Discovering Portland’s Culinary Scene

Two years ago, Bon Appétit named Portland, Maine its 2018 Restaurant City of the Year. If you aren’t familiar with the Pine Tree State’s biggest city, you might be surprised that, with a population of just 67,000, Portland is home to more than 400 restaurants. However, the number of dining options is not the only thing that distinguishes Portland’s gastronomy scene; it’s also about sustainability.

Few had examined the connection between Maine’s food system, its deep commitment to conservation, and the city’s passion for tracing ingredients to the source until Sarah and Bryce Hach created Maine Food for Thought walking tours in 2017.

Passion for Sustainability

The couple met in graduate school and relocated to the greater Portland area after living in nine different states. With careers spanning public policy, economic development, and education, plus a strong mutual love of food, they quickly realized the story of Maine’s unique culinary scene was one worth telling.

“We saw that there were so many rich food narratives coming out of the Maine food system,” says Bryce Hach.

Land, Sea to Fork Tour

That’s the focus of their Land, Sea to Fork tour, during which participants stroll Portland’s historic streets and experience the city’s best sustainably sourced restaurants, all while learning about the meaningful journey Maine’s food takes on its way to your plate.

Exploring Maine’s Landscapes

On the tour, you learn about Maine’s large, diverse landscapes – from the nutrient-rich Gulf of Maine and 5,300 miles of coastline to a vast network of inland farms close to the city. Moreover, you’ll hear about the solid community of entrepreneurs who are passionate about the state’s outdoor heritage. Consequently, you’ll understand how people and places have created a strong food culture that is farm-and-sea-to-fork.

Along the way, participants sample seven dishes, from a classic Maine lobster roll to creative plates from local or immigrant chefs using homegrown Maine foods. Each tour offers a pamphlet with a list of the featured restaurants and the Maine farms and fisheries that supply them.

Key Qualities of Portland Cuisine

While the tour is an experience best enjoyed first-hand, here are four qualities of Portland cuisine you’ll discover, leaving you with plenty of food for thought about the meals you enjoy at home and away.

Creativity Meets Resourcefulness

The walk kicks off at Union in the heart of Portland. Their menu celebrates ingredients sourced from local farmers, fishermen, foragers, and craft brewers.

Maine’s magical connection between land and sea shines in the first dish you’ll try. This bowl of chowder starts out familiar with clams from the Gulf of Maine and homegrown potatoes, then takes a turn towards the unexpected, inspired by Asian cuisine.

Honoring Culinary Diversity

The Greater Portland area is home to a large immigrant community from various countries, including India, the Philippines, England, and Canada. This diversity has significantly enriched the city’s food scene, which is described as a culinary journey around the world.

“While immigrants represent only 4 percent of our population, over 25 percent of Portland’s restaurants are owned by immigrants,” Hach explains. Chefs skillfully fuse inspiration from their native homes with Maine’s homegrown ingredients, creating a unique culinary community.

Exploring Seasonal Produce

Beyond meeting Portland’s celebrated chefs, the tour emphasizes understanding a destination’s landscape and its key crops. Maine’s farms are generally less than 100 acres in size, translating into high-quality, artisanal produce. Young farmers are attracted to Maine 25 times faster than the national average due to its rich local culture and demand for authenticity.

Seasonal Maine crops include wild blueberries – a native bush that grows wild in Maine’s forests, potatoes, and beets. You’ll enjoy a contemporary Mediterranean dish made from these ingredients at Evo Kitchen + Bar.

Making Sustainable Choices

Aside from delving into Maine’s food system, the tour’s mission is to create change one forkful at a time by prompting you to think about the origins of your food and the journey it takes to reach your plate. In fact, the average American meal travels over 1,500 miles to get on the table.

Discussions get lively during the tour, with participants sharing their experiences regarding sustainable food. “We don’t just vote when we are at the voting booth,” Hach explains. “We vote through our everyday decisions, especially regarding the food we consume.”

This unique experience offers insights into sourcing food with fewer chemicals and supporting local farmers while conserving nature and reducing emissions. Consequently, this isn’t your average walking food tour; it’s an opportunity to engage deeply with the food culture surrounding Portland.