Maine a la Carte has posted an update on Forq Food Lab.
Forq Food Lab, a Portland-based business now in the fundraising stage, hopes to give small food producers all the tools they need to make, package and market their products. Launched by Neil Spillane — CEO of Portland’s Urban Farm Fermentory (UFF) — in partnership with restaurant consultant Eric Holstein, Forq will have a fully equipped commercial kitchen and a tasting room open to the public when it opens early next year.
A new bar called The Drink Exchange is under development at 43 Wharf Street in the former Merry Table space. Owner Tanner Herget is planning a “Stock Market themed establishment for the enjoyment of both locals and visitors”. Herget is also the owner of two other bars on Wharf Street: Bonfire and 51 Wharf.
A draft drinks menu can be found on page 209 of the City Council materials for Monday night’s meeting.
Black Dinah Chocolatiers(website, facebook, twitter) will be holding an opening event at their new Westbrook production facility on June 20th, according a report in today’s Press Herald. Owners Kate and Steve Shaffer will be giving guided tours and have samples of their products to try.
Black Dinah is the latest in a spate of openings in Westbrook following Rosen’s Deli and the new Catbird Creamery.
Taco Trio(website, twitter, facebook) has a 2nd location under construction in Riverton. They’ve leased 1706 Forest Ave, the former home of India Bazaar (and Nina’s Variety and Papa’s Place.
Owners Manuel Pena and Karen Rasmussen tell me that they hope to open in July with a slightly expanded menu and that they’ll be adding outdoor seating once some landscaping can be completed.
Fore River Brewing(twitter, facebook, instagram) has started construction on their brewery. Their building is located in the Cash Corner section of South Portland across Veteran’s Memorial Bridge.
Here are some updates on four restaurants under construction in Portland:
A new food truck called Mami(instagram) plans to launch on June 9th in Congress Square Park. Mami is run by chef Austin Miller and will specialize in “Japanese street food”.
David Buchanan’s new cider company, Portersfield Cider is set to launch this later this month. Buchanan will be selling the Portersfield line of farmhouse-style hard cider from his stand in the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market. David has a pair or ciders in the works:
[The] first release blends over a dozen apple varieties, including Baldwin, Northern Spy, and Golden Russet, while a second will include aronia berries and elderberries.
He plans for the Portersfield farm winery in Pownal to be,
a production space and conservation center, focused on preserving and evaluating rare American cider fruits. In Buchanan’s sixth year of collecting fruit trees, his orchard now has over 250 varieties of apples and cider pears, including many in danger of extinction.
In addition to launching Portersfield Cider, David is the author of Taste, Memory and for the past few years has operated the Old Ocean House Farms stand at the Saturday farmers’ market.
You can get a chance to try Portersfield Cider at the Maine Fare Hard Cider Revival taking place this Thursday.
A new food cart called High Roller Lobster Company(instagram) is under development. Owners Andy Gerry and Baxter Key will be serving lobster and crab roll on Commercial Street this summer. They hope to be open by mid-June.
Soakology(website, facebook) has a new larger location under construction at 511 Congress Street next to Golden Lotus. The new digs will provide the space to expand the tea house and foot spa sides of their business with dedicated areas for both.
They hope to have the new Soakology open sometime in July.