Portland has been named the top small U.S. city for food and drink by Food & Wine, highlighting a growing trend of culinary innovation beyond major metropolitan areas.In its latest rankings, the magazine points to a “renaissance” in cities with fewer than 100,000 residents, where lower costs, strong community ties and close proximity to local farms are helping fuel vibrant dining scenes across the country.Portland earned the No. 1 spot for its nationally recognized food culture, driven in part by its working waterfront and access to fresh seafood. The city’s culinary scene continues to evolve as chefs adapt to changing conditions in the Gulf of Maine, including shifts in lobster populations due to warming waters.The magazine also highlighted a mix of established and emerging restaurants that showcase Portland’s creativity and commitment to sustainability. Spots like Mr. Tuna and Eventide Oyster Co. were noted for their focus on high-quality, locally sourced seafood, while Norimoto Bakery reflects the city’s diverse culinary influences.There are plenty of other establishments making a splash in Portland’s food scene.Bread & Friends, a bakery in the Old Port, gets its grains from Maine and mill them in-house. It is the kind of bakery where customers can watch their food being made.”There’s that big sheeter right at the window which laminates all of that croissant dough and it’s really great, especially when families are in here and the little kids have their hands up on the glass,” said Zoe Carey of Bread & Friends.”I think Portland is a really special place full of hard-working people with amazing local ingredients and word has gotten out,” said Amy Marchessault, manager of Flatbread Company.Flatbread Company, located on Portland’s waterfront, makes its hand-tossed pizza in a wood-fired clay oven with thoughtful ingredients that are locally sourced.”Articles like this help us stay relevant and remind people that we’re walking the walk, talking the talk, and we’re still doing what we did from Day 1 and it really helps us stay in business,” Marchessault said.Food & Wine said small cities like Portland may not match the scale of places like New York or Chicago, but they are increasingly defining the future of dining in the United States through innovation, collaboration and a strong sense of place.
PORTLAND, Maine —
Portland has been named the top small U.S. city for food and drink by Food & Wine, highlighting a growing trend of culinary innovation beyond major metropolitan areas.
In its latest rankings, the magazine points to a “renaissance” in cities with fewer than 100,000 residents, where lower costs, strong community ties and close proximity to local farms are helping fuel vibrant dining scenes across the country.
Portland earned the No. 1 spot for its nationally recognized food culture, driven in part by its working waterfront and access to fresh seafood. The city’s culinary scene continues to evolve as chefs adapt to changing conditions in the Gulf of Maine, including shifts in lobster populations due to warming waters.
The magazine also highlighted a mix of established and emerging restaurants that showcase Portland’s creativity and commitment to sustainability. Spots like Mr. Tuna and Eventide Oyster Co. were noted for their focus on high-quality, locally sourced seafood, while Norimoto Bakery reflects the city’s diverse culinary influences.
There are plenty of other establishments making a splash in Portland’s food scene.
Bread & Friends, a bakery in the Old Port, gets its grains from Maine and mill them in-house. It is the kind of bakery where customers can watch their food being made.
“There’s that big sheeter right at the window which laminates all of that croissant dough and it’s really great, especially when families are in here and the little kids have their hands up on the glass,” said Zoe Carey of Bread & Friends.
“I think Portland is a really special place full of hard-working people with amazing local ingredients and word has gotten out,” said Amy Marchessault, manager of Flatbread Company.
Flatbread Company, located on Portland’s waterfront, makes its hand-tossed pizza in a wood-fired clay oven with thoughtful ingredients that are locally sourced.
“Articles like this help us stay relevant and remind people that we’re walking the walk, talking the talk, and we’re still doing what we did from Day 1 and it really helps us stay in business,” Marchessault said.
Food & Wine said small cities like Portland may not match the scale of places like New York or Chicago, but they are increasingly defining the future of dining in the United States through innovation, collaboration and a strong sense of place.
Dining and Cooking