Food + Beverage

Chocolate Silk Pie

A melt-in-your-mouth pie for any occasion Article by Angela Smith | Photography by Josh Samson & A.V. Crofts In one pie-baking competition Anita Verna Crofts entered, chocolate pies were banned because judges feared they’d overshadow humble fruits and custards. While Anita agrees a key lime or peach can rival any dessert, she believes her Chocolate Silk Pie would’ve been unbeatable. Silky and rich, it’s adapted from her grandmother’s legendary recipe, stored in the tin she received from her...

Arts + Culture

Artistry of a Meal

Four Maine artists infuse creativity into every course Article by Angela Smith Every meal holds quiet magic. Nourishment that feeds body and soul. Especially when art shapes each step. From painted recipes to illustrated ingredients, hand-thrown vessels to thoughtfully plated dishes, four Maine artists infuse creativity into every course, reminding us that artistry lives not just around the table, but within it.   Brenda Erickson Paints the First Course: A Watercolored Recipe Before the...

Arts + Culture

Gather & Share

Serving and strengthening communities one story at a time Article by Angela Smith | Photography by Karl Schatz At the heart of every Community Plate Story Sharing Supper is a simple idea: come hungry, bring a dish, share a story. Held in libraries, churches, farms, and fairgrounds across Maine, these potluck gatherings have quietly become one of the state’s most heartfelt community movements. Rooted in ritual and shared humanity, they invite us to slow down, pull up a chair, and nourish body...

Food + Beverage

A Portland Icon Returns

A reimagined take on the classic tavern, Dry Dock returns with stunning views, bold flavor, and heart. Article by Angela Smith | Photography by Jenny Bravo They say timing is everything. And in the case of Dry Dock’s return, this adage holds. For the past five or six years, Luke Holden, co-founder of Luke’s Lobster, has been reaching out to his longtime friend, former classmate, and culinary peer Matt Ginn with the same question: “When is it time to link up and do something together?” Last...