The Wrap: Brewery to open in North Yarmouth; Kneading Conference moves
Jul. 3—Well & Good Brewing Company plans to launch in North Yarmouth this month, after delays in its inspection process.
"We're navigating the final bits of red tape, but we're right on the cusp of (opening)," said Byron Kern, who owns Well & Good with his wife, Elise. Kern said he expects the brewery to open in mid-July.
Kern had hoped to open Well & Good earlier this year, but said it took about a month for the state Department of Agriculture to visit for a health and food safety inspection. "They passed me immediately when they came and inspected, so there weren't issues over getting the approval," he said, noting that Well & Good's liquor license inspection also went smoothly. "The issue was just getting them out here to do the inspection."
Well & Good will have six house brews: a hazy IPA, double IPA, oatmeal stout, citrus gose, light lager and hard ginger ale. "The beers turned out really nicely, and it's almost all in kegs, ready to go," Kern said. "The stuff we can control is turning out really well."
The brewery plans to donate 50 cents from each pint or flight sale — and 25 cents from each 8-ounce pour — to local charities. Kern said Well & Good will spotlight two different local charities each month, and customers can choose which charity will receive their contribution.
Well & Good Brewing Company was built in a 1,600-square-foot, log cabin-style former home at 173 Cumberland Road. The brewery will be open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.
17th ANNUAL KNEADING CONFERENCE
The 17th annual Kneading Conference returns to Skowhegan later this month.
The conference, hosted by the Maine Grain Alliance, is set for Thursday and Friday, July 25-26. The event is usually held at the Skowhegan State Fairgrounds, but this year's keynote address, workshops and panels will be held at various locations in downtown Skowhegan, in collaboration with local businesses.
The Kneading Conference draws thousands of grain lovers and bread buffs from around the country, and leads up to the Maine Artisan Bread Fair, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Skowhegan State Fairgrounds.
This year's conference features dozens of workshops, demos and discussions led by grain leaders from around the world. At the same time, attendees are encouraged to educate each other about the art and science of growing and milling grains, brewing beer and baking artisan bread and pizza.
Arturo Enciso, who owns a modern panadería in Southern California, will be the conference's keynote speaker. A self-taught baker, Enciso opened Gusto Bread in Long Beach, California, in 2020. Food & Wine magazine named Gusto Bread one of the 100 best bakeries in America in 2020.
Tickets for the conference, available online, are $375, which includes two light breakfasts on Thursday and Friday, a locally sourced dinner on Thursday night and admission to all workshops, demos, lectures and discussions.
WINE SPECTATOR NAMES MAINE AWARD WINNERS
Wine Spectator magazine has announced its worldwide restaurant award winners, including four new venues among the Maine winners.
The magazine's program focuses exclusively on wine service. Wine Spectator gave awards to 3,777 restaurants worldwide this year, with winners in all 50 states and 75 countries around the world. The awards are given in three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award.
Four Maine restaurants received a Wine Spectator award for the first time this year: 555 North, in Brunswick; Aragosta at Goose Cove, on Deer Isle; Chaval, in Portland; and Ocean Restaurant in Kennebunkport. Aragosta won the Best of Award of Excellence, while the other three received the Award of Excellence. Thirteen other Maine restaurants have received the Award of Excellence or Best of Award of Excellence at least once before. Find the full list online.
CLAM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO YARMOUTH
The 57th annual Yarmouth Clam Festival is set for July 19-21.
Organizers said the three-day festival usually draws more than 100,000 people. Popular events include the Clam Festival Parade on Friday, July 19 at 6 p.m. — which this year features a theme of "Pop Culture Phenomena" with "American Idol" finalist Julia Gagnon as Grand Marshal — and the Maine State Clam Shucking Contest at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 20.
For more information, visit the festival's website.
BRITISH PAPER LISTS FAVORITE MAINE RESTAURANTS
Maine's food scene has drawn acclaim from abroad with the British newspaper The Observer recently running a roundup of where to eat in the state.
The piece spotlights 17 restaurants: In Portland, Crown Jewel (Great Diamond Island), Eventide Oyster Co., Highroller Lobster Co., Leeward and Mr. Tuna; in Kennebunkport, Chez Rosa and Earth at Hidden Pond; also, The Alna Store in Alna, Aragosta at Goose Cove on Deer Isle, Bite Into Maine in Portland and Scarborough, Bombay Mahal in Brunswick, Havana in Bar Harbor, Long Grain in Camden, The Lost Kitchen in Freedom, Oxbow Beer Garden in Oxford, Primo Restaurant in Rockland and White Barn Inn in Kennebunk.
"Maine's culinary revolution isn't just about ingredients — it's about ingenuity," the article's introduction states. "Here, farm-to-table isn't a buzzword; it's the cornerstone of culinary culture. Chefs collaborate, forging partnerships with local fishermen, farmers and foragers that are as strong as the flavors they produce. The result? Dishes that double as edible stories of Maine's heritage and spirit."
COMMUNITY PLATE SUMMER SUPPERS
Community Plate, the nonprofit group seeking to battle the loneliness epidemic and build community through shared meals and stories, has announced its summer lineup of Story-Sharing Potluck Suppers.
Upcoming supper dates include July 11 in Skowhegan; July 18 in Freeport; July 22 in Lovell; Aug. 1 in Damariscotta; Aug. 14 in Cape Elizabeth; and Aug. 20 in Biddeford.
Community Plate was co-founded by Karl Schatz and Margaret Hathaway, who edit and publish the Maine Community Cookbooks. The group's free events bring people together for a traditional potluck supper with a twist: Each attendee brings a dish, a recipe and a story to share about what they brought.
Over the course of the meal — led by an MC, and structured around story prompts — participants share stories and make connections. Some weeks after the meal, each attendee receives a mini cookbook filled with recipes and stories for the dishes brought to the event.
"At a time when our country feels so divided, and loneliness is an epidemic, our aim is to bring people together in non-partisan, cross-cultural, intergenerational spaces to remind ourselves of our shared humanity," said Schatz. "If we can appreciate each other's foods and stories, hopefully we can find other ways to connect, as well."
To RSVP or for more information on the upcoming suppers, visit the Community Plate website.
LUKE'S LAUNCHES IN P-TOWN
Luke's Lobster recently launched a new location in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the company's 24th restaurant in the United States and its 35th worldwide.
Luke's opened in June on Provincetown's bustling Commercial Street, in the space of the former Provincetown Surf Club. The new location will be open through late fall for its first season. The restaurant includes a takeout window, and offers seating for 172 customers, including 104 seats outside. During its opening week, Luke's donated a portion of sales to Summer of Sass, a Provincetown LGBTQ+ organization.
"Provincetown is a beautiful seashore community similar to where I grew up," said Luke's Lobster founder and CEO Luke Holden in a news release. "The combination of strong commercial fishing heritage and affinity for high quality seafood amongst the locals and visiting tourists creates a great opportunity for Luke's."
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