Year: 2010

Trader Joe's Preview and Oriental Table Interview

| Posted in General News, People

Today’s Press Herald includes an article about the upcoming opening of Trader Joe’s,

The Trader Joe’s rumor mill has been churning overtime, so let’s start by setting a couple of things straight.

First, despite the rampant Internet speculation and breathless phone calls to the new store at 87 Marginal Way, there will not be a “soft opening” today.

and a ShopTalk interview with Yan Lam the owner of Oriental Table,

Q: When did you learn to cook?

A: Well actually, to be honest with you, when I opened this place.

Q: You must have learned fast.

A: You have to, you know? I learned a lot by making myself dinner after the place closed. It was a good way to learn how to make things better. And I’m still learning.

Trader Joe’s Preview and Oriental Table Interview

| Posted in General News, People

Today’s Press Herald includes an article about the upcoming opening of Trader Joe’s,

The Trader Joe’s rumor mill has been churning overtime, so let’s start by setting a couple of things straight.

First, despite the rampant Internet speculation and breathless phone calls to the new store at 87 Marginal Way, there will not be a “soft opening” today.

and a ShopTalk interview with Yan Lam the owner of Oriental Table,

Q: When did you learn to cook?

A: Well actually, to be honest with you, when I opened this place.

Q: You must have learned fast.

A: You have to, you know? I learned a lot by making myself dinner after the place closed. It was a good way to learn how to make things better. And I’m still learning.

Reviews of Saigon and Ribollita

| Posted in Reviews

Appetite Portland has published a review of Ribollita,

Little about Ribollita is – on the face of it – buzz-worthy. Simple décor. A strange, cramped layout. And yet, this tiny Portland staple of Italian authenticity warms my heart like Aunt Vera’s hug. From the bubbly hostess with the can-do attitude, to the reasonably priced wine, to the menu full of unpronounceable noodles, Ribollita simply charms.

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Saigon,

Saigon serves a nice, if not transcendent, version of the classic Vietnamese pho soup. The broth struck the right balance between rich and light, with hints of long-stewed ginger and scallion. The bowl was full of tender rice noodles and big pieces of white chicken meat. Mixing in a bit of lime, and leaves of mint and Asian basil, introduced fresh and sharp flavors. A brothless vermicelli dish was less successful but pretty good. We wished for more of the fresh vegetal crunch of carrots, cucumbers, and sprouts, and thicker pieces of the dark charred beef. The shrimp was too chewy and the fish sauce that held the dish together was a touch sweet and cloying. A fried noodle dish was exactly like a good lo mein.

Both Wines; Tasted! and The Blueberry Files has posted their first impressions from the opening night at Figa.

Halloween, Lobster Chef, Wine

| Posted in General News, Events, Cooking

The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes: an article about and recipes from the top 3 finalist in the Lobster Chef of the Year competition that was won last weekend by Kelly Patrick Farrin, a search for healthy Halloween treats, a list of Halloween themed events scheduled for this week, advice from wine columnist Joe Appel on developing your appreciation of wine, and an interview with Rick Morey Jr. from Walter’s in the ongoing Salute to Sous series. The full set of Salute to Sous series recipes can be found on the Oakhurst Dairy website.

Maine Mead Works

| Posted in General News

Munjoy Hill News interviewed Ben Alexander about Maine Mead Works move to Washington Ave.

“It was a big jump for us,” said Ben Alexander, owner of Maine Mead Works yesterday in the company’s distinctive tasting room in their new location at 51 Washington Avenue. “Going from 800 ft. to 8,000 sq. ft is major. But this move allows us to grow,” Alexander said. Just two weeks ago the wine company moved from its location on Anderson Street to the former Nissen Building. Alexander and his wife, Carly Cope, generously took some time yesterday to fill in some of the details.

Trader Joe's

| Posted in General News

Both the Portland Daily Sun and the Forecaster have published articles about the grand opening of Trader Joe’s taking place later this week.

Acciola said about 85 percent of the staff is local and the rest – including herself – moved here because they wanted to work and live in Portland.

“There are a lot of foodies here,” she said. And while the newest Trader Joe’s resembles the company’s other locations, the Portland store is designed to capture the essence of Portland and the state of Maine, she said.

Trader Joe’s

| Posted in General News

Both the Portland Daily Sun and the Forecaster have published articles about the grand opening of Trader Joe’s taking place later this week.

Acciola said about 85 percent of the staff is local and the rest – including herself – moved here because they wanted to work and live in Portland.

“There are a lot of foodies here,” she said. And while the newest Trader Joe’s resembles the company’s other locations, the Portland store is designed to capture the essence of Portland and the state of Maine, she said.

Maine at Work: Waiting Tables at David's

| Posted in General News

Reporter Ray Routhier wrote about waiting tables at David’s for his latest Maine at Work article in the Press Herald.

You have to begin by punching your server code, then looking over several screens for beverages, appetizers, specials, etc., and punch the correct button on each screen. And press “send” multiple times.

I got lost immediately, spending several minutes looking for the unsweetened iced tea button. (All the iced tea at David’s is unsweetened, I later learned.) So from then on I basically just punched what [waiter Michael] Farrell told me to punch.