GreenMEGreendrinks at Grace Restaurant
Nov 6, 2009 04:28 PM
Categories: Sustainable Business Town: Portland
The second Tuesday of the month approaches, and that means it's time to visit with our new Greendrinks hosts. November's venue is provided by Grace, a restaurant housed in a 19th century church located at 15 Chestnut Street. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. Its partner for the event is the Wayside Soup Kitchen, an organization that manages to feed close to 300 people for dinner every day - for free.
While Greendrinks will take place on the ground floor of the renovated church, the restaurant itself is located on the first floor. And it's a space that's definitely worth checking out. "Our main objective with the renovation was to really preserve the historical landmark while adding a modern touch," explains Kate Tozier, Grace's general manager. They managed to combine the two perfectly, providing an incredible eating space while preserving the original structure to the exacting requirements needed to maintain its status on the National Register of Historic Places.
The pews, the pulpit, the repeated theme of the triquetra, and even the use of the original organ copper wire as napkin holders all help tie the modern dining experience to the history of the venue. With the help of Chef Eric Simeon, however, Grace has managed to provide food that isn't overpowered by the gothic venue. "When we interviewed with [Chef Simeon] the restaurant was under major construction but the potential for the space was already evident," says Tozier. "That helped the menu evolve, since we really wanted the experience of the space and the food to be in balance." Sorry, dinner is not included for this month's event, but the space itself is definitely worth the trip.
And while you're visiting, be sure to bring a can or two of food with you to help out the Wayside Soup Kitchen. This incredible organization manages to feed 250 to 300 people a night, while helping to stock more than 35 food pantries, soup kitchens and aid agencies throughout Cumberland County. "We believe that no one should be going hungry in Maine," says Steve Foley, the kitchen operations manager at the Wayside Soup Kitchen. "We do the lunch and the evening meal and we have an open door policy, meaning that everyone that comes in through that door gets fed."
That's not all this incredible organization does, the Wayside Soup Kitchen is changing the way is serves the community by adapting to the needs of different groups. Some groups can't or won't go to the soup kitchen so Wayside has developed a mobile food pantry that gets food to those that need it. "We also partner with the community policing effort," says Foley. "A lot of the children don't have meals in the summer once the school food programs stop, so we provide food that helps develop better relationships between the community and the police."
Wayside gets their food from Whole Foods, Hannaford Brothers, Sysco of Northern New England, and a host of other donors. But they also do their own fundraisers and can drives, so be sure to bring a few non-perishable Thanksgiving food goodies to this month's event.
Break out your drinking vessels and turn on your charm because it's time to meet and mingle in a gorgeous venue for a great cause!
Written by Peter McDougall
While Greendrinks will take place on the ground floor of the renovated church, the restaurant itself is located on the first floor. And it's a space that's definitely worth checking out. "Our main objective with the renovation was to really preserve the historical landmark while adding a modern touch," explains Kate Tozier, Grace's general manager. They managed to combine the two perfectly, providing an incredible eating space while preserving the original structure to the exacting requirements needed to maintain its status on the National Register of Historic Places.
The pews, the pulpit, the repeated theme of the triquetra, and even the use of the original organ copper wire as napkin holders all help tie the modern dining experience to the history of the venue. With the help of Chef Eric Simeon, however, Grace has managed to provide food that isn't overpowered by the gothic venue. "When we interviewed with [Chef Simeon] the restaurant was under major construction but the potential for the space was already evident," says Tozier. "That helped the menu evolve, since we really wanted the experience of the space and the food to be in balance." Sorry, dinner is not included for this month's event, but the space itself is definitely worth the trip.
And while you're visiting, be sure to bring a can or two of food with you to help out the Wayside Soup Kitchen. This incredible organization manages to feed 250 to 300 people a night, while helping to stock more than 35 food pantries, soup kitchens and aid agencies throughout Cumberland County. "We believe that no one should be going hungry in Maine," says Steve Foley, the kitchen operations manager at the Wayside Soup Kitchen. "We do the lunch and the evening meal and we have an open door policy, meaning that everyone that comes in through that door gets fed."
That's not all this incredible organization does, the Wayside Soup Kitchen is changing the way is serves the community by adapting to the needs of different groups. Some groups can't or won't go to the soup kitchen so Wayside has developed a mobile food pantry that gets food to those that need it. "We also partner with the community policing effort," says Foley. "A lot of the children don't have meals in the summer once the school food programs stop, so we provide food that helps develop better relationships between the community and the police."
Wayside gets their food from Whole Foods, Hannaford Brothers, Sysco of Northern New England, and a host of other donors. But they also do their own fundraisers and can drives, so be sure to bring a few non-perishable Thanksgiving food goodies to this month's event.
Break out your drinking vessels and turn on your charm because it's time to meet and mingle in a gorgeous venue for a great cause!
Written by Peter McDougall
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