But there wasn't any chow to be had. Co-owner Kim Anderson, 26, informed me and my hubby that the unexpectedly large crowds the night before had wiped out the provisions. Instead we settled for a latte and a green tea before setting off in search of nourishment. Yet I'm still dreaming about the elusive Orion, a tempting sounding sandwich made of smoky tempeh, BBQ sauce, caramelized onions and mesclun mix. And I'm sure my husband would love to sample the Hercules: prosciutto, brie, spinach and apricot jam.
The food on tap includes soups, salads and breakfast goodies, such as bagels, muffins, homemade granola and vegan coffee cake. In addition to the tea and coffee, the drink menu includes microbrews and vino. The sandwiches sell for $6.50-$7.50.
"A lot of people in our community are vegetarian or vegan," said co-owner Anna Maria Tocci, 29, when explaining the veg-friendly menu. "But we're also
offering prosciutto and chicken. The ingredients are amazing. They're mostly organic and local. We'll get a farm share this summer."
Cooking up the café's cuisine is Tamara Torres McGovern, 27, who previously worked with Tocci at Wicked Pulp around the corner. Tocci describes McGovern as the type of cook who can make something wonderful out of any random assortment of ingredients.
And while McGovern handles the kitchen and Anderson the books, Tocci's passion lies with the venue's impressive entertainment line-up. A solo
singer/songwriter herself (the restaurant's name comes from one of her songs), Tocci said "we're doing pretty much acoustical bands. A really wide variety."
On Thursdays from 7-11 p.m., the North Star Café is the new home to the Maine Songwriters' Association's showcase night. On Fridays and Saturdays from 8-11 p.m. you can hear live music, and a bluegrass brunch is in the works for Sundays. A spoken word night takes place on Tuesdays.
As they continue to work out the kinks that come with starting a new business, the women are excited about what's to come.
"We've had a lot of suggestions from the community," Tocci said. "It's fun that there aren't any rules."