The Bartenders Bash and the MRW Signature Event took place last night.
Old Port Sea Grill took first place at the Bartenders Bash, Hugo’s took 2nd place and Fifty Local took 3rd. Vignola won the judge’s choice.
At The Signature Event, Walter’s won the people’s choice award for the best dessert (my favorite taste of the evening too) and Academe Brasserie won the people’s choice award for the best cocktail. The dessert judges awarded their first place to The Salt Exchange.
The 10 eateries looked up most often in February on Portland Food Map were:
Shanghai Tokyo entered the list at #44 and Tranchemonntagne’s entered the list at #47.
The numbers in parentheses indicates their rank last month
Travel+Leisure has rated Portland #11 on their list of America’s Best Coffee Cities (via Maine magazine on Facebook)
Granted, when Starbucks and other chains reign in so many shopping centers and office-building lobbies, it may be hard to imagine how one city’s coffee scene is much better or different than any other anymore. But when we looked at the survey’s top 20 results, we found several towns with great historic districts that still offer a unique café culture.
El Rayo was included in an article by the Wall Street Journal about taquerias that operate in former gas stations.(via Meredith Goad on Twitter)
El Rayo didn’t retain any gas station elements in the conversion, but the restaurant, open since 2009, pays indirect homage to the motor vehicle by recycling all of its fry oil into biofuel. A liquor license means there’s tequila to help wash down that BBQ pulled pork or veggie taco.