Business Spotlight: Tia's Treats and Eats

During the Christmas season and for special occasions throughout the entire year, no celebration would be complete without holiday treats from Tia’s Treats and Eats.

Tia Morrell is the owner of Tia's Treats and 
Eats, a business specializing in the finest
chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate
candy, grazing boards and coca bombs in
the Greater Portland area.
COURTESY PHOTO 

Featuring some of the most delicious candy and indulgent delicacies that she makes herself in her own kitchen right here in Maine, Tia’s Treats and Eats is an experience not to be missed for any holiday or celebration.

Tia Morrell is a native of Windham who founded Tia’s Treats and Eats several years ago and is committed to offering the finest chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate candy, cocoa bombs, grazing boards and exceptional customer service available in the Greater Portland area. Each treat is prepared using fresh and organic ingredients, sourced locally and from around the globe and gift cards are also available.

“The best thing about what we do is to make something that seems so simple, but it is so well loved by those who receive it,” Morrell said. “The biggest challenge is finding the time to do even more of this.”

Tia’s Treats and Eats can be selected and ordered online and can either be picked up or delivered locally for free in the Greater Portland area.

“We offer something that can be brought to baby showers, the office Christmas party, for weddings, for Valentine’s Day, school graduations and more,” Morrell said. “The best part is that it’s all hand-made.”

Choices can be made directly online and the menu for Tia’s Treats and Eats rotates depending upon the season.

“Valentine’s Day is typically our busiest season,” Morrell said. “But no matter what time of year, the ordering process is very accessible and it’s very easy to get our products.”

Along with a wide assortment of sugary delights, Tia’s Treats and Eats also offers gluten-free and allergy-free treats that can be enjoyed by all.

“Because it’s important to me, our packaging comes in recyclable boxes and our grazing board bamboo trays are compostable,” she said. “Everything is safe for the environment. These are snacks that are good for our planet.”

She founded the company after living and working in New York City and then upon returning to her home state of Maine, Morrell says that she discovered that she couldn’t find some of the treats here that she enjoyed there.

Morrell says that she’s constantly looking to add new products to her line and at any given time, has between 10 and 12 different items available for purchase depending on the time of year.

“Finding just the right ingredients is always tough and does depend upon the day,” she said. “I find that I’m always shopping. It’s difficult to get strawberries throughout the year. Sometimes I’m ordering up to 30 cases of strawberries at a time.”

She says that she has discovered that to be successful in this type of business, a person must have the right mindset.

“You must have a quality product, be positive and friendly, and it takes time to build referrals,” Morrell said.

So far, the reviews for her products are sensational.

“I had berries gifted to me and they were so beautiful. But not only were they aesthetically pleasing, they were delicious. The berries were perfectly ripe, and the paired chocolate just couldn't have been better. Contactless delivery was a huge bonus as well.” Helen C. on Yelp

“Tia puts her all into creating such a special and delicious way of saying thank you. Recently I asked her to create a special gift of appreciation to a fine EMS department. They were worthy of something that took some love in creating, packaging, and delivering and Tia did exactly that. I added to the order last minute she accommodated without hesitation. I can tell you - these gorgeous delicacies got rave reviews! Thank you again, Tia. I would encourage you to reach out to her for any day, moment or event that has meaning for you.” Cheryl C. on Yelp

“Love, love, love my Valentine strawberries!!!! I wish I had taken a picture, but we hit that box hard! They tasted even better than they looked. And fruity pebbles with white chocolate might be my favorite now. Thanks Tia you’re doing amazing work.” Mary McGurn Wasick on Facebook

To view a selection of products available from Tia’s Treat and Eats, visit https://www.tiastreatsandeats.com/ or find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/treatsandeatsmaine. Orders are also available by calling 207-518-8298. <

Business Spotlight: The Outpost Bar and Grill

For anyone searching for a fun place to go for great food, great drinks, and a great atmosphere, take heart, your search is over the moment you step into the new Outpost Bar and Grill in Standish.

Kate and Nate Cates are the owners of The Outpost Bar and
Grill in Standish. SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Located at 380 Pequawket Trail in Standish near the intersection of Route 25 and Route 113, the Outpost Bar and Grill offers a pub dining experience right on Watchic Lake that’s perfect for both families and those looking for a comfortable evening out.

“The best thing about the Outpost Bar and Grill is being able to build a place to bring families to come in and relax and offer an experience that other places can’t,” said Kate Cates, who co-owns the restaurant with her husband, Nate Cates. “Everyone is welcome. We have something for everyone, from live music Thursdays, trivia Fridays, cornhole tournaments, a mug club, a game room, and specials all week. We strive for customer satisfaction and try to provide a place where anyone can come and unwind after a long day.”

Cates said the Outpost offers many different specials and happy hour throughout the week and is conveniently situated right on the ATS trails so all 4-wheelers, side by sides, and snowmobiles are able to access the restaurant right from their machines.

“We also are located on Watchic Lake, so boats have access to pull right up, tie off and come in,” she said. “We have a game room and huge back lawn for fires, live music and cornhole tournaments.”

According to Cates, the emphasis for the Outpost Bar and Grill is making sure that all guests have a great experience.

“We have a game room with arcade games, a pool table, cornhole and putt putt golf,” she said. “We just started offering mug club to customers where they can purchase a mug and get discounts on draft beer and cocktails, a free app on their birthday, and mug club member only specials throughout the week.”

The menu also includes an array of gluten-free and dairy-free options, which is important for anyone who suffers from food allergies and food sensitivities. Take-out is available too.

Food and drinks are highly affordable, and the menu includes everything from pizza to fried chicken sandwiches, cheesy fajita steak tacos, fried veggies, ziti and meatballs, fried pickles, chicken salads, burgers and more. There’s also a children’s menu and the Outpost’s drink selection is vast.

“We have received great feedback about the wide beer selection we have, with 20 beers on draft, both craft and domestic,” Cates said. “We hear great things about the selection of liquor to choose from and the quality of our drinks.”

Meals are available for dining in, with outside seating and convenient curbside pickup for take-out available.

Having only been open since July, the Outpost Bar and Grill is building a loyal following based upon exceptional customer service, tasty meals, awesome drinks, and an overall fantastic experience.

“It has been an amazing time so far, and we are planning on being a year-round business,” Cates said. “We have 11 employees, so we are all very close and feel more like a family than coworkers.”

She said each employee is devoted to making the Outpost Bar and Grill a place where people can come and hang out, make new friends, or enjoy time spent with family and old friends.

“Customers love that we have a wide variety of gluten-free options and dairy-free options,” Cates said. “We know that finding a place that offers those options is hard, so customers seem to love being able to have fried food and know that it is 100 percent gluten-free. Customers seem to love the quality of our food. We offer a homemade feel with every meal. We take pride in prepping and preparing meals for our patrons.”

The Outpost Bar and Grill is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and from 1 to 10 p.m. Saturdays and from 1 to 8 p.m. Sundays. They are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

For more information, call the Outpost Bar and Grill at 207-648-4168. Find them on Facebook at The_Outpost_bar_and_grill and on Instagram page at outpost_bar_and_grill_. <