Bread and Butter

Bread AND pastry? Yum. Looking forward to Zu Bakery opening soon at 81 Clark Street.

Baking Standard

The Standard Baking Co., at 75 Commercial Street, is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. I can recommend their baguette and cookie selections. 

Oysters to Go

A new food cart, BP's Shuck Shack, made an appearance at the July First Friday Art Walk on Congress Street. It's usually spotted around Commercial Street.  

Union Bagel Co.

Pictured today is the cozy headquarters of Union Bagel Co. at 147 Cumberland Avenue. You can also find their bagels at several coffee shops around town. Their location on Cumberland Avenue has a history of successful restaurants and bakeries: It was previously home to Katie Made Bakery (now located on Congress Street) and Silly's (now located on Washington Avenue.). 

Farmers' Market - October 2014

The Portland Farmers' Market is still going strong in Deering Oaks Park every Saturday morning. Here are some snapshots from last weekend:

Food Cart

The Little Jamaica food cart is still serving up hot food in Post Office Park. Check them out for a delicious meal before it's packed up for the winter. 

Sandwich Month

Did you know that August is National Sandwich Month? Wikipedia also tells me that August is National Goat Cheese Month and National Audio Appreciation Month in America. For the purpose of today's post, I will stick with sandwiches. Portland is known for it's plethora of food options (shout out to Portland Food Map) and there are literally hundreds of places here to get a delicious sandwich. Since I just found out that it is National Sandwich Month last week and I stick to a limited budget for dining out, here are two sandwiches that I can endorse.

First up, the breakfast sandwiches from OhNo Cafe on Brackett Street. In addition to their speciality sandwiches, you can get a plain old bacon/egg/cheese like the one pictured below. Bonus points for getting your sandwich to-go and finding a scenic spot in the West End to enjoy it.

Ready for lunch? The "original italian sandwich" from Amato's is always a safe choice. Pictured below is the original Amato's location on India Street. But even if you aren't in Portland, they have a ton of locations around New England that are ready to make a sandwich just the way you like it.

Sneak Peek: Salvage BBQ

Here are some behind-the-scenes photos of the new restaurant named Salvage BBQ. It is located at 919 Congress Street, in a cool old building that was once home to  Portland Architectural Salvage. Salvage BBQ is brought to you by the good folks behind the well-respected Local 188 and Sonny's. 

A recent article in the Munjoy Hill News blog indicates that Salvage BBQ could be open as early as next week. I look forward to getting back for some photos once everything is up and running. 

El Corazon Food Truck

The Food Truck known as El Corazon serving up authentic Mexican food on Spring Street on a weekday afternoon:

Farmers Market Foods

Some fresh foods at a recent summertime Farmers Market in Deering Oaks: 

Monument Square Alfresco

A view of some of the restaurants in Monument Square, including David's Opus Ten, David's, Shay's, Wannawaf, and Others!.

And if you were in the square today you would have seen a performance art piece of some sort. I think it was by Kate Gilmore who is one of MECA's visiting artists this summer. 

Winter Market

Locally grown and produced foods are available year round in Portland, and during the winter months you can get them at the appropriately named Winter Farmers' Market. The winter farmers' market is indoors at the Maine Irish Heritage Center at the corner of State and Gray Streets from December to April each year. 

Food Truck

A Gusto's of Maine food truck parked on Thames Street on Sunday. Here's a story in the Bangor Daily News about the short history of food trucks in Portland. The city started offering food trucks licenses earlier this year. 

Cupcakes

Portland's newest food truck, Love Cupcakes, is now open for business at the corner of Commercial and Center Streets. This funky trailer used to be parked off of Route 1 in Falmouth and per their website it will be at this Portland location during the winter months each Wednesday to Sunday. If you really like cupcakes you can also visit the nearby East End Cupcakes at 426 Fore Street. 

Crema Coffee Company

A new coffee place called Crema Coffee Company opened today at 9 Commercial Street. It is operated by the same folks who run Arabica Coffee on Free Street. I stopped by this morning for an iced coffee and some photos of their beautiful space. 

The exterior view. 

From the entrance area.

Cozy seating near the fireplace.

From the back of the space.

At the rear of the space you can also watch the coffee roasting process in the kitchen area. 

And next door, we also have the recently opened Rosemont Produce Company, which is operated by the folks at Rosemont Market.  

Between Crema, Rosemont Produce, the soon to be opening Blue Lobster Urban Winery, and the many existing dining places on Middle Street, this part of the peninsula is really booming!

East End Cupcakes

East End Cupcakes is opening up a retail shop on Fore Street, I think they will do good business here.They might have to change the name to "Old Port Cupcakes" or something though.

Deering Oaks Farmers' Market

The summer farmers' market is in full swing again. Check it out every Saturday morning from 7-12 in Deering Oaks Park or on Wednesdays over in Monument Square from 7-2. Check out the Portland Maine Farmers' Market facebook page or website for more details!

Buy Local - Katie Made Bakery

Today's Buy Local pick is Katie Made Bakery at 147 Cumberland Ave.