Mushroom Legislation

Today’s Press Herald reports on mushroom safety legislation making its way through the Maine Legislature,

Nearly three years after a couple of Portland chefs got sick from eating poisonous mushrooms, Maine lawmakers may adopt the nation’s most extensive food safety regulations for wild fungi.

Legislators are considering a bill to require that at least one person who is trained and certified to identify edible wild mushrooms handle the delicacies before they are sold at markets or served in restaurants.

Here’s a link to the full text of the bill.

This Week’s Events: Austrian Wine, Falmouth Kitchen Tour, Brewer for a Day, Mother’s Day

Tuesday — Bresca is holding a 5-course Austrian Wine Dinner.

Wednesday — the Farmers Market is taking place in Monument. Grace is holding their monthly wine club event.

Thursdayauthors T. Colin Campbell and Meg Wolff will be at Whole Foods for a book signing.

Friday — the first day of the Falmouth Kitchen Tour. There will be wine tastings at Rosemont and the West End Deli, and Rosemont is running a Austrian Wine Showcase ($45/person) in the evening. Friday is also First Friday Art Walk and restaurants will be very busy so make your reservations early.

Saturday — the Farmers Market is taking place in Deering Oaks Park, the second day of the Falmouth Kitchen Tour, LeRoux is holding a wine tasting, Sebago Brewing is offering a chance for you to work with their brewers on a special batch that will raise funds for their Trek Across Maine cycling team.

SundayMother’s Day, one of the busiest restaurant days of the year, so be prepared to wait a little longer to get in at your favorite Sunday brunch spot. Wine Wise is teaching a special Mother’s Day wine class.

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.

Review of Gogi

Vin et Grub has published a review of Gogi.

The tofu taco I liked the best- it was great, simply because I love tofu.  Otherwise I felt like they weren’t anything special, and had too much stuff packed onto the corn tortilla itself- which I might add ended up tearing apart upon picking it up.  I don’t want to eat my taco with a fork… and I guess they should have given more than one tortilla per order, because the amount of food could easily fill two tacos.  The cucumber salsa was delicious- maybe that was the high point of the tacos in general.

Review of The Front Room

Eat Here. Go There. has published a review of The Front Room.

Overall, The Front Room is a very good deal for the quality of food. They don’t accept reservations so there can be a wait on the weekends, but just get a drink. A bonus if you get there between 4-6 on Friday–Happy Hour! They have $2 glasses of house wine and a number of other beer and cocktail specials. Both of our entrées were $19. Their daily special list could be a menu in and of itself, and makes me wonder why they even have a traditional menu at all. We will be back again this summer for sure, and can’t wait to give it a whirl at brunch!

Burger Review of Petite Jacqueline

Chubby Werewolf has published a review of the burger at Petite Jacqueline.

As good as the burger looks, it tasted even better. Cooked exactly as I had requested (I tip my hat to you, Rebecca and kitchen staff!), the grilled burger patty was tender, flavorful and juicy. On its own, without the toppings, it would have been an example of a really outstanding straightforward burger. But the addition of the salty blue cheese and those amazing, sweet-tasting caramelized onions propelled the burger to a sublime level. Whereas lesser buns might have given way to the weight and juiciness of the patty, mine held up extremely well. I was provided with mustard and ketchup, but found that I had want for neither.

First Review of Petite Jacqueline

Portland Magazine has published a review of Petite Jacqueline.

Next to arrive is the terrine of foie gras ($13), graced with local honey, brioche rounds, and a compote of cherries and apricots, which plays silky and sweet on the palate. Following up is the roast pork belly with cabbage and herbs ($8). The buttery and salty belly is crisped on the outside, and the kraut lends well-balanced crunch and acidic tang.

Review of Fore Street

From Away has published a review of Fore Street.

…I think we chose safely and well, and on our next visit, I very much want to be more bold. Here is a place to try things you’ve never had before. Or revel in the best version of a dish you’ve had all your life. Fore Street feels like unadulterated pleasure, the experience of adulthood I always longed to have. It proffers respite from life’s harsher realities, a most pleasing place to dine well, when you can.

affordable food with sit-down atmosphere

Broke 207 has posted some observations on local restaurants and bemoaned the lack of “affordable food with sit-down atmosphere (mall restaurants need not apply)” in the city.

If you’re reading this site then you’re probably someone who knows the Portland restaurant landscape fairly well. Are there some restaurants out there that fit what Broke 207 is looking for? What do you think the biggest gap in the Portland restaurant line-up is?

Review of Whaddapita

From Away has published a review of WhaddaPita.

And that’s when the clouds parted, and I felt like I finally understood what Whaddapita was doing, with all of that fast-food styling, that green paint, and the army of cheery yellow tee shirt-clad employees. These are the same flavors that I have always associated with Greek food, the garlic, the parsley, the thyme, the rosemary, the feta, the olives, the yogurt, and the cucumber. Unlike some classic Greek dishes, however, Whaddapita manages to brighten all of these flavors up, and make them incredibly accessible.