Month: June 2016

Fore Street Reservationist, Interview with the Britts, 2 New Vegan Groups

| Posted in People

Today’s Press Herald includes a behind the scenes look at Josh Doré’s job manning the reservations line at Fore Street.

“Every job is different. Every guest is different,” Doré said. “The way that you speak to one person may not be the way you are able to interact with another person. Some people are very straight and narrow, some people like to have more fun. They’ll joke with you on the phone. You have to be able to read your guest without being able to see your guest, which is a learned talent. Is this a sir or madam conversation, or can I call you Scott?”

an interview with Gillian and Jim Britt who own gBritt, a restaurant public relations firm,

Q:Still, it’s 2016. Why can’t I tweet/Instagram/website and market my restaurant myself?

JB: Our clients tend to be chef-driven restaurants. There is no marketing person in place. They are trying to do payroll, meet the delivery truck out back, fix that ice maker that stopped working…Then in the very back of their mind, they are thinking, “We haven’t posted on Instagram in a week,” or “We haven’t updated our Facebook.” Then there is the storytelling. They might have a great story to tell, but they just don’t have the contacts with professional media or the time.

and an article about two new vegan organizations in town.

Two new groups that have set up shop in the city are aiming to make Portland more vegan-friendly. V for All is working to increase the number of vegan items on restaurant menus, and Plant IQ is spreading the word about the health benefits of plant-based food.

 

Down East: Best of Maine

| Posted in Reviews

July-Cover-1050-463x580Down East magazine has published their Best of Maine issue. Editors choice food and drink selections include Palace Diner (best diner), Maine & Loire (best wine shop), Thomas Malz from Custom Deluxe in Biddeford (best new chef), East Ender (best brunch) and Allagash (best brewery).

There are a number of Portland area favorites in the reader’s choice list as well: Maine Craft Distilling, Novare Res, Allagash, Coffee by Design, The Holy Donut, Amato’s, Otto Pizza, Harbor Fish Market, RSVP and Gelato Fiasco.

The article isn’t available yet online.

This Week’s Events: Bitter Frenchman, Preventing Food Waste, Twilight Dinner, Greek Festival, Craft Brew Race

| Posted in Events

Tuesday — chef Fred Eliot is serving a 6-course French dinner at The Honey Paw, Local Sprouts is hosting the monthly local foods networking breakfast; a session at this week’s Maine Start Up & Create Week conference is focused on preventing food waste.

Wednesday — the Old Port Wine Merchants are holding a wine tasting, and the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Thursday — it’s the first day of the Greek Heritage Festival.

Friday — it’s the second day of the Greek Heritage Festival.

Saturday — the 2016 Craft Brew Race is taking place, as is the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market, and it’s the last day of the Greek Heritage Festival.

Sunday — Ilma Lopez and Damian Sansonetti are the featured chefs at the first Cultivating Community Twilight Dinner of the season, and the weekly Crofters & Artisan 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.

 

Reviews of Scales

| Posted in Reviews

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The Maine Sunday Telegram and Portland Magazine have published reviews of Scales.

…Cocktails, especially the dry and slightly savory Maine Wharf, and the sweet, effervescent Jewell Island ($10) are first-rate and a fine way to start your meal, especially if you order hot appetizers like the cracker-crusted whole belly clams or a cup of the lobster bisque (both wonderful). When you’re ready to order main dishes, don’t be put off by the sometimes baffling team service concept in the restaurant; ask anyone, they are all your servers. Stick to entrees like roasted lobster, served with an oniony cornbread muffin and cole slaw, or the classic shellfish stew. Steer clear of the scallops with sausage, and definitely don’t waste 4 bucks on two stingy (and subpar) Parker House rolls. But do order dessert, like a slice of the chiffon cake, dusted with strawberry milk and plated vertically next to a scoop of ice cream and a pool of crème anglaise. [MST]

Beer Cocktail Interview with Vena’s

| Posted in Beer, People

For their new episode Great Beer Adventure interviewed Vena’s co-owner Steve Corman on his personal journey to be becoming a bartender and about beer cocktails.

As we explore beer cocktails, we learn (yet again) that we should be willing to take more risks in our beer drinking. Steve Corman of Vena’s Fizz House joins us to teach us a thing or two about adding booze to our beer. (Really it’s all about the bitters.)