Review of Bresca and the Honey Bee

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Bresca and the Honey Bee, Krista Kern Desjarlais’ snack shack in New Gloucester.

The review also shares that “[Desjarlais] tells us she has a location lined up in Lewiston-Auburn, but needs to decide if she’s ready to get back into the scene”. Should she decide to go ahead I imagine there a lot of Bresca fans, myself included, who will be making regular treks to Lewiston-Auburn this Fall.

Under Construction: Ebb & Flow, Golden Lotus

The liquor license application for a pair of new restaurants are scheduled for Monday’s City Council meeting:

  • Ebb & Flow (facebook, twitter) is a Mediterranean seafood restaurant under construction at 100 Commercial Street—former home of Spread, Gaucho’s, Oolong. As reported last month, the restaurant is a collaboration between Nova Seafood owner Angelo Ciocca and chef William D’Auvray. An extensive draft menu for Ebb & Flow was supplied with the application (starts on page 31).
  • Golden Lotus is a new Asian restaurant that will be taking over the spot at 511 Congress Street which currently is the home of Shanghai Tokyo. Chef/owner Joe Tang has 30 years of restaurant experience, mostly in NH. For several years he was part of the staff at Wok Inn before joining the kitchen staff at Empire Chinese Kitchen. A hand-written draft menu (page 69) was supplied with the application.

Under Construction: The Farm Stand

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Joe Fournier, Managing Partner at The Farm Stand tells me that they’re making excellent progress on the build out of the space and that they hope to open sometime in mid-August. They’re currently hiring to staff the market.

The Farm Stand is a collaboration between Fournier, Penny Jordan and Ben Slayton. Fournier has been a longtime member of the Rosemont Market staff, Jordan is a co-owner of Jordan Farm in Cape Elizabeth and Slayton runs Farmer’s Gate Market which sources all its pasture-raised meats from Maine farms.

The Farm Stand is located at 161 Ocean Street in the Knightsville neighborhood of South Portland.

Washington Ave: Oxbow Tasting Room & a New Restaurant

Two new under construction updates surfaced on Tuesday via an article in the Press Herald Real Estate section. The article (not available online) talked about the renovations to the old Nissen Bakery building at 75 Washington Ave.

New developments include:

  • An Oxbow Warehouse and Tasting Room – I talked with Oxbow co-owner Tim Adams and he confirmed that Oxbow is the “well-known local brewery” mentioned in the article. Oxbow has taken over 10,000 sq. ft. of space (instagram photo) in the building—a huge increase over the 800 sq. ft. they currently operate out of in Newcastle. In addition to tanks for conditioning, aging and equipment for bottling their beer, Oxbow also plans to open a Portland tasting room. The tasting room is being designed by local artist Will Sears and Sam Gilbert.
  • A New Restaurant – the article confirms the rumors around town about a restaurant going in on Washington Ave. It will be located in the retail spaces that are currently vacant. More details will no doubt emerge once they sign the lease.

Under Construction: Tandem Bakery

Alex Steed has interviewed co-owner Briana Holt about the upcoming Tandem Bakery in the West End.

What can folks expect from the new West End shop?
It is going to be the awesome. There will be Tandem Coffee, of course, which they already serve at the East Bayside location. What we kind of want is a neighborhood joint that is focused on yummy, comforting-but-cool,  American-style baking…

Under Construction: Ten Ten Pié

Ten Ten Pié has announced that Atsuko Fujimoto will be heading up the kitchen in the new eatery.

Ten Ten Pié is proud to announce Markos´ partner: Atsuko Fujimoto of Miyake. Atsuko will be the mastermind in the kitchen, blending traditional French pastry, Japanese culinary discipline, and multi-cultural flavors to offer unique morning pastries, freshly prepared snacks, and take-out lunches and dinners.

Fujimoto comes to Ten Ten Pié from Miyake but has also worked at Fore Street and Standard Baking. Fujimoto and partner Markos Miller hope to open in August.

Hilltop Superette Opening Next Monday

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A sign on the front of of the Hilltop Superette indicates that the store will be opening on Monday June 30.

Today’s Press Herald has a report on what’s new at the neighborhood market.

When the Hilltop Superette opens next Monday, residents of Portland’s East End will be able to get Grey Poupon, green curry paste and fresh-cut steaks within walking distance.

But those who came to rely on the convenience store formerly known as Colucci’s for cheap beer, basics like butter or a roll of toilet paper in a pinch can rest assured the new market will carry all the staples, too.

Under Construction: Hilltop Superette

The Forecaster has published a report on the Hilltop Superette under construction in the old Colucci’s building.

Now christened Hilltop Superette, the nearly 80-year-old store at 135 Congress St. is expected to re-open as soon as June 26, according to its general manager, Nate Philbrick.

“It might be a little later, but it will definitely be before the Fourth (of July),” he said in an interview Monday afternoon. The reborn bodega will offer something for everyone, he promised, as it traditionally has.