Portland Public Schools have announced a variety of food programs operating over this summer. They include a free breakfast/lunch service for kids 18 and under taking place at schools throughout the city, the Locker Project which provides groceries for families, and a mobile bus route delivery service.
A Guide to Maine Cider
Buoyed by an interest in local food, gluten-free eating, and the ongoing enthusiasm for heirloom apples, the last few years have seen significant growth in Maine cider industry. There are now 17 cider makers in Maine with at least four more producers under development. Additionally, in 2019 two dedicated cider bars – Perennial in Belfast and Anoche in Portland – opened for business.
With all of that in mind, I’ve put together a Guide to Maine Cider to provide a resource for me and my fellow cider enthusiasts to the producers, cider bars, bottle shops and events that are part of the emergent cider community in Maine.
Two Fat Cats Opening Saturday (Updated)
Two Fat Cats (website, facebook, instagram, twitter) has announced they’ll be opening their new bakery cafe at 195 Lancaster Street on Thursday, July 2nd Saturday July 4th. The bakery will offer take-out and pre-order options as well as, a special menu for the opening of their newest location. Indoor dining will be postponed for now.
The new building will provide Two Fat Cats much needed room to continue to grow their business. The 3,000 sq ft building will has space for seating and has onsite parking for customers.
Stacy Begin, Owner, Two Fat Cats Bakery, recalls “The first time I walked into the Lancaster Street building, it was gutted – an empty shell that required imagination. But the spirit of the building grabbed me and said, ‘Make me a bakery.’ And, I said, ‘Yes, you need to be a bakery.’ From that day to this, we saw the potential and the personality of the building come alive. Now when I walk through the door, I see a bakery. Not just any bakery – Two Fat Cats Bakery. It feels like home. It feels like Two Fat Cats. Sometimes you just have to listen to the building. It knows best.”
Two Fat Cats was founded in 2005 by Dana Street, Alison Pray, Matt James, and Kristen DuShane. Begin and Matthew Holbrook bought Two Fat Cats in 2012, and in 2018 TFC added a South Portland location.
Bard Coffee Truck
Bard Coffee is in the process of launching a food truck. They’ve just bought a food truck from North Carolina and will begin renovations starting Monday.
Bard anticipates launching the truck the week of July 6th, and plan to co-locate the truck near Evo X on the Eastern Prom bike/walk path.
Quarantine Cocktails
The Maine Sunday Telegram has posted a roundup of beers and cocktails to go with pandemic-inspired names such as the Dr. Fauci.
If the stress of the pandemic is getting to you, or you just want to try something new that will make you smile, check out our guide to these specialty cocktails and beers below. Just don’t enjoy them in a crowd.
Crowds on Wharf Street
Prompted by images of crowds on Wharf Street Friday night, the City of Portland is assigning code enforcement officers to monitor conditions on Wharf street and made clear that if “the regulations are not followed by businesses then the City will be forced to eliminate outdoor dining on Wharf Street and in other areas in which violations are found.”
For more information see reports in the Press Herald and from News Center Maine.
Food Industry Action Taking Place Today
30 eateries across Maine are taking part today in Food Industry Action. As part of the program participating businesses are raising money for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund by donating “5% of sales…on behalf of a united food community”.
You can see a full list of participating establishments in Maine and across the country on the Food Industry Action website and adjust your plans accordingly to support the initiative.
Food Truck Tracking Apps for Maine
A new mobile app Food Truck Movement (facebook, instagram, twitter) that tracks a growing number of food trucks from across Maine launched earlier this month. The app is the creation of Julian and Rachel Gallo, and is available via the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Food Truck Movement currently tracks the location of 9 food trucks including Bogs Bakery, Mac Daddy’s Seafood and Tots, Mainely Meatballs, Muthah Truckah, Nom Bai, Rose’s Spring Rolls, Taco Cat, The Moody Dog, Vantage Point Provisions.
A second food truck tracking app for both Apple and Android called Food Trux (website, instagram, twitter) is in the final stages of development and is launching today in Denver with plans to launch soon in Portland as well.
And a web-based food truck app called Maine Food Truck Tracker (website, instagram, facebook) launched earlier this year. Maine Food Truck Tracker is used by 23 Maine-based food trucks.
Via Vecchia to Open on Friday
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Via Vecchia (instagram, facebook, website) is scheduled to open on Friday with options for both indoor and outdoor seating. Via Vecchia is a new restaurant and bar from Blyth & Burrows owner Joshua Miranda.
Located at 10 Dana Street in the 3,900 sq ft space formerly occupied by Vignola/Cinque Terre, Via Vecchia will be serving a menu of Italian food (think pizzettes, house-made pasta, polenta fries, etc), classic and creative cocktails, and Italian wines.
The Via Vecchia design team have created a beautiful space that draws its inspiration from pre-WWI European bistros. The front room features a circular bar. The back dining room has seating in the mezzanine and a table for larger parties on the ground floor.
Reservations for Via Vecchia are available on Resy.com.
A Farm for the Somali Bantu Community of Maine
The Somali Bantu Community Association in collaboration with the Agrarian Trust has launched a crowdfunding campaign so the association can acquire a 107-acre farm in Wales, Maine. The goal is to raise $367k by December 1st. Donors have already contributed $57,875.
For more information and to make a contribution online visit agrariantrust.org