Month: December 2012

Phoenix 2012 Wrap-up

| Posted in General News

We’ve reached that point in the year when it feels natural to look back and see the big picture of what’s happened over the last 12 months.

The first of the 2012 crop of  year-in-food wrap-up articles comes courtesy of Brian Duff and the Portland Phoenix.

For four years those Maine restaurants that flourished have done so against a relentless tug of economic gloom, and some good ones perished because of it. But in 2012, we could feel the forces shifting. Those restaurants that established themselves this year might be fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to benefit from an improved economy and mood for food.

Reviews of India Palace and Local 188

| Posted in Reviews

The Press Herald has published a review of India Palace,

…for lunch, the place is not only affordable, but the incredible attentiveness of the wait staff is comforting too. My water glass was refilled almost as soon as I took a sip.

My order was taken quickly, my soup came within 60 seconds, and my check was brought as soon as my plate was empty.

For a workday lunch, knowing you can get in and out quickly is a comfort as well.

and a bar review of Local 188.

The drinks and food may be high end and high quality for its customers, but Local 188 keeps it relaxed and friendly.

Stavros Elias Shamos, 91

| Posted in People

Stavros Elias Shamos, the longtime owner of Quality Shop on Stevens Ave, passed away earlier this week at the age of 91.

Steve owned and operated The Quality Shop on Stevens Avenue in Portland for his whole working career, expanding the business to include his son, who owns it to this day. A local icon in Deering Center, many people knew Steve as a hard worker who ran his business as a perfectionist and a gentleman.

Down East: A Better Brew

| Posted in General News

The January issue of Down East magazine includes an article on the specialty coffee industry in Maine, a directory of 19 Maine roasters, advice on brewing at home, and tasting notes on coffees from Tandem, Bard, Speckled Ax and 44 North.

Bob Garver talks nonstop about coffee. At first you attribute it to the enormous intake of caffeine the man must absorb as the proprietor of wholesale coffee roaster Wicked Joe, the co-owner of Portland’s Bard Coffee and a certified head judge at the World Barista Championships. But no, he just loves the stuff that much.

Breakfast at Exchange Street Cafe

| Posted in General News

According to an article in Tuesday’s Portland Daily Sun, the Exchange Street Cafe plans to start serving breakfast.

Manager Cynthia Tubbs-Maier, 56, is a proven fixture on the Portland food scene having started Black Tie Catering in 1987 with then business partner, Chris Webber. Selling her ownership in 1995, and parting amicably. Tubbs-Maier went on to the Whip ‘N Spoon as the General Manager and Directer of the cooking school, a concept just ahead of its time. Moving on to other ventures such as being the general manager of The Portland Club and overseeing things at The Danforth Inn, Tubbs-Maier has brought her skill set to spearhead breakfast at Exchange Street Cafe. Located at 7 Exchange, Tubbs-Maier has also brought along Patrice Keating, her right hand from past ventures.

Donut Tour & Holy Donut Interview

| Posted in General News

The Bangor Daily News published the results of a Portland donut tour,

I believe it was the venerable philosopher Homer Simpson who waxed so eloquently on the subject of this week’s Foodie Files: “Mmm. Doughnuts.”

His sentiments are exactly mine, especially when it comes to freshly made doughnuts from a locally-owned bakery. Two weeks ago, I decided to take a doughnut tour of the Portland area, with the help of BDN Portland bureau chief Seth Koenig, and my husband and self-taught doughnut connoisseur Zachary Robbins…

And word spread yesterday that The Holy Donut will be featured on an upcoming edition of the Anderson Cooper Show.

Q&A: Larry Matthews

| Posted in People

MaineToday.com has published a brief interview with Larry Matthews, chef/owner of the Back Bay Grill.

How did you get here?
I was born here and never really left. That’s the truth. I was born in Portland and I’ve lived in 12 different towns over the years. My family on both sides goes really far back – in fact, we can trace family to Campobello Island in the 1600s. I am a seventh generation Mainer on both sides. At some point we obviously crossed the bridge from Canada and came to Maine, and we stayed. My dad was a lobsterman, so was his dad.

Edible Coastal Maine

| Posted in Under Construction

A new magazine called Edible Coastal Maine is preparing to launch mid-year in 2013. Editor Heather Carroll tells me she’ll be pursuing stories all along coastal Maine from the New Hampshire border to Hancock County.

ECM is part of a family of  60+ regional food magazines from Edible Communities which works to “connect consumers with family farmers, growers, chefs, and food artisans of all kinds.”

This Week’s Events: Local Food Networking, Scandinavian Christmas Dinner, Italian Wine Lovefest

| Posted in Events

Tuesday — a Local Foods Networking Breakfast is taking place at Local Sprouts.

Wednesday — the December edition of Cloak & Dagger is serving a Scandinavian Christmas Dinner.

Thursday — there will be a wine tasting at Aurora Provisions.

Friday — Rosemont Market is holding their annual Big Italian Lovefest wine tasting and there will be a beer tasting at the West End Deli.

Saturday — the Winter Farmers Market is taking place.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

Golden’s Lunch: Eve’s, The Salt Exchange, 20 Milk

| Posted in Reviews

The Golden Dish has published the first of a 3 part series on lunch options in Portland.

In such a barmy, restaurant-crazed metropolis like Portland, lunch is given short shrift—as though it were a forbidden meal from the impecunious fringe.   But we’re hardly a city of mere brown baggers–plenty of lunchtime portals offer interestingly good midday meals.