The new issue of Mainebiz has also published an article about Havana and the new Siano’s Pizzeria that’s slated for the space formerly occupied by Una.
Just down the street, another restaurateur team plans to bring a version of Havana, their fine dining eatery in Bar Harbor, to the Old Port. Michael Boland and Cassady Pappas have leased 8,000 square feet at 44-52 Wharf St. to open Havana South, according to broker Nate Stevens of CB Richard Ellis/The Boulos Co.
Today’s issue of the Portland Daily Sun includes articles on the online effort to persuade Trader Joe’s to come to Portland (see also this earlier post)
Portland foodie activists are taking to the Web by the thousands in hopes of luring supermarket chain Trader Joe’s to Southern Maine.
At least two simultaneous Internet campaigns aimed at convincing the company to open a store in Greater Portland are under way, including a Facebook group and an online petition, each drawing more than 2,000 participants.
about Havana’s plans for a Wharf Street restaurant and renovations taking place at 51 Wharf
On a well-traveled stretch of cobblestone street that includes The Merry Table Crêperie on one end and Beal’s Ice Cream on the other, the owners at the 51 Wharf restaurant and lounge are reinvesting in their business, while across the street a Latin American-inspired casual fine dining restaurant is coming in to replace a defunct furniture store.
and Margo Mallar’s culinary bucket and wish list for 2010. Here’s a taste,
An understanding that the Mediterranean is much more than Italy and Greece. There’s a real dearth of North African, Middle Eastern, Turkish and Balkan food.
About Town paid a visit to the new 2nd floor of the Public Market House and posted a report on the newly expanded market.
Chairs and tables look out over Monument Square, making it a prime people-watching location (and the yet-to-be-completed glass elevator, also overlooking the square, will only heighten the experience).
“All of a sudden I’m beginning to feel this is really what I hoped it would be,” Horton says of the endeavor, which she sees not just as a public market for fresh foods and produce, but also as an “incubator for businesses.”
BA Foodist blogger Andrew Knowlton included Tu Casa’s enchilada salvadoreña with tongue on his budget list of best restaurant dishes of 2009.
Today’s Press Herald includes an article on new rules that would regulate small scale chicken farms
[Organic farmer Rick] Stanley is among a number of small poultry producers planning to speak against the proposed rules at a hearing at 10 a.m. today in Room 208 at the Cross Office Building in Augusta. The issue highlights how the booming demand for locally grown and produced food can collide with the regulatory framework set up to ensure its safety.
The newspaper also reprinted a piece from the Bangor Daily News about the Maine scallop industry
“When the water is warm, they swim right through the water like Pac-Man,” he said, referring to the classic video game. “This year, I’ve seen quite a few small scallops. You know, little guys, 1-inch, 2-inch scallops. I’ve heard from other people around the state that they’re seeing some small scallops, which we haven’t seen in many, many years.
“I hope it bodes well for the future,” he added.
Monday—PortlandTaps.com has organized a Solstice Pub Crawl. the Maine Ambassadors of Food and Drink are running the weekly Foodie Trivia Contest at Bull Feeney’s, and Stephen Lanzalotta is teaching a cooking class.
Tuesday—Port Sports is facilitating a second Mead Crawl. The event starts with a tour at Maine Mead Works, wends it way through the city and ends up at Novare Res.
Thursday—Cinque Terre is serving a traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner on Christmas Eve. There’s also a Christmas Eve dinner taking place at Grace.
For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
If you are holding a local area food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.
Hugo’s received 5 stars from the Taste & Tell Column in this week’s Maine Sunday Telegram.
If there were a book called “100 Things to Do in Portland Before You Die,” eating at Hugo’s would be at the beginning, because Rob Evans assembles delicious, high-design dinners no one should miss.
According to Travels with Hilary, Anthony Bourdain will be visiting Rockland and Portland to produce a Maine installment for his popular TV show No Reservations.
The celebrity chef is coming to Maine in a few weeks to film a Maine show. He’ll be visiting four Portland restaurants and two in Rockland
Which four restaurants do you think he’ll visit in Portland?
Appetite Portland has posted a review of Five Fifty-Five.
Our waiter, Ezra, was attentive, knowledgeable and opinionated (just the way I like ‘em), and the entire service experience was top notch . . . My first experience at Five Fifty-Five gets a first-rate high five from me.
The premier issue of Maine Ahead magazine includes interviews with Alan Cook, Executive Chef at Twenty Milk Street, and Ron Hodge, CEO of Hannaford, as well as articles on Laughing Stock Farm’s use of recycled cooking oil to heat their greenhouse and on Shipyard Brewing. Be aware that you’ll need to register for a free account to access the articles online.