New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:
- Old Vines in Kennebunk served their last glass of wine on May 3rd. Kyle Robinson and Yazmin Saraya Jean, the owners of Chez Rosa, are taking over the Old Vines space where they plan to relocate their Kennebunkport restaurant. The last day of business at the current Chez Rosa location will be May 25th. Jean and Robinson plan to relaunch at 173 Port Street in Kennebunk in mid-June.
- Bay Bowls will be opening a new location in Bath in May. The new Bay Bowls will be moving into the former gas station at 45 Water Street. Bay Bowls serves a menu of bowls made with acai, dragon fruit, coconut and mango as well as smoothies. They also have locations in Portland and Brunswick.
- Bluuma Flowers (website, facebook, instagram) in Monmouth has rolled out the schedule for their 2025 farm dinner series. Each of the 5-course dinners (June through October) features a seasonal menu with dishes drawing from Eastern European cooking traditions.
- Biddo Foodies have published a dozen photos showing dishes from the new brunch menu at Banded Brewing.
- The Blair Hill Inn has hired chef Jason Borajkiewicz for their in-house restaurant Slate.
- The Bangor Daily News has published an article about the Villager Cafe in Camden. “It’s also the only eatery in the state — possibly even the nation — where they can expect to speak regularly with reporters, editors, the publisher and owner of the region’s local paper.”
- The Harpswell Anchor has published an article about Pomelia in Brunswick.
- The Bangor Daily News has a report on the recent discovery of a rare French variety of apples on Verona Island. “Called the Drap d’Or de Bretagna, the cultivar came from the Brittany region of France and was likely brought to Maine by Castine’s early French settlers in the late 1600s. The tree, believed to be a direct descendant of early plantings, was rediscovered by a group of local “apple explorers” who are passionate about old apples and what they reveal about history.”
- The Portsmouth Herald has a report on chef Lee Franks appearance on the cooking TV show Yes, Chef! Franks is the owner of Lee Franks in Wells and South Berwick as well as The Otis in Exeter, NH.
- The Lewiston Sun Journal reports that Casey and Ali Peacock are opening a new restaurant called The Blue Feather Kitchen + Bar (facebook) at 49 Lisbon Street in Lewiston.
- The Morning Sentinel has a report on Popo’s Food Truck Park which recently launched on Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville.
For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, plus other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.