Author: PFM

Wine & Meatball Tasting

| Posted in Wine

Mister Meatball has posted a report on the meatball and wine tasting he organized with James Beard Award-nominated sommelier Scott Tyree.

The sommelier, who had barely touched his own frosty beverage, quickly displayed a far more complex understanding of our mission. I became hip to this when he brought out a crisp pad of paper, a pen and a pair of what I would describe as handsome yet rather stern-looking reading glasses. This must have rattled me more than I was aware because as our waitress delivered my newly opened beer I instructed her to please go ahead and bring me another at her earliest convenience.

 

Bar Review of Gauchos

| Posted in Reviews

Portland Bar Guide has published a review of Gauchos.

The focal point is the curved semi-circle bar that curls into the space between the two doorways to the dining areas. About 15 unique, metal-worked chair-type stools make the bar a place where you can take a group of friends or co-workers for a quick drink and bite to eat. If you visit on your own, as I did, the outgoing staff and friendly regular patrons of Gauchos will make sure you don’t feel alone.

Iraqi Chicken and Rice

| Posted in Cooking

In the latest entry on Immigrant Kitchens Lindsay Sterling learns how to make Iraqi Chicken and Rice from Mona Galee (read the recipe and see the photos).

The grey spice she was putting in the rice is a combination of ground green cardamom pods, cinnamon powder, whole cumin, whole clove, and black pepper. She calls it bar timon. Then she ads turmeric to make the rice yellow. Once the chicken has cooked through in the spices and water, she takes it out of the gidduh, and then pan-fries the whole chicken in a wok. The spice-infused bird takes on a crispy texture and gorgeous golden-brown color. She mounts it on a platter on top of the yellow rice and sprinkles sautéed golden raisons and onions all around…

Alcohol at the Market

| Posted in General News

City government is considering a change that would allow alcohol to be sold at the Farms Market.

Small-scale vintners, brewers and cider-makers would be allowed to sell their products at the Portland Farmer’s Market under a proposal before the city council’s Health and Recreation subcommittee today.

As drafted, the plan would amend the city’s Farmer’s Market rules to allow sale of fermented beverages such as beer, wine and hard ciders as long as the seller held a state license and met conditions to sell at the city’s farmer’s market.

Indie Biz Award Nominees

| Posted in General News

Buy Local has published the list of nominees for the 2011 Indie Biz Awards. The nominees include: Local Sprouts, El Rayo, Local 188, Silly’s, Rosemont, Dobra Tea, the Portland Farmers Market, Sebago Brewing, Dean’s Sweets, Y-Lime Cupcakes, Coffee by Design, Allagash, The Honey Exchange, and Micucci’s.

Voting is now open, and the awards presentation is scheduled to take place October 18.

Michael Barriault, 64

| Posted in People

Michael Barriault passed away this weekend after a fight with cancer. Barriault was well known in the Portland food community for the photos he published on PortlandTown of special events and the every day happenings of the Portland food scene. He will be missed.

Services are taking place at Congregation Bet Ha’am in South Portland on Sunday.

The Forecaster, where he worked as a photographer, has posted an article today about Michael,

But it was all part of what made Michael who he was: dedicated, reliable, creative, passionate and one of a kind. It was what made having him around so entertaining and rewarding for those who worked with him. He only turned assignments down when he and Toby were traveling, or doing a large local show. We relied on him and always expected the unexpected from him.

Several customers of The Salt Exchange have posted their memories of Michael on the TSE Facebook wall and there is an online guestbook on Legacy.com.

An obituary for Michael appeared in the Press Herald and in The Forecaster,

Michael’s photos enlivened the pages of such publications as The Forecaster, Maine Magazine and Downeast as well as many restaurant websites. One of Portland’s most active food bloggers, his luscious images became an exciting addition to the local food scene through his blog: www.PortlandTown.blogspot.com.

Under Construction: Crema

| Posted in Under Construction

According to a report from the Munjoy Hill News, Crema, an Italian coffee house and bakery, will be opening later this year on Commercial Street.

Crema will also sell other Italian products such as gelato, Italian sodas, pastries, cups and saucers. Cathy and John Walsh, owners of Arabica, are partners with Banister in this welcome business to the area. There will be seating for 40 – 50 people.

This Week’s Events: Local Food Networking, Common Ground Fair, Mycology Walk, Wine Dinners at Bresca, Figa, 20 Milk and The Well

| Posted in Events

Tuesday — Local Sprouts is hosting a local food networking breakfast for “food organizers, advocates and producers of our community”. Twenty Milk Street is holding a wine dinner featuring beef from the Piedmont region of Italy. The 16th Annual Epicurean Auction is taking place.

Wednesday — Old Port Wine Merchants is holding wine tastings, there will be a Greek wine dinner at Bresca, and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.

Thursday — the RealFood Project is teaching a cooking class, Browne Trading is holding a wine tasting, Havana South is restarting their monthly wine event with a tasting of unusual Italian varietals, the Great Lost Bear is featuring beer from Baxter Brewing at this week’s brewery showcase, and the South Portland Farmers Market is taking place in the afternoon.

Friday — it’s the 1st day of the MOFGA Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine, and Figa is holding a wine dinner. The Wayside Food Program will be holding a food drive all day at Whole Foods. Layne Witherell will be at Longfellow Books to read from his book Wine Maniacs and sign copies.

Saturday — Wine Wise is leading a Sparkling Wine Walk in the Old Port, it’s the 2nd day of the Common Ground Fair, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place. The Wayside Food Program will be holding a food drive all day at Whole Foods.

Sunday — the Urban Farm Fermentory is leading a Mycology Walk, there will be an outdoor wine dinner at The Well, and it’s the last day of the Common Ground Fair.

Wine Dinner Season — as you can see above, it seems like we’ve hit Wine Dinner Season. In addition to the dinners taking place this week at Bresca, Figa, Twenty Milk and The Well, I’ve also added a dinner later this month at Miyake and dinners in October at Bresca and the East Ender. Also Bar Lola will soon be posting their calendar of monthly wine dinners.

Cooking the Market — Stonewall Kitchen and Maine Foodie Tours are collaborating on an weekly cooking program I wanted to draw your attention to. Each Wednesday participants in the 10-person cooking class tour the Farmers Market for a guided shopping trip and then they return to Stonewall for a cooking class centered on their purchases. For more details and to reserve a spot call (207) 879-2409.

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.