One of the Food Network’s biggest stars chose Portsmouth’s Blue Mermaid to highlight during an upcoming edition of “Rachel Ray’s Tasty Travels.” Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Cafe and the Muddy River Smokehouse are also expected to be featured on the show, which will air sometime in August and focus on restaurants along Route 1 in New England.

Owner Karen Logan says she doesn’t know how or why Ray chose to make her only personal restaurant appearance—and stay for lunch—at The Blue Mermaid, but she says it was “awesome.” A busy mother of two, Logan is a fan of Ray’s and keeps the Food Network on the TV in the restaurant’s bar during the day.

“I told her she was a light at the end of the tunnel for us,” Logan says.
She and co-owner Scott Logan have been beleaguered this year by construction of the new Hilton hotel next door, which put site work, construction vehicles and fencing between their restaurant and passers by on busy Hanover Street. The Logans decided not to lay off any employees, but Scott left the business to take another job elsewhere.

“I just opened up and told her the truth, that Scott had to go get another job, that we lost so much money through the construction phase,” Logan says. Ray called her magazine producer on the spot and said she wanted to mention The Blue Mermaid in next issue of the magazine, “so we could get more publicity sooner to help us out. It was very cool,” Logan says. 

While at the restaurant, Ray sampled the plantain encrusted grouper with grilled banana and sweet potato hash, as well as the guava-braised beef short ribs and a “fire-and-ice” jalepeno-infused margarita. Ray also shopped on nearby Deer Street, picked up a print by Seacoast artist Dan Blakeslee, and promised another visit.

“She says she’ll be back in August when she’s on vacation with her mom,” Logan says.

The Blue Mermaid will celebrate its 12th anniversary on Wednesday, June 14. “Tasty Travels” airs on Fridays at 9:30 p.m. on the Food Network.