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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 13 JA N UA R Y 2 3 , 2 0 2 3 F O C U S S O U T H E R N M A I N E Leeward's 'rollercoaster' Leeward, an upscale Italian restaurant on Free Street, had a rough start. Opening day was March 12, 2020, a day after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic and the very day that Maine announced its first positive case. e restaurant was open only four days before shut- ting down for months. It later eased back into busi- ness with pre-ordered dinner kits once a week before transitioning to take-out and then opening a patio that summer with limited indoor seating. "It's definitely been a rollercoaster," recalls Leeward's chef-owner Jake Stevens. "It's been a challenge, but it feels really good now." e pasta-focused dishes are any- thing but ordinary, from espresso pappardelle with red wine-braised oxtail, pearl onions and rosemary to baked semolina gnocchi with cured pork belly, tomato, chile flakes and pecorino cheese. Stevens says he adds two new menu items every week, though there's less variety in winter. A self-described Italophile, Stevens says, "It's comfort food to the max and always made me happy." Ware-Butler Industrial will supply prod- ucts to earthwork and concrete jobs, roads/bridges/construction jobs, grow businesses, storage units, livestock farms, health centers and commercial buildings of all types, infrastructure projects such as sand-salt sheds and municipal buildings, etc. WAREBUTLER.COM CONTACT US for your non-residential and commercial construction needs across Maine. Put our statewide buying power and experienced sales team to work for you! industrial@warebutler.com Fabric / Pipe / Culverts / Styrofoam insulation / Construction lumber Sheet goods / Millwork / Metal roofing and siding products PRODUCTS OFFERED: CUSTOM WORK AVAILABLE C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E ยป Jake Stevens, at Leeward, his upscale Italian eatery that made a New York Times list of the country's best new restaurants published in September. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY