Maine’s provision markets and natural food stores offer a bounty of local & tasty eats
Solo Cucina Market in South Portland.
By Angie Bryan
Courtesy photos, unless otherwise noted.
A DETOUR TO ONE OF MAINE’S DELIGHTFUL PROVISION STORES will elevate even the best of days on the water, upta camp or in the backyard. These little markets carry an eclectic mix of nothing but the best of Maine—from salads and sandwiches to wine and whoopie pies. Unexpected visitors? Heading to a friend’s house and forgot to purchase a hostess gift? Traveling out of town and want to bring a local product or two to your relatives? A provision store has you covered with everything you want in one stop, from artisan cheeses to fresh flowers to locally made giftable. Here are a few of our favorite things from shops good enough to be a destination in their own right.
Vegan / gluten-free options noted.
View by region: Southern Beaches • Greater Portland • Sebago Lake region • Central Maine • Midcoast Maine • Downeast
Southern Beaches
Cape Porpoise Kitchen in Kennebunkport.
Cape Porpoise Kitchen
1 Mills Road, Kennebunkport
(207) 967-1150
www.capeporpoisekitchen.com
The prepared foods counter at Cape Porpoise Kitchen is a mouth-watering array of choices (try the crab cakes or their kale and broccoli cashew salad). They also have an in-house bakery, a large wine selection and an impressive selection of cheeses, including some that are extremely hard to find elsewhere. Don’t miss their salt-and-pepper challah-style pull-apart bread.
Terra Cotta Pasta Company
5A Route 1, Kittery
435B Cottage Road, South Portland
(207) 475-3025 - Kittery
(207) 799-9909 - South Portland
www.terracottapastacompany.com
Terra Cotta Pasta Company’s motto is, “You boil the water, we’ll do the rest!” As the name implies, they specialize in pastas—offering 10 fresh pastas, 11 flavors of raviolis and 18 sauces, including the best zesty aiolis. They offer fresh and frozen prepared meals, pre-made side salads, gelato and sorbetto and a wide selection of wine and local craft beer. If you have a gluten-free diner in your family, this is Italian paradise with gluten-free pizza dough and pastas, and polenta and risotto always on the menu. Don’t miss their frittata, which sells out quickly.
Greater Portland
C Salt Gourmet Market
349 Ocean House Road, Cape Elizabeth
(207) 956-7700
www.csaltgourmetmarket.com
Heading to the Casco Bay beaches? Plan a stop at C Salt Gourmet Market, where just about everything is local, and take your day up a level or two. They have indoor and outdoor seating, a smoothie and locally roasted coffee/espresso bar and a large selection of prepared foods for eat-in or take-out. Their extensive in-house bakery, overflowing with scones, cookies, cakes and more, includes several gluten-free and a few vegan options. Need a last-minute gift? They have you covered there, too, with a nice selection of local cards, wines and giftables. Don’t miss their breakfast sammies on housemade English muffins or their wildly popular white chocolate berry cookie.
The canoli ricotta cookie at Monte’s Fine Foods
Monte’s Fine Foods
788 Washington Avenue, Portland
(207) 613-9873
www.montesportland.com
Monte’s Fine Foods is a neighborhood market with a patio, an in-house bakery, a curated selection of local produce, dairy and meats, and the crème de la crème, their craft-made slice bar. Famous for their mouth-watering pizza made in the Roman style, sold by the pound like they do in the Old World, Monte’s also sells crave-worthy sandwiches on housemade bread, vegan options (including pizza, gelato, and pastries), beer and wine, flowers, chocolates and an ample selection of local and imported specialty foods. Don’t miss their cannoli cookie.
Rosemont Market in Portland’s West End neighborhood
Rosemont Market
537 Shore Road, Cape Elizabeth, (207) 536-1768
580 Brighton Avenue, Portland, (207) 774-8129
88 Congress St., Munjoy Hill, Portland, (207) 773-7888
40 Pine Street, West End, Portland, (207) 699-4181
231 US Route 1, Falmouth, (207) 956-7997
96 Main Street, Yarmouth, (207) 846-1234
www.rosemontmarket.com
Since its inception, Rosemont Market has been dedicated to cultivating relationships with farmers and making local food accessible. They carry baked goods, housemade granola, fruit pies and cakes, well-curated specialty foods, gelato, local meats and some of the region’s best cheeses. Their helpful staff is always available to make informed wine pairing suggestions from their excellent wine selection. Don’t miss their pre-made daily sandwich specials on housemade focaccia and Muhamarra spread.
Pesto and pasta at Solo Cucina Market
Solo Cucina Market
161 Ocean Street, South Portland
(207) 808-8507
www.solocucinamarket.com
Solo Cucina Market is a collaboration between Solo Italiano, Jordan’s Farm in Cape Elizabeth and Farmers’ Gate, a butcher shop in Wales. As you can imagine from the partnership, they offer a gorgeous butcher case, freshly made pastas and sauces and beautiful produce. But they also feature gorgeous breads and baked goods, a selection of prepared foods including daily panini specials and cheeses from over a dozen local dairies. Don’t miss Chef Paolo’s award-winning pesto.
Terra Cotta Pasta Company
5A Route 1, Kittery
435B Cottage Road, South Portland
(207) 475-3025 - Kittery
(207) 799-9909 - South Portland
www.terracottapastacompany.com
Terra Cotta Pasta Company’s motto is, “You boil the water, we’ll do the rest!” As the name implies, they specialize in pastas—offering 10 fresh pastas, 11 flavors of raviolis and 18 sauces, including the best zesty aiolis. They offer fresh and frozen prepared meals, pre-made side salads, gelato and sorbetto and a wide selection of wine and local craft beer. If you have a gluten-free diner in your family, this is Italian paradise with gluten-free pizza dough and pastas, and polenta and risotto always on the menu. Don’t miss their frittata, which sells out quickly.
Sebago Lake region
Pie at Good Life Market.
Good Life Market
1297 Roosevelt Trail, Raymond
(207) 655-1196
www.thegoodlifemarket.com
Heading to the Lakes Region? You don’t want to miss a stop at this local favorite. With a curated wine selection, over 100 craft beer labels, and an in-house liquor store, you’ll find ample offerings to quench your thirst. Their deli features sandwiches and pre-made side salads, and the bakery makes amazing pies. They also roast their own coffee (Swift River Coffee Roasters), make their own cold brew and sell specialty coffee drinks. Don’t miss their Blue Moon Chicken Salad wrap and fruit pies.
Good Food Store
212 Mayville Road, Bethel
(207) 824-3754
www.goodfoodbethel.com
The Good Food Store, which shares a parking lot with Smoking Good Barbecue, is a welcome provisions paradise for those en route to Sunday River Ski Resort or spending time in the Bethel area. It offers a wide variety of heat-and-eat foods, organic produce, craft beer and wine and local products.Their soup, salad and sandwich menu has daily specials. They can accommodate special diets on request and offer a tempting selection of grabbable sweets. Don’t miss their Moroccan chicken and pumpkin whoopie pies.
Central Maine
A selection of Maine made wines at Tiller & Rye
Tiller & Rye
20 S Main Street, Brewer
(207) 573-4021
www.tillerandrye.com
Tiller & Rye is a shopping destination for anyone visiting or living in the greater Bangor area who appreciates good, local and handcrafted eats. A large market dedicated to local and natural foods, they carry provisions from over 300 Maine farmers and artisans, supplements, herbs and tinctures, a bulk section, Fiore olive oils and vinegars and a curated selection of local beer and wines. They also offer sandwiches, fresh produce and artisan cheeses. Heading to Acadia? They are a great stop en route to pick up lunch and goodies for the ride. Don’t miss their selection of organic vegan breads from Bangor-based bakery Biggi’s.
Midcoast Maine
Croissants and cinnamon buns at Treats
Treats
80 Main Street, Wiscasset
(207) 882-6192
www.treatsofmaine.com
A Midcoast community staple for over 20 years, Treats is a must-stop on your way through Wiscasset on Route 1. In addition to their made-from-scratch baked goods (including brioche morning buns and almond croissants), quiches and salads, they carry canned cocktails, have a well-curated selection of wine, beer and cider and are home to an always-impressive local cheese case. They offer a wide variety of Maine specialty products, as well as locally roasted coffee and espresso. Don’t miss their take-and-bake freezer scones.
Pinkhams Gourmet Market.
Pinkham’s Gourmet Market
295 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor
(207) 633-6236
www.pinkhamseafood.com
Owned by a commercial fisherman, Pinkham’s Gourmet Market is known for its large supply of fresh seafood and onsite butcher shop, but the tasty goods don’t stop there. They have everything you need to take back to your cottage or campsite: an extensive selection of wine and craft beers, a great cheese and cracker selection, produce, a deli, a variety of dips and spreads, baking supplies and other groceries. They also have a terrific lunch menu with daily specials like meatball subs on Mondays and tacos on Tuesdays, as well as along list of soups, hot subs and cold sandwiches. Don’t miss their famous lobster stew on Fridays.
Wine & Cheese at Dot’s Market
Dot’s Market
2457 Atlantic Highway, Lincolnville
(207) 706-7922
www.dotsinmaine.com
Just north of Camden on Route 1, Dot’s Market offers a delicious array of grab-and-go breakfast and lunch entrees, salads and picnic provisions. You’ll find house-baked quiches, Maine blueberry muffins and gourmet sandwiches. They make their own granola, have outrageous breakfast baguette sandwiches and burritos, and carry over 200 wines (with monthly tastings) and an eclectic and growing section of beer and kombucha and cheeses from around the world. Don’t miss their curried chicken salad and gluten-free lemon polenta cake.
Main Street Markets
435 Main Street, Rockland
(207) 594-8515
www.mainstreetmarkets.com
Main Street Markets (owned by the same folks as Ada’s Kitchen in Rockport) has all the home cooking you need without your having to do the cooking (or the dishes) yourself. A great place to purchase supplies for a picnic, they offer catering, soups (among the most popular of their prepared food specials), fresh baguettes, an extensive array of snacks, kombucha, canned cocktails and much more. In addition to carrying pizzas and pastas from Ada’s, they offer a hot foods bar with daily themes like Indian Monday and Taco Tuesday. Don’t miss their signature smoothies.
Downeast
Acadia Provisions Market
425 High Street, Ellsworth
(207) 412-0363
www.facebook.com/acadiaprovisions
Located on the major arterial to Mt.Desert Island, Acadia Provisions Market includes a full-scale butcher shop featuring vegetarian-fed, humanely raised, and antibiotic- and hormone-free meats. This Downeast purveyor of tasty goodness also carries a large selection of groceries for people with special dietary considerations and makes sandwiches to order using Boar’s Head meats. Their daily lunch specials include some seriously drool-inducing sandwich creations. Don’t miss the wide selection of canned adult beverages at the Global Beverage Warehouse next door.
Natural food stores throughout Maine
Food co-ops and natural foods stores also play a major role in bringing Maine-made products, organic produce and local dairy items into Maine communities. Like gourmet provisions stores, they often have their own deli counters, prepared foods, bakeries and more. Here’s a list of several such stores throughout Maine:
Southern Maine
Rising Tide Natural Foods
165 State Road, Kittery
New Morning Natural Foods
3 York Street, Kennebunk
One Earth Natural Food Store
191 Emery Mills Road, Shapleigh
Nature’s Way Market
271 Main Street, South Berwick
New Morning Natural Foods Market and Café
230 Main Street, Biddeford
Greater Portland
Lois' Natural Marketplace
152 US Route 1, Scarborough
Portland Food Co-op
290 Congress Street, Portland
Royal River Natural Foods
443 US Route 1, Freeport
Lakes & Mountains
Fare Share Food Co-op
443 Main Street, Norway
Northern Maine
The Country Co-op and Farm Store
53 Main Street, Houlton
Country Roots
769 Main Street, Presque Isle
Central Maine
Axis Natural Foods
120 Center Street, Auburn
Uncle Dean's Natural Market
80 Grove Street, Waterville
Natural Living Center
209 Longview Drive, Bangor
Midcoast Maine
Morning Glory Natural Foods
60 Main Street, Brunswick
Bath Natural Market
36 Centre Street, Bath
Rising Tide Co-op
323 Main Street, Damariscotta
Good Tern Co-op
750 Main Street, Rockland
Belfast Co-op
121 High Street, Belfast
Downeast
Blue Hill Co-op
70 South Street, Blue Hill
John Edwards Market
158 Main Street, Ellsworth
A&B Naturals
101 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor
