This Week’s Events: Chartreuse Dinner, Nepal Pop-up, Figgy’s, Hard Cider Revival, Lobster Roll Rumble

| Posted in Events

Monday — Piccolo is hosting a Chartreuse Dinner, 14 restaurants are collaborating on a fundraisers for Nepal, and Lolita is celebrating their 1-year anniversary.

Tuesday — Figgy’s Takeout is opening, and Bier Cellar is celebrating their 3rd anniversary with an Austin Street tasting.

Wednesday — there will be a wine and cheese tasting at the Public Market House, and The Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Thursday — 7 Maine cider companies will be pouring at Maine Fare’s Hard Cider Revival, and Bite Into Maine will be in NYC to compete the 2015 Lobster Roll Rumble.

Friday — there will be a wine tasting at the West End Deli. It’s also First Friday Art Walk, restaurants will be busy so be sure to make your reservations now.

Saturday — the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market is taking place.

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.

Under Construction: Figgy’s

| Posted in Under Construction

The Forecaster has published an article on Figgy’s Takeout.

When Natalie DiBenedetto looked out her window on Walker Street last year, she didn’t just see a parking lot. She saw an opportunity.

Now, a year later, DiBenedetto is set to open a business in the once-empty lot that she believes will fill one of the city’s last foodie niches: up-scale comfort food and skillet fried chicken to go.

Figgy’s is scheduled to open on Tuesday at 11am.

Reviews: Lolita, Artemisia, Corner Room

| Posted in Reviews

The 207 Foodie has reviewed lunch at Lolita,

If you’re looking for a quiet lunch (available every single day except Tuesday’s) then the East End’s Lolita is a perfect spot. Sit inside and get a taste of how the busy kitchen works, or sit outside and enjoy the beautiful summers that Maine is so well known for.

and the Press Herald has posted a bar review of The Corner Room,

The Corner Room is one of restaurateur and executive chef Harding Lee Smith’s four restaurants in Portland. In its sixth year, The Corner Room is going strong, with a vibrant crowd every night, especially during happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. The cocktail list is unique and a collaborative effort with the bartenders and chefs. This is the perfect place to visit for an after-work drink with a friend or two, and certainly a reliably good place to grab a bite at the bar.

and a review of Artemisia Cafe.

The Pollock delivered on its unspoken promise of perfection by being many things at once: succulent, gooey, savory, multi-dimensional and immensely satisfying. The plan was to eat half now and save the rest for dinner. But you know what they say about the best laid plans. It was served with coleslaw that I didn’t love because it was on the sour side; perhaps it was the choice of cabbage? Or vinegar? Either way, no love lost, I didn’t go there for the slaw.

20 Delicious Years of Standard Baking

| Posted in Profiles

The Press Herald has published an article about Standard Baking. The bakery is celebrating their 20th anniversary.

On April 25, 1995, when the bakery was in its original location on Wharf Street in the Old Port, it had no sign outside and no cash register inside. There were no business hours and no locks on the door. Alison Pray and Matt James, the owners and partners in work and life, didn’t even know on that first day that they would end up with a retail business.

Standard is holding a 20th anniversary celebration this Saturday, 11 – 2.

Catbird Creamery Opening Friday

| Posted in Openings

Caatbird Creamery has announced they’ll be opening their new store in Westbrook on Friday.

It’s happening! We will be open THIS FRIDAY, MAY 29th!!!!!
Everything is not 100%, but we can’t wait any longer! The mural & dedication will be in process for a few weeks, other perks will be available for pickup and being mailed out in the next couple weeks. We can’t believe it, but here we are. Thanks to ALL of you! See you Friday!

Under Construction: Forq Food Lab

| Posted in Under Construction

forqfoodlab_logoA new venture named Forq Food Lab is now under development in Portland. Founders Neil Spillane and Eric Holstein are creating a commercial kitchen and business incubator to help Maine food entrepreneurs get through the early stages of product development and to successfully launch their businesses.

Business owners will get access to Forq on a membership basis similar to how coworking spaces like Think Tank and Peleton Labs operate. They plan to provide to members:

  • Immediate market feedback and validation with a public tasting room on-site
  • Staff that trains members on equipment, regulatory compliance, and business plans
  • Equipment that is maintained and available to use immediately with no up-front investment
  • Member collaboration: Innovative products, sales leads, lower ingredient costs

Spillane and Holstein have put together a strong board of advisors, located a potential space for the kitchen and are now finding the remaining funding they need to make it a reality.

Investors and/or potential Forq business members can contact Neil Spillane for more information at forqfoodlab@gmail.com.

Farm Use of Brewery/Roastery Byproducts

| Posted in Beer

Today’s Bangor Daily News includes an article on how brewery and coffee roaster byproducts are being used by Maine farms.

Average beer drinkers and java junkies probably don’t ponder the waste byproducts generated during the production of their favorite drinks.

However, behind the scenes, organic matter produced during brewing and coffee roasting processes is becoming a farming and gardening staple — an effective, low-cost alternative to commercial fertilizer and feed.