Maine
A pizza-slinging Maine food truck adds a permanent location
The Uproot Pie Firm is a cell wood-fired pizza oven that slings pies at farmers markets within the midcoast within the summertime. However now, with a brand new everlasting area open within the chilly months, it’s additionally a spot to study, eat and possibly even meet some new folks.
The brand new Uproot Pie Firm Carriage Home in Thomaston is newly opened and internet hosting occasions from pizza-making courses to four-course meals to sourdough 101 courses.
Created by baker and chef Jess Shepard in 2011, the cell meals producer is bucking the development of meals trucks-turned-restaurants by as a substitute creating an indoor area that works with the cell aspect of the enterprise as a substitute of changing it.
“We are going to by no means quit the farmers markets. They’re our neighborhood,” Shepard stated.
As an alternative, that is an enlargement right into a Nineteenth-century carriage home in Thomaston with a everlasting wood-fired oven becoming a member of the 2 cell wood-fired pizza ovens the corporate already operates at farmers markets and occasions. All of the wood-fired ovens had been constructed by Andy White.
At a latest sold-out four-course dinner at The Carriage Home, diners had been greeted with focaccia and olive oil and went on to take pleasure in olives warmed within the wood-fired oven, a cheese board that includes native Lakin’s Gorges Cheese and home made chutney with hearth-made sourdough crackers after which wood-fired pizza and a salad with native greens. After ending off the meal with espresso and dessert, they lingered, chatting at tables with strangers earlier than having an impromptu query and reply session with Shepard.
That’s the type of neighborhood constructing occasion she hoped the area would encourage, Shepard stated.
“Individuals need communal spots to come back to,” Shepard stated.
The thought for The Carriage Home is years within the making.
After launching in 2011, Shepard’s enterprise shortly grew. Oyster River Winegrowers requested her to convey her cell wood-fired pizza oven to its vineyard for a wine and pizza evening that’s continued to be held. In the meantime prospects on the farmers markets began asking about on-site catering. That labored out, too.
“That catering actually took off. I didn’t see that coming in any respect in 2011,” Shepard stated. “After which folks simply actually received enthusiastic about what I used to be doing and it turned an actual enterprise.”
However it wasn’t till shopping for a house in Thomaston in 2016 that she started to suppose even larger after recognizing the carriage home on a stroll together with her canine. The timing wasn’t proper then, however in 2019 it was and she or he purchased it.
Now, a month after opening the brand new area, Shepard is happy about what’s to come back. A spoon whittling workshop — “They’re a very particular heirloom merchandise you’ll be able to have in your kitchen,” she stated — and even yoga might be on the horizon as properly.
“The chances now really feel limitless,” Shepard stated.
The Uproot Pie Co.’s cell pizza oven may be discovered at farmers markets in Rockland on Thursdays and Camden on Saturdays, starting in Might. It’s additionally out there for personal occasions, although she stated the 2 cell ovens are practically absolutely booked for this summer time.
The Uproot Pie Co. Carriage Home is situated at 9 Inexperienced St. in Thomaston. The complete calendar of occasions, together with courses and pizza picnics, may be discovered at theuprootpieco.com/calendar.
“It’s so enjoyable and new. We simply get to hammer out enjoyable particulars. Like how can we make this higher,” Shepard stated.