Niky and Martha, the husband-and-wife team behind the restaurant started in 2017 here in Portland - Niky is from Cartagena, Colombia, and Martha is from New England, so this place is really a reflection of both backgrounds and the communities they love.
We opened in 2017 as a small stall in the Public Market House with the idea of sharing the incredible street foods of Cartagena, many of which are naturally gluten-free because they're made from corn instead of wheat. We wanted to celebrate those traditional Colombian flavors while connecting them to the agricultural traditions here in Maine. Since then we have moved out to this location and expanded into a line of wholesale products for people to enjoy at home!
A big part of what we do here is preserving traditional production methods of making the foods, while allowing for innovative twists. We make our empanadas and arepas by hand from a whole grain corn ground in house, working to stay true to the techniques and recipes that have been passed down through generations in Colombia. For us, the process is just as important as the final product.
Over the years, we've built strong relationships with local farmers and grain producers, and we even do some of the corn planting ourselves. We can show you some of the corn we grow and talk about how it becomes the masa used in our empanadas. As we continue to grow, our goal is to keep supporting local agriculture and help create new opportunities for grain production here in Maine.
Community is also a huge part of our mission. We provide empanadas to public school systems, offering an easy meal that can accommodate a variety of dietary needs while also celebrating the cultures of families who are making Maine their home. It's one more way we can connect local agriculture, food traditions, and community.
So when you enjoy a meal here at Maiz, you're tasting more than just a traditional Colombian street food. You're experiencing a collaboration between Cartagena and Maine, between old traditions and new opportunities, and between the people who grow the food and the people who enjoy it.
First time? Ask us questions!
What is in arepa?
Arepas are made from fresh ground corn, hot water and salt - that is all! They are a daily staple in households across Colombia (and Venezuela). All our arepas are made with different varieties of corn that are ground in-house for a rich, delicious flavor. Our arepas rellenas are made from a white corn, they are grilled, cut open, and stuffed like a pocket. Ours are about 6” in diameter so they are a meal size. Our yellow corn arepas (or arepas amarillas) are topped instead of stuffed. The arepa e’huevo is a yellow corn arepa that is fried and filled with fried egg. Arepitas are mini arepas that are usually grilled and not stuffed. They are great for kids or as a snack. A choclo is also a type of arepa that is made sweet corn and milk.
What is yuca?
Yuca is a starchy, root vegetable used to make flours in pan de bono and other specials such as carimañolas. We process our yuca whole, by peeling it, boiling it and grinding it to make dough.
What is a plantain?
Plantains are in the banana family. They could be a “maduro” or a sweet plantain or a “patacon” which is an unripe green plantain. Both versions are fried and delicious with cheese!
We design our menu to work with corn, yuca and plantains - therefore we are an entirely gluten free operation.