DAMARISCOTTA, Maine — A year after opening The Cook’s Corner in Damariscotta, Christine Schweighauser will bring her love of cooking to Cocinas Underground, a new year-round restaurant she plans to open in the space formerly home to Paco’s Tacos in downtown Damariscotta.
The word “cocina” is Spanish for kitchen. Schweighauser chose to make the word plural to reflect the various cultures and flavors she plans to bring to the menu, including Spanish, Mexican, Asian, and Cuban-inspired dishes.
Schweighauser’s boyfriend, Alex Brown, suggested adding underground to the name of the restaurant to reflect the location.
Both The Cook’s Corner and Cocinas Underground will be open this summer, Schweighauser said.
Schweighauser said she has been working in the food industry since she was 12 years old, and was cooking meals for her family well before that.
“I really love catering to people and making these meals they enjoy,” Schweighauser said. “One of my favorite things is seeing the look on people’s faces when they taste the food I make.”
Schweighauser said she enjoyed running The Cook’s Corner for three months last year, however, she has always wanted to open a sit-down restaurant where she could work year-round. When she saw an advertisement to rent a restaurant space that used to be home to “a popular Mexican restaurant,” Schweighauser said she knew she had to take a chance.
“I’ve heard so much about Paco’s Tacos. People are even talking about it today,” Schweighauser said. “This place has a great foundation and a wonderful history.”
Schweighauser has brought a little bit of her own family history into Cocinas. The main table in the restaurant is the table from Schweighauser’s childhood home. On one end of the table is a long divot Schweighauser made running her fingernails across the wood while on the phone.
“When I invite people to come eat at my table, I mean it!” Schweighauser said. “Some of the greatest things happen at the dinner table.”
Schweighauser said she hopes to have Cocinas Underground open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and will bring on a sous chef and three servers.
Schweighauser plans to discontinue breakfast at The Cook’s Corner, however, she will continue to serve freshly made doughnuts and beignets throughout the day. The Cook’s Corner will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Schweighauser said she is bringing in another person to help out and cook at The Cook’s Corner.
Depending on licensing and inspections, Schweighauser hopes to open Cocinas Underground in early June. The Cook’s Corner is scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend.