Maine Food & Dining News: Standish, Searsport, Presque Isle, Brunswick

| Posted in Maine

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


  • Silly’s     owner Colleen Kelley has bought a building in Standish where she plans to reopen her restaurant. Kelly closed her last restaurant on Washington Ave in 2022. She has been operating a food truck in Standish since last October. Kelley plans to continue serving from the food truck while compelting renovations to her new building at 131 Osipee Road West.
  • The August issue of Down East magazine includes an article about Rodney’s at 436 Main which is located at the Northeastland hotel in Presque Isle. The article describes Rodney’s as a “community anchor and one of the highest-aiming restaurants north of Bangor, it’s well worth a reservation the next time you’re in the County.”
  • The Bangor Daily News reports that the former Tozier’s Family Market in Searsport has been purchased by Edwards Brothers Supermarkets with plans to reopen it in late November.
  • The Owners of Joshua’s Tavern in Brunswick announced that they’ll be closing down their restaurant after 35 years in business. Their last day of service will be September 28th. For additional reporting, read this article from the Times Record.

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.

Maine Apple and Cider Season

| Posted in Farming, Cider

Sunday is the first day of September and it’s also the start of the Maine apple season. Here are guides to some outstanding apple orchards and a full list of Maine cider producers to help you plan some fun road-trips this Fall.

The Maine Heirloom Apple Guide  is a co-production with the intrepid apple expert Sean Turley at The Righteous Russet (instagram). We hope this provides you with all the information you need to go out for a self-directed exploration of Maine orchards and the many heirloom apples they offer. Use it throughout the fall to go exploring so you can take advantage of the entire season.

The Guide to Maine Cider is a directory to 28 Maine cider producers. They’re located all over the state from Kingfield to Cornish and Portland to Franklin. Stop by cidery tasting rooms like Absolem in Winthrop to or stop in at one of the highlighted retail shops that stock good selections of New England and imported cider.

Other Resources and Events:

CP in CP

| Posted in Profiles

Cover of the August 2024 print issue of The Chronicle of PhilanthropyMaine nonprofit Community Plate (read more) has been featured in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Lots of people are concerned about polarization and the lack of social connection in the country right now. Husband and wife team Karl Schatz and Margaret Hathaway decided to do something about it. Their answer: deploy the power of food and storytelling to build community.

Upcoming Food & Dining Events

| Posted in Events

Thursday – Black Goat in Warren will be holding 4-course dinner in collaboration with Eve’s Cidery.

Friday – The Messy Cookie is holding the grand opening for their weekly retail bakery. Moving forward they’ll be open Fridays, 9 am – 2 pm. Circumstance in Swanville will be holding a 5-course cider dinner with Eve’s Cidery; email info@circumstancemaine.com for a reservation.

Saturday – Three Dots and Dash from Chicago will be holding a tiki bar pop-up at Crowne Jewel.

Friday-Sunday – The Maine Apple Camp is taking place.

September 6-8 – The 4th Annual Mycology Outside mushroom retreat is taking place.

September 8 – The Maine Cheese Festival is taking place in Pittsfield.

September 13 – Edible Communities is holding their Waves of Change event in Portland.

September 14 – Maine PoutineFest is taking place on Thompson’s Point.

September 15 – Maine Apple Sunday is taking place at orchards across the state.

September 19 – Mrs. Gee Free Living and Sur Lie are collaborating on a gluten-free dinner.

September 20-22 – The Common Ground Fair will be taking place.

September 22-29 – Maine Lobster Week is taking place.

September 28 – The Maine Needham Festival is taking place in Wiscasset.

October 3 – Wayside Food Programs is holding their annual fundraising event Inside Wayside.

October 10 – Apres is holding their annual Apple Tasting.

October 13 – The 16th Annual Open Creamery Day is taking place.

October 24 – Great Maine Apple Day is taking place in Unity.

October 23 – Mrs. Gee Free Living and Sur Lie are collaborating on a gluten-free dinner.

October 24-26 – Harvest on the Harbor is taking place.

Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene.
25-packs of the Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now available on our online store.

Two in Barr Hill Competition

| Posted in People

Two bartenders from Portland are semifinalists in the Barr Hill Royal Jellies competition: Jack O’Brien the creative director at Blyth & Burrows and Olivia Watts a bartender at Luna.

They’ll be competing this on Sunday with six other bartenders in Montpellier, Vermont. The competition challenges the participants to develop and mix variants of the classic Bees Knees cocktail. Author Robert Simonson, Justin Sajda (aka @ThirstyWhale) and last year’s winner Patty Burns are judging the competition.

Watts’ creation is the Beez Nuts which is made with Barr Hill Gin, Tom Cat Gin, Honey Pistachio Orgeat, Lemon, Dry Curacao. O’Brien’s drink is Everything But The Hive which is made with Barr Hill Gin, Black Garlic Vodka, Toasted Sesame Orgeat, Honey, Lemon.

Tickets for the event are still available.

Apero in Biddeford

| Posted in Under Construction

Sisters Sophia Normantas and Marie Grasser have leased space at 20 Alfred Street in Biddeford where they plan to open a new bar called Apéro (instagram).

The 40-seat establishment will serve light bites, charcuterie, cocktails, mocktails, and wine. The cocktail list is still under development but is expected to offer a diverse seasonal selection of with all their drinks to be topped off “with a dazzling garnish.”

Renovations are underway with the hope to open Apéro in October. As they shared in an online video they “want it to be moody, sexy, fun” and create a place where customers can “sit with a beautiful cocktail in a gorgeous environment” and enjoy time with friends.

Normantas and Marie Grasser shared that they have always wanted to create a business together. Grasser is also the owner of Charcutemarie (instagram) a business that prepares charcuterie and cheese boards for weddings and events.