Gourmet & Healthy in South Portland

Hoping to revive the culture of the neighborhood butcher shop, with its personalized service, attention to detail, and artful products, restaurant-industry veterans Justin Rosberg and Jason Parent took a gamble on their first New Hampshire butcher shop in 2003. Dubbed The Meat House, their store quickly earned a foodie following, spawning additional franchise locations across the country. Today, The Meat House’s Mission Viejo location stocks fine cheeses, prepared side dishes, other gourmet grocery items, and hundreds of wines alongside the usual selection of traditional and exotic meats. Butchers also explain how to prepare each hand-carved cut of meat, sharing recipes, best slicing practices, and cooking techniques for giving pork chops the flavor of justice.

The connoisseurs at MacNab's Premium Tea stock more than 65 different tea varietals for every sipping occasion, from black tea for the morning to holiday blends specially concocted to repel Santa Claus's advances on Christmas Eve. At the shop, teas are divided into eight categories, ranging from black or oolong to green or earl grey. The staff also blends its own brews, such as Murray Tavern, which is based on a tea found singing karaoke in a 1700s gathering house.