Erin French, chef and owner of The Lost Kitchen in Freedom Maine, is working on a new book entitled Finding Freedom which will will chronicle the “challenges, stumbles and victories that have led me to the exact place I was ever meant to be”. The book is being published by Celadon Books, an imprint of MacMillan.
This will be French’s second book. The Lost Kitchen Cookbook debuted last May.
French was recently named a 2018 Beard Awards semifinalist in the Best Chef: Northeast category.
The Forecaster has posted an update on Crown Jewel and their proposal for a Planning Board change of use on Great Diamond Island.
The Planning Board scheduled a hearing and vote Tuesday on the change-of-use request by Wight and her partner, Gail Landry. They are seeking permission to open the 35-seat restaurant while downsizing the general store now operating at the island’s Fort McKinley historic site. The building is also part of the Diamond Cove Association.
Jason Loring launched a new restaurant called Hunker Down this season at Sugarloaf. Now comes word that a Hunker Down branded will be setting up shop in the kitchen a little closer to Portland at Erik’s Church, a new country music restaurant under construction in Windham.
Portland artist Heidi Geist has launched a Kickstarter campaign for her 48 Beers Project. Geist has designed beer labels for Bissell Brothers, Barreled Souls, Boothbay Craft Brewing, Norway Brewing, Cold Harbor, and many others.
For the 48 Beers Project Geist plans visit each of the 48 contiguous US states, and in each state she plans to design a label for a local brewery. She’s raising $6,000 to help with costs to renovate a short school bus into a livable space that will be my art studio. She plans to depart Maine on June 21st.
Two Fat Cats has signed a lease for 740 Broadway in South Portland where they plan to open a second location of the popular India Street bakery.
MaineBiz interviewed Elsmere BBQ co-founders Adam Powers and Jeremy Rush about the second Elsmere they have under development on Stevens Ave in the former Siano’s.
“What attracted us is that the property is the same model as this place, where you’re nestled into a neighborhood,” said Powers. “It’s not tourist-reliant. To use a cliché, if someone goes there, everyone will know your name.”
Powers, Rush and their new business partner Nat Towl hope to open this new Elsmere in May.
A new on-the-water food delivery service called Waypoint Provisions (instagram) is set to launch in Casco Bay this May.
Nikaline Iacono is launching a new venture called Vessel and Vine (facebook, instagram) at 4 Pleasant Street in Brunswick.
The 1,500 square foot space will be home to a hybrid wine and beer retail store, vintage and new glassware and barware shop combined with a bar serving a beer, wine, cocktails and a compact menu of small plates (see below).
The drinks list will feature a rotating by the glass and bottle selection of wines from small producers with some natural wines in the mix. The bar will have 3 beers on tap, and serve a cocktail list featuring fortified and/or aromatized wines. Iacono plans to have a program for developing bitters and infusions for use in their cocktails and will be creating a house-made vermouth.
The Bearded Lady will be hosting Iacono on February 24th where she’ll be serving a line-up of V&V cocktails.
I first met Nikaline back in 2008 when she was the bartender at the then newly launched Emilitsa, and am excited to see her vision for Vessel & Vine come together. She plans to open V&V in March.
Here’s a look at the draft menu created by chef Matt DeFio.
The number and diversity of vendors operating in the Public Market House has expanded significantly since they opened. It’s now home to Ameera Bread, Big Sky, Bow Street, Crepe Cafe, Daily Greens, Kamasouptra, Maiz, Pho Co, Sticky Sweet.
The mix and layout is set to change again. Bow Street is soon to move out to their new building at 495 Forest Ave and Cafe Crepe is making room downstairs for Maine Squeeze to move from the second floor. Those changes will free up two spots in the Market for new vendors.
This week’s edition of the Portland Phoenix includes: