Good food has no boundaries in Maine, and it seems that wherever you go, a good meal can be had even in the most out of the way places. Now the charming little strip of Route 9 that is Cumberland Center has a new dining option at the corner of Tuttle Road and Main Street where down-home fare is served with such plain goodness.
Cumberland Food Company’s open kitchen and service area; Bryan Dame in background
It’s The Cumberland Food Company created by veteran chef Bryan Dame. He’s wielded his chef’s whisk in many restaurants around Greater Portland. From stints at Gather, Tiqa, to The Well, Rosemont and more—these are just some of the haunts where Dame has cooked before opening his own restaurant.
The Cumberland Food Company is open daily for breakfast, lunch and Sunday brunch. Dame will also serve dinner on various occasions.
At the corner of
Tuttle Road and Main Street, Cumberland Center
All this food goodness depends on “from-scratch” cooking. Dame makes his own biscuits and English muffins to accompany the various egg dishes served at breakfast.
Corned beef hash with 2 poached eggs., homemade English muffin and red-potato hash
I’ve yet to experience his lunch menu and its list of inventive sandwiches, but have gone for breakfast twice. The first time was to have corned beef hash and eggs served with well-spiced home-fries and a great English muffin. His hash style uses big strips of beef; I would have preferred a crustier style of hash but it had loads of flavor and the accompanying potatoes are whole red bliss (local, of course), slightly smashed and coated with a cloak of herbs that give it great distinction.
Perhaps the best test of a breakfast menu is the quality of breakfast griddle cakes. I loved the blueberry pancakes—a stack of two thick flapjacks liberally studded with wild Maine blueberries and served with local maple syrup and farm butter. These had the crispy edges which I like in pancakes and the simple batter of flour, egg and milk produced feather-light pancakes.
Blueberry pancakes; the communal table in the dining area; table seating is available in a charming small dining room in the rear
The wood-beamed room is frequented by neighborhood residents, mostly millennials whose chatter revolves around talk of Colorado ski trips, kayak excursions and kids, schools and cars–a clean-scrubbed patronage that sets the fine mood of this family style dining room.
The Cumberland Food Company, 371 Tuttle Rd., Cumberland Center, ME 207-829-4250 ww.facebook.com/Cumberlandfoodco/
A fine dining option in the farm community of Cumberland Center created by star chef Bryan Dame
Ambiance: Charming country dining room serving great breakfast and lunch
Service: self-service to order at the main counter in front of the open kitchen
Seating: Communal table, high tops and counter seating; small rear dining room with tables
Parking: on site
$$$: Moderate
