Biddeford-Saco Restaurant week returns

March 4, 2026 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

A Grassroots Celebration of Food, Flavor & Community — with a New Digital Passport

Contributed Story | Heart of Biddeford

From bánh mì to barbecue, specialty coffee to steak frites, arcade combos to raclette, Biddeford–Saco Restaurant Week returns March 15–22, 2026, inviting residents and visitors to explore the region’s dynamic and ever-growing food scene.

Organized by Saco Main Street, Heart of Biddeford, and the Biddeford Saco Chamber of Commerce, Restaurant Week in Biddeford and Saco has its own personality — distinct from statewide programs that focus primarily on prix-fixe dinners.

Biddeford-Saco Restaurant Week returns March 15 – 22 (Photo: Heart of Biddeford)

“Our Restaurant Week is a little more grassroots,” said Delilah Poupore, executive director of Heart of Biddeford. “Not all of our food businesses are sit-down restaurants. We have breweries, bakeries, sandwich shops, sushi counters, an arcade, coffee roasters — you name it. So we leave room for creativity in how businesses participate.” Saco’s executive director, Angie Presby added, “Honestly, we may need to rename it ‘Foodie Week’ because it’s about restaurants but so much more.”

That flexibility allows each business to design an offering that fits their style, their space, and their customers.

A Taste of This Year’s Offerings

With more than 20 participating businesses, Restaurant Week highlights the full spectrum of the local food scene. Diners can find everything from raclette poured over toasted baguette at Nibblesford to a secret Peruvian Steak Frites special at Magnus on Water, comfort classics like Frito Pie at Ore Nell’s Barbecue, and creative multi-course meals at Jin Sushi and Ramen.

*Nibblesford in Biddeford will be one of more than 20 participating businesses in this year’s event.*

It’s not just restaurants, though. Participants can enjoy bracket-style “Mocha Madness” at Time & Tide Coffee, gameplay-and-dinner combo deals at Rift Arcade, and special deals at Banded Brewing Co. The range reflects what makes Biddeford and Saco unique: a food culture that blends serious culinary talent with creativity, comfort, and fun.

New in 2026: The Brightr Passport

To encourage diners to explore multiple locations, this year introduces the Brightr Restaurant Week Passport — a simple, web-based experience (no app required).

Customers register by scanning a QR code displayed at participating businesses. Once registered, they can view all Restaurant Week offerings and “check in” at each location they visit by scanning that business’ unique QR code. Each day of Restaurant Week, one winner will be randomly selected from that day’s Passport check-ins to receive a $25 gift card, for a total of eight daily winners. At the end of the week, one participant who checked in at three or more businesses will be awarded the $100 grand prize.

Alex MacPhail, the executive director of the Biddeford Saco Chamber explains, “The more places that participants explore, the more chances they have to win — and the more local businesses they support!”

Ticketed Events: Art, Storytelling & Culinary Showdowns

Restaurant Week also features two dynamic ticketed events that bring the community together in creative and unexpected ways.

Food Collider: March 12

An early kick-off to Restaurant Week, the Food Collider transforms Pizza by Alex into a one-night pop-up gallery and storytelling experience. Presented by Art of Biddeford in partnership with Pizza by Alex, the March 12 event blends art, food, and story inside one of Biddeford’s most iconic spaces.

Part art exhibition, part live gathering, each ticket includes pizza nibbles, entry to a curated food-themed gallery, and eight creative “collisions” — five-minute presentations weaving together storytelling, music, history, and reflections on everything from family tables to farms to the systems that bring food to our plates. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Biddeford Food Pantry.

FYOOD Cooking Competition: March 18

*BRCOT culinary students will be participating in this year’s event*

The week continues with FYOOD (pronounced “feud”), a high-energy cooking competition hosted at the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology Culinary Program kitchen.

Amateur home chefs team up to face off in two mystery ingredient challenges (one savory, one sweet) with just one hour to create and plate their dishes before a panel of professional chefs, local personalities, and Culinary Program Director Chef Steve.

Audience members enjoy front-row views from the dining room, a live video feed from inside the kitchen, and a made-to-order pasta meal from the culinary students.

Meanwhile, competitors battle for the FYOOD trophy and serious bragging rights. Limited to four teams, the event highlights both the creativity of local home cooks and the real-world experience gained by BRCOT culinary students preparing and serving guests in a fast-paced environment.

Tickets and team registrations for both events are available via Eventbrite.

More Than a Meal

Biddeford–Saco Restaurant Week is about connection as much as cuisine. It’s about supporting small businesses, celebrating creativity, and giving people a reason to explore both downtowns — one check-in, one meal, one shared table at a time.

For the full list of participating businesses and complete details, visit the official Restaurant Week webpage

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Restaurant Week is made possible by generous sponsorship from Saco & Biddeford Savings.

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Biddeford charity will finally get compensated by a national company

August 16, 2025August 16, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ 1 Comment

After almost two years of frustration, mixed signals and delays, it appears that a local charity will finally receive the roughly $35,000 that they raised to help develop a playground in Biddeford’s downtown area.

Roxi Suger, a well-known business owner in Biddeford, is also known as the driving force behind the annual Biddeford Ball, a gala event that raises funds to benefit the community.

In addition to ticket sales, the annual event also attracts corporate sponsors. All proceeds are then donated to the community via the Heart of Biddeford, a non-profit organization.

But Suger said something went wrong two years ago, following the fourth annual Biddeford Ball in 2023.

“It’s been a nightmare,” she said, pointing to the national company that handles online ticket sales for the event.

Suger says she has always used Brown Paper Tickets, a Seattle-based firm, to handle online sales and reservations for the Biddeford Ball.

According to Suger, the company has been withholding payment of more than $35,000 since April 2023.

“There were never any problems until then,” she said. “I was shocked because we used the same company before with no problems.”

Suger described her efforts to recoup those funds as an “exhausting ordeal” that has involved dozens of unanswered calls and emails.

Delilah Poupore, the Heart of Biddeford’s executive director, said she even tried contacting the Maine Attorney General’s office to no avail.

“It just felt like we were going round and round and chasing our tails,” Poupore said.

Brown Paper Tickets was acquired by Events.com nearly three years ago.

Events.com, based in La Jolla, Calif., operates all over the globe. According to their website they have provided services for “millions of events.”

“It just felt like we were
going round and round
and chasing our tails,”
— Delilah Poupore

Though both Suger and Poupore said they have been ignored by the company, the company responded almost immediately when contacted by the Biddeford Gazette.

“Thank you for bringing this to our attention,” read an email from an unnamed media spokesperson. “We have located this account and it is part of the final set of groups slated for payments as part of the last phase of the Events.com acquisition.

“We expect the payment issuance to be initiated no later than Friday of next week, August 22.

“We understand the acquisition of Brown Paper Tickets by Events.com took time. We apologize for the delay and sincerely hope the funds can still be used for their initial intent.

“We appreciate your patience and understanding throughout this process.”

When contacted about the company’s response to the Gazette, Poupore said the news brought tears to her eyes.

“That is amazing news for Biddeford,” she said.

For her part, Roxi Suger said she is grateful that this process will likely come to a close. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said.

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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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Biddeford kicks off Pride month

June 2, 2025June 2, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

A crowd of roughly 50 people gathered Monday for the raising of the Pride flag at Biddeford City Hall.

Monday’s ceremony kicks off at a month-long celebration of activities and events, all aimed at promoting the ideals of inclusivity, respect and diversity — especially for members of the LGBTQIA+ community — in Biddeford and beyond.

Mayor Marty Grohman addressed the crowd just before the flag was raised, telling them that he will later read an official proclamation regarding Pride month at the city council’s next regular meeting on Tuesday.

Colin McKauge (left) and Jeniece Wilder of Tiger Allies help raise the Pride flag at Biddeford City Hall to kick off the city’s annual celebration of Pride month as Micayla Budd, president of Tiger Allies, look on.

“We gather to raise the Pride flag as a symbol—not just of visibility, but of belonging. In Biddeford,” Grohman said. “We believe that everyone deserves to live openly and be celebrated for who they are.”

Grohman said the flag represents a community that is vibrant, resilient, and proud. “[This flag] represents our shared values of inclusion, dignity, and respect. And it reminds us that progress is made not just through big milestones—but through everyday acts of support and solidarity.”

“We gather to raise the Pride flag as a symbol
—not just of visibility, but of belonging in Biddeford
— Mayor Marty Grohman

“We raise this flag together, let it be a message to all—especially our youth—that you are seen, you are valued, and you are welcome here.” the mayor added.

Jamie and Krista Shaw attended Monday’s event. The couple recently moved to Biddeford from the city of Westbrook. As members of the LGBTQIA+ community, they say they feel welcomed in Biddeford.

“There is no such thing as safe, just safer” Jamie Shaw said.

Krista Shaw said they have found Biddeford to be “a very warm and welcoming community.”

Delilah Poupore, executive director of the Heart of Biddeford, said there are a number of activities and celebrations scheduled throughout Pride month in Biddeford.

For more information about Pride events in Biddeford, the Heart of Biddeford has created a web page that includes information and details regarding Pride month activities and events. For more information, please visit https://heartofbiddeford.org/pride-3/

Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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Biddeford’s arts community gets a big boost: Five Questions

January 31, 2025April 7, 2025 ~ Randy Seaver ~ Leave a comment

(This is the first of hopefully many more ‘Five Questions” interviews with a variety of people throughout the Biddeford Community)

For nearly 14 years, Delilah Poupore has been at the helm of the Heart of Biddeford, a non-profit organization with a mission to “foster a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable downtown for residents, businesses and visitors.”

Today, Poupore, 57, remains as excited and passionate about Biddeford as she was when she moved here from California to serve as the Heart of Biddeford’s executive director.

“Her enthusiasm is never ending,” said Joe McKenney, a Heart of Biddeford (HOB) board member. “She is the perfect fit for the role, and her passion for the city is infectious. We are very lucky to have her. We would not be where we are today without her.”

Examples of Poupore’s seemingly boundless energy can be seen and experienced throughout the downtown area and beyond, including a growing list of annual community events such as River Jam, Biddeford Oktoberfest, Winterfest and the I Heart Biddeford 5k Run/Walk race.

*Delilah Poupore, Heart of Biddeford’s executive director*

Poupore is constantly looking for new and creative ways to engage the community and to be a resource for a diversity of stakeholders, not just for downtown businesses.

The HOB’s umbrella includes small business owners, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs and those who may be struggling to be better connected to the community, including unhoused residents and new immigrants who are hoping to build a new life in the city.

The Heart of Biddeford had humble beginnings, but is constantly evolving, including recent news about the organization’s expansion.

Poupore describes creating the ‘Art of Biddeford’ as “adding another department” to HOB in order to meet the needs of the city’s growing arts community.

I fell in love with Biddeford because of the stories, the history of the city;
the immigrants who came here and built so much of the infrastructure.”
— Delilah Poupore

The Art of Biddeford is designed to help fill the void that was created when board members of another Biddeford non-profit – ENGINE – decided to dissolve last year.

“ENGINE was such a powerhouse for the arts community,” Poupore said. “Although it’s quite understandable why they chose to dissolve, it’s also sad for me to acknowledge that organization is no longer here.”

In a recent press release, ENGINE’s former board president Sarah LaFortune said the Heart of Biddeford is “the ideal steward to continue the work that ENGINE started.”

Poupore described Tamsyn Bodwell — ENGINE’s primary founder – as someone who was tireless and a passionate supporter of Biddeford’s arts community. “We worked on a lot of projects over the years,” Poupore said. “I cannot think of anyone who was more committed to supporting local artists in Biddeford.

“The Art of Biddeford is standing on the shoulders of what ENGINE built in this community.”

You moved here from California and immediately immersed yourself in the community. Why are you so passionate about Biddeford?

“We have so many people – from all sorts of backgrounds – living here; and a thing in common with a lot of them is that they are people who really embrace a creative life.

“I grew up in a post-industrial town, in Duluth, Minnesota. It was full of bricks and history and people sort of wondering about the future and equality and things like that.

“I fell in love with Biddeford because of the stories, the history of the city, the immigrants who came here and built so much of the infrastructure.”

What do you see when you contemplate the Heart of Biddeford’s future?

“I see so many opportunities ahead for both the city and the Heart of Biddeford. I want to make sure that Biddeford’s continuing revitalization is for Biddeford people.

“I want Biddeford to be a community that figures out how to revitalize without losing the people who built the place.”

What is the importance of a thriving arts community?

“There are so many things. The arts can lead to building a foundation for a creative economy that attracts investment and new opportunities for the community.

“And a creative economy is a great way to bring different people – of different backgrounds and perspectives – together so that they are excited about sitting at the table and looking at the community as whole. The arts is a natural bridge that strengthens relationships.”

What do you think is driving the Heart of Biddeford’s success?

“I think if you start with the people, then they know that you value them, and that you want them involved in the process. You just create different things when you bring people around the table saying what they think is important.”

You bubble with enthusiasm, but do you ever get discouraged?

“I am kind of used to waves in this job. Sometimes, it feels like there is so much to do, and so many things I want to do. So yes, sometimes it feels like a lot, but then things settle down again.

“I think of this as the investment time. I think it’s important for people to see what is happening rather than just reading about it on piece of paper.”

RELATED: Saco Bay News story: Heart of Biddeford launches Art of Biddeford

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