Zaitun to Open Saturday

| Posted in Openings

A Somali restaurant called Zaitun (instagram) is under construction on Forest Ave in the building formerly occupied by Loco Taco. Owner Abdulrahman Idow plans to launch Zaitun this Saturday, August 1st.

Idow hopes Zaitun can “be a place where people can experience authentic Somali cuisine, whether they’re reconnecting with the flavors of home or trying them for the very first time. We look forward to bringing our community together and introducing more of Maine to the rich culture of Somalia.”

The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner (see menus below) with options like Hummus Oodkac (hummus topped with Somali spiced beef jerky), injera-based dishes prepared with chicken, lamb or vegetables, Channa Masala (chickpeas simmered in tomato and onion gravy with ginger, garlic, cumin and coriander), shwarma wraps, sambusas, and desserts.

Zaitun is located at 849 Forest Avenue and will be open Monday through Thursday, 9 am – 9 pm, and Friday/Saturday, 9 am – 11 pm.

 

Sweetfern Geometer Opens Today

| Posted in Openings

Sweetfern Geometer (instagram) is set to open Wednesday, July 29th. Owner William Justice has completely renovated the former Bake Maine Pottery Cafe space at 122 Washington Ave. It now features a 20-seat bar and overall seating capacity for 50 guests. Sweettfern will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 5 – 9 pm.

Justice is initially launching Sweetfern with counter service and an abreviated bar menu (see below) that includes Scallop Crudo plated with kielbasa, cucumber, scallion mayo, green oil and red currant, Spelt Demi-Boule served with radish and marigold butter, and the option of Marinated Chicken or Tofu served with charred heirloom tomato, basil, Irish moss, trumpet mushorooms, Szechuan pepper and masa. The beverage program will initially include, beer and wine with plans to add a cocktail with the launch of the full menu.

When the full menu and table service comes on line, Sweetfern will serve some a la carte options with the central offering of family-style meals utilizing seasonal ingredients and guided by dinner guest preferences (vegetarian, seafood, etc).

Justice began his career in hospitality running an underground catering operation in California as an offshoot of his work in the publishing industry. The side venture to provide food for book events eventually became center stage in his career. He went on to launch a farm-to-table restaurant and bookstore/coffee shop in Kansas, before moving to NYC where he was the chef and co-owner Tannat Wine & Cheese. Earlier this year he opened a bakery/cafe in an adjacent space called Mourning Cloak (instagram).

Ilma Lopez Runs for City Council

| Posted in People

Chef Ilma Lopez, co-owner of Chaval and Ugly Duckling, is running for the District 5 seat on the Portland City Council. A statement on her campaign website reads,

I believe Portland should be a city where families, working people, and seniors can afford to live, where neighborhoods are safe and welcoming, where local businesses can grow, and where every child has access to a strong education. My approach is practical: listen to residents, spend taxpayer dollars responsibly, and focus on solutions that strengthen District 5 and all of Portland.

The other candidates for District 5 are Michael Todd Chretien, Jakobi Delgado, and Kevin Gardella. You can read about the full set of 10 candidates running for spots on the City Council in this article from the Press Herald.

Royal Ice, The Hut, Strada Social Club, and Sputnik Cafe

| Posted in Under Construction, Openings

Here are four new business that have recently launched or are soon to do so:

The Hut by Twin Tide Kitchen (website, facebook, instagram) recently opened on Commercial Street. They’re located in the small building (above) across from Brickyard Hollow Brewing. The Hut is serving sandwiches, salads, baked goods, ice cream and drinks.

A new food truck called Royal Ice (instagram) recently launched on Forest Ave. They’re located in the parking lot next to Mandy & Matt’s Cafe at the corner of Stevens Ave. Royal Ice is serving Cold Fusion gelato, ice cream from Gifford’s and fresh squeezed lemonade. They plan to be open daily (weather permitting).

Strada Social Club (website, facebook, instagram) launched last Tuesday on Thompson’s Point. The menu features Italian pasta dishes like cuzzetiello and rigatoni. Owner Alana Reali also owns Sauce and Destroy and uses S&D marinara in the dishes served by Strada. Watch for Strada to be popping up at breweries and special events. Strada is also available for catering.

Milly Taylor plans to launch Sputnik Cafe (website, instagram) this fall. Taylor describes Sputnik as a “community oriented cafe-on-wheels driven to serve up some tasty drinks and sandwiches and to put a smile on your face.” She shared that her goal is “to create a fun and loving customer base that strives to make Portland and surrounding areas a more joyful place.” Taylor expects to operate in the Greater Portland area with stops at hospitals, work sites, festivals, and will also offer private event cocktail service catering as well. Taylor has worked in the industry for 16 years. She shared that launching her own business is something she’s dreamed of since she was a teenager.

Upcoming Food & Dining Events

| Posted in Events

Tuesday – Gaaeng Supper Club from Boston will be popping up at the Portland Zoo. “Gaaeng Supper Club is a Boston-based Thai pop-up celebrating regional Thai cuisine through seasonal ingredients, and flavors rarely found outside Thailand”.

Wednesday – Twelve is holding a 5-course wine dinner featuring 00 Wines. Founders Chris and Kathryn Hermann will be attending the meal.

Thursday – Lucky Cheetah is hold a guided Champagne tasting. Bard is holding a latte art competition.

Saturday – Yardie Ting will be holding a Jamaican Independence Day Festival.

August 13 – Twelve is serving a 5-course dinner featuring nightshades.

August 15 – En-Noble and Ugly Duckling are collaborating on a global dinner series celebrating the food of Asia, Africa and Latin America. The focus of the August dinner is the food of Africa.

August 22 – The Maine State Cake Decorating Championship is taking place in South Paris.

August 28-30 – Maine Apple Camp is taking place in Hope. The biennial event covers a wide range of topics including “innovative orcharding methods, identifying and preserving heritage varieties, foraging wild fruit, cider making and lots more.”

August 29 – Dinner x Friends is holding their next event.

September 12 – Orange Bike Brewing is hosting a Gluten-Free Market & Expo.

September 13 – The 10th Annual Maine Cheese Festival is taking place in Pittsfield.

September 19 – PoutineFest is taking place. En-Noble and Ugly Duckling are collaborating on a global dinner series celebrating the food of Asia, Africa and Latin America. The focus of the September dinner is the food of Latin America.

September 25-27 – The 50th Annual Common Ground Fair is taking place in Unity.

October 8 – The Maine Food Producers Showcase & Golden Fork Awards are taking place in Portland.

October 24 – The 21st Annual Veg Fest is taking place.

Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene.

The 2026 Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now for sale in packs of 25 on our online store.

Sommelier Jennifer Forge

| Posted in People

Jennifer Forge has earned her Advanced Sommelier certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Testing for the Advanced level consists of a written exam followed by a deductive tasting session and an evaluation on service and hospitality conducted by Master Sommeliers. Forge is just one of 27 people to pass the overall evaluation among the 350 people who sat for the written exam.

She shared “It’s an absolute honor to be able to represent women, parents, first timers, underdogs, New England, Maine, and of course my home city of Portland. I hope to pave the way for other aspiring service professionals and mentor those who wish to further advance their skills and careers. It can be easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamour at this level—it’s important to stay humbled, remember where you came from, and offer a helping hand to those who seek similar achievements. At the end of the day, I’m still just a chick from Maine.”

Forge works for the Prentice Hospitality Group where she is the lead sommelier at Twelve.

A Cocktail Menu at Franciska

| Posted in Distilling & Cocktails

The Argentine wine bar and restaurant Franciska (website, instagram) has added a selection of cocktails to their menu. The program is a collaboration between Brian ‘Cat’ Catapang from Magnus on Water and Franciska owner Alex Marchesini.

Marchesini shared “Argentine bodegones have a rich drinking culture where vermouth, Amari, and sherry collide, simple cocktails have always had a place alongside the food. It felt like a natural and honest evolution to introduce a small cocktail program that reflects that tradition and gives guests another way to experience the culture…After visiting Magnus and experiencing Cat’s cocktails, I knew he was the right person to help bring the program to life. The balance, restraint, and creativity in his drinks really stood out to me.”

Shown here are the Beagle (top right) made with Amontillado sherry, La Fuerza vermouth, strawberry apertiff and Meletti amaro, the Pipistrello (bottom left) made with Four Roses bourbon, Cocchi rosso, Bordiga bianco, passionfruit and Angostura bitters, and the Poncho (bottom right) made with Bold Coast Spirits oyster vodka, Plymouth London dry gin & Tio Pepe fino sherry alongside a serving of Franciska’s flounder ceviche.