Apsara, the Cambodian restaurant which opened last month on Cumberland Ave, has moved across town to Fore Street. It’s now located in the former Shima extension.
Author: PFM
Sebago’s Big Move
Both the Munjoy Hill News and Press Herald have reported on this Sunday’s close of Sebago Brewing’s location at 164 Middle Street and the reopening of the brew pub in the new hotel on Fore Street. Sebago expects to open its doors on Fore street on May 27.
Elise Loschiavo, marketing manager for Sebago Brewing Co. answered one of the more pressing questions posed by mhn.com during the evening: What about the Jordan’s sign community activist Markos Miller saved from the demolition of the former meat packing facility? “It will be hung in a place of honor,” she said, grinning. That is on a large wall opposite the bar. For many years, the meat packing facility was a major business on the Hill – until Tyson’s foods bought it and then closed it shortly thereafter.
Reviews of Fit to Eat & Nosh
From Away has published a review of Fit to Eat.
We’ll definitely be visiting “Fit to Eat” again to sample some of their other offerings, particularly their homemade soups and their breakfast sandwiches, available until 11:00 AM. We like the space, we like the reasonably-priced local art on the walls, and, to use a term that makes me gag, we liked the “vibe.” Owner Mike Mastronardi is a soft-spoken guy who bakes his own bread, mixes his own sauces, uses local ingredients, and spends more time thinking about sandwiches than we do, and there’s a lot to respect in that.
Vin et Grub has published a review of Nosh.
Nosh proves not to be my cup of tea, but for the foodies out there who love truffle oil, pork belly, pate, and the sort, Nosh should be on your list of places to go upon your arrival in Portland. Jason Lorring, the owner of Nosh, is rumored to be opening up a taqueria across the street! I hope he gets over his affair with the ostentatious ingredients and instead opt for a more traditional route with his taqueria! If he goes down that path, I know that I will certainly enjoy the tacos he puts on his menu!!
Ashton Adds Relish
Today’s Press Herald reports on last night’s cooking demonstration at the Portland Expo.
He good-naturedly skewered some people while poking fun at himself. In an interview before the show, Ashton emphasized how important humor and fun are to cooking.
“Food is a conduit to making people happy,” he said.
Under Construction: Wild Burgers
The Portland Daily Sun interviewed Wild Burritos owner Miguel Collins about his cross-Congress expansion into the former site of Stir Crazy.
The expansion is part of Collins’ goal of providing more affordable dining options in the Arts District.
“[In] Portland it’s so expensive to go out to eat. Wild Burritos offers you something for $5 or less. Everything we have is affordable, everything is under $6 and made with all natural ingredients,” he said.
Reviews of Aroma, Micucci’s, Petite Jacqueline
The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Aroma.
But Aroma is doing great things with sauces as well, often by using their spices with restraint. The dark, thin saag, for example, is modestly spiced, which highlights the bitter flavor of the spinach and the lamb. The big pieces of meat were as tender, juicy, and richly flavored as the best lamb chops. The spices in the navaratan koorma were similarly mild. The creamy sauce had just a hint of nutty flavor, and among the mix of vegetables the cauliflower and green beans were the most assertive.
Slice has published a review of the Sicilian Slab at Micucci’s.
The crust is surprisingly light, striated, and almost cakey with a pleasant chew—qualities that Lanzalotta attributes to thoroughly hydrating the dough (about 90 percent), using high-quality ingredients (King Arthur Bread Flour, SAF yeast, grey sea salt, water, and a particularly floral Portuguese olive oil), and letting the dough rise five times over the course of its three-hour fermentation. By the time it’s ready for baking, the jiggle-y five-pound mass has risen a bit and formed a thin skin that keeps it from sticking.
The Golden Dish has published a review of Petite Jaqueline.
Of the main courses, I’ve tried the roast chicken, boeuf bourguignon, and fluke meuniere which were all first rate. The braised beef seemed to luxuriate in its deep, rich, dark brown sauce; and the chicken was perfectly delicious—crisp skin, very flavorful ( a local bird), and oozing all the goodness of its natural juices.
RealFood Project & Knife Sharpening
The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes an interview with chef Frank Giglio. Giglio is teaching a series of classes at the Public Market House on healthy eating and food preparation. The first class takes place tomorrow night and they run through to September.
The series of six cooking classes that kicks off tomorrow at the Public Market House in Portland will emphasize nutrient-dense whole foods and provide food preparation techniques that maximize nutrition and flavor. Called the Maine RealFood Project, the classes will run through the end of September.
“Food is medicine; we need to use it as medicine,” Giglio said. “The point of these classes is to get people inspired so they realize that cooking is fun.”
The Food and Dining section also includes an article about knife sharpening. David Oberton from Wicked Sharp features prominently in the article. Oberton is trying to get approved to set up his knife sharpening operation at the Portland Farmers Market.
“People would bring one or two knives in, and I think they were testing me,” Orbeton said. “And then the following week they’d come in with (L.L.) Bean bags of knives, whole chef rolls. It was overwhelming. We actually had to turn people away.”
Opinionated About Portland
The 2011 issue of the Opinionated About Dining restaurant guide has included several Portland restaurants in its list of top dining destinations in America. Miyake, Hugo’s and Fore Street were all listed in the Highly Recommended category, as was Suzuki Sushi Bar in Rockland. Both Aurora Provisions and Duckfat were recognized in the guide’s list of the Top 25 Inexpensive Dining destinations in the US. (via Rabelais)
Under Construction: White Cap Grille
Today’s Portland Daily Sun reports that the White Cap Grille will take over the space being vacated by Sebago Brewing at 164 Middle Street. Sebago is moving into the new hotel on Fore Street.
White Cap Grille is a spinoff of the Black Cap Grille, located in North Conway, N.H. at the intersection of routes 16 and 302 between EMS and L. L. Bean in the Settlers’ Crossing shopping plaza.
Mister’s A-List
Mister Meatball has posted his list of the best restaurants on the peninsula.