Year: 2009

Kon Asian Bistro Review

| Posted in Reviews

Erik Desjarlais, the chef/owner of Evangeline, has published a review on his blog of Kon Asian Bistro.

The food began to arrive. Spicy Tuna tartare, with fried tempura batter that was crumbled in to a tasty, crunchy little pile. Yes, a pile of tempura crumble. (mind you all, I know absolutely nothing about asian cooking AT ALL…krista explained what it was.) We devoured the whole thing. The tuna was just spicy enough, and the three sauces were perfect. (???????????perfect????????) Was I buzzed from my Sapphire and Tonic? I looked over and saw that I was only half finished, so no. The dish was GOOD. (I still can’t believe I am writing this.) I ate what was left of the pile of crumbled batter.

This Week's Events

| Posted in Events

There’s a lot going on this week. The weekly Food and Drink Trivia Contest is at Bull Feeney’s tonight. Brooklyn Brewery will be at Novare Res on Tuesday where the bar will have nearly 20 Brooklyn beers on tap. Also on Tuesday the next Wine Flight 5k Training run is taking place. Both The Salt Exchange and Jones Landing are holding wine events on Wednesday.  There are wine tastings this week at Browne Trading and Black Tie Bistro on Thursday, Rosemont on Friday, and Kitcheen and Cork on Saturday. The next Cultivating Community Twilight Dinner is scheduled for Thursday at Turkey Hill Farm in Cape Elizabeth.  Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. Saturday afternoon the 7th Annual Festival of Nations will be in Deering Oaks Park. To wrap up the weekend Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe is holding a Portuguese Wine Dinner on Sunday. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

Evangeline Tasting Menu Review

| Posted in Reviews

Type A Diversions writes about her thoughts on a 10-course tasting menu in this review of Evangeline.

Erik will soon combine efforts with his talented wife, Krista with the launch of 12 Seats. After our Tasting Menu, I can only imagine the level of delight the collaboration will bring their 12 lucky guests. If you cannot wait until the first dinner on October 25th (almost sold out), Evangeline offers the Tasting Menu with 24 hours notice. I recommend going on a quiet night, as we did, such as a Tuesday or Wednesday, for a relaxed evening of well executed French inspired cuisine.

Steve Harris

| Posted in People

The Bollard has published an article on the passing and contributions of Steve Harris, the proprietor of both Ruski’s and Rosie’s:

Steve and his wonderful wife, Rose — who survives him, as do a son, a daughter, and a large extended family — owned and operated Ruski’s in the West End from 1985 until 2005, when they passed it on to Josh Whaley, a regular who they knew would keep its spirit alive (he has). Rosie’s recently celebrated its 20th anniversary as the only neighborhood pub in the Old Port, and it continues under Rose’s guidance with the help of a staff who, for all intents and purposes, are part of the Harris family.

Kon Review from Portland Food Coma

| Posted in Reviews

Portland Food Coma has published a review of Kon Asian Bistro.

Halfway through all of this Dietz decides to officially send me spiraling into an abyss of drunken insanity by ordering a scorpion bowl. This enormous bowl of liquor tasted like exactly that, sucked through a foot long straw. Dietz also declared that we needed to drink the puddle of Bacardi 151 used to set the drink on fire – which didn’t help my cause either. I tried to convince him to snort it, but to no avail.

Salt Exchange Review

| Posted in Reviews

Portland Food Heads has published a review of The Salt Exchange.

I am not looking to paint a nightmarish picture of The Salt Exchange; there is clearly a lot of talent in the kitchen and the owners seem to have their hearts in the right places. What I’m trying to say is that there are two problems that will keep me from coming back until they are remedied. One is the service, as no one should ever have to wait an hour for their first, 3-bite course to arrive…The second issue is portion size. I am no stranger to “small plates,” “tapas” or whatever the hell you want to call them. The Salt Exchange just happens to take this concept a little too far…