New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:
- A new wood-fired bakery called Bagel Witch (instagram) is under construction in Damariscotta. Bagel Witch will be located at 72 Courtyard Street. Owner Caroline Zeller hopes to have the shop open in mid-January. Zeller will offer bagels, cream cheese and spreads, and prepared bagel sandwiches as well as coffee and other beverages. While primarily a retail shop there will also be some limited seating available.
- Marvelous Macarons (instagram) owner Jenna Roberts has announced she’ll be opening her new Auburn bakery tomorrow on Sunday, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm. Roberts had encountered some last minute construction needs that delayed the opening from September.
- Baker Barak Olins and historian Jordan Rosenblum will be giving a lecture at Bowdoin on November 6th entitled The Recipes and Rules of Jewish Bread. The event descriptions reads in-part “…this wide-ranging conversation will explore the recipes and regulations that have governed and continue to govern the production and consumption of Jewish bread across history. Bread, both as a powerful metaphor and a tangible substance, has always held profound historical and religious significance for Jews. Bringing their unique and complementary perspectives to bear, Rosenblum and Olins will discuss the relationship between the history of Jewish bread, the mechanics of making it, and the distinctive reverence it garners.”
- Frosty’s Donuts (website, facebook, instagram) opened a new location in Bath on Friday. It’s located at 56 Centre Street and will be open Thursday through Sunday, 7 am – sellout.
- Bistro La Cave in Camden has announced that they’re moving their business to Chicago.
- The Midcoast Villager has published a feature article on Ægir’s Den (website, facebook, instagram), a meadery and restaurant located in Palermo. “Tucked along Banton Road, past hayfields and quiet woods, a simple, unmarked building hides one of Maine’s most surprising dining experiences. Inside, long tables glow under warm light; horns of mead and platters of slow-cooked food move from hand to hand. Guests, some strangers when they arrive, often leave as friends. This is Ægir’s Den Meadery, part restaurant, part farm, part cultural experiment: a modern mead hall where ancient Nordic hospitality meets Waldo County agriculture.”
- Carousel Wine & Cheese (website, instagram) in Belfast was highlighted in the latest issue of Culture magazine.
- The Bangor Daily News has published an article about the new Stowaways Town Tavern (website, menu) in Bucksport. “With a vast menu reminiscent of home cooking, generous portions, lower prices and a focus on a welcoming atmosphere, DeGennaro and his crew of nearly 30 want to create a “wow” factor that keeps people coming back weekly, employees said Thursday.” Stowaways is located at 63 Main Street.
- The Biddeford Gazette has published an article about Thank You Cookie Box.
- The owners of the Eighty-Ate Hospitality, Cecile and Cara Stadler and Emily Topaz, have announced they’ll be closing ZaoZe Café & Market. Their last day in business will be November 1st.
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.