Good taste is always in season at Stutzman’s Farm Stand and Bakery

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    SANGERVILLE — The end of harvest season in Maine usually means that farm stands begin shutting down for the winter.
    But for those who’ve enjoyed fresh produce and homemade dishes at Stutzman’s Farm Stand and Bakery in Sangerville, take heart. They’ll be open right through December with their famous Sunday brunches and live musical entertainment, Saturday pizza buffet and a nice variety of homemade breads and baked goods.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    READY FOR HALLOWEEN — Stutzman’s bakery and farm has plenty of pumpkins for your Halloween celebration.

    While the Stutzman farm has been a landmark in Sangerville since the turn of the 20th century, the café and bakery are fairly new additions.
    The design of the café, which opened this summer, was inspired by barns built 100 years ago, said Sid Stutzman, who owns and operates the business with his wife, Rainie. “The hemlock beams are attached with wooden pegs and the walls are pine,” said Sid Stutzman. The café is heated with a pellet stove with fuel bought from Athens. “It’s nice to know we can take care of our energy needs from a local company,” he added.
    The main feature of the café is a huge wood-fired brick oven, based on a design from the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. “The oven cooks at 700 degrees,” said Rainie Stutzman, “so you can have a pizza in about five minutes.”

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    FRESH FROM THE OVEN — Teresa Myers brings out a pizza from Stutzman’s brick oven, based on a design from the ancient Roman city of Pompeii.

    And Stutzman’s Farm Stand and Bakery doesn’t just offer “ordinary” pizzas. “We like to do themed pizzas, based on the seasons,” Rainie explained. For example, a popular fall pizza features apples, bacon and caramelized onions. Others include fresh vegetables from the Stutzman gardens or greenhouses and meat from local farms.
    One thing is common about their pizzas, however: all ingredients are natural and homemade. “We start the crust the day before we bake it,” said Sid. “We don’t use prepackaged shredded cheese. We shred our own from a block of cheese, so there’s no filler.”
    The café also has savory homemade soups like butternut squash, chicken and lentil, pumpkins, mushroom and black bean and sausage, plus chili and chicken and beef stews. They also feature locally-roasted Somerset Coffee from Skowhegan.
    Another interesting note is the design of the kitchen area. “You can watch how your food is being prepared,” Sid noted. “No one disappears into a back room to make it.”
    One of the Stutzman’s staff members, Diane Curran, is described as “one heck of a pie maker” by Sid. “About two-thirds of our fall staff are East Sangerville Grange members, including Diane. And if you’ve ever been to a Grange supper, you know how tasty it is.”
    Stutzman’s now has a pizza buffet on Saturdays from 12-4 p.m. featuring their famous pizzas, homemade soups, dessert and beverage for only $8.
    There’s a Sunday brunch with live music in the café from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. featuring pancakes, baked oatmeal, frittata – an egg-based Italian dish similar to an omelet or quiche without crust – bread pudding, homemade baked beans, breakfast pizza and more. Price is $9.50 for adults and $6 for youngsters age 8 and under.
    While this will be the first year of extended hours, the Stutzmans are confident that new and old customers will appreciate it. “We are very close to a snowmobile trail,” Sid noted. “Once winter arrives, we’ll build an access trail to the café. Snowmobilers enjoy a good meal after they’ve been out riding all day.”
    They also plan to bring in area crafters with gifts for the holiday season and will soon offer pre-cooked holiday meals along with the traditional breads and baked goods. “You can eat lunch, do your Christmas shopping and take some food home with you,” Rainie noted.
    Stutzman’s Farm Stand and Bakery is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information or take-out orders, call 564-8596. For updates, specials and entertainment information, find them on Facebook.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    SID AND RAINIE STUTZMAN — The Sangerville couple are the third generation owners of the farm, bakery and a newly-opened cafe.