Portland Public Schools have announced a variety of food programs operating over this summer. They include a free breakfast/lunch service for kids 18 and under taking place at schools throughout the city, the Locker Project which provides groceries for families, and a mobile bus route delivery service.
Category: General News
Crowds on Wharf Street
Prompted by images of crowds on Wharf Street Friday night, the City of Portland is assigning code enforcement officers to monitor conditions on Wharf street and made clear that if “the regulations are not followed by businesses then the City will be forced to eliminate outdoor dining on Wharf Street and in other areas in which violations are found.”
For more information see reports in the Press Herald and from News Center Maine.
Devenish Raises Money for Restaurant Workers
Ned Swain from Devenish Wines has launched an effort to raise money for restaurant workers impacted by the pandemic. Inspired by the Depression Era WPA project arts initiative, he commissioned four artists to produce designs for t-shirts which are now on sale online.
The four artists are Kimberly Convery, Ryan Adams, Hannah Hirsch and Emma Lucille.
Devenish Wines will be donating profits by this initiative to the Restaurant Worker’s Community Foundation, who are “working to provide resources and advocacy for the hospitality workers we know and love–along with the many who too often go unrecognized and for whom the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a pre-existing quality of life crisis.”
You can see the designs and order a shirt now through July 1st at devenishwine.com/shop
Indoor and Outdoor Dining, and Takeout
With the changes in state regulation restaurants are evolving the services they offer. With that in mind Portland Food Map now maintains two lists to help you decide where to eat:
- A list of restaurants that are offering indoor and/or outdoor onsite dining.
- The big takeout and delivery list.
Please let me know if you know of any establishments in Portland that may be missing from either list.
Pandemic Outlook for Restaurants
The Forecaster has a report on the pandemic’s impact on restaurants in South Portland and more broadly in Maine.
“It’s been devastating.” That’s how Craig Dilger, owner of Foulmouthed Brewing in South Portland, described the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on local restaurants. This week, Gov. Janet Mills issued new orders allowing restaurants in Cumberland, York and Sagadahoc counties to once again offer indoor dine-in seating, but since local restaurants haven’t been allowed to do so since March, the damage may already be done.
Reviewing and Retaining
Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes an article by Andrew Ross on the factors impacting his decision on when to start reviewing restaurants again,
But I confess, I miss writing about restaurants … maybe even more than I miss eating in them. I miss pulling out my phone and scrolling through photos of the dishes I ate and zooming in to puzzle out what made them succeed (or not). I even miss deciphering the notes I took surreptitiously during a meal. These are typed under the table, so they frequently read as if they were tapped out by someone with 10 thumbs.
and an article about which of the changes brought about by the pandemic are likely to persist after things return to normal.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought a whole menu of changes to Maine’s restaurant industry. Some innovations, like the temporary approval of cocktails to go, have excited both restaurant owners and diners. Others changes, they say, should be 86’d as soon as possible, restaurant lingo for “no longer available.” Here’s our look at some of the adjustments that have been made this spring, and the odds that they’ll stick around after the pandemic is over…
Black Dinah Chocolatiers to Change Name
Black Dinah Chocolates has announced plans to change the name of the company.
I’ve just plain been thinking a lot, period, these past two and a half weeks. About racism, antiracism, racial justice, and the powerful movement that is in play in our country at this moment. About what it takes for change to happen: murder, outrage, collective grief. And my place in it all. My company’s place in it all. And how it relates to you.
The company was named for Black Dinah Mountain on Isle au Haut where the company got its start before moving to Westbrook.
Several years after we moved our company to the mainland and south to the Greater Portland area, we noticed, to our dismay, that not everyone had the same good associations with our company name. And as our customer base grew, so did our perspective. Last fall, we began, as a team, to make a plan to transition to a new name.
The new name will be announced in July.
For additional information see articles in the Bangor Daily News and MaineBiz.
Streets to Dining Rooms
Two more streets in Portland have been turned into outdoor dining space for local restaurants.
- The stretch of Middle Street from India to Franklin has been turned into a one way street with areas in front of Eventide and The Honey Paw, and in front of East Ender, Duckfat and Ribolita blocked off for tables.
- Boothly Square businesses have gotten the approval to close off and use the streets and green space in the square for outdoor dining.
There’s a growing list of restaurants offering outdoor dining in addition to takeout and delivery.
License to Change
The Press Herald reports that some businesses are taking the opportunity to change their business license in order to offer outdoor dining.
Novare Res, Sagamore Hill Lounge, Tomaso’s Canteen and Rising Tide Brewing, which were all previously licensed as Class A lounges, have been issued restaurant licenses, allowing them to reopen before other bars and brew pubs. Bars, pubs and tasting rooms will be allowed to open as soon as July 1 unless the reopening plan is changed.
Showing Support
An article in the Press Herald highlights some of the ways local businesses including those in the hospitality business are showing their support for the protests. Included in the article’s coverage are Ada’s, Rising Tide and The Honey Paw.
Sid Rumma, a partner at Ada’s pasta restaurant on Congress Street in Portland, couldn’t participate in the Black Lives Matter protests, but he could offer bowls of spaghetti to those protesting.
“I’m just trying to be helpful,” he said as he prepared free midday meals on Wednesday, the second day he and his team at Ada’s have offered to feed and nourish hungry protesters in advance of the afternoon’s public demonstrations.