The Boston Globe has written about Portland’s recent designation by the federal government as a manufacturing center.
Famous for lobster, fresh fish, and an abundance of restaurants, the Portland area is hoping to use the designation — and the economic development grants that are expected to follow — to revive a food-processing industry fallen on hard times, expanding it to take advantage of a passionate local-food movement.
In her latest column Natalie Ladd talks about the frustration of dealing with customers who bring their own food to the restaurant.
Despite my less than tactful comments on the subject, people continue to bring their own food and drinks into the restaurant where I sell food and drinks to make money. According to my industry friends, that weirdness is on the rise and, as one veteran pointed out, the practice may be a seasonal offense. Not unlike fruit flies.
Today’s Press Herald Food & Dining section includes a feature article on the small but growing number of specialty tea stores in Maine.
In celebration of their 10-year anniversary, Scratch Baking has posted some photos from the original construction of the space they now occupy.
After an RFP process the city awarded 6 food trucks and food carts the access to operate in specific Portland parks:
The Bangor Daily News has published a report on the Restaurant Impossible makeover of Uncle Andy’s Diner.
The end product was a shocker: Their previously open kitchen is partially sealed off, with a brown window panel separating food prep from customers. But it looks like Dennis Fogg will still be able to make his specialty animal pancakes in front of an audience.
The old booths were replaced with sleek tables and chairs. Muted chartreuse paint and a simple tile frame reading “ANDY’S” replaced the diner’s outdated wall decor.
Urban Eye reports that the lobster roll has made it to the finals of Congressional Roll Call’s Taste of America contest.
This celebrity sandwich is not only killing it on menus this season, the roll is quashing other state’s edible claims and taking names. Maine’s royal roll made the final round of Congressional Quarterly Roll Call’s Taste of America contest this week and (watch your back cherry cobbler of Utah) has the most votes right now.
To cast your vote visit rollcalltasteofamerica.com/brackets.cfm
The Bangor Daily News has reported on an uptick in coffee prices at some Maine shops.
The cause is threefold: A coffee leaf fungus called roya is killing crops in Central America, on top of a lengthy drought in Brazil. In addition, increasing transportation costs are making delivery of green coffee beans more costly.
The Press Herald reports on issues arising from the expansion of outdoor seating at the city’s restaurants.
For Bud Buzzell, a 72-year-old sight-impaired resident, the familiar sidewalks near his Congress Square home are increasingly a frustrating and dangerous maze caused by restaurants he contends are not providing the required 4 feet of pedestrian space.
“One is more or less copying the other and I’m very upset about it,” Buzzell said of the restaurants expanding into the sidewalks of his neighborhood. “And I know a lot of blind or visually impaired or disabled people who are very upset.”
South Portland has begun working on an ordinance that would allow food trucks in the city. You can see the factors under consideration on the South Portland website.
Sentry has also posted an article about the prospect of food trucks in South Portland.