Category: General News

The Portland Daily Sun has published an article on the growing number of food vendors who are breaking into the wholesale market.

The restaurant-driven path may tempt some producers to go directly into wholesale, but it could be that successful retailing is a good foundation for wholesaling.

At Maples, for example, management reports that of their last 10 outlet deals, only two came from company outreach. The other eight called the company.

Even Whole Foods, the giant retailer that is a Holy Grail for many seeking to take their local, organic products to a larger market, recruited Maple’s.

The Portland Daily Sun has published an article on the growing number of food vendors who are breaking into the wholesale market.

The restaurant-driven path may tempt some producers to go directly into wholesale, but it could be that successful retailing is a good foundation for wholesaling.

At Maples, for example, management reports that of their last 10 outlet deals, only two came from company outreach. The other eight called the company.

Even Whole Foods, the giant retailer that is a Holy Grail for many seeking to take their local, organic products to a larger market, recruited Maple’s.

Jonah Fertig, co-founder of the Local Sprouts Cooperative, won a Step Up to the Plate award from the League of Young Voters in the Green Business Person Category. Fertig is now working on launching the Local Sprouts Cafe.

Two local restaurant owners are running for public office in the upcoming election:

• Oliver Outerbridge, co-owner of Bonobo, is a candidate for the Portland Water District board of trustee.
• James Tranchemontagne, chef/owner of The Frog and Turtle, hopes to represent Ward 4 in Westbrook on the City Council.

The Press Herald has a report on yesterday’s Lobster Chef of the Year competition at Harvest on the Harbor.

“I think the right person won,” said Thomas, a fisherman who has been a regular at the competition over the years. “That was the best use of lobster I’ve seen in a long time.”

Arrington, who is 22 and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America last week, won the title and $1,000 by serving up roasted Maine lobster tail on braised cabbage with corn bread. He is the son of last year’s winner, Margaret McLellan.

Final nominations for the 2010 James Beard Awards aren’t due out until March 22, and the award ceremonies aren’t taking place until May but the James Beard Foundation is already gathering input online for “proposed nominations”. This is your way to contribute to the process, just register and submit your recommendations to the judges.
In 2009 Rob Evans won in the Best Chef – Northeast category; Fore Street, Emilitsa and Sam Hayward were all finalist or semi-finalists. Who from Portland do you think will get a nomination (semi or final) in 2010?

There’s a feature story about Cold River Vodka on the front page of today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

When Chris Dowe looks at the three one-ton bags of potatoes in the distillery, he sees vodka in the raw. The characteristics of the potatoes remain key as they are cooked into a soup that is fermented into wine and triple-distilled. Even after the alcohol is mixed with water, Dowe can trace the vodka’s origins back to the potatoes.