Under Construction: Copper Branch

| Posted in Under Construction

Mainebiz has published an update on the Copper Branch vegan restaurant under development in Canal Plaza.

Chris and Melissa Hooper, husband-and-wife entrepreneurs who will become the building’s first tenants after signing a lease, told Mainebiz they’re targeting a September opening — possibly sooner — for the business.

Originally from Canada and now living in Cape Elizabeth, the couple will be franchisees for Copper Branch, a fast-growing Montreal-based chain that specializes in “100% plant-based power food” from avocado toast and other all-day breakfast fare to power smoothies and poutine with cremini mushroom sauce, a vegan take on a Quebec classic.

Woodfords Corner Maiz Opened Sunday

| Posted in Openings

Maiz (website, facebook, instagram) opened their new 1,200 square foot restaurant located at 621 Forest Ave yesterday. The hours for the new location are Tuesday – Saturday 3pm-9pm and Sunday 11am – 6pm. 

Check out this set of photos by Eating Portland Alive for a look at some of the food at the Forest Ave Maiz.

Owners Martha Leonard and Niky Watler opened their original location in the Public Market House July 2, 2017.

This Week’s Events: Darling Ruby, Lone Pine, Sunday Seminar, Good Wine for a Good Cause

| Posted in Events

Monday – Good Wine for a Good Cause, a wine tasting event that raises money for the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, is taking place at Grace.

Tuesday – the April Hush Hush event is taking place at Giant.

Wednesday – Woodford F&B is holding a launch party for Allagash Darling Ruby.

Friday – there will be a wine tasting at the Brighton Ave Rosemont and Vermont wine/cide maker Deirdre Heekin from La Garagista will be at Maine & Loire for a wine tasting, Oxbow Brewing is hosting Bully Boy Distilling for an event to launch their amaro, and a Graze Dinner is taking place.

Saturday – Lone Pine is opening their Gorham tasting room, a Titanic-themed dinner is taking place at the Cumberland Club, as is the Winter Farmers’ Market.

Sunday – there will be a Selections de la Vina tasting at Maine & Loire, and Bow Street is holding their monthly Sunday Wine Seminar.

A Look Ahead – here are a couple events happening a little further out that you may want to check out.

    • Ripka is holding a pop-up dinner at Piccolo “a night filled with vodka, “zakuski” to share, pierogis, “golubtsi” (stuffed cabbage) & more” on April 15th, 5-10pm.
    • Chefs Matt Ginn and Christian Hayes will be guest speakers at a MaineVoices event taking place on April 23rd at One Longfellow Square.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

Review of Po’ Boys & Pickles

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed the Po’ Boys & Pickles.

Po’ Boys & Pickles has become an institution in Portland’s Deering Junction neighborhood. Opened in late 2009, the New Orleans sandwich shop has built up a loyal following for its Cajun-esque dishes. Some, like smoky red beans and rice with andouille sausage, and the Peacemaker po’ boy, a crusty French-bread roll stuffed to busting with deep-fried oysters and shrimp, are worth seeking out. Salads may not be particularly Louisiana-inspired, but they are also good, especially the falafel salad with a zippy, Creole-mustard-and-red-wine vinaigrette. However, the menu needs a thorough edit…

Lone Pine Gorham Opens Next Week

| Posted in Openings, Beer

Lone Pine Brewing have announced plans to open their new Gorham brewery next week.

April 13th will be the first glance of our new Gorham production facility. A staff meet and greet and, for Saturday only, we will be running personal tours through our entire campus. We will otherwise not offer full tours until later this year.

The tasting room will have 16 drafts pouring, including a showcase of our first barrel-aged sours. Long-term barrel storage is the center-point of our warehouse and Saturday will be our first display of what we have been aging for the past 12 months.

Lone Pine will continue to operate their East Bayside tasting room after the Gorham location opens.

For more on Lone Pine’s new brewery see this article from Mainebiz.

Under Construction: Three Strong Spirits

| Posted in Under Construction

A new distillery named Three Strong Spirits (website, facebook, instagram) is under construction in East Bayside  in a 6,200 sq ft space at 35B Diamond Street.

Owners David McConnell and Sam Pierce hope to open the tasting room this June.

Three Strong Spirits is named after a colonial era punch recipe “one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak”.

Under Construction: The Cider House

| Posted in Under Construction

The owner of Good News Coffee and Package, Michael Vassallo, has decided to change the concept of his business from a coffee and retail store to a cider bar.

The Cider House, located at 28 Brackett Street, will serve ciders from Maine and New England as well as from elsewhere in the US and from international producers along with a “compact tapas-style menu with a few larger items”. Vassallo plans to be open evenings as well as midday on the weekends.

New Cafe Slated for Old Aurora Building

| Posted in Under Construction

Liz Koenigsberg and her husband chef Will Lavey, the couple who bought Blue Spoon last year, have leased the former Aurora Provisions building in the West End where they plan to open Blue Spoon Cafe & Catering.

Blue Spoon Cafe & Catering will be a casual breakfast and lunch cafe with coffee service and foods to go. It will also be a home base to expand Blue Spoon’s catering service.

Koenigsberg and Lavey shared that as former West End residents, they appreciate what role Aurora Provisions played as a community meeting place and want to open a cafe that bring that back to the neighborhood. They hope to open Blue Spoon Cafe & Catering in May.

Aurora Provisions went out of business last year and the property was bought at auction by real estate developer Tom Landry in January.

For additional information Koenigsberg encourages people to email her at  info@bluespoonme.com.