New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:
- Hailey Sylvain has taken over the former North Pownal General Store building where she plans to locate XO Bakery & Mercantile (facebook, instagram). The counter service cafe will offer a menu of coffee, tea and a rotating menu of baked goods like bagels, English muffins, sweet treats, cookies, whoopie pies, croissants, tarts, pies as well as readymade breakfast and lunch sandwiches. The popular XO cinnamon rolls will be available on Saturdays. Sylvain plans to have cinnamon rolls, breads, croissants, pot pies and quiches ready to take and bake-off at home and cakes that she can decorate to order. XO will have table and bar seating as well as a “cozy couch nook”. Renovations are underway with hopes to launch XO on June 1st.
- Jill Moses and Frank Curran are the new owners of Old Smith Farm (facebook, instagram) in Falmouth. Some renovations are underway with hopes to reopen Old Smith Farm to the public in early May. Nate Feld has joined the team as the OSF’s chef. The new menu will feature farm-to-table cuisine along with a pizza program with the goal of “offering approachable, flavorful dishes designed for all ages—especially families.” The bar will serve craft cocktails and have “an extensive wine list”. Curran and Moses will be working with Rachel Sagiroglu from Experience Maine on event planning for Old Smith Farm. For additional reporting see this article in Mainebiz.
- Great Wall Buffet in Augusta has announced they’ll be going out of business. Their last day in operation will be April 20th. Their statement reads in part ” We want to take this time to extend a thank you to the community we’ve had the opportunity to serve for all these years. During our time here, it has been an honor to see children grow up, people come together, and milestones celebrated. Your smiles, stories, and loyalty filled our restaurant with warmth and joy, and truly made the Great Wall Buffet a special place. It’s been a privilege to share our food and culture with you. On behalf of our entire staff, thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives and for supporting us throughout the years.”
- Rialto in Sanford is opening a second seasonal location in Old Orchard Beach.
- Auxillary Brewing Company in Limerick is holding their grand opening on May 8th.
- Maine Scuttlebutt has published an article about Day Boat Cafe in Waldoboro.
- The Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum at Bowdoin College has an exhibit up entitled Mamaqtuq! It is Delicious!: Traditional Foods of the North. The exhibit description reads in part, “Food is at the heart of Inuit culture. In the Arctic this means food hunted, fished, or gathered from the land, air, and sea. Whales, seals, caribou, muskox, fish, and birds, as well as berries and other plants, have provided untold generations with all the healthy nourishment they needed to thrive. These foods continue to be important to Inuit, and many consider hunting, gathering, sharing, and eating these traditional foods to be central to Inuit identity.”
- As previously reported, Broadway Bowl in South Portland will be going out of business on May 17th.
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.