Author: PFM

Rosanna’s Ice Cream Closing

| Posted in Closings

Rosanna’s Ice Cream has announced plans to close at the end of February.

So, the big news is that I’m closing down at the end of February. The main reason is that the toll Rosanna’s has been taking on my physical health is unjustifiable. I’m ready to let go, get healthy, and try something new before diabetes gets more of a toehold (which it’s threatening to do).

There are always some business closings at this time of the year but there does seem to be more this year. Since the start of November we’ve seen the closing of the Commercial Street Rosemont, Bolster Snow, the All Those Who Wander coffee shop, Fuji turned into N to Tail, Grace, Federal Spice, Juiced, Little Bigs, Ice It Bakery, Maine Wraps closed 2 of their 3 locations, CBD will be closing their Washington Ave coffee shop, and now Rosanna’s.

CBD Closing Washington Ave Shop

| Posted in Closings

Coffee by Design owners Mary Allen Lindermann and Alan Spear have announced plans to close their coffee shop at 43 Washington Ave as of February 28th.

Opening our doors at 43 Washington Avenue in January 2005 offered us a wonderful opportunity to add to the Coffee By Design family of neighborhood coffeehouses and increase the space we needed for our growing coffee roastery. Over the years we have come to know many of you and feel that you are part of the CBD family. There are many memories we will cherish.

It is bittersweet to share the news that after months of careful review, we have decided against renewing our coffeehouse lease at Washington Avenue. 

Coffee by Design sold the building to Duckfat last year. In the closing announcement Lindermann and Spear make the interesting comment that,

Having been tenants, they had ties with the neighborhood and had dreams of what they wanted to do here. We look forward to seeing what they choose to do, which will surely add to this already wonderful neighborhood. 

This Week’s Events: Hush Hush, Cocktail Class, Whiskey Tasting, Crawfish Boil, Book Supper Club, Beer Releases

| Posted in Events

Tuesday – the January edition of Hush Hush is taking place at the Little Giant Market, and bartender  Patrick McDonald is teaching a Barrel-Aged Cocktail class at New England Distilling.

Wednesday – Maine & Loire is celebrating their 4th anniversary with a wine tasting, the Independent Ice Company is hosting a hybrid one-man show and whiskey tasting by Robin Robinson, and Eaux and Bissell Brothers are collaborating on a crawfish boil.

Thursday – members of the Silent Book Club will be meeting up at Evo for the first edition of the Bibliophile Adventurer’s Supper Club.

Saturday – Foulmouthed is launching their new Russian Imperial Stout Egregious Cosmonaut, and Allagash is releasing Coolship Clermont, the opening of Flavor Profile is tacking place at the Border Patrol gallery in the State Theater building, and 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.

Music Be the Food of Love

| Posted in Events

The Portland Chamber Music Festival and Sur Lie are teaming up to present Music Be the Food of Love, a salon concert and dinner on February 13th,

“Music Be the Food of Love” is designed to showcase the shared intimacy of chamber music by entwining performances with family-style food and drink pairings inspired by the music on the program. The Valentine’s Day Eve event features four internationally renowned chamber artists performing music for various combinations of flute and strings by French composers including Ravel, Debussy and Francaix. Elegant, colorful, and intriguing, it’s the perfect complement to chef Emil’s sophisticated, boldly flavored small plates that critics have declared “brilliant” and “a kind of alchemy.”

Tickets are available on the PCMF website.

Reviews: Totally Tubers, Asian Soup

| Posted in Reviews

In lieu of a review the Maine Sunday Telegram has published a guide to the best Asian soups in Portland, and

So as we slide into the nippiest part of the year, I’ve been compiling another list. This one I’m sharing with you: a brief guide to some of Portland’s best Asian soups. Here’s hoping it helps you track down something soothing and restorative when you’re feeling bulldozed by the winter chill.

the Press Herald has reviewed Totally Tubers.

We went for the custom-designed taters, one Russet and one sweet potato, all with cute names, like I Yam What I Yam and Silence of the Yams. We chose the Bosemite Yam, a sweet potato with maple butter, applewood smoked bacon, blue cheese and candied maple pecans, for $9. It tasted as good as it sounds.

Maine Nets 6 Good Food Awards

| Posted in Reviews

Four Maine food producers received a total of 6 wins at last night’s Good Food Awards gala in San Francisco:

  • Beer – Liquid Riot for their Blushing Star Barrel-Aged Lager
  • Charcuterie – A Small Good for their Cider Brined Coppa
  • Cider – Portersfield Cider for their Ridlon 16/2
  • Coffee – Bard Coffee for their Organic Costa Rica La Mirella
  • Spirits – Liquid Riot for both their Old Port Straight Bourbon Whiskey & Fernet Michaud

New Cafe Slated for Aurora Property

| Posted in Under Construction

West Enders will be happy to read the report in today’s Press Herald that the former Aurora Provisions building has been bought by a developer with plans to “replace the longtime West End eatery with a similar business”.

In an interview Friday, Landry said he was interested in the property because his office is nearby and he wanted to ensure that the property’s new owner would replace Aurora, a West End fixture that opened in 1997, with a similar type of business. Aurora’s gourmet market and café shut down in August, followed by the closure of its catering business in November.

Frog & Turtle Expanding

| Posted in Under Construction

The American Journal has a report on Frog & Turtle’s plans to expand upward, adding a second floor and deck with water views to their building in Westbrook.

More than a decade after opening the Frog & Turtle Gastro Pub, James Tranchemontagne and his co-owners want to buy the building, build a second floor and expand.

Guy Cote, a partner in Vallee Square Holding, the owner of the restaurant, said the plan is to add an outdoor deck and glassed-in lounge area “so our guests see views of the river.”