Top 40 Mainer Foods

Chocolats Passion, based in Portland, specializes in crafting fine chocolates with a focus on high-quality ingredients and intricate flavor profiles. The company offers a variety of products including truffles, bars, and seasonal confections. Their chocolates are handcrafted by skilled artisans who emphasize traditional techniques and innovative combinations.Expand

Creo Chocolate is a family-owned bean-to-bar chocolate factory located in Portland, Oregon. They specialize in small-batch chocolate production, starting from sourcing cacao beans directly from farmers to crafting finished chocolate products. Creo Chocolate also offers workshops and factory tours to educate the public about the chocolate-making process.Expand

Maine Beer Company from Freeport, Maine, was founded in 2009 by brothers David and Daniel Kleban and has been guided from the start by the motto “Do what’s right”, a principle applied in both brewing and business, as well as in their relationship with the community. Their first beers were brewed in a small space in Portland, but by 2013 they had moved to Freeport, where they developed a modern production facility and tasting room. Their most renowned beer is Lunch IPA, named after a local whale, known for its rich citrus and tropical hop aromas, while Dinner and Second Dinner stand out as their most successful Double IPA releases. The brewery is characterized by technical precision and investments in equipment such as a centrifuge and a sensory lab program, ensuring consistent quality. Their taproom in Freeport spans several thousand square meters, combining modern architecture with warm, natural elements. Visitors can enjoy a wide selection of draft beers along with a simple menu of pizza, salads, and sandwiches. A strong emphasis is placed on sustainability and local collaboration, reflected in the use of seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Maine Beer Company is recognized as a pioneer of hop-forward styles in the region, frequently highlighted in industry media and among beer enthusiasts. Their story demonstrates how vision, quality, and responsible business practices can shape a brand that resonates far beyond its local community.Expand

Stonewall Kitchen is an American brand renowned for its high-quality gourmet specialties, known for authentic flavors and exceptional craftsmanship. Founded in 1991 as a small market stand in Maine, it quickly grew into one of the most respected producers of jams, chutneys, sauces, dressings, and baking mixes. Their products are handcrafted using carefully selected ingredients, with a strong commitment to both tradition and innovation. Stonewall Kitchen is a multi-award-winning company, recognized by the Specialty Food Association for its outstanding taste and product excellence. Today, the brand encompasses a family of companies and offers a wide range of products that delight home cooks and professional chefs alike. In addition to food items, they offer a collection of home goods, kitchen tools, and scented candles. Their stores and cafés have become popular destinations for food lovers across the U.S. Every jar reflects a dedication to detail and small-batch quality. Stonewall Kitchen blends heritage with a modern approach, creating products that inspire everyday cooking. It’s a brand that brings together simplicity, quality, and exceptional taste in every bite. Expand

Appleton Creamery, based in Appleton, Maine, is a small-scale cheese producer specializing in artisanal goat cheeses. They utilize milk from their own herd of goats as well as collaborating with other local dairies to produce a variety of cheeses. Appleton Creamery participates in local farmers' markets and offers cheese-making classes.Expand

Pineland Farms Dairy is an American dairy company based in Bangor, Maine, founded in 2005 with the goal of supporting local farmers and preserving the agricultural heritage of the region. The company stands out for producing high-quality cheeses using exclusively milk from local farms. Their range includes various types of cheeses, from classic cheddar and gouda to specialty products like smoked gouda and feta cheese. Pineland Farms Dairy places great emphasis on sustainability and the local community, which is reflected in their slogan “Maine Cows. Maine Milk. Maine Cheese”. Production is adapted to modern standards of quality and hygiene, aiming to provide fresh, natural, and tasty dairy products to consumers across the United States.Expand

Absolem Cider is a craft cidery based in Winthrop, Maine, founded in 2020 by Zack Kaiser, Kevin Sturtevant, and Ryan Travers, with the goal of blending tradition and innovation in the world of fermented beverages. Their production relies on local and heirloom apple varieties, including wild fruit, while fermentation takes place spontaneously with native yeasts. They put strong emphasis on experimentation - offering sparkling and still ciders, co-ferments with other fruits and wine, as well as specialties such as smoked cider. Part of their production matures in wooden barrels, adding depth and unique character to each release. Their tasting room is located in a more than 150-year-old barn, creating an authentic experience and attracting visitors seeking a rustic atmosphere. Absolem Cider has quickly established itself as one of the more innovative producers in Maine, with a philosophy rooted in minimal intervention, highlighting terroir, and a creative approach that makes every release distinctive.Expand

One of New England cuisine staples, the Maine-style lobster roll consists of a chilled lobster salad tucked into New England-style split-top buns. The lobster salad, at its basic, is made with knuckle and claw meat that is dressed in mayonnaise and mixed with finely chopped celery, seasoned only with salt and pepper. Variations typically include ingredients like lemon juice, mustard, and chives. Because the buns are buttered and toasted, the result is a lobster roll with contrasting texture and flavor: a warm, buttery, toasted bun vs. a cold, crunchy lobster salad. It is unknown when it was invented and by whom. What is known is that it started to first appear sometime in the 1950s due to the explosion of summer tourism, but it boomed in the 1970s thanks to the increase in the roadside lobster roll stands. Red Eat's, the most famous restaurant on Route 1 in Maine, had a big role in popularizing it. Also, even though the Connecticut-style lobster roll appeared earlier, the Maine-style one is the more popular of the two. When it comes to serving, the most typical pairing is a Maine lobster roll and either creamy clam chowder or seafood chowder. But at seafood shacks or food stands, it is typically served with salt and vinegar potato chips, coleslaw, pickles, and onion rings.Expand

Boiling is the most popular and simplest way of preparing a Maine lobster. Live lobsters are plopped into a large pot of boiling water seasoned with sea salt and cooked depending on the size of the lobster — the bigger the lobster, the longer the cooking time. Once the lobster is in the water, it’s important to time the cooking so it doesn’t overcook, as the meat will be tough and rubbery. Also, lobsters need to be treated humanely. Hence, placing the lobsters in the freezer for 30-60 minutes before cooking is recommended so they fall asleep. When sleeping lobsters are placed in boiling water, they will not feel any pain. Serve with melted butter, bibs, and a bucket for shells.Expand

Italian sandwich is an American sandwich consisting of a long bread roll filled with cheese such as provolone, meats such as salami, mortadella, and ham, and condiments such as tomatoes, olives, pickles, and onions. It is believed that the first Italian sandwich was created in Portland, Maine, in 1899 by an Italian baker named Giovanni Amato. He originally created it as an inexpensive, portable lunch for road construction workers, but today it has gained such popularity that it is a staple of numerous variety stores and sandwich shops throughout Maine.Expand

This true American classic consists of a thick, juicy blueberry filling enclosed between two layers of flaky, golden pastry. It first appeared in the written form in 1829, but its origin probably dates back to the early American pioneers. Even though it is traditionally associated with Maine, where it is declared as the official state dessert, the classic blueberry pie is a summer favorite enjoyed throughout the country, usually served with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on the side.Expand

Fiddleheads and their harvesting is a Maine tradition stemming from Native American times. These coiled tips of young ostrich ferns usually grow near rivers in lakes in Maine, and they're harvested during April, May, and June. The flavor of fiddleheads is often described as a combination of asparagus, mushrooms, and spinach. They're low in calories and rich in fiber and vitamins A and C. Traditionally, the fiddleheads are boiled or steamed and served with a bit of butter and salt, but vinegar and olive oil are also sometimes used as toppings or seasonings.Expand

Waldo Smog is an American heat-treated cheese made from cow's milk. It contains a layer of ash, making it visually similar to Cypress Grove's goat's milk cheese Humboldt Fog, but with the rich and buttery flavor coming from cow's milk. The cheese is produced by Fuzzy Udder Creamery in Maine. Waldo Smog ripens from the outside, resulting in a cheese that's surrounded by a pungent, slightly runny shell. It is recommended to pair it with quince poached in white wine with vanilla, sugar, orange zest, and cardamom.Expand

Needhams are traditional American confectionery dessert bars originating from Maine. They're made with a combination of mashed potatoes (unseasoned), butter, salt, sugar, coconut, vanilla, and chocolate. The melted butter is mixed with the potatoes, sugar, vanilla, and coconut, and the mixture is spread in a layer in a pan. Once cooled, it's cut into squares and dipped into melted chocolate. Needhams became popular in the late 19th century in Maine, and it is believed that they were named after an evangelist Reverend George S. Needham. Nowadays, these desserts are often made during the festive Christmas season.Expand

Maine baked beans is a traditional dish originating from the state of Maine. It is made with a combination of Maine dry beans (usually of the Yellow Eye variety), salt pork, sugar, molasses, mustard, onion, salt, and pepper. The beans are soaked overnight, then parboiled in the morning up to the point when their skins crack when blown upon. The onion is cut and placed on the bottom of the pan, followed by beans and salt pork on top. A combination of other ingredients is then poured over the pork and beans. The whole pot is then placed in the oven and slowly baked, typically for 6 hours or more. It is recommended to serve Maine baked beans with steamed brown bread or hot johnnycakes.Expand

Opus 42 is an American semi-firm cheese produced in Maine by Lakin's Gorges Cheese. The cheese is made from cow's milk and ages from 3 to 6 months. Underneath its natural rind, the texture is moist and slightly crumbly. The aromas are earthy, pleasant, and yeasty, while the flavors are nutty, lemony, sharp, and tangy, with notes of earth and cellars. It's recommended to pair it with dried apricots and a glass of fermented cider.Expand

Prix de Diane is an American cheese hailing from Waldoboro, Maine, where it's produced by Lakin's Gorges Cheese. The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk. Underneath its bloomy rind, the texture of this brie-style cheese is soft and creamy. The aromas are rich, while the flavors are buttery, creamy, subtle, and citrusy. It's recommended to serve Prix de Diane with turkey, sandwiches, pasta dishes, or avocados in order to bring out its full-bodied and creamy flavors. The cheese is named after a horse race in France.Expand