Helping people experience our state’s rich culinary history through an interactive, social, and delicious medium is the core mission of the Maine Tasting Center (MTC). The colorful campus is located on the bustling stretch of Route 1 in Wiscasset; chances are you have driven by the sign and wondered what it is they do there.
“That is a question we are doubling down to answer as we head into the 2024 season,” says Kerry Payne, director of development. “The short answer is that we are the bridge between Maine’s diverse food producers and the community who is so excited about what is being sustainably grown, produced, farmed, and made here.”
The MTC is dedicated to supporting Maine farms, agritourism, and producers by sharing their stories, from field to fork, through events and classes at their Tasting Room, Learning Center, and Discovery Center. “Our goal is to serve as a culinary ecosystem for showcasing local products and connecting producers with the public. We want to be the center for all things Maine food and drink,” Payne says.
If you’re a little cloudy as to what happens at the MTC, there’s a simple explanation. Like many businesses that opened during the pandemic, early marketing efforts for the MTC stalled after their opening plans fell into the conundrum of “What do we do now?” Thankfully, Executive Director Sara Gross had a vibrant team ready to share their vision with locals and tourists, but COVID forced them to pivot and meet the needs of the changing world while trying to promote the new venture.
“Luckily, we used that time to do extensive renovations to the buildings,” says Gross.
The three buildings of the MTC are each used to enhance the learning experience. The Tasting Room is a sunny and welcoming space where you can enjoy local beer, wine, cider, and cocktails, plus a selection of small plates that spotlight ingredients from the state’s farmers and producers. The Tasting Room has a Maine-centric retail space and offers indoor and outdoor seating—and on an extra happy note, dogs are welcome on the patio.
The Flavors of Maine 101 board is the darling of the menu. For our visit, we enjoyed a guided tour through generous tastings of heritage beans; cornbread and maple cream; wild blueberries and goat cheese; buckwheat crackers and cheddar; smoked pollack spread and potato chips; and fermented seaweed salad. There is a pairing available of beer, cider, and wine.
“There has been a growing interest over the decades in small farms bringing back Indigenous crops, and this movement is what the Flavors of Maine 101 board embodies,” says Gross.
The specific producers might vary, but the essence of the board is to expose visitors to Maine’s iconic food and beverage landscape.
For those seeking hands-on lessons and demonstrations, the Learning Center features a state-of-the-art facility equipped with a professional kitchen and classroom. On a daily basis, there are classes, tastings, lectures, and workshops. Throughout the summer and fall, there is an abundant calendar of workshops, classes, public events, and paint nights. The diverse offerings, all led by experts in their various fields, keep the energy of discovery, curiosity, and local love alive. A sampling of the upcoming season includes Artisanal Cheeses of Maine; Incredible Edible Insects for Kids; Aquaculture Paint and Sip; and Dungeons and Drafts, a game night with dinner.
The Discovery Center currently features select pieces from the Maine Historical Society’s 2018 show, “Maine Eats: The Food Revolution Starts Here.” It shows that throughout history, Mainers have maintained a deep connection to their food sources and have innovated over the generations in ways ranging from ethical harvesting and organic farming to industrial inventions for canning and processing. There is also an interactive display for visitors to plan a variety of self-guided “food and drink trail” tours involving staples such as oysters, beer, ice cream, and cheese.
Caroline Chung, MTC’s campus manager and industry relations coordinator, is very excited about a passion project that is coming to life on August 31st—the Maine Night Market, which brings together Asian food producers, vendors, and food trucks. Before moving to Maine, Chung grew up in one of the biggest Korean communities in the U.S. “I want to introduce this community to this culture and tradition so we can engage and celebrate it together,” she says.
Even if you think you know what is happening in our food and drink space, the MTC will inspire, impress, and indulge you in ways that will leave you extra hungry for your next culinary adventure.
Visit mainetastingcenter.com for upcoming events, classes, and how to visit.
