Maine a la Carte reports that the owners of Zapoteca, Tom and Shannon Bard, are planning to open a Spanish restaurant in Portland next year.
Tom Bard confirmed today that he is working on a location and hoping to open in early summer, 2014. Depending on the space, he said the atmosphere could either be quite casual (he mentioned Boston’s super-hot Toro as a reference), or somewhat more upscale than Zapoteca, the Bards successful Mexican restaurant in Portland.
Chef/owner David Levi has submitted his liquor license application for his restaurant Vinland (website, facebook, twitter) to the Portland City Council. A sample menu includes some interesting choices like the “potato risotto with daylily pollen and black trumpet mushrooms” and “grilled aged beef with roasted marrow, seared cauliflower, currant and yarrow” entrees.
According to the cover letter (page 221) Levi plans to open sometime in November. The restaurant is currently under construction at 593 Congress Street immediately adjacent to Congress Square Park.
The Bangor Daily News spoke to Wannawaf owner Anya Arsenault about the planned closure of her Portland location and thoughts what she might do next with the space.
But don’t count her out just yet.
Later this fall she may reinvent herself as a lunch caterer.
“I’m thinking of scrapping the waffle sign off the window and doing boxed lunches,” said Arsenault, who is looking for business partners. “I’m an entrepreneur. I still have to pay the rent.”
Jason Loring, chef/owner of Nosh, is partnering up with Stephen Lanzalotta to launch a new bakery. Loring tells me that the plan for the new business is to “set Stephen free” and to “let him do what he does which is amazing”.
They’ve picked out a really great spot for this new venture. I’ll share more on that once they sign a lease.
Insurance Guy Beer Blog has posted a summary of new breweries under development in Maine.
I know things have been a bit quiet around here but trust me things are about to get interesting. Fall is my favorite time of year in Maine and due to tons of activity in Maine beers scene the fall of 2013 should be a great one. In the next few months there are several new breweries that should be selling beer.
Baker Stephen Lazalotta is “in the early stages of planning a new pizza spot in Portland” according to a report from Eater Maine.
The Forecaster has published a feature article about chef Masa Miyake and Miyake Farm. The article has some details on Miyake Diner and an upcoming partnership between Miyake and Wolf’s Neck Farm.
Next month will be a busy one for Miyake. In mid-October, the chef will open his third restaurant in Portland – Miyake Diner on Spring Street, which will join Pai Men Miyake on State Street and his flagship restaurant, Miyake on Fore Street. On Oct. 20, Miyake will announce a partnership with Wolfe’s Neck Farm in Freeport.
According to a report from Eater Maine, a new wholesale business called Maine Pie Line (facebook, website) is under development at 200 Anderson Street in East Bayside. Baker Briana Warner will be preparing “Unique sweet and savory pies made with local Maine ingredients”.
A new restaurant called Oscar’s New American (facebook) is under construction in Yarmouth in the space formerly occupied by the Sea Grass Bistro. Chef/owner Nick Krunkkala was formerly the chef at Fog Bar and at Rock City Cafe in Rockland. According to Oscar’s Facebook page they hope to open this month, and are
…a farm to table concept focusing on local ingredients. We make everything in house from our bread to our ice cream. At Oscar’s we try and give the diner the most unique eating experience with our menu changing weekly.
Another pair of new restaurants have submitted liquor license applications to the City Council: