The Purple House was built in 1950 as a family cottage in the country. Since then it has been home to a few families, a hot dog stand and much beloved video store. I first passed by the property in 2011 when my family moved to New Gloucester but it was not until 2015 that I thought about purchasing the property and renovating it for a wood fired bakery and restaurant. The small footprint (544 square feet) could present a challenge to many but I have spent the last 10 years working in such tight quarters that the space did not deter my desire to open a business within it's walls.
I hope you will join us for the evolution of this property from the raised beds for herbs and vegetables to the flower gardens and to the ever changing menu we will offer through the seasons.
Welcome to The Purple House....
Fancy Luncheon and Dinner is coming soon 2024! More info to come…
The gardens at The Purple House will be an ever changing and developing story of a property that once held lush wildflowers and roses. The property was scraped clean in the fall of 2015 in order to install a new septic system and rework the natural barriers for the landscape. We have added raised beds with organic loam and plan to plant in the Spring. Herbs, edible flowers and vegetables are planned for the beds. The old flower beds will be replanted and the once overgrown and hidden pine grove will become an area for picnic tables to enjoy a light brunch or ice cream in the Spring, Summer and Fall months, along with a fire pit in the colder months to sit and relax.
The wood oven was designed and built by J. Patrick Manley over the course three and half months. He is a 'Yoda' among oven builders and the precision and care taken for the entire process was amazing to witness. I have wanted a wood oven for as long as I have been a cook so this opportunity to create an entire menu based on wood fired cookery and baking is really exciting for me!
The oven will determine our bake each day and therefore items will appear throughout the day as the oven temp cools and rises again at lunchtime. The menu will make note of times if you are looking for specific items.
Within the 544 square feet of the cottage, there is a fully functioning bakeshop where we make everything from scratch using only the best local and mostly organic ingredients we can source. Ice cream and pastry will be our main focus as we return from a long hibernation. We will post a selection of items available to be PRE ORDERED and picked up on the days we are open. Everything will be gluten free, lactose free, dairy free and/or vegan. If we use traditional dairy or meat for anything it will be notated on the menu.
The food at The Purple House is an amalgamation of all the things that I love to cook...and I hope you love to eat! Dishes from France, Italy, Japan, Canada and Maine wrapped up into a variety of tastes and textures and reimagined through the flames of a wood fired oven... there will be vegetarian, gluten free, lactose free, dairy free and/or vegan options available as well!
OPEN: We will be reopening!
Hours: To be determined.
CLOSED: Sunday : Monday : Tuesday : Wednesday : Thursday : Friday : Saturday
378 Walnut Hill Road
North Yarmouth, Maine 04097
At the southern junction of Route 9 and Route 115
The only purple cottage with orange doors for miles!
We have garden seating outside in the warmer months....and we have a fireplace and bistro tables and chairs surrounding it on our front patio for relaxing in the colder months. We do not take reservations for bakery PRE ORDER PICKUPS but we will be taking reservations for Fancy Lunches coming in 2024.
Check back for info on Fancy Lunches and Bakery PRE ORDER PICKUPS for 2024.
The property undergoes so much change each season...we hope you will visit throughout the year to experience the ever shifting landscape.
We are currently using only Gluten Free flours and products to produce our pastries and baked goods. We strive to use organic and transparently sourced GF flours and grains to use in our gluten free products. We are not certified gluten free but we no longer have any gluten based or wheat products in the building so that cross contamination can be avoided.
We will have ice cream from Bresca & The Honeybee which we churn regularly from local milk, cream and eggs from down the road.. we use seasonal ingredients as well as spices, chocolate and fruits from around the world to add extra deliciousness to our offerings! We offer traditional French custard based ice cream and gelato as well as sorbet and vegan ice cream. We will have ice cream cakes, pops, bars and pints for sale. Scoops on cones or in cups will also be available. All of our ice creams, sorbets and vegan ice creams are Gluten Free.
Montreal Style Bagels are a very particular thing...
They are always hand formed...
They are always boiled with honey...
They are always baked in a wood fired oven...
And they are always enjoyed eaten fresh...
Bagels and Bialys are on hold while I work on gluten free versions!!!
We source local and organic products from throughout Maine and New England as well as speciality ingredients from around the globe. We expand our reach for these ingredients because the Earth is our home and the sharing of flavors, aromas and textures from the cuisines of other cultures is what we believe makes cooking so important to the joy of living.
The Purple House serves Speedwell Coffee for espresso drinks, iced coffee and drip.......... we are also fond of making and drinking traditional Cuban Bucci shots and Cafe Bombon. We hope you will enjoy these as well!
That's my cat Townes...he doesn't drink coffee but he does appreciate the pleasure that a great cup of coffee can give.
Bresca & the Honeybee is located in New Gloucester at Outlet Beach on Sabbathday Lake. We are open to the public from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day seven days a week for swimming and boating. We make our own ice cream from local milk, cream, eggs and cane sugar. Please pack a picnic lunch as we no longer serve food at the beach! Ice cream available 11am-5pm seven days a week weather permitting. Beach and Property are open 9am-5pm seven days a week weather permitting.
Open Memorial Day to Labor Day
106 Outlet Road
New Gloucester, Maine 04260
207.926.3388 (Memorial Day - Labor Day)
Look for the little yellow shack with an ice cream cone sign....
