Caballeras in Brunswick

| Posted in Under Construction, Maine

Nikaline Iacono, the owner of Vessel & Vine in Brunswick, is launching a new bar. Named Caballeras (instagram) the menu will focus exclusively on oxidized and aromatized wines like vermouth, sherry, rancio, madeira and apertivos which Iacono refers to as her “true loves”. She hopes to launch Caballeras in April.

The 14-seat bar will be located within the Vessel And Vine shop with additional outdoor seating during the warmer months of the year. In addition to the bar program Caballeras will serve tapas-style snacks. Charley Zimmerman will be heading up the bar with Iacono working on the wine list and food.

The Ugly Duckling Opens Tuesday

| Posted in Openings

The Ugly Duckling (website, instagram) is scheduled to open this morning at 8 am. The new bakeshop and luncheonette is being launched by Ilma Lopez  and Damian Sansonetti the co-owners of Chaval (Lopez is shown above talking with Matt Bolinder from Speckled Ax and chef Rob Evans from Duckfat). The cafe space features a horseshoe coffee bar as well as additional table seating in the front windows along with a small retail section.

The Ugly Duckling will be open this  week Tuesday and Wednesday 8 am – noon. Next week it will be open Tuesday through Thursday and the hours will be 8 am to 1 pm. Over the next few weeks menu and hours/days of operation will expand; closing time will eventually be 6 pm. The Ugly Duckling is located at 246 Danforth Street in the West End.

Shown above are the pastrami and rye breakfast sandwich (pastrami, fried egg, provolone, horseradish-espresso red-eye aioli) on a house made rye caraway English muffin, a canalé and scenes from the friends and family test run that took place Monday. The Ugly Duckling is serving Speckled Ax coffee and espresso drinks and has a full liquor license—watch for the spirit-espresso pairings—and be sure to try the fennel/orange/tea mocktail if you’re looking for a no ABV beverage.

Here’s a look at the opening day menu:

Upcoming Events

| Posted in Events

February 14 – it’s Valentine’s Day. Check with your favorite restaurant on special menus and events.

February 17/18 – the Maker’s Galley is holding a 4-course Croatian Dinner and cooking class.

February 20 – chef Sam Fore from Tuk Tuk will be at Crispy Gai for a pop-up dinner.

February 26/27 – the first 2023 Science Cafe and associated cooking class is taking place at Canopy Farms in Brunswick.

February 28 – Maine Restaurant Week’s Incredible Breakfast Cook-off.

March 1-12 – Maine Restaurant Week.

March 2 – Judy Gibson is holding a 5-course beer dinner in collaboration with Fore River Brewing.

March 5 – Maine Restaurant Week’s Spirit Quest.

March 18 – Chris Toy is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.

April 3 – Scratch Baking is teaching a bagel baking class.

April 21 – The Good Food Awards will take place, there at 12 finalists from Maine in the running this year.

May 20 – Maine Wild Wine Fest.

June 12-18 – Portland Wine Week.

July 23 – Open Farm Day.

September 10 – Maine Cheese Festival.

October 8 – Maine Open Creamery Day.

Michelin in Maine?

| Posted in General News

The Michelin Guide recently launched in Florida, and in an article in the Wall Street Journal they asked a panel of food writers to predict where the guide should expand to next. Guess which state made the list?

Restaurateur and author Michael Cecchi-Azzolina predicts Maine,

“There are the lobster shacks, but also amazing chefs like off-the-grid genius Erin French at the Lost Kitchen in Freedom; Melissa Kelly at Primo in Rockland; and Sara Jenkins, who was behind Porchetta in New York City and opened Nina June in Rockport. Everyone talks about Noma and foraging, but the simplicity of what these chefs do is also steeped in originality and a homage to Maine’s culinary origins.”

Michelin currently covers 6 geographies in the US: New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Florida and California. They expanded into California in 2019 when the state’s tourism board agreed to underwrite the annual operational costs.

Wayside Review & Savory Cocktails

| Posted in Reviews, Distilling & Cocktails

The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a review of Wayside Tavern, and

Cast in deep greens, golds and Victorian-era stained wood, this European-inspired restaurant (read: mostly Italian and French) is the sort of bistro-esque neighborhood restaurant any locality would be lucky to have. The cocktail menu takes familiar classics like negronis and boozy spritzes and tweaks them just enough so you’d notice only if you’re paying attention. The menu does the same, although it also plays with format, reimagining a roast chicken as an open-faced sandwich slathered in ricotta and pine nuts, soaking up the fat and juices from griddled chicken thighs…

an article about a trend in cocktail design popping up in local bars.

Au courant cocktail enthusiasts or anyone with an adventuresome palate these days can sip drinks all around town that showcase the savory flavors of everything from fresh spinach and carrots or roasted beets to Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, brown butter, lobster, North African shakshuka sauce – even hot and sour Thai tom yum soup.

New Owner of Big Sky Bread Co.

| Posted in Under Construction

Joseph Rank recently took over ownership of Big Sky Bread Company (website, facebook, instagram). Co-founder and owner Martha Elkus posted a statement that in part reads,

After 29 wonderful years at the bakery, the time has come for me to move on. In January 2023, after searching for the right person, I sold the bakery to a great guy named Joe Rank. He is a neighbor and long-time customer who is committed to our signature products and all the things that make Big Sky a very special place. At the same time, he has the energy, skills, and vision to make sure Big Sky stays strong for the next 30 years. Joe and his wife Jean live in Deering Center and have 3 sons who attend Portland schools. They have been customers of Big Sky for many years, their kids have played at our dough table, and they understand why Big Sky is so important to this community. I feel confident that the bakery is in good hands.

Martha Elkus and and her late husband Bill Harris founded the Portland Big Sky Bread in 1994. It’s located in the former Engine 8 Firehouse in Woodfords Corner at 536 Deering Ave.

Portland Distilling Company

| Posted in Under Construction

Co-owners Caleb Landry, Adam Sousa, and Matt Brown are launching a new distillery called the Portland Distilling Company (instagram). The distillery is under construction at 135 Walton Street on back side of the same building as the Speckled Ax roastery and coffee shop.

They aim to eventually have a full portfolio of spirits including whisky, bourbon, rum, vodka and various styles of gin. Their first product—which they hope to launch this fall—will be Goldie’s Cocktail Gin produced in a London dry style. PDC’s production still has a 300-gallon capacity which will enable the distillery to produce 10,000 gallons of spirits a year.

Landry and Sousa are the creative directors at Blyth and Burrows and Brown work at Ameriprise Financial. From their bartending background Sousa and Landry have developed an understanding of where there’s opportunity to bring new products to life that meet industry needs and wants which will guide the new product development process at PDC.

Volcano Bar and Grill

| Posted in Under Construction

George and Jossie Papanikolaou have leased the former Seasons Grille space at 155 Riverside Street where they plan to open a new bar and grill called Volcano (website, facebook, instagram, twitter).

The menu is still under development but is expected to include standards like burgers and fried chicken as well as some Greek dishes. Volcano will have a full bar and will host live music. Renovations are underway and no opening day has been set.

The Papanikolaou family also own Stacks Pancake Company which the opened in July 2021 and previously operated restaurants in New York and New Jersey.