Roll Call’s Taste of America Contest

Urban Eye reports that the lobster roll has made it to the finals of Congressional Roll Call’s Taste of America contest.

This celebrity sandwich is not only killing it on menus this season, the roll is quashing other state’s edible claims and taking names. Maine’s royal roll made the final round of Congressional Quarterly Roll Call’s Taste of America contest this week and (watch your back cherry cobbler of Utah) has the most votes right now.

To cast your vote visit rollcalltasteofamerica.com/brackets.cfm

Openings, Openings, Openings….

timberbackyardHere are a bevy opening announcements:

Review of East Ender

Eating Portland Alive has published a brief review East Ender.

I finally ended up ordering the special pizza of the evening, with the hope that it would not be overly hearty and I’d have room to tackle some other dishes. The toppings included pork, kimchi, a mornay (cheese sauce) with sriracha, and cheese curds. Awesome robust flavors in every bite. I wouldn’t have called the crust a traditional pizza dough, but it was still delicious

Review of the Top of the East

Drink Up and Get Happy has reviewed the Top of the East.

The service at Top of the East is a true standout.  From the moment we walked in we were greeted at the door with large smiles.  Once we chose a table our server, Randa, immediately brought us cucumber water and filled our glasses.  This was delicious and no sooner were we ready to refill our glasses then our server showed up and poured it for us.  She was attentive without smothering and she responded to our questions with a cheerful and informative manner.  We certainly felt like we were getting a star treatment.

Public Market Spirit Lives On

The Portland Daily Sun has published an article about the Public Market House,

When the organizers of the Public Market House were ever faced with a big decision, they asked themselves, “What would Betty do?”

Betty Noyes, founder of the old public market, died before that market opened, but her spirit lives on at Monument Square, where the market house and the Wednesday Portland Farmer’s Market have enjoyed a healthy co-resurgence.

Kris Horton has been at the Public Market House for the past 16 years. Along with her K. Horton Specialty Foods, Maine Beer and Beverage and Big Sky Bakery comprise the “remnants of the old public market,” she said. “We felt that the notions of public market needed to continue. We wanted alcohol, flowers, bread and cheese.”

The latest issue of the Sun also includes this week’s column from Natalie Ladd.

Under Construction: SoPo Bar & Grill

Outliers owner Peter Verrill has leased for former JP Thornton’s location in South Portland where he plans on opening SoPo Bar & Grill, according to Eater Maine.

Verrill says the new venture, like its predecessor, will have a cafe/deli component in addition to a restaurant/bar section, and likely even a juice bar to serve health conscious customers of nearby Greener Postures Yoga and Snap Fitness.

Review of the Sloppy Penatzer

Chubby Werewolf has reviewed this weak’s guest chef hot dog at Blue Rooster.

All in all, the Sloppy Penatzer was a fantastic meal, made all the more memorable by the tasty Thai Iced Tea I paired it with (and which has already become an instant favorite). With two holes now residing on my punch card, I’m wondering if it is too early to petition the good folks at the Blue Rooster Food Co. to make some of these hot dogs permanent additions to their menu. The summer is still young, but the Sloppy Penatzer would be at the top of my list.

Interview with Andrew Taylor

Knack Factory has published an interview with chef Andrew Taylor from Hugo’s/Eventide.

Is there a secret to running a successful place?
I think the best way to have a successful business is to have worked in successful kitchens and to keep moving up in those roles. I also have only wanted to work in places where people care about food. I have always tried to seek environments where people were as interested in food as I am.

Reviews of Small Axe & King’s Head

Haddockquest has reviewed Small Axe Truck,

It’s difficult to find too many faults here, but if there’s one thing that needs to be pointed out, it’s portion size. Small Axe’s haddock filet may have been perfectly fried, but it was simply too small to properly stand-up against everything else that was going on. At times, for example, the acidity of the preserved lemon proved to be too much due to a lack of balance, which could’ve been cured by a slightly heftier portion of fish. Local haddock doesn’t come cheap, though, does it?

and The Beer Babe has published a bar review of the King’s Head Pub.

The tap list on the second day was about 20 items long, but struck me as being both ambitious and rather special. A few highlights on the list included the reason I ventured back on Saturday – Cantillion Iris – a spontaneously fermented glass of perfection that is rarely poured from a tap due to its expense and rarity. But mixed in were several of Allagash’s special releases (Victor, Confluence, Ginger Wit), some international selections including Chimay (Belgium), Dieu Du Ciel (Canada) and Thornbridge (England). I also liked that these beers were also side by side with IPAs from Founders, Baxter, and Rising Tide.