Oxbow Expanding

Oxbow Brewing has also applied for a liquor license so they can serve wine, spirits, food (draft menu, page 39) and beers from other brewers along with their own products at their tasting room on Washington Ave.

Although we have been enjoying a steady early draw of customers to our new Portland tasting room, it has quickly become apparent that the ability to provide a more complete [experience] would generate substantially more traffic to our location, and subsequently to the many small businesses that surround us. To be able to maximize the potential of our space, we would like to have the option of preparing snacks as well as serving guest beers, wines and spirits from other local artisan producers.

Under Construction: Portland Patisserie

Steve and Michelle Corry have applied for a liquor license for Portland Patisserie, the new bakery/cafe they have under development at 46 Market Street.

The cafe will serve “classic French pastries along with crepes, sandwiches, salads and coffee” as well as pies, cakes and other French baked goods. The full draft menu can be found on pages 58-62 of the City Council agenda. Here’s a small  excerpt:

patisserie_menu

Portland Patisserie is scheduled to be open 7 days a week, 6am to 8pm. In addition to the baked goods the cafe will stock a selection of wine, beer and champagne for retails sale and will sell specialty foods such as French cheeses, charcouterie, spices and fresh-baked breads.

The Corry’s recently were issued a building permit for the space and so construction should be starting up soon. They hope to have Portland Patisserie open in the March/April time frame. The floor plan has a what looks like a central retail display area and seating for 33 at tables around the perimeter of the room.

portlandpatisserie

In’finiti→Liquid Riot Bottling Co.

liquidriot

Owners Eric and Julie Michaud have announced plans to rename and reconcept In’finiti as the Liquid Riot Bottling Company (facebook, instagram, twitter).

Part of the new identity of Liquid Riot is the “tasting room.” The raised dining area of In’finiti has been removed in order to open up the space and bring the room together on one level. Instead of a “restaurant” which typically has a focus on food, we now have a “tasting room” where one can focus on the taste of our cocktails made from our house-made spirits and the taste of our beer brewed on premise. To accompany these offerings we will have tasty, fresh food prepared in our kitchen. You can still get a full meal or just apps and snacks, just as you can still get an array of intoxicatingly delicious liquids. Our products are not changing, just the name, a little bit of the layout, and the idea of what that space provides.

The Michauds are just completing a renovation of the space at 250 Commercial Street and plan to re-open the business today at 3pm.

Bar Review of Taco Trio

The Press Herald has reviewed Taco Trio.

Taco Trio is an authentic Mexican taqueria in South Portland that caters to families, teenagers, twenty-somethings and beyond. You’ll likely get a mixed crowd on any given night – be prepared for a line and a wait on weekend nights. There’s a solid beer selection, a few drafts, and two house cocktails (margarita and mojito). While not a bar scene in the traditional sense, it’s a good place to go to drink and eat cheaply.

Under Construction: Japanese Food Truck

According to Eating Portland Alive, chef Austin Miller will be launching a new food truck this Spring.

Chef Austin Miller of East Ender fame is taking to the streets this April with a food truck that will feature Japanese-inspired fare. He will be sourcing ingredients from local farms & fishermen to whip up okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, yakitori-style items, yakisoba, as well as a hot dog with a Japanese twist.