The Velveteen Habit opens for the season Friday, March 18

The Velveteen Habit opens for the season Friday, March 18

The Velveteen Habit, a farmhouse restaurant nestled in a four acre clearing in the woods of Cape Neddick, Maine, is ready to welcome guests for its second season. Dinner reservations for The Velveteen Habit are currently being accepted beginning Friday, March 18. The restaurant will be open Wednesday – Sunday from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. until Memorial Day weekend, when it will extend its hours to Tuesday – Sunday, 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Diners are welcome to enjoy their meals in one of two cozy parlor rooms or in the main dining room. The 18th century farmhouse restaurant was completely renovated (interior and exterior) during the winter of 2015 to highlight a contemporary, elegant and timeless design.

Located in the former nationally-recognized Arrows, The Velveteen Habit is forging its own path, incorporating farm-fresh ingredients in its cuisine under the helm of Chef Chris Wilcox. The restaurant is unveiling numerous 2015 summer harvest pantry items that have been preserved over the winter for use this season; diners can expect to see housemade vinegars, preserved and pickled vegetables and cured meats on the menu. The bar is flush with tinctures, bitters and housemade elixirs, nurtured through the winter months, now ready for cocktails. For guests curious about tastings, the restaurant offers half pours of many of its wines and beers, making it easy to explore the range of offerings.

Dinner guests may choose from a wide range of first courses for the table, highlighting spring flavors as simple and refreshing as butter lettuce with aged sheep’s cheese, radish and apple cider vinaigrette or deviled celery root and crab remoulade with white anchovy and lemon — to the heartier spicy grilled pork short ribs with cucumber and sea bean salad or potato puree with smoked gouda and chives. In addition, The Velveteen Habit’s extensive cheese program will feature between 8 to 10 cheese selections. Main course options include a NY strip steak with black garlic and carrots; whole roasted calamari with bitter greens, turnips and nduja; roast pork shoulder, and striped mullet with white beans, grilled cabbage and pickled green tomato.

Owner Ben Goldman spoke of plans for the 16-17 season, “We continue to make our priorities a focus on hospitality, high quality food and drink and a commitment to innovation, creativity, and utilization of the on-site kitchen garden and micro farm. We look forward to welcoming our friends from last season, and making many new friends this year.”

Plans for later in the season include intimate outdoor seating for cocktails and snacks on the front lawn and by the kitchen garden. In addition, a host of changes are already underway for the micro farm, including a completely new growing layout to optimize production, new flower beds throughout the whole property (the honeybees will be happy) and dozens of chickens for fresh eggs daily.

About The Velveteen Habit:
The Velveteen Habit, an 18th century farmhouse renovated in the winter of 2014, is an elegant retreat secluded in the woods two miles from downtown Ogunquit, Maine. The property includes two acres of micro farm that provide 85% of the restaurant’s produce needs, and guests are invited to explore the grounds during their visit and enjoy the great lawn overlooking the kitchen garden. Cocktail, beer, and wine menus are reflective of the daily harvest and change frequently to complement seasonal food menus. Owner Benjamin Goldman serves as sommelier and beverage director and the kitchen is managed by Executive Chef Christopher Wilcox. The Velveteen Habit is located at 37 Ogunquit Road, Cape Neddick, Maine. More information can be found by calling 207-216-9884 or visiting thevelveteenhabit.com.