A Charcuterie Bar in a Pasture

the bonus newsletter of the month.

I’ve been fortunate to eat at unique spots all across Maine. I’ve enjoyed multi-course meals on boats, Fox Family Chips straight from the fryer, pizza at a grass-fed dairy farm and so many family-style supper clubs in barns that I’ve lost count.

And while rain kept me from enjoying this particular meal outside - this find, one in the middle of a pasture, was certainly a first. Most definitely, however, not a last.

The Rooting Pig - a charcuterie bar in Bristol, Maine founded in 2022 - is an offshoot of Broad Arrow Farm. The farm, which began in 2017, uses regenerative, soil-based methods to raise pigs, poultry and eggs on pasture and in the woods of Mid-Coast Maine's Pemaquid Peninsula. Their pigs have free access to pasture and woods all day, everyday.

Which allows this restaurant to truly give new meaning to farm to table. The charcuterie bar is surrounded by lush gardens, free range chickens and of course, their pigs. Though it took a second to settle with me - I opted out of having my daughter go visit with the pigs - there’s no denying that you know exactly where your food comes from.

While we didn’t get the sunny, perfect day I hoped for - we got take-out and enjoyed it indoors in their cozy, inviting space - here’s what The Rooting Pig usually encourages while enjoying their gorgeous outdoor space:

✔️ Kids & dogs, encouraged
✔️ Parties of more than six, encouraged
✔️ Lawn games provided & encouraged
✔️ Self-guided farm tours, encouraged
✔️ Lounging in an Adirondack chair taking it all in, encouraged
✔️ Relaxed & casual, required

And these reminders on their website ring true in every aspect of their operation. Everyone is super friendly, humble and truly happy to see you on their farm.

But none of this would really matter if the food didn’t compliment, or surpass, the perfect-ness of the atmosphere. I’ll just start by saying that if I could go back and re-write my recent newsletter “Dishes I’d Drive For” - this would, without question, make that list.

The sandwich I inhaled, the Smoked Turkey, included turkey, bacon, gruyere, chopped lettuce, juicy tomato and dill pickle. My husband opted for the BAF Italian - ham, mortadella, salami, provolone, giardiniera - and it was gone before I could ask for a bite. Our daughter had a tough time choosing off of the Piglet Bites menu - which included kid-approved choices like Pigs in a Blanket, a kid’s charcuterie board, grilled cheese, etc.

These dishes are so obviously made with a tremendous amount of love and thought. Each ingredient feels necessary, never superfluous, and fresh. Oh man: so, so fresh.

If you are heading up the coast this summer, this spot is just 10-15 minutes off of Route 1. And if you have a carload of your favorite folks - both the human and furry kind - there couldn’t be a better place to stretch those legs, play some cornhole and enjoy a meal you’ll never forget. Also, the bar doesn’t just dish out meat - there are cocktails, beer and wine too - in case you decide to make a night of it.