Author: PFM

A Taj Thanksgiving

| Posted in General News

The Press Herald has published a report on the free Thanksgiving meal program that Taj restaurant has run for the last four years. This year the owner Sai Guntaka and his family were on track to hand out 1000+ meals.

The restaurant was providing food for all on Thursday, whether customers could pay or not. By early afternoon, owner Sai Guntaka said Taj was on track to give away between 1,000 and 1,200 free meals by the end of the day, in addition to the hundreds of meals they served to paying customers.

Maine Food & Dining News: Rockland, Freeport, Scarborough, Brunswick, Searsport

| Posted in Maine

New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:

  • Ruckus Donuts has launched a $20k crowdfunding campaign to help purchase a food truck.
  • Stacks Pancake Company has launched their second location at 183 US Route 1 in Scarborough. It’s open 6 am to 2:30 pm daily. The Papanikoleau family opened the original Stacks on Riverside in July 2021.
  • The Times Record reports that the owner of the Jameson Tavern in Freeport has closed the restaurant with hopes to reopen the tavern in Windham.
  • The Abbey in Brunswick has launched a Sunday brunch service. The menu includes options like a Cider Sausage Porridge and a Turkish egg and tomato dish called Menemen.
  • The Bangor Daily News reports that the former Tozier’s Market has reopened under new ownership with the new name of Edwards Brothers Supermarkets. The Edwards brothers Jason and Jeremy have other markets located in Unity, Trenton and Dover-Foxcroft. Tozier’s had gone out of business this summer after more than two decades in business.

For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.

Big Tree @ Local 188

| Posted in Under Construction

Big Tree Hospitality will be leasing the former Local 188 which they plan to use as an event space and a kitchen for their catering operations.

Big Tree Hospitality is excited to announce that they will be the new stewards of the Local 188 space at 685 Congress St. in Portland which will be used as an event venue and home base for Big Tree Catering. Jay Villani’s Local 188 has been a beloved food and beverage institution since 1999 and many of Big Tree’s family and friends, including co-owner Arlin Smith, worked for Villani during that time. “This opportunity is especially meaningful to us, and we’re honored to carry the torch, preserving this iconic space while creating a new venue to celebrate weddings, host pop-ups, guest chef dinners, and give our catering team a home of their own.” says Smith.

Local 188 chef/owner Jay Villani will be working with Big Tree to help them adapt the space. He shared, “I’m excited to help Big Tree Catering preserve the elegance and warmth of this vibrant room and gently transform it into a dynamic setting that retains the communal feel of Local.” Renovations will be taking place over the winter. Stay tuned to the Big Tree Catering instagram account for updates.

Big Tree Hospitality launched Eventide in 2012 and The Honey Paw in 2015. They also operate three local markets South Freeport, Scarborough and Falmouth. The Big Tree team is led by Arlin Smith and James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Taylor.

Local 188 closed earlier this year after 25 years in business.

Cocktail Mary 2.0

| Posted in Under Construction

Cocktail Mary (website, instagram) has announced plans to move the cocktail bar to a new larger location in Portland. Founder Isaac MacDougal has launched a $100k campaign on NuMarket—a platform that specializes in helps food and beverage businesses—to finance the move. Contributors to NuMarket campaigns are granted a business credit—for every $100 you commit to Cocktail Mary you’ll  get a $120 credit at the new location.

We have officially outgrown our current location and are looking for the community to invest in the future of Cocktail Mary. A place where we have the space to throw the dance parties of all of our dreams! We are always looking for ways to provide to our community with more and have so many exciting things in the works but need your help. This is a bit of a heavy lift but we are looking to raise $100,000 in order to complete the build out of a the new space. We’re reaching out to you, our awesome community members, to help with this growth we so desperately need and are so excited to give you something in return. 

On a separate track, MacDougal and a set of business partners are launching a new establishment at 441 Congress Street called Supper Club Cocktail Lounge which is expected to open by the end of March.

Upcoming Food & Dining Events

| Posted in Events

Monday – Friends & Family is holding a Thanksgiving wine tasting with a 10% discount off bottles that are part of the event. A pop-up featuring the former and current bar staff from Round Turn will be taking place at Pacifico. Chef Adrian Lipscomb, founder of the 40 Acres Project, will be collaborating Crispy Gai on a pop-up dinner.

Wednesday – It’s the last day of the outdoor Portland Farmers’ Market for the 2024 season. The market will operate indoors starting on December 7th, see below for details.

Thanksgiving – See our 2024 Maine Thanksgiving List for a list of dinners, community resources and take-out options as well as turkeys, baked goods and side dishes for your meal at home.

Friday – is the deadline to submit recommendations for the 2025 Beard Awards.

December 1 – Sean Turley will be delivering a presentation on cider & pomology at Lambs in South Portland.

December 7 – It’s the first day of the indoor Portland Farmers’ Market. It will be once again located at 631 Stevens Ave, and will run from Dec 7th through Apr 12, 2025.

December 13 – Hanukkah Mexicana is taking place in Bath. The event will include food inspired by the Mexican Jewish cookbook, Sabor Judio, and a talk by authors Ilan Stavans and Margaret Boyle.

December 14 – Natalie’s at the Camden Harbor Inn will be holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner  in collaboration with Browne Trading Company and Barton Seaver.

December 15 – A gingerbread house decoration event is taking place at the Hilton Garden Inn. The event is a fundraiser for Portland Firefighters Children’s Burn Foundation.

December 16 – Bissell Brothers will be holding a (sold out) Feast of the Seven Fishes.

December 18 – Sacred Profane will be holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes at their location in Biddeford.

December 24 – Via Vecchia is holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner.

December 31 – Elk’s Lodge 188 is holding a Vegas-themed New Year’s Eve party; $80 per person.

February 2 – Rafael Zimmerman from Magnus on Water⁠ will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.

February 8 – Adrian Arvizu from Big Tree Hospitality⁠ will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.

February 13 – Devin Finigan from Aragosta⁠ will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.

March 2 – Sara Jenkins, Dustin Martin, and Lauren Radel from Nina June will be the guest chefs at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.

Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene.
25-packs of the Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now available on our online store.

Nosh Taco Has Closed

| Posted in Closings

Nosh Taco (instagram) has closed. The restaurant was located in the oval-shaped building in Canal Plaza.

Nosh Taco opened almost a year ago at the beginning of December 2023. The business was launched by Michael Fraser, Michael Barbuto and Kevin Doyle who are also co-owners of CBG and Nosh. It served a selection of carnitas, veggie, chicken and fish tacos and tortas as well as variety of margaritas, beer, wine and other drinks.

The building had previously been occupied by a vegan fast casual cafe called Copper Branch. It’s now available to lease.

Minervino Moves

| Posted in Under Construction

Members of the Minervino family are involved in a pair of new restaurants projects: the transformation of The Rathskeller into Tomaso’s Pizza and Burger Bar, and the launch of North Deering Tavern.

Sam Minervino along with business partner Scott Olsen have taken over The Rathskeller space on Wharf Street where they plan to open Tomaso’s Pizza and Burger Bar. Dana Bernard who is the currently the bar manager at Samuel’s is moving over to become the bar manager at the new Tomaso’s. They hope to launch the new eatery in early 2025. The Rathskeller was launched in October 2021 by Mivernino’s son and daughter Tom and Meg Minervino and their business partner Mike Barton. Tomaso’s Canteen which launched in 2015 will continue to operate as it currently does. Tom, Meg and Mike Barton also operate Legends Rest and Paper City BBQ in Westbrook.

Brothers Sam and Rob Minervino along with Marcus Bailey and Anthony Peters have taken over the former Parker’s building in North Deering where they plan to launch the North Deering Tavern. Renovations are already underway with plans to open the Tavern in early 2025. The new establishment will serve a menu similar to Samuel’s featuring wings, pizza, entrees as well as some selected dishes from the Pizza Villa and Tomaso’s Canteen menus. The Tavern menu will have some gluten-free options. The North Deering Tavern will be more of a sports bar with 21 television screens. A closing date for Samuel’s is TBD. Sam Minervino founded Samuel’s Bar & Grill in 1996, and along with his brother Rob took over Pizza Villa in 2019.

Free Spirited NA Distribution

| Posted in Openings

Courtney Berkholtz has launched a new distribution company called Free Spirited (instagram). Berkholtz is specializing in non-alcoholic beverages and spirits.

Free Spirited distributes products from St. Agrestis, FruitBelt, RSRV Collective, Figlia, Spritzi, and Woodnose, and she is developing new relationships with other NA producers as well. Berkholtz hopes her company can increase the access to NA products and support the development of mocktail options at restaurants and bars in Maine.

You can find some of these products on the menus and retail shelves at Free Spirited’s customers: Another Round, Botanically Curious, Sissle & Daughters, Browne Trading, the Portland Zoo, Bissell Brothers, Terra Cotta, Bar Publica, Barber Brothers, Wilson County, Onggi, and Smalls.

Maine Food & Dining News: Bath, Brunswick, Springvale, Alna

| Posted in Maine

New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:

  • Tony and Chelsea Bickford have taken over the Scarlet Begonia’s space at 16 Station Ave in Brunswick (right photo) where they plan to launch Pomelia (instagram). Pomelia will serve a menu of Sicilian-inspired pastas, pizzas, and street food along with cocktails and wine. The menu will also have a broad selection of non-alcoholic drinks.
    The Bickfords shared, “We’re opening a Sicilian eatery that blends tradition with a retro-modern twist, serving up the rich flavors of Sicily’s diverse cultural history. Sicily has been influenced by so many different cultures, and that’s reflected in the bold, varied flavors we can’t wait to share with you! We’re all about great food and warm hospitality.”
    The Bickfords are making some renovations to the restaurant and hope to launch Pomelia in early January. Stay tuned to their instagram account for updates and an announcement about a launch date.
    For seven years up until 2021 the Bickfords ran Little Village Bistro in Wiscasset. They both grew up in the Midcoast and now live in Bath. Doug and Colleen Lavallee announced last week that they’d be closing Scarlet Begonias after nearly 30 years in business. The restaurant was originally located at 212 B Maine St.
  • Solo Pane e Pasticceria (website, facebook, instagram) is expanding into the space adjacent to the right of their storefront on Centre Street in Bath (left photo) which was formerly occupied by the Paperback Trader bookstore. The initial phase of construction will provide the bakery some back operation space and capabilities like additional walk-in space and dry storage. Then by early spring Solo will begin installation of a second oven for expanded production flexibility and capacity. The second phase of construction will also include the buildout a larger public space which will nearly triple their indoor seating from 12 seats to 30-36 seats. With the launch of the larger dining area Solo Pane e Pasticceria plans to expand their offerings to include some early evening light fare.
  • Meeting Grounds Cafe (website, facebook, instagram)  recently opened. It is located 489 Main St in the village of Springvale. In addition to coffee and baked goods, Meeting Grounds also serves soup, salads and sandwiches. Meeting Grounds plans to hold a grand opening for the business on December 2nd.
  • The Times Record recently published an article about The Alna Store.

For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.

Beard Awards Deadline

| Posted in General News

The James Beard Foundation posted an open call for recommendations from industry professionals and the general public earlier this fall. The deadline for everyone to send in their submissions is coming up on November 29th.

If there’s an exceptional food or drink business or hospitality professional you want to see win a Beard Award then visit jamesbeardawards.awardsplatform.com to create an account and send in a submission on their behalf.

For reference here’s: