Bar Review of The Front Room

Portland Bar Guide has published a bar review of The Front Room.

Defying the melee, bartender Eva notices me right away, and I’m asked what I’d like to drink within 48 seconds of entering, with the drink specials offered in a crisp list. On Saturday and Sunday, I’m happy to learn, this masterful happy hour allows the booze-artist some autonomy with the Bartender’s Choice special, a seasonal, creative cocktail. Eva has made a delicious-sounding Cinnamon Manhattan in past weeks, for example.

Lindgren Pens an Evans Interview for Gastronomica

Samantha Hoyt Lindgren, co-owner of Rabelais Books, is the author of an interview with Rob Evans appearing in the new issue of Gastronomica.

Samantha’s interview gives us the back story on Rob, who’s risen from yeoman’s cooking on cruise ships to the top of the heap with his recent James Beard Award. Fortunately, she didn’t mention his amazing new charcuterie platter, so there will still be some for us.

PortlandTown, Day 3

Day 3 of PortlandTown’s photographic tour of this week’s food events took him to Cinque Terre for the Slow Food Dinner.

The whole concept of “Slow Food’s” could be another post, but let’s say it’s a cousin to the 30 Mile Meal idea to eat local, eat fresh, know your food. Much of the food tonight was grown local and prepared on the premise. The meal was part of a national promotion of “Slow Food” farm to table movement at 6 to 8 premier restaurants around the country.

A Tale of Two Coffee Shops

frenchpresseatery
The French Press Eatery, a new coffee shop and cafe in Westbrook run by James Tranchemontagne from the Frog and Turtle and his brother Andre, is now open for business. In addition to soup, sandwiches and coffee, the menu includes a line-up of fresh donuts. If there anything like the ones at the Frog and Turtle then I’m going to be a regular customer.  The French Press Eatery is located in the former Freaky Bean space at 855 Main Street.
A new coffee shop and Internet cafe, Yordprom Coffee Co, is now under construction at 722 Congress Street in the building that used to serve as the offices for Portland Magazine.

Nouveau and Cranberry Mead

An article in Wednesday’s Portland Daily Sun reports on the upcoming arrival of the season’s Beaujolais Nouveau and the release of a new cranberry mead from Maine Mead Works.

Pine State Beverage Company has scheduled its first delivery of the 2009 Nouveau for 6 a.m. on Thursday (Nov. 19).
It will arrive at Rosemont Market & Bakery on Brighton Avenue in Portland where owner John Naylor and his staff will greet the new vintage of Georges Duboeuf Nouveau Beaujolais. They’ll be joined by the newest release from the boys from Maine Mead Works, a cranberry mead that comes on the eve of their one-year anniversary. It’s an old meets new meets older meets newer kind of thing.