New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:

• • Union Bagel Company (instagram) has moved to Falmouth and joined forces with Bernie’s Foreside. Founder Paul Farrell launched Union Bagel in 2013 at 147 Cumberland Avenue. Farrell and Bernie’s owner Adam Shapiro have now built out a bagel bakery in the space adjacent to Bernie’s at 204 Route One where you can get their bagels to go or as a breakfast sandwich to enjoy at the cafe. Union Bagels are also being served at other local establishments like Luna Cafe in Scarborough and Bom Dia on India Street.
  • Food & Wine selected Absolem Cider in Winthrop for a short list of 5 Must-Visit Northeast Cideries.
  • Island Dairy Treat in Skowhegan has gone out of business after the building it is located was sold. The Morning Sentinel has all the details on how the sale led to the closure of the 72 year old local business.
  • A new eatery called Mr. Chickpea (instagram) recently opened at 611 Main Street in South Portland on Route 1. The fast casual restaurant serves a variety of plates and wraps like the lamb kabob plate and chicken kufta wrap as well as smoothies and prepared foods to go.
  • Spice Pizzeria (website, facebook) opened last week at 59 Camden Road (photo on left) in Rockland. The menu features “Thai Food on the Dough” with options like a Pad Thai pizza and a Masaman Curry pizza. The menu also includes some rice and noodle dishes and appetizers like gyoza and chicken wings. They’re open daily 11:30 am – 8:30 pm.
  • A new cafe called Borderlands Coffee Company (instagram) has opened for business in Waterville. They’re located at 93 Main Street and are open Tuesday through Friday 7 am – 3 pm and Sat 8 am – 3 pm. They serve coffee from Three Ships.
  • The Bangor Daily News reports that a new tea shop is under development in Hodgdon. Owner Randi Farrar hopes to launch Randi’s Corner Perk later this fall. The BDN also has published an interesting article about Maine’s cranberry industry and a report that Super Scoop in Belmont is for sale by its owner  Julie Heeter who has operated the shop for 26 years.
  • The owners of the Sterlingtown Public House launched a second location (photo on right) of their burger-centric restaurant The Spot (instagram) in Rockland last weekend. It’s located at 131 North Main Street and is open Wednesday through Monday 11 am – 8 pm. The original The Spot is located in the town of Washington.
  • The New York Times included The Alna Store in the paper’s list of their “50 favorite places in America right now.”
  • The Maine Sunday Telegram published a 3½ star review of River House in Damariscotta.

For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.

New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:

• • The inaugural edition of the Midcoast Villager includes an article about Dennis’s Jerk Chicken in Warren and its owner Dennis McCalla. The Midcoast Villager is a new newspaper reporting primarily on Waldo and Knox counties published by Reade Brower. Brower and his company plan to launch the Villager Café in Camden next year.
  • Smithereen Farm has put together a digital map that highlights 140 food and dining establishments (see above) in Washington County. The map is part of an ongoing effort funded by a USDA Local Food Promotion Program grant to develop the Washington County which includes a marketing program, multi-vendor farm store and a commercial kitchen.
  • Jacqueline Dole has written an article about the Midcoast for Travel & Leisure that highlights some of her favorite place to visit, stay and eat at.
  • Owners of The Whale’s Tooth in Lincolnville has announced they’re putting the business up for sale and that they plan close the pub on October 14th.
  • Maine Calling on Maine Public radio aired a show last week about Franco-American food traditions.
  • the Bangor Daily News has published an update on Winona’s (instagram) the new restaurant under construction on Elm Street in Camden.

For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.