The Baker’s Gallery (shown above) has been added to the PFM directory. The gallery shows art by baker Stephen Lanzalotta and others, and it serves as a retail space for his Italian pastries and cookies.
Year: 2009
Wine Flight 5k
Out Going has published a report on this past weekend’s Wine Flight 5k.
The race kicked off a wee after 9:30 am, after some delays at the registration counter. Runners and walkers followed a one-mile loop around the base of Munjoy Hill, then returned to the Pier for a fill up. Then a second loop and a second table o’ edibles. After the third jaunt along the East End Trail, participants came back to the Pier for a tented Wine Tasting.
IIK: Bulgarian Bean Soup & Spanikopita
Lindsey Sterling has published another ethnic cooking adventures on her blog Inside Immigrant Kitchens. This time she’s cooking with Svetla Popova to make Bulgarian Bean Soup & Spanikopita.
As I cook with immigrants, a certain worldly wisdom always pops out in conversation. Here is my favorite from Svetla Popova, who moved here from Bulgaria twenty-one years ago. She says, “I’ll always take a fake smile over an honest growl.”
JBA 2010
Final nominations for the 2010 James Beard Awards aren’t due out until March 22, and the award ceremonies aren’t taking place until May but the James Beard Foundation is already gathering input online for “proposed nominations”. This is your way to contribute to the process, just register and submit your recommendations to the judges.
In 2009 Rob Evans won in the Best Chef – Northeast category; Fore Street, Emilitsa and Sam Hayward were all finalist or semi-finalists. Who from Portland do you think will get a nomination (semi or final) in 2010?
Allagash Vagabound Ale
A Blog About Beer has published a report on the scene at this morning’s launch of Vagabound Ale,
Today I arrived at 8:40, parked half-way down the street, and got in a line which was all the way out the side door and through the loading area of the brewery itself (before you even get to the gift shop). Everyone in line got two tickets – one for two bottles of Vagabond (no ticket = no beer) and one for a free Belgian waffle. There were also huge vats of free coffee for everyone. It really was a festive event.
And Portland Food Heads has published his first impressions of the limited release beer,
Well, one thing I will say is that this was an incredible beer. It poured a dark, murky amber with a small head. The immediate smell was that of dried fruit, like many of Allagash’s darker offerings. At first sip, macerated cherries hit me right off the bat with a surprisingly strong backing of carbonation…It’s actually pretty unfortunate that this beer will not be available anymore; it’s one of the better offerings I’ve tasted from Allagash, and I’ve tasted most of them.
A Busy Week of Food Events
This week’s calendar is packed with food events, starting with today’s anticipated release of Vagabound Ale by Allagash as well as the restaurant worker art show tonight at One Longfellow and closing out on Sunday with a book signing/Goastravaganza at Rabelais Books for Margaret Hathaway and her new work Living with Goats. The weekly Piatto per Tutti cooking class and the Foodie Trivia Contest are taking place this evening. On Wednesday, there will be a macrobiotic/raw vegan potluck at GRO Cafe, Black Tie is teaching a class on the basics of making sushi, and The Salt Exchange is running their weekly wine and canapes event. The 2009 Harvest on the Harbor is taking place Thursday through Sunday. The Great Lost Bear is showcasing beer from Andrews Brewing Co and Sheepscot Valley Brewing on Thursday. Eve’s at the Garden is hosting the 5th Annual Caviar Dinner Friday evening. Also on Friday, a NERAX cask ale event is taking place at Novare Res, and O’Naturals in Falmouth is screening the movie Food Inc. Rabelais Books is holding back-to-back book signings on Saturday with Peter Berley and Lucinda Scala Quinn. Portland’s weekly Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
Ocean Approved Kelp Aquaculture
Ocean Approved’s kelp farming venture in Casco Bay is the subject of a feature article on the front page of today’s Maine Sunday Telegram. The online article also includes a video segment of co-owner Paul Dobbins demonstrating how OA plants and grows their sugar kelp crop.
This week, Olson and Dobbins plan to install a submerged kelp-growing raft near Little Chebeague Island, where they say it will be out of the way of boat traffic and lobstermen. The state granted the company an experimental three-year lease for nearly an acre of the bay there, and Maine Technology Institute provided a $12,000 grant to help develop the technology.
Under Construction Updates
Portland Psst! has published a round-up on changes of ownership at The White Heart, Thanh Thanh Bida and Awful Annie’s, as well as news that Po’Boy’s & Pickles (see sample menu) is replacing the D’Angelo’s on Forest Ave and G’Vanni’s Bistro (see sample menu) is going to occupy the spot on Exchange Street vacated by Walter’s.
The agenda from next week’s City Council meeting also provides a first look at the menu for Boda. For a more complete list of all the upcoming venues take a look at the Under Construction List.
Vidappetit: Maine Beer Company
Portland Food Heads has published a video interview with David Kleban, co-owner of the Maine Beer Company which produces Spring Peeper Ale.
First Look at Shima
Portland Food Heads has stopped by for a first look at Shima.
And so was my luncheon experience at Shima; not great, not at all bad, and certainly not without elements of potential. I see no reason to “rate” a restaurant after they’ve been open for a week, and I’m not even going to attempt to. I would say that with chef Shima’s confidence in serving the type of food “he likes to eat” will allow the restaurant to carve out a small niche for itself in a city already filled with options for Japanese.