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'Naked Lunch' Bites its Critics

October 12, 2007 - GREENVILLE - There appears to be a lot more leaf peepers in town who are stopping by the Black Frog Restaurant for lunch hoping to get a glimpse of its advertised buns.

The Greenville restaurant became worldwide news last week after the Bangor Daily News published an article about the restaurant's Skinny Dip sandwich, a mouth-watering sliced prime rib on a baguette roll that's free to anyone willing to bare their buns and jump naked into Moosehead Lake.

"So let me get this straight: You can get a free prime rib sandwich if you go skinny dipping in front of a crowded dining room -- at least nobody has to ask where's the beef?" North Country humorist Travis Wallace, a Greenville native, joked Monday.

The "Naked Lunch" came to light when selectmen met last week to act on a liquor license renewal submitted by Leigh Turner, restaurant owner. While the board approved the renewal, it was noted that a complaint had been lodged about nudity on the restaurant's dock. Town Manager John Simko suggested that Greenville Police Chief Scott MacMaster speak to the owner about it.
When contacted the next day about the issue, Turner said that, if asked, he would remove the free offer from the menu. This week, however, after being contacted by press from throughout the world and getting many e-mails from people who saw the BDN article, Turner had changed his mind. It seems the sandwich has survived to bite its critics.

"Everybody has been saying you aren't going to take it off the menu, are you?" Turner said. His free offer is not breaking the law, he said. To violate Maine's indecent exposure law, one would have to expose the genitals for the purpose of offending or shocking someone, he said.

"Considering the normal temperature of Moosehead Lake, there's not much visible that's shocking," Turner said.

When a patron accepts the free offer -- and about two or three a week have stripped during the summer months for the past three years to take the plunge -- Turner said it is done to offend no one. He said the patron goes to the end of the dock behind the restaurant, drops his or her clothing and makes the jump. "All you can see is two little white buns jiggling around," he said. A towel is provided for the patron when he or she surfaces from the cold depths of the lake.

Turner is surprised and tickled about the publicity the sandwich has generated. "It's been incredible," he said. The restaurateur has fielded calls for interviews from Los Angeles, Florida and Chicago. The British Broadcasting Corp. and CNN National Radio interviewed him Sunday and the Fox News Network plans to speak with him today. The story on his sandwich also made the front page of Yahoo News on Saturday. In addition, he said he has received many e-mails supporting his light-hearted attempt to humor his patrons.

In one e-mail to the BDN, the writer claimed she overheard the person complaining about the nudity. She jokingly wrote that the complainer said, "I know I am offended because I looked three times."

SOURCE: Bangor Daily News

DATE: 10-09-2007

Lakes: Moosehead Lake
Regions: Moosehead


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