Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram has an interesting article on the traditional crops grown by Maine’s Native Americans.
The seeds being grown at Motahkokmikuk include heirloom varieties of corn, beans and squash – the well-known Three Sisters, which are traditionally planted together in mounds. In addition, tribe members are growing ancestral sunflowers, sunchokes and ground cherries, which together with gourds used as vessels, form the culturally significant Seven Sisters.
Mainebiz reports that Bangs Island Mussels is expanding by acquiring Calendar Island Mussel Company.
Bangs Island would not detail terms of the deal, but on Monday told Mainebiz it closed in the past several weeks and included all of Calendar Island’s eight mussel rafts and other equipment. The sale also included leased mussel sites adjacent to the Bangs Island ones in Casco Bay.
A new article on Medium explores “Why is the Whitest, Oldest State in the U.S. Home to Such a Vibrant Food Scene?
When I moved to Portland, Maine, I started a list of restaurants I wanted to try. But it’s been harder than I imagined to check off a pho dinner here and a Sunday bagel there. It’s no secret that Portland is a food destination, and I quickly realized I’m competing for a table with hundreds of locavore enthusiasts and hungry tourists.
Maine Food for Thought has received an award from the World Food Travel Association. Owners Sarah and Bryce Hach were on-hand at the Food Travel Innovation Summit in London to hear the news.
Maine Food for Thought was recognized as a leader in the Food Trekking category where they were up against semifinalists from 16 countries.
The BDN and Press Herald have posted reports on Scratch’s decision to keep their Toast Bar closed due to a lack of staff.
Here’s an excerpt of what Scratch wrote on Instagram,
Unfortunately with the current labor shortage we just can’t find the staff to provide the experience and service to our customers that is so important to us.
It is an extremely difficult decision and one that admittedly feels a bit like defeat because who likes to disappoint folks who want their toast!? But we‘re going to double down at the bakery on Willard Square where we, of course, will have all the bagels, breads, sweet treats, savory eats, coffee and good cheer you can handle.
We plan to revisit reopening sometime in the spring…
The Maine Sunday Telegram checked in with Maine chefs and staff to learn what they think of restaurant reviews posted on Yelp and other sites. This is the second of a two-part series. Earlier this week the Press Herald talked with people who write reviews on online platforms to get their perspective.
Congratulations to the Independent Ice Company for earning their Executive Bourbon certification from the Stave & Thief Society.
Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram, reports on the growing interest in cider developing in Maine.
The introduction of mass-produced hard ciders, along with the growing farm-to-table movement and renewed interest in rediscovering old apple varieties, helped pave the way for the new cider movement. Americans who were already developing more adventurous palates decided that if they could embrace a whole new world of craft beer, why not give hard cider a try, too? By 2014, Maine was seeing a significant increase in the number of people applying for licenses to become commercial hard cider makers, according to the state Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations. By 2017, 11 new cider makers had opened for business. Maine now has 18 licensed cideries.
The Press Herald reports that the owners of the Hunt and Alpine Club have brought a lawsuit alleging price fixing in the market for Atlantic Salmon.
The lawsuit by Portland Hunt + Alpine Club alleges that salmon prices have risen over the last four years when they should have been falling. According to the filing in federal court in Maine, the costs associated with raising Atlantic salmon have been mostly stable since 2015, production has increased and the market has shrunk because Russia banned salmon imports in retaliation for the U.S. and some European countries imposing economic sanctions following Russia’s 2014 annexation of the Crimea.
The Press Herald reports that Restaurant Impossible will be revisiting Uncle Andy’s in South Portland. The show did an episode featuring Uncle Andy’s in 2014.
Robert Irvine and the rest of the show’s restaurant makeover crew came to Uncle Andy’s in 2014, infusing the diner with a new look, new color scheme and some new menu items. On Monday, they will be back to do another segment on the place, basically a look at how Uncle Andy’s has been doing since its TV makeover.