Batson River Expands to Bayside (Updated)

| Posted in Under Construction

Brewery and distillery Batson River (website, facebook, instagram) has leased an 8,154 sq ft space at 82 Hanover Street where they plan to open the Batson River Social Club. They’ll be situated in the same building as the The Whiskey Barrel and nearby Bayside Bowl.

Tim Harrington, co-founder of Batson River stated in the press release,

Coming off the heels of our first successful year in Kennebunk, we’re thrilled to be expanding into Portland for 2020. This new space – with thoughtful and remarkable design by Barrett Made – will be double in size from ourcurrent tasting room. It’s an exciting time to be joining the thriving food and beverage industry in Portland, and particularly in 2020 when all eyes are on Maine for the Bicentennial year celebration.

The West Bayside location will be modeled in concept after their popular original tasting room in Kennebunk with “full bar and tasting room with a more robust food menu, plus additional space for indoor games and activities, retail store”.

They hope to be open in time for summer 2020.

Judy Gibson Slated for South Portland

| Posted in Under Construction

Chris Wilcox, the former Chef de Cuisine at Eventide, has leased 171 Ocean Street in Knightsville, the space formerly occupied by the Teriyaki Exchange, where he plans to open a new restaurant called Judy Gibson (instagram). The restaurant will seat 35 over all including a 10-seat bar.

Judy Gibson—a concatenation of the names of Wilcox’s two grandmothers—will serve a menu of contemporary American cuisine. Wilcox has begun an extensive renovation of the space and hopes to be ready to open in time for Valentine’s Day.

When Wilcox first came to Maine he was the chef at the now closed Velveteen Habit on Ogunquit. While working to launch Judy Gibson he’s on staff at Scratch Baking Co.

Twelve 2020 Good Food Awards Finalists from Maine

| Posted in Reviews

Congratulations to the 12 Maine food producers that are  finalists in the 2020 Good Food Awards:

The winners will be announced January 17 at a gala in San Francisco.

This Week’s Events: Beer Week, Carbon Pop-up, Greek Food Panel, John Bunker

| Posted in Events

Monday – Portland Beer Week is ongoing all week.

Tuesday – Carbon and Piccolo are collaborating on a pop-up, and there will be an Ishi Ishi pop-up at Royale Lunch Bar.

Wednesday – there will be a wine tasting at Old Port Wine Merchants, and  the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Thursday – Bill Doukas, Dina Medouris, and Anna Nashi will be part of a Greek food panel discussion, and famed apple expert John Bunker will be speaking at the Portland Museum of Art.

Friday – Three of Strong will be releasing Merrymeeting Spiced Rum.

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.

Review of Central Provisions

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Central Provisions.

…And with good reason; owners Paige Gould and Chris Gould (also the chef) have built a largely consistent, extraordinarily efficient business that produces some of the area’s finest dishes. Among them, a batter-fried cod cheek tempura served with spicy, aromatic citrus-peel kosho; crisp-skinned suckling pig pressé nestled into a sweet-tangy purée of local apples and almond oil; and the ever-evolving bread plate, where a savory, egg-yolk-rich sabayon always plays a starring role.

207 Bar & Restaurant to Fill Maria’s Space

| Posted in Under Construction

Antoine Bikamba along with business partners Damas Rugaba, Aime Nijimbere, and Aline Bucyana have leased the former Maria’s space at 337 Cumberland Ave where they plan to open 207 Bar & Restaurant.

You’ll recall that Maria’s announced in September that they had purchased the Espo’s Trattoria building on Congress Street where they plan to move the nearly 60-year-old restaurant in December. The Maria’s building was purchased by Youth and Family Outreach.

The owners of 207 Bar & Restaurant are applying for a full liquor license and plan to serve a menu of “international cusine”. You can see a copy of the draft menu below:

Andy’s Old Port Pub Has Closed

| Posted in Closings

The Press Herald reports that Andy’s Old Port Pub has closed. The owners shared that there was a mix of factors including a broken walk-in refrigerator and difficulty in staffing the restaurant.

An emotional Jennifer Fox, who owns the pub at 94 Commercial St. with her husband, Rick Frantz, said they made the decision to close on Friday morning after they discovered they would not be able to repair a walk-in cooler. It was, she said, the last straw in “a cacophony of incidents that all kind of came at the same time.”

“As much as I’m going to miss it – it was my own child – it was time,” Fox said.

 

Lack of Staff Keeps Toast Bar Closed

| Posted in General News

The BDN and Press Herald have posted reports on Scratch’s decision to keep their Toast Bar closed due to a lack of staff.

Here’s an excerpt of what Scratch wrote on Instagram,

Unfortunately with the current labor shortage we just can’t find the staff to provide the experience and service to our customers that is so important to us.

It is an extremely difficult decision and one that admittedly feels a bit like defeat because who likes to disappoint folks who want their toast!? But we‘re going to double down at the bakery on Willard Square where we, of course, will have all the bagels, breads, sweet treats, savory eats, coffee and good cheer you can handle.

We plan to revisit reopening sometime in the spring…