Category: Under Construction

Malcolm Bedell, who along with his wife Jillian run the Maine food blog From Away, is in the process of launching a food truck. ‘Wich, Please(website, facebook, twitter) will serve a focused mostly sandwich-based menu year round on the streets of Rockland.

Malcolm has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $25,000 for the food truck.

Next month Malcolm will be competing at the World Food Championships in the sandwich category. He plans to open ‘Wich, Please in April and at an as yet unreleased location near Main Street.

For more information or to contribute to the campaign visit the ‘Wich, Please Kickstarter page.

Isa, the new restaurant under construction at 79 Portland Street, has applied for a liquor license. Owner Suzie Saint Pierre is converting the former New World Kitchens building into a “40-seat bistro serving casual and affordable fare”.

Saint Pierre has 15 years of experience in the industry as a server, bartender and manager. She hopes to open Isa in December.

 

Tiqa, the restaurant under construction in the new Marriott on Commercial Street, has applied for a liquor license. As we reported back in August, Tiqa will be serving Mediterranean cuisine. Owners Deen Haleem and Carol Mitchell have included a description of the menu (page 63) in the materials submitted for review.

In total Tiqa will be able to seat 276 people: 57 in the lounge/bar, 35 on the patio, a 15 at the chef’s bar, 58 in the dining room and 111 in the private dining room. Haleem and Mitchell hope to open Tiqa in early next year.

A new wine bar calling itself UnWINEd is under development at 569 Congress Street. They plan to serve “local and imported fine wines, artisan craft beers, appetizers and petite plates.”

Here’s the concept as described by owner Jared Lawrence Rice in his liquor license application cover letter,

As Portland’s first bar-less bar, unWINEd will spotlight a relaxed atmosphere, with calming acoustic music, leather couches and scattered tables and chairs. Our Goal is to provide Portland with a calm, relaxing environment where people can gather and unWINEd.

Here’s the draft menu:

 

Dedicated fans of chef Cara Stadler lined up on the sidewalk in the rain last night outside Bao Bao (facebook, twitter, instagram) for a table at the soft opening. Recipients of the email invitation were asked to “be prepared to show a copy of this email at the door” and to “please refrain from sharing this information with the press”.

A firm public opening date hasn’t been set yet.

The Bangor Daily News has published an article about the Portland Food Co-op and the new retail store they have under construction on Congress Street.

A demo kitchen is being built for cooking and wellness classes. A 24-foot bulk wall dispensing grains, nuts and dried fruit anchors one zone. A full-scale cafe will offer grab and go breakfasts, soups, coffee and sandwiches. Locally grown produce, harvested meat and fish get top billing.

“The fundamental mission is to build the local food movement by having as many relationships with farmers and food producers as possible,” said Curran Apse. “We are shooting for in the hundreds.”

According to the article, the Co-op is hoping to have a “soft opening before Thanksgiving”.

Eater Maine has published an update on Ramen Suzukiya which is currently under construction at 229 Congress Street.

Seating will be limited and communal. Cory describes a cafe or coffee shop feel, with a long bar-like table in front of the large front windows, as well as a table or two along the side wall. Katsuaki thinks this will encourage customers to sit together, meet one another, and make friends.

According to the article the owners hope to open in December.

A new food truck called Cannoli Joe’s (website, facebook) is soon to debut on the Portland streets, according to a report from Eater Maine.

 

Dobra Tea (website, facebook, twitter, instagram) is having their final inspections this week and they hope to open on Friday or Saturday.

The Urban Eye has posted a report on Dutch’s (facebook, instagram, twitter) a casual eatery under construction on Preble Street.

Combined, the [owners Ian and Lucy Dutch] have robust kitchen chops. They met at Market by Jean Georges in Boston’s uber swank W Hotel, where she was pastry chef, he was executive sou chef. Their resumes include stints at Bonfire By Todd English, MayField Bakery in Palo Alto and a smattering of high-end stops in San Francisco from Bar Tartine to Aziza to Benu. Lucy baked at Shannie Cakes in Sausalito.