Dinner Ending at Artemisia

| Posted in Closings

Artemisia Cafe has announced plans to shut down their dinner service. This coming Friday will be its last night in operation.

The Italian restaurant that serves dinner at Artemisia opened nearly 5 years ago in May of 2013 and is run by Heather Neville and Guy Frenette. The couple grew-up in Maine but had spent several years working in the restaurant industry in the Bay Area (Chez Panisse, Aquerello, Oliveto). There’s no word yet on what their post-Artemisia plans are.

Interview with Bite Into Maine

| Posted in People

Brocavore has published an interview with Sarah and Karl Sutton from Bite Into Maine.

B: What aspect of running a food truck do you find most personally satisfying, and why?

S: First and most important would be the direct contact with our customers. In restaurants, a lot of chefs are behind the scenes. In a food truck, not only can customers seeing you preparing their food, but you can watch them enjoy it and they give you direct feedback.

It has been incredible to interact with locals who have been coming to us since the beginning, or visitors who come once a year on vacation. We get to experience people telling us how excited they are for their food each and every day. It is an honor to make people happy.

But honestly, I really really like people telling us that we are THE BEST. It is something that I aspire to each day.

Brocavore is a new blog writing about “dope-ass street food for the home cook” written by ‘Wich Please and From Away creator Malcolm Bedell.

Speed Rack Competition

| Posted in Events

Five Portland bartenders are competing in the Speed Rack competition this Sunday in Boston: Sylvi Roy and Kristen Mixter from Hunt + Alpine, Charlotte Stanton from Little Giant, Alexa Doyer from Opium, and Crystal Pomerleau Central Provisions.

Speed Rack is al all female bartending competition that evaluates participants on speed, accuracy, and drinks to name a winner to go to the national finals in NYC. Briana Volk will also be participating as a judge.

Under Construction: 740 Broadway

| Posted in Under Construction

Than Pham, the general manager of the Veranda Group, has leased a 1,881 square foot space at 740 Broadway in South Portland, presumably to open a South Portland Veranda Thai restaurant. Veranda currently has a a new restaurant under construction at 672 Main Street in Westbrook.

740 Broadway is in the same strip mall where Two Fat Cats plans to open a second location.

Biddeford’s Restaurant Scene

| Posted in General News

Today’s Press Herald includes a report on Biddeford’s developing restaurant scene.

But things are starting to change, thanks in no small part to the town’s nascent food and restaurant scene, which is slowly but surely growing. As newcomers move into old mill buildings that are being renovated into apartments and commercial spaces, and into upper-floor apartments on Main Street, the demographics are changing in this town of 22,000 – and the community’s tastes are changing, too.

Under Construction: Paciarino

| Posted in Under Construction

The Press Herald reports that Paciarino owners Enrico Barbiero and Fabiana de Savino have leased the former Zapoteca space on Fore Street. They plan to move the restaurant into the new building and hold on to the existing Paciarino store front for their retail sales.

At the new space, which they are leasing, they will continue to serve the current Paciarino menu, Barbiero said, but he plans to add brick-oven pizza, risotto, arancini, gnocchi and other items.