Category: Under Construction

Today’s Press Herald includes a report on the new local foods market/butcher shop under construction in South Portland,

[Partners Penny Jordan and Ben Slayton] signed a three-year lease two weeks ago for the building at 161 Ocean St. in South Portland’s Knightville neighborhood, near Uncle Andy’s Diner, Taco Trio and the Legion Square Market (formerly Smaha’s). They also looked at the Willard Beach neighborhood, Slayton said, but the Knightville neighborhood was attractive because it’s close to other grocery stores that already attract food shoppers and is part of an up-and-coming neighborhood.

It’s also interesting to note that Joe Fournier will be joining The Farm Stand as the store’s general manager.

The Forecaster reports that Taco Trio will be launching a new food trailer this summer.

Pena and Rasmussen will be preparing their authentic Mexican cuisine this summer in the mid-sized trailer, with their sights set on breaking into the blossoming food truck scene in Portland, and beyond.

Their first stop: the 41st annual Old Port Festival.

Jordan’s Farm and Farmers’ Gate Market are collaborating on a new local foods market they plan on launching at 106 Ocean Street, according to a report from The Forecaster.

The market – Jordan hopes to finalize the name and opening date in the next two weeks – is a partnership with Farmers’ Gate Market, an organic butcher shop in Wales, owned by Ben Slayton. They plan to offer a variety of meats, fruits and vegetables, as well as dairy products, prepared foods, and beer and wine.

Owners Penny Jordan and Ben Slayton have been working on this idea for over a year now and it’s great to see it becoming a reality.

Spoon & Shutter has published a set of preview photos from Timber Steakhouse & Rotisserie, located at 106 Exchange Street.

Timber has announced that they’ll be accepting reservations starting at 10 am today for next week’s opening on Thursday.

The menu is classic steakhouse, with some less-traditional dishes in the mix. The appetizer list includes jumbo shrimp cocktail ($18) and steak tartare ($14), but also “smokey bourbon-infused chicken chili” ($12) and “batter-dipped fried bacon strips with Maine maple syrup.” ($8) Steaks — 16 oz. New York strip ($46), 10 oz. filet mignon ($26), 40-day aged, 24 oz. ribeye ($55) and a 2-pound porterhouse ($78) — are all Certified Angus Beef.

“We are the only restaurant in the state to be Certified Angus,” said Noah. “When you eat here, you will be guaranteed that it will be delicious.”

A new food truck called Maine-ly Meatballs (website, facebook) is under development and expected to launch at the end of May, according to a report from Eater Maine.

With nearly a full day still to go, the Kickstarter campaign for The Bearded Lady’s Jewel Box has met and is exceeding their $21,000 goal.

The Jewel Box is a craft cocktail bar under development by Nathaniel Meiklejohn. Construction is underway at 644 Congress Street and Meiklejohn hopes to open later this summer.

Meredith Goad’s weekly article in the Press Herald Food & Dining section highlights some of the new restaurants due to launch this summer.

Here are a few more construction updates:

• Eater Maine reports that the former KFC on Forest Ave is going to be a restaurant called Thurston’s Wicked Good Burgers (website).
• Two new vendor spaces are under construction on the 2nd floor of the Public Market House for a Dominican restaurant and Kupcakes/Love Cupcakes

CN Shawarma (facebook, twitter) which promises to deliver “Arabian BBQ…exotic flavors, local ingredients” to the streets of Portland is under development.

Owner Clayton Norris aims to launch the truck in the first week of June and will be doing a few test runs during the later part of May.