Little Giant is mentioned in the August issue of Bon Appétit
as part of an article on changing trends in restaurant burger style, “We’re living in a golden age of griddled, unfussy burgers. What took so long?”
Under Construction: Good News Coffee & Package
A new business called Good News Coffee & Package (website, facebook, instagram, twitter) is under construction in the former West End Omi’s space at 28 Brackett Street. As the name suggests, the business will be a combo coffee shop with beer/wine retail.
Owner Michael Vassallo plans to open Good News in August.
Canopy Farms Kickstarter
Cara Stadler has launched a $25,000 Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for Canopy Farms, the aquaponics greenhouse she’s building in Brunswick. The funds will be used to buy:
- Monitoring and control systems so we can learn what’s working, and share our learning $6000
- Water filtration and supplements to fill our system and support its cycle into production $5500
- Additional grow beds and equipment for experimental and educational projects $9000
- Consumable materials to support student projects, including water test kits, additional safety gear, and more $4500
New Law Requires State to Buy Local Food
The Press Herald reports that a new law will require that state institutions “must purchase 20 percent of its food and food products locally by 2025”.
Maine Food for Thought
Today’s Boston Globe includes an article about the Maine Food for Thought tours that launched this Summer.
Stadler Aquaponics Greenhouse
Today’s Press Herald includes a very interesting article about chef Cara Stadler’s project to build an aquaponics greenhouse in Brunswick that will supply vegetables and rainbow trout to her three restaurants.
Now, drivers passing by Tao Yuan in Brunswick are watching the busy chef’s next project come to life before their eyes. Five years in the making, it’s an aquaponic greenhouse in a 55-by-60-foot, two-story building that will also house a new café and a commercial kitchen to supply Stadler’s restaurants. Both Stadler and Kate Holcomb, the 31-year-old project director, say they hope the facility will open this fall.
Chopped Champion: Matt Ginn
Congratulations to chef Matt Ginn from Evo on becoming a Food Network Chopped Champion in the episode that aired last night.
Openings: Poke Pop, Crown Jewel, Dunstan Tap & Table
Three new restaurants have opened in the last few days:
- Poké Pop (facebook, instagram) opened in Longfellow Square at 658 Congress Street on Friday.
- Crown Jewel (website, facebook, instagram) opened on Saturday night in Diamond Cove. Here’s a look at the menu.
- Dunstan Tap & Table (website, facebook, instagram) opened last night in Scarborough. It is from the same folks who own Shay’s.
New Food Coma Episode
Food Coma TV has released the first of twenty 5-minute episodes they’ll be putting out this season. This is the first new content from Food Coma since they disbanded in 2012.
This Week’s Events: Chopped Party, Bastille Day, Flea Bites, Caaan You Dig It?
Tuesday – Evo is hosting a Chopped viewing party to cheer on their chef Matt Ginn as he competes in an episode of the Food Network TV show.
Wednesday – the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.
Thursday – The Great Lost Bear is showcasing beers from Rising Tide.
Friday – Cellardoor Winery is doing a wine tap takeover at Silly’s.
Saturday – there will be an non-dairy ‘ice cream’ tasting at Little Giant Market and a wine tasting at LeRoux Kitchen, Petite Jacqueline is celebrating Bastille Day, Novare Res is holding Caaan You Dig It? putting the focus on 25 canned beers, and the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market is taking place.
Sunday – the July edition of Flea Bites is taking place, and the monthly Sunday wine seminar is being held at Bow Street Beverage.
For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.