New Maine destinations for dining, eco-friendly recreation make national headlines
Maine’s lure as a destination for world travelers and foodies picked up cred recently on the pages of national media.
Twelve, an eatery expected to debut this summer in Portland, made Vogue magazine’s list of the 21 “most anticipated restaurant openings of 2022.”
And Cobscook Shores, a privately owned group of parks near Lubec, ranked among the New York Times’ annual recommendations of “52 Places” to visit around the world.
In Portland, Twelve is slated to operate seasonally at the former Portland Co. complex being redeveloped at 58 Fore St. Twelve is the brainchild of Prentice Hospitality Group, the owner of another eatery in the city, EVO Kitchen and Bar, and of the Chebeague Island Inn. To launch Twelve, Prentice is teaming up with two restaurateurs from New York City, Daniel Gorlas, a manager at Per Se, and Colin Wyatt, chef at Eleven Madison Park.
New York is home to three destinations on the Vogue list, and others range from Los Angeles to Miami. Twelve and a restaurant in Cambridge, Mass., are the only “most-anticipated openings” in New England.
At the extreme eastern edge of Maine, Cobscook Shores is a collection of 15 parklands recently created by philanthropist Gilbert Butler, a conservationist who has invested in preserving natural areas from the Adirondacks to Patagonia. The park system, covering 780 acres, offers free public access for walking, picnicking, hiking, biking, camping and paddling in Cobscook Bay.
Cobscook Shores, now operated by a family-funded charitable foundation, is one of only 11 U.S. destinations in the New York Times roundup. The list comprises places where tourism and recreation are being managed responsibly, and “highlights places where change is actually happening … and where travelers can be part of the change,” according to the Times.