A new pop-up series called Set Lunch (instagram) will be starting up in Portland in March. The creation of Elise Schloff and Emma Porter, Set Lunch will serve 3-course lunches and take place  monthly-ish. The meals will be vegetarian—and often vegan—with a gluten free option, and each will explore their “favorite lunch concepts, from Japanese bento and French formules to Soviet canteens and cafeteria restaurants of the American South.”

Schloff shared this about Set Lunch, “I’m excited to be working with Emma because our culinary values and points of view are so complementary. I’ve been looking to work more with savory food and am really into lunch as a meal format and an ambiance. I love taking a moment in the middle of a busy day to luxuriate a bit. I feel most creative when I’m working with some sort of constraints, and I think a set price three-course meal will be a fun container to play with. There’s also just something very charming about a meal served on a tray, which I hope diners appreciate as much as we do.”

And Porter shared this, ” I love the concept of serving a meal that is complete, like you’re a visitor in our theoretical home(s) and this is what we’ve prepared for lunch based on what was available at the market. There is also a communal aspect of eating what everyone else is, too, which feels special as well.”

Porter is the founder of Ways of Bean, and Schloff is the creator of Soymilkmaid.

The first Set Lunch is scheduled to take place on Tuesday March 3rd at Luncheonette. Follow Set Lunch on instagram to hear about future events and see the menu for their first meal when it gets published.

A new cocktail and wine bar called The Marquis (website, instagram) is scheduled to open on Friday. It’s located in the Arts District at 150 Park Street in the space formerly occupied by Sagamore Hill, and will be open daily, 4 – 11 pm and until 1 am on Friday/Saturday.

Owners Meg Bartos and Jacob Coombs have looked to French American history, New Orleans speakeasies and contemporary French bistros for inspiration for the design of the space and the menu. New Orleans classics like the Sazarac (rye, Peychaud’s, demerara sugar, Herbsaint) along with house designed drinks and wine by the glass and bottle are available. The Marquis also offers traditional absinthe fountain service with your choice of French and Maine made absinthes. Non-alcoholic cocktails, dessert drinks like the Grasshopper (Underberg, house creme de menthe, creme de cacao, cream, vermouth) a selection of beer and shot pairing are also available like a Coors with Old Forester. Bar snacks like Cajun-spiced corn nuts, pigs in a blanket, and some sweet treats are available to enjoy with the drinks. A feature of the menu are a set of caviar and champagne options and caviar bumps. See below for the full menu.

Coombs is originally from the Skowhegan area in Somerset County and the couple met while he was bartending in Saint Croix. Since moving back to Maine he’s worked at a number of local establishments and was on staff at Sagamore Hill. Bartos has lived in France and is a serial entrepreneur. This will be her fourth company and the first in the hospitality industry.

The name of the business is a reference to the Marquis de Lafayette whom the Lafayette Building that the bar is in was named for. On his tour of America in 1825, Lafayette visited Portland and stayed at the Mussey Boarding House which was located near the corner of Park and Congress Streets. The motto for the bar will be “Cur non?” which translates as “Why Not?” and was used by Lafayette on his coat of arms.