Category: Openings

The second volume of the Maine Community Cookbook is now available for pre-order on Kickstarter.

The overwhelmingly positive reception of the Maine Bicentennial Community Cookbook inspired us to continue our project, and to expand it. In 2021, we began to solicit recipes for this second volume. Though our country’s divisions are increasingly on display, these community cookbooks focus on what connects us: food, family, and a love for the state of Maine. The book’s contributors are all united by one thing: they are generous enough to invite us into their kitchens and share their family’s food traditions with us. We are grateful to them, and excited to share more Maine family recipes and stories with you.

A $24 pledge on Kickstarter will get you a copy of the book shipped to you “hot off the press” when it’s released in July. Other pledge amounts include incentives like cooking with the editors, a guest appearance on the Maine Community Cookbook podcast, and even a private tour of the collections at Rabelais for you and 12 friends.

The Maine Donut Tour (website, facebook, instagram) launched last week. The tour combines stops at Portland donut shops with historical highlights in the Old Port. Eighty 8 Donuts, The Holy Donut, and Hifi Donuts are the featured donut shops.

Tours run Tuesday through Saturday at 9:15 and 11:15 each morning—book your spot online.

Casa Novello has announced plans to reopen their Westbrook restaurant on May 3rd.

We are excited to announce that we are reopening on Tuesday 5/3. We still have our two original BOH staff and they are excited to train our new Chef and new team members so there are no changes in any of the recipes!! I cannot thank all of you for the overwhelming support and Love we received! We are so looking forward to celebrating with all of you!! Kimmy, Karen, Leah, Sarah, Nick, Brandon, Derek and Hannah can’t wait to get back to work… And we are excited for all of our new staff to join our Casa family!! PLEASE SHARE!!! Call for reservations. We are also going to be open on Mother’s Day 4-8…

Casa Novello had closed indefinitely in early April due to a lack of staff and at the time it seemed likely they were likely to close permanently.

Onggi (website, instagram) will be opening their fermentation-focused shop at their new location at 131 Washington Ave (the former A&C Grocery) on Saturday April 30th. The move will more than quadruple their space—from 300 sq ft to 1,300 sq ft.

The store will feature a new pastry and lunch service that will be available to go or to enjoy at the counter, window seats or outdoor tables. In addition to some popular items from the Onggi 1.0 menu (e.g. sourdough chocolate chip cookies) the offerings will include options like miso scallion scones, kimchi pork handpies, and matcha black sesame butter mochi. The lunch menu will specialize in fermentation-focused dishes including their own take on the Korean classic Bibimbap.

The retail shop is also set to expand with the introduction of house-made fermented products, equipment, and “fermenty alcoholic beverages”. In the future the second floor of the building will be used to hold classes, workshops, and events.

“Ferments have fascinated – and fed – us our entire lives and we believe wholeheartedly in the benefits of fermentation: richer flavors, improved health, and cultured community,” says Marcus Im, one of Onggi’s three co-founders. “There is so much we can do to educate others and build excitement around all that fermentation can offer, and we hope whoever visits Onggi will share some of our enthusiasm and fall in love with our expanded in-store experience.”

Onggi was founded by Amy Ng, Erin Zobitz, and Marcus Im in April 2021. Onggi was originally located in one of The Black Box retail spaces on the corner of Marion Street and Washington Ave.

Onggi will be open on April 30th, and then starting May 4th will be open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm, and on Sunday 10 am – 4 pm.

Photo Credit: Onggi.

After a few days of soft openings the new Stars and Stripes Brewing Co. (website, facebook, instagram) tasting room at 3 Spring Street will open today at 2 pm. The tasting room is located in the space formerly occupied by Lio.

The “Mess Hall” food menu includes pizza, fries, chicken tenders, chicken wings, a charcuterie box and a kid’s “cuterie snack box”.

Stars & Stripes opened their original location in Freeport in November 2018. Today’s hours at the Portland location will be 2 – 10 pm.

Casita Corazon, the South Portland second location of El Corazon (facebook, instagram) restaurant in Longfellow Square, opened for business last week. The restaurant is located in the former 158 Pickett Street Cafe location. The building has undergone renovations since 158 Pickett Street Cafe closed at the end of last summer. Casita Corazon will be open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 – 8.

El Corazon initially launched as a food truck in 2013 before taking over the former Petite Jacqueline space in Longfellow Square in 2017.

Banded Brewing has announced an expanded food program at what they’re now calling the Banded Taproom + Kitchen in Biddeford.

The kitchen has been renovated to allow us to make more food for more folks, [chef Carrie Clark] has been diligently testing recipes, the management team has been diligently sampling french fries and sauces…The menu will feature thoughtful pub fare with all of the housemade sauces, lots of local ingredients, and plenty of options for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike — in addition the Banded staples you’ve come to know and love.

The new menu will launch on Wednesday April 6th when the Biddeford location will be open 4 – 9 pm.

Paper Tiger (website, facebook, instagram), the new cocktail bar and restaurant on Fore Street, opened for business on Monday. You can see their full drink and food menus on their website.

The Blueberry Files has published a first look report on Paper Tiger.

Paper Tiger is located at 425 Fore Street across the street from Gorgeous Gelato. They plan to be open 5 pm to 1 am, 7 days a week.

A new New York-style pizzeria called Della Terra Pizza (instagram) opened on Wednesday in Saco.

Owner Micah Robinson has put together a menu that includes 16-inch round pizzas (margheritas, white pizzas, etc), 16-inch square pizzas (Sicilians, L&B, etc), a caesar salad and pizza by the slice. There are gluten-free options. The menu will expand to include specialty pies, more salad options, a calzone, and a stromboli roll in the coming days. The menu is available for pre-order.

Della Terra is located at 213 North Street in Saco. They will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 am – 9 pm.