Beginning at the end of October, Bresca in Portland will be open during the day to offer pastries, sandwiches and light lunches.

Owner and recent James Beard Award nominee Krista Kern Desjarlais said that after Columbus Day and some minor aesthetic interior alterations, she will reduce dinner service to four days a week at the 111 Middle St. eatery and open a bakery and lunch spot during the day.

Bresca Day will be European in style, open from late morning to mid-afternoon with fresh pastries, salads and local seasonal fare, she said Monday. Customers will be able to take the food to go or sit in with their children and friends. Coffee and espresso drinks will be provided by Matt’s Coffee of Pownal.

As a new mother, Desjarlais said she wants to focus more on pastries and baking and offer a space that is comfortable for children.

“It will be the same as Bresca, but more casual in spirit,” she said. “This is not going to change what we already offer, but I’d like to be able to do what I know how to do well. (Bresca Day) will be indicative of who I am and what Bresca is.”

She said customers can check the restaurant website for more information in the coming weeks and can expect a Facebook page soon.

At Longfellow Square in Portland, owners and partners Johnny Lomba and John Welliver of Portland are planning to open L.F.K. in the 188 State St. space formerly occupied by Cunningham Books. According to documents provided to the Portland City Council a few weeks ago, the restaurant will be open 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and serve mostly appetizers, drinks and wine.

Arby’s at 285 Forest Ave. in Portland has closed after 26 years in business. Jim Raffel continues as owner of the franchises in Auburn, Augusta and at the Maine Mall in South Portland. Raffel, whose father and uncle were co-founders of Arby’s in 1964 (Arby’s stands for the initials of the Raffel Brothers, R.B.), said the Forest Avenue real estate was sold and sales at the restaurant weren’t strong enough to continue. Portland City Hall spokeswoman Nicole Clegg said a bank is expected to take over the location; a sign on the fence around the property suggests it will be cPort Credit Union.

Portland’s first gluten free bakery – Bam Bam Bakery – is open at 267 Commercial St. Owner and baker Bevin McNulty will provide customers with muffins, cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, whoopie pies and cookies from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The East Ender at 47 Middle St. in Portland is now also home to Holy Donut, a donut and coffee shop open from 7:30-10 a.m. Customers can choose from a variety of treats including the Maine potato doughnut, ginger sweet potato, buttermilk with Maple glaze, the ricotta donut, and the bacon and sharp cheddar potato donut.

The 11th annual March of Dimes benefit will take place Oct. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Dimillo’s on the Water in Portland. Chefs from Dimillo’s, Figa, Nosh Kitchen Bar, The Salt Exchange, Porthole, Zapoteca and Hannaford will prepare signature dishes during a cocktail reception. Guests will also be able to bid on many live and silent auction items, including unique dinners, hotel stays, and weekend getaways, all graciously donated by Maine businesses.

Granny’s Burritos, previously located in Portland at 420 Fore St. and 653 Congress St., has reopened upstairs in the Public Market House, 28 Monument Square. 

The Cafe at Pat’s, 484 Steven’s Ave., Portland, has also reopened. Greg Gilam, the chef who originally opened the cafe in 1998, is back in the kitchen. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday, starting at 5:30 p.m.

A German restaurant, Schulte & Herr, has opened at 349 Cumberland Ave., Portland. The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Yarmouth Farmers’ Market added another vendor, Pizza By Fire of Cape Elizabeth, to its Thursday afternoon lineup. The mobile artisan wood fired pizza company is owned by Andrew Steinberg. He specializes in baking thin-crust Neapolitan-style pizzas with local ingredients. The Yarmouth Farmers’ Market is on Thursday, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the Town Hall Memorial Green.

Three finalists have been selected to compete in the Maine Lobster Chef of the Year competition. As part of the larger Greater Portland Convention & Visitors Bureau’s culinary event Harvest on the Harbor at Ocean Gateway in Portland Kristian Burrin, Ryan Campbell, and Tom Regan will compete before a live audience to compete for the title of Lobster Chef of the Year. The contest will take place Friday, Oct. 21 from noon to 2:30 p.m.

Binga’s Stadium at 77 Free St. in Portland has new fall hours: Monday through Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Thursday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.

In Brunswick, a brother-and-sister team – Kathleen Baskin and George Borne –  opened Sista’s BBQ at 156 Pleasant St., the building formerly occupied by The Udder Place.

In addition to BBQ, Brunswick residents have a new restaurant option, Asian Garden. The restaurant is at 168 Maine St., the location of the former Dunkin’ Donuts, and offers Chinese, Japanese and Thai cuisine. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.

An East Harpswell restaurant, Wheelhouse Cafe at 419 Harpswell Island Road, opened Aug. 1. The restaurant is at the Great Island Boat Yard and offers breakfast and lunch, coffee by Wicked Joe, pastries and gelato seven days a week until 3:45 p.m.

The Good Table, 527 Ocean House Road in Cape Elizabeth, will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Thursday, Oct. 13.

Amy Anderson can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 110 or aanderson@theforecaster.net. Follow her onTwitter: @amy_k_anderson.

Copy the Story Link