The Portland Food Map archive provides a chronicle of the past 17 years of the Portland restaurant scene. While a lot of the reporting here is about what’s happening now and coming next, we thought it would be interesting to take a look back each month at the news from 5, 10 and 15 years ago.
Here’s some notable news from February 2010, 2015 and 2020:
- 2010 – Boda opened for business on February 4th, and Katahdin reopened at their then new space on Forest Ave.
- Portland Food Map published a list of restaurant groups that had more than one location or where the owners ran more than one restaurant.
- A group of food bloggers and journalists began eating their way through (and reviewing) all fourteen Thai restaurants that were then operating in Portland. First up was Sala Thai on Washington Ave. Portland Food Heads, Appetite Portland, the Portland Daily Sun, Edible Obsessions, The Blueberry Files and Where is Jenner’s Mind all participated in this first round.
- Silly’s and Bayou Kitchen tied for first place at the Cajun Cookin’ Challenge.
- The list of the 2010 Beard Awards semifinalists were released with six from Maine.
- The Winter Farmers’ Market debuted. It was located at 85 Free Street in the space now occupied by Leeward.
- 2015 – The Food Network published an eating guide to the Portland area which highlighted Bite into Maine, Blue Rooster, Duckfat, Emilitsa, Eventide, Five Fifty-Five, Lolita, Pai Men Miyake, Small Axe, and The Well in Cape Elizabeth.
- Pete Sueltenfuss opened the Other side Delicatessen on February 5th at 164 Veranda Street.
- Conde Nast Traveller published a Restaurant Guide to Portland which includes: Caiola’s, Empire, Eventide, Holy Donut, Miyake, OhNo Cafe, Petite Jacqueline, Piccolo, Slab, and Zapotecca.
- Sangillo’s closed permanently after 62 years in business after the State of Maine did not renew of their liquor license. The building is now home to Tomaso’s Canteen.
- The Beard Foundation released the 2015 list of awards semifinalists which included seven from Maine.
- 2020 – The Brew Bus has announced a merger with Dave’s Travel and Events from Sydney, Australia.
- The 9-seat Ishi Ishi Ramen opened for business on Friday 7th.
- The Mexican/Salvadoran restaurant called Dos Naciones opened February 15th. It was located at 649 Congress Street in the space that had been occupied by Local Sprouts.
- Chef Bowman Brown announced plans to relocate Elda to Building 19A in the Pepperell Mill Campus in Biddeford. The news also included first mention of what would become the Jackrabbit cafe.
- Azure in Freeport closed after almost 18 years in business.
- The Beard Foundation released their 2020 list of awards semifinalists. That year their were 11 overall including seven in the Best Chef Northeast category.
- Bob’s Clam Hut announced plans to close their Portland location.