January 28 – Sam Hayward is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
February 11 – Ali Waks Adams is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
February 14 – Broken Arrow will be serving a Valentine’s Day dinner.
March 18 – Chris Toy is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
Here’s a look at the highlights, themes and key moments from the 2022 year in food:
Concept Shift – with the pre-pandemic closure of Five Fifty-Five and the 2022 shuttering of Back Bay Grill and Hugo’s, Portland’s fine dining ranks have thinned quite a bit. Twelve is the new standard bearer for white table cloth dining in Portland. In the meantime, daytime cafes and combination restaurant/markets are increasing in number. Smalls and Friends & Family are a prime examples, and coming online in 2023 are the Bread and Friends bakery/cafe, The Ugly Duckling in the West End, the Night Moves/Lambs collaboration, and the new LB Kitchen.
National Recognition – while none of the nominees came home with the gold in June, the 2022 James Beard Awards season saw Maine honored with 10 semifinalists (just shy of the record 11 set in 2020) and a record 5 finalist nominees—a confirmation of the strength of the Maine restaurant industry and hopefully an indication of what’s to come (watch for the 2023 semifinalists list in February). National recognition came in other forms as well this year: Bon Appetit included Regards on their list of the Best New Restaurants in America, the NY Times identified Leeward and Twelve as two of the “50 places in America we’re most excited about right now,” Food & Wine and CN Traveler shared their love of Biddeford, and Esquire magazine has named Twelve to their 2022 list of the Best New Restaurants in America.
Maine Food Map –Biddeford will continue to be a hot spot, and new restaurants are opening in South Portland and the Portland suburbs. However, there’s also been a growing drumbeat of new and interesting food and beverages businesses opening outside the Portland area, and in 2022 that seemed to have gone into a higher gear…here are just a few examples from the past year: Table Bar in Gardiner, Aboslem Cider in Winthrop, Nomad in Brunswick, Solo Pane in Bath, the new Dennett’s Wharf in Castine, The Alna Store in Alna, Sidereal Brewing in Vassalboro, Wolfpeach in Camden, Sophia in Belfast, Perch in Waldoboro, Hey Sailor in Searsport, and The Rooting Pig in Bristol.
Upcoming in 2023 – For a rundown of new food businesses under development see PFM Under Construction list. Here are some of the more exciting ones in the pipeline:
There are also several other exciting new projects that are currently under wraps but will go public soon. Check back later this year for details.
The most popular articles published on Portland Food Map in the past year.
January – The Upward Management Group bought The Porthole, the Bangor Daily News and Press Herald both reported on how restaurants were responding to the challenge of operating during the pandemic, Brea Lu held a fundraiser to support Sinful Kitchen staff impacted by a fire, Vogue named Twelve to their list of the most anticipated restaurants in 2022, The Lost Llama held a Peruvian food pop-up, and four Maine businesses were Good Food Awards winners; Smalls, The Frying Dutchman, and Regards, opened; Sebago Brewing closed their Fore Street location and Luis’ Arepera closed.
March – Christian Hayes departed to Poland to cook for World Central Kitchen’s Ukranian relief effort, 5 Maine chefs and restaurants were named James Beard nominees, and Chase Rochon became a Certified Pommelier; Moonday Coffee, Paper Tiger, Moonday Coffee on Washington Ave, and the WingIt food truck opened, and Back Bay Grill closed.
May – The Maine episode of Somebody Feed Phil aired, CN Traveler published an article about Biddeford, the inaugural Wild Wine Fest took place, Portland Hunt & Alpine Club was an honoree in the Best Cocktail Bar (East Coast) category as part of the 16th Annual Spirit Awards, 2.3k people signed a food truck petition; Little Tandem and Scratch reopened, and Roll Call and The Maine Donut Tour opened.
August – Maine Standard Biofuels bought Urban Farm Fermentory from Eli Cayer, and Nosh changed hands; Cabana, Bread & Olive and Keg & Kraken opened, and Bull Fenney’s reopened.
November – Botto’s announced plans to move to Westbrook, Esquire magazine named Twelve to their 2022 list of the Best New Restaurants in America; Dok Mali, Zu Bakery, and Goodfire Brewing in Freeport opened, and Miyake reopened.For an additional perspective on the past year in food see the Maine Sunday Telegram Best of 2022 article.
This is the 13th year running that Portland Food Map has published a year in review article. Take a walk down memory lane by checking out these past editions that covered 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010.
Monday – Oxbow and Eaux are collaborating on an Oxbeaux Brunch taking place at Cafe Louis in South Portland.
Tuesday – Liu Bian Tan will be holding a Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup pop-up at Cong Tu Bot.
Wednesday – Browne Trading is holding a champagne and caviar tasting.
New Year’s Eve – here is the start of our NYE list. We’ll be adding entries as businesses announce their plans. Drop us a line if you know of a New Year’s Eve offering not yet on the list.
January 7 – Dobra Tea is holding a tea tasting.
January 28 – Sam Hayward is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
February 11 – Ali Waks Adams is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
February 14 – Broken Arrow will be serving a Valentine’s Day dinner.
March 18 – Chris Toy is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
Tuesday – Crispy Gai will be hosting Chicago sandwich shop Big Kids (website, instagram) for a pop-up dinner, and Sacred Profane will be holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner.
Tuesday – Great Wave Sushi is holding pop-up at Amigo’s.
Christmas Eve
Christmas – here’s the start of our Christmas list. We’ll be adding entries as businesses announce their plans. Drop us a line if you know of a Christmas offering not yet on the list.
December 26 – Oxbow and Eaux are collaborating on an Oxbeaux Brunch taking place at Cafe Louis in South Portland.
December 27 – Liu Bian Tan will be holding a Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup pop-up at Cong Tu Bot.
December 28 – Browne Trading is holding a champagne and caviar tasting.
New Year’s Eve – here is the start of our NYE list. We’ll be adding entries as businesses announce their plans. Drop us a line if you know of a New Year’s Eve offering not yet on the list.
January 28 – Sam Hayward is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
February 11 – Ali Waks Adams is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
February 14 – Broken Arrow will be serving a Valentine’s Day dinner.
March 18 – Chris Toy is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
Friday – Bar Futo (instagram) is scheduled to open.
Saturday – a new food cart called Zeerox BBQ (instagram) will be launching at Goodfire Brewing.
Sunday – Helm is holding a prime rib dinner, Nosh will be holding a cider brunch in collaboration with Fruit Bat Distribution, and Jackrabbit is serving a 3-course Julefrokost dinner.
December 20 – Crispy Gai will be hosting Chicago sandwich shop Big Kids (website, instagram) for a pop-up dinner, and Sacred Profane will be holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner.
Christmas Eve
Christmas – here’s the start of our Christmas list. We’ll be adding entries as businesses announce their plans. Drop us a line if you know of a Christmas offering not yet on the list.
December 26 – Oxbow and Eaux are collaborating on an Oxbeaux Brunch taking place at Cafe Louis in South Portland.
New Year’s Eve – here is the start of our NYE list. We’ll be adding entries as businesses announce their plans. Drop us a line if you know of a New Year’s Eve offering not yet on the list.
January 28 – Sam Hayward is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
February 11 – Ali Waks Adams is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
February 14 – Broken Arrow will be serving a Valentine’s Day dinner.
March 18 – Chris Toy is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
Saturday – Bissell Brothers is serving a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner, the Feast of the Seven Fishes., and The Purple House will be holding a wood-fired bagel pop-up in North Yarmouth.
Sunday – Koji Alchemy author Rich Shih will be at Judy Gibson for a koji workshop and fermentation dinner.
December 18 – Helm is holding a prime rib dinner, Nosh will be holding a cider brunch in collaboration with Fruit Bat Distribution, and Jackrabbit is serving a 3-course Julefrokost dinner.
December 20 – Crispy Gai will be hosting Chicago sandwich shop Big Kids (website, instagram) for a pop-up dinner.
Christmas Eve
Christmas – here’s the start of our Christmas list. We’ll be adding entries as businesses announce their plans. Drop us a line if you know of a Christmas offering not yet on the list.
New Year’s Eve – here is the start of our NYE list. We’ll be adding entries as businesses announce their plans. Drop us a line if you know of a New Year’s Eve offering not yet on the list.
January 28 – Sam Hayward is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
February 11 – Ali Waks Adams is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
March 18 – Chris Toy is teaching a virtual cooking class to benefit the Oasis Free Clinic in Brunswick.
Tuesday – The Press Hotel is screening Hearts of Glass a documentary about the Vertical Harvest greenhouse in Jackson Hole. Vertical Harvest is now building a 70,000 square foot greenhouse in Westbrook. Following the screening the Press Hotel will host a panel and Q&A with the filmmaker, a Vertical Harvest co-founder, employee Sean Stone, and Maine Medical Center’s Employee Relationship Specialist Chris Hynes.
Thursday – Miyake is set to re-open (rescheduled from Tuesday the 29th).
Saturday – it’s the first day of the Winter Farmers’ Market which is located at the Stevens Square Community Center.
December 10 – Bissell Brothers is serving a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner, the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
December 11 – Koji Alchemy author Rich Shih will be at Judy Gibson for a koji workshop and fermentation dinner.
December 18 – Helm is holding a prime rib dinner.
December 24 – Twelve is serving a Christmas Eve prime rib dinner and Via Vecchia is serving a Feast of the Seven Fishes.
Christmas – here’s the start of our Christmas list. We’ll be adding entries as businesses announce their plans. Drop us a line if you know of a Christmas offering not yet on the list.
New Year’s Eve – here the start of our NYE list. We’ll be adding entries as businesses announce their plans. Drop us a line if you know of a New Year’s Eve offering not yet on the list.
Wednesday – the last outdoor Portland Farmers’ Market of the season is taking place at Deering Oaks Park. Stop by for your last minute Thanksging shopping needs. The indoor market will kick-off on December 3rd and will be located at 631 Stevens Ave.
Thanksgiving – here’s the 2022 Thanksgiving dining and takeout list:
November 26 – it’s the official grand opening for Sweetcream Dairy in Biddeford.
November 29 – The Press Hotel is screening Hearts of Glass a documentary about the Vertical Harvest greenhouse in Jackson Hole. Vertical Harvest is now building a 70,000 square foot greenhouse in Westbrook. Following the screening the Press Hotel will host a panel and Q&A with the filmmaker, a Vertical Harvest co-founder, employee Sean Stone, and Maine Medical Center’s Employee Relationship Specialist Chris Hynes.
December 3 – it’s the first day of the Winter Farmers’ Market which is located at the Stevens Square Community Center.
December 10 – Bissell Brothers is serving a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner, the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
December 11 – Koji Alchemy author Rich Shih will be at Judy Gibson for a koji workshop and fermentation dinner.
December 18 – Helm is holding a prime rib dinner.
Monday – Cera is hosting a meeting “to start a dialog amongst Portland’s chefs/restauranteurs about sustainability in food systems.” Winemakers Alessandra Divella of Divella and Clémence Lelarge of Champagne Lelarge-Pugeot will be at Maine & Loire for a wine tasting. Tally’s is opening their second location in the Stevens Square Community Center.
Tuesday – the new Thai restaurant on outer Congress Street Mitr (facebook, instagram) is opening, and Yes Yes Pizza is holding a pop-up at Fish & Whistle in Biddeford.
Wednesday – the new West End bakery Zu Bakery (website, instagram) is opening, and Broken Arrow is serving a 4-course cider dinner, and Evo is holding a 5-course Rhone wine dinner.
Thursday – Petite Jacqueline is holding a Beaujolais Nouveau dinner.
Saturday – author Eric Kim will be at Onggi for a book signing.
Sunday – Chef Amanda Shulman from Her Place Supper Club in Philadelphia will be holding a pop-up at Crispy Gai.
Thanksgiving – here’s the 2022 Thanksgiving dining and takeout list. Drop us a line if you know of a Thanksgiving-themed offering not yet on the list.
November 26 – it’s the official grand opening for Sweetcream Dairy in Biddeford.
November 29 – The Press Hotel is screening Hearts of Glass a documentary about the Vertical Harvest greenhouse in Jackson Hole. Vertical Harvest is now building a 70,000 square foot greenhouse in Westbrook. Following the screening the Press Hotel will host a panel and Q&A with the filmmaker, a Vertical Harvest co-founder, employee Sean Stone, and Maine Medical Center’s Employee Relationship Specialist Chris Hynes.
December 3 – it’s the first day of the Winter Farmers’ Market which is located at the Stevens Square Community Center.
December 10 – Bissell Brothers is serving a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner, the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
December 11 – Koji Alchemy author Rich Shih will be at Judy Gibson for a koji workshop and fermentation dinner.
Monday – French author and cider producer Claude Jolicoeur will be giving a talk at Urban Farm Fermentory. The Washington Baths will be holding their next Bread Soup Cake dinner.
Wednesday – Bar Futo will be holding a pop-up at Crispy Gai.
Friday – Sunday – the 5th Annual Downeast Cider and Cheese Festival is taking place in Ellsworth.
Saturday – Pasilla is holding a pop-up at Cabana.
November 14 – Cera is hosting a meeting “to start a dialog amongst Portland’s chefs/restauranteurs about sustainability in food systems.”
November 15 – Yes Yes Pizza is holding a pop-up at Fish & Whistle in Biddeford.
November 16 – Broken Arrow is serving a 4-course cider dinner, and Evo is holding a 5-course Rhone wine dinner.
November 19 – Lorne is holding their 2nd annual La Fête du Beaujolais.
November 20 – Chef Amanda Shulman from Her Place Supper Club in Philadelphia will be holding a pop-up at Crispy Gai.
Thanksgiving – here’s the 2022 Thanksgiving dining and takeout list. Drop us a line if you know of a Thanksgiving-themed offering not yet on the list.
December 3 – it’s the first day of the Winter Farmers’ Market which is located at the Stevens Square Community Center.
December 11 – Koji Alchemy author Rich Shih will be at Judy Gibson for a koji workshop and fermentation dinner.