the food can be just mediocre. But you go to Maine, and it’s a beautiful place and the food is fantastic.”

Franciska Wine Bar, located at 111 Middle Street in Portland’s Old Port, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. during the winter.

McLoons Lobster Shack is closed for the season. The establishment is located along Island Road in South Thomaston.