Author: PFM

Chewing Gum, Maine Food History and Academic Success

| Posted in History

An article in Tuesday’s edition of the Portland Daily Sun writes about the history of chewing gum in Maine and research that shows chewing gum boosts academic performance by 3%.

Eventually demand grew beyond what the Bangor kitchen could produce so Curtis and family set up a facility in Portland. The business continued to grow, eventually employing 200 people who produced 1800 boxes of gum a day. the three-story factory was located on Fore Street in the building now occupied by Hub Furniture. By the late 1870s, Curtis had earned enough from the masticating masses that he was able to build a home in Deering Center that was the largest and most expensive home at the time.

Eric J. 'Rick' Hartglass, 64

| Posted in People

The founder of Mister Bagel, Eric J. Hartglass, has passed away.

Rick started Mister Bagel in 1977 on Forest Avenue; this location was the first and original bagel shop in the state of Maine. Today there are 12 successful franchises that he was very proud of.

For additional information read the Passages profile that appeared in the Wednesday Press Herald.

Mr. Hartglass learned how to make bagels from the renowned Ess-a-Bagel, Inc. in New York, his birthplace. He took what he learned back to the bakery in Maine, attracting people from throughout the area with his bagels.

Eric J. ‘Rick’ Hartglass, 64

| Posted in People

The founder of Mister Bagel, Eric J. Hartglass, has passed away.

Rick started Mister Bagel in 1977 on Forest Avenue; this location was the first and original bagel shop in the state of Maine. Today there are 12 successful franchises that he was very proud of.

For additional information read the Passages profile that appeared in the Wednesday Press Herald.

Mr. Hartglass learned how to make bagels from the renowned Ess-a-Bagel, Inc. in New York, his birthplace. He took what he learned back to the bakery in Maine, attracting people from throughout the area with his bagels.

This Week’s Events

| Posted in Events

Wednesday — Wine Wise is teaching a class at The Wine Bar and the Grace wine club will be meeting to discuss/taste Summer wines.

Thursday — Cultivating Community is hosting one of their biweekly Twilight Dinners at their farm in Cape Elizabeth, and a wine tasting is scheduled to take place at Downeast Beverage.

Friday — there will be a wine tasting at the West End Deli, and the First Friday Art Walk is taking place. Restaurants will be busy so make your reservations early.

Saturday — there will be a wine tasting at the LeRoux Kitchen.

Farmer’s Markets — the traditional series of Farmer’s Markets are taking place Monday (Monument Square), Wednesday (Monument Square) and Saturday (Deering Oaks Park). Cultivating Community is running their new series of markets Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at various locations around the city.

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.

This Week's Events

| Posted in Events

Wednesday — Wine Wise is teaching a class at The Wine Bar and the Grace wine club will be meeting to discuss/taste Summer wines.
Thursday — Cultivating Community is hosting one of their biweekly Twilight Dinners at their farm in Cape Elizabeth, and a wine tasting is scheduled to take place at Downeast Beverage.
Friday — there will be a wine tasting at the West End Deli, and the First Friday Art Walk is taking place. Restaurants will be busy so make your reservations early.
Saturday — there will be a wine tasting at the LeRoux Kitchen.
Farmer’s Markets — the traditional series of Farmer’s Markets are taking place Monday (Monument Square), Wednesday (Monument Square) and Saturday (Deering Oaks Park). Cultivating Community is running their new series of markets Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at various locations around the city.
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 Soju

| Posted in Reviews

Soju received 2½ stars from the Taste & Tell column in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

Yaki udon ($8.50) held big, fat, square rice noodles — again not a favorite, but well-liked by my dinner companion. The mild sauce and scallions, zucchini, carrots, onions and mushrooms mixed with cubes of tofu that had a crisp, thin fried coating kept the dish interesting.

Review of DiMillo's

| Posted in Reviews

From Away has published a review of DiMillo’s.

It’s the sort of place where you share molten chocolate cake. It’s the sort of place you bring your grandma for her 90th birthday and delight in watching her wear a bib adorned with anthropomorphic shellfish. It’s the sort of place where your waitress forgets to fire your order but you forgive her and she comps you a glass of Chardonnay while career waiters in their black vests swan around mocking her failures. It’s crenolins and mary janes and falling asleep in the back of the station wagon while your parents smoke and argue, The Moody Blues on the radio. DiMillo’s is nostalgia for the future.

Review of DiMillo’s

| Posted in Reviews

From Away has published a review of DiMillo’s.

It’s the sort of place where you share molten chocolate cake. It’s the sort of place you bring your grandma for her 90th birthday and delight in watching her wear a bib adorned with anthropomorphic shellfish. It’s the sort of place where your waitress forgets to fire your order but you forgive her and she comps you a glass of Chardonnay while career waiters in their black vests swan around mocking her failures. It’s crenolins and mary janes and falling asleep in the back of the station wagon while your parents smoke and argue, The Moody Blues on the radio. DiMillo’s is nostalgia for the future.

Review of Hot Suppa

| Posted in Reviews

From Away has published a review of Hot Suppa.

Open for breakfast and lunch, but not actually “Suppa,” a fact that my 11-year-old nephew finds hilarious and fascinating, you may hit a bit of a wait on the weekends. The tables turn quickly, though, and seeing the smiling, satisfied faces on their way out inspire you to wait just a little longer. Hot Suppa has emerged, in our brief time in Portland, as our favorite place to bring out-of-town guests for a cozy, bleary-eyed breakfast.