By Olivia Canny
Christine Schweighauser and Alex Brown will open Cook’s Corner. Several family members have helped with the construction and will work at Cook’s Corner. From left: Justin Parmenter, Shania Brown, Samantha “Sammy” Brown, Christine Schweighauser, Alex Brown, Joshua Parmenter, Austin Parmenter, Justin Page, and Valdemar Scov. (Olivia Canny photo) |
Cook’s Corner, located on Main Street in Damariscotta, will open for year-round business by the second week of July, offering breakfast, lunch, dessert, and vegetarian options.
Owners Christine Schweighauser and Alex Brown have worked with their family to construct two buildings, one of which will sell strawberry shortcakes and root beer floats, while the other will serve as a drive-thru for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Schweighauser’s experience in the restaurant industry began when she was 12 and worked at a takeout restaurant in Massachusetts. She spent 10 years at the business, eventually running it, and later moved on to several cooking and waitressing jobs.
Outside of her professional life, Schweighauser enjoys experimenting with food of all varieties, including Greek and Puerto Rican, two of several cultures that are part of her heritage. Schweighauser plans to emphasize homemade, quality food at Cook’s Corner.
“What I’m making that’s on the menu is what I cook for my family,” said Schweighauser.
Vegetarian options will include a portobello mushroom burger, homemade onion rings, and kale chips. She plans to host “fish fry Friday,” featuring seafood chowder.
Schweighauser also wants to incorporate Damariscotta’s history into the menu items and the restaurant’s presentation. She plans to serve an oyster po’boy called the “shell midden” and to dedicate the root-beer floats to Waltz pharmacy, accompanying the tributary beverage with a display of photos in memory of Waltz’s history.
Breakfast at Cook’s Corner will include made-to-order doughnuts and Wicked Joe Coffee.
Cook’s Corner’s shortcake shack will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The drive-thru will serve breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday, lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and will stay open until 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Cook’s Corner is located at 603 Main St. in Damariscotta. For more information, call 563-1688.
