Author: PFM

This Week’s Events

| Posted in Events

Wednesday — a tasting of organic wines at Old Port Wine Merchants and a Wine Wise class at The Wine Bar.

Thursday — the 3rd Annual Sushi & Sake Tasting at Browne Trading and the monthly Latte Art Competition at Bard Coffee.

Saturday — the 8th Annual Festival of Nations in Deering Oaks Park. For more info read the recent articles in the Portland Daily Sun and the Portland Press Herald.

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.

Food Cart Space Competition & Orange Lobster

| Posted in General News, Fisheries

The Portland Daily Sun published a report on the competition for prime locations among Portland food  cart vendors.

Most pushcart food vendors will tell you there’s an unspoken agreement among the 23 licensed sidewalk restaurateurs currently operating in Portland: Once you get a spot, stick with it, and no one will mess with you.

But this agreement can at times clash with the official stance of the city, which doesn’t recognize street cart vendors’ seniority. And some vendors say that competition, especially on Commerical Street, can get fierce.

The newspaper also includes an article on a rare orange lobster that’s on display at Harbor Fish Market.

Ben Alfiero, owner of Harbor Fish Market on Custom House Wharf, has seen a lot of lobsters over his 35 years in the business, but this is only the second orange one to have graced his tanks.

Food Cart Space Competition & Orange Lobster

| Posted in General News, Fisheries

The Portland Daily Sun published a report on the competition for prime locations among Portland food  cart vendors.

Most pushcart food vendors will tell you there’s an unspoken agreement among the 23 licensed sidewalk restaurateurs currently operating in Portland: Once you get a spot, stick with it, and no one will mess with you.

But this agreement can at times clash with the official stance of the city, which doesn’t recognize street cart vendors’ seniority. And some vendors say that competition, especially on Commerical Street, can get fierce.

The newspaper also includes an article on a rare orange lobster that’s on display at Harbor Fish Market.

Ben Alfiero, owner of Harbor Fish Market on Custom House Wharf, has seen a lot of lobsters over his 35 years in the business, but this is only the second orange one to have graced his tanks.

Amedeo Reali

| Posted in People

Today’s Press Herald observes the passing of Amedeo J. Reali, the long time owner of the old Village Cafe.

Mr. Reali took his father’s business, the Village Cafe, from a small, 20-seat cafe established in 1936 to a 500-seat Italian family restaurant. Even when the popular restaurant closed in December 2007, he still had his hand in the works.

“He wanted to work two days a week, which was Tuesday and Thursday lunch,” said his son, who had taken over the restaurant. “He still watched things closely, especially the sauce. That was one recipe he wanted to protect.”

For more information see the official obituary notice.

Red's Dairy Freeze Demolition

| Posted in Under Construction

According to a report in The Forecaster the Red’s Dairy Freeze building is going to be demolished and owner hopes to eventually rebuild. Red’s was seriously damaged by fire earlier this year.

Code Enforcement Officer Patricia Doucette said the owner of Red’s has obtained a city permit to demolish the popular, soft-serve ice cream shop that was scorched by an early morning electrical fire on May 16.

Doucette said owner Chris Bolling indicated he would raze all but two ground layers of concrete and rebuild on the existing foundation. The permit, issued last week, is good for six months, she said.

For more information see the Portland Press Herald article published 7/24/2010.

Red’s Dairy Freeze Demolition

| Posted in Under Construction

According to a report in The Forecaster the Red’s Dairy Freeze building is going to be demolished and owner hopes to eventually rebuild. Red’s was seriously damaged by fire earlier this year.

Code Enforcement Officer Patricia Doucette said the owner of Red’s has obtained a city permit to demolish the popular, soft-serve ice cream shop that was scorched by an early morning electrical fire on May 16.

Doucette said owner Chris Bolling indicated he would raze all but two ground layers of concrete and rebuild on the existing foundation. The permit, issued last week, is good for six months, she said.

For more information see the Portland Press Herald article published 7/24/2010.

August in Maine: John Naylor & Lobster Rolls

| Posted in People, Profiles

The August issue of Maine magazine includes a Joe Ricchio A List column on Lobster Rolls (hint: his favorite is at Old Port Sea Grill) and a profile of John Naylor who together with co-owner Scott Anderson founded Rosemont Market and Bakery.

If you walk into any of the Rosemont stores, they feel more like a chef’s ideal pantry than a business. Each item has been hand-selected, and while the stores are small, they somehow contain everything you need. In addition to offering some of the best vegetables and locally raised meats in the state, they also sell freshly baked bread, have a discerning selection of inexpensive and higher-priced wines, and serve a selection of gourmet foods [made] from the same local vegetables and meats they carry.

The articles aren’t online (yet) but you can usually pick up a free copy of the magazine at Bard Coffee.

August in Maine: John Naylor & Lobster Rolls

| Posted in People, Profiles

The August issue of Maine magazine includes a Joe Ricchio A List column on Lobster Rolls (hint: his favorite is at Old Port Sea Grill) and a profile of John Naylor who together with co-owner Scott Anderson founded Rosemont Market and Bakery.

If you walk into any of the Rosemont stores, they feel more like a chef’s ideal pantry than a business. Each item has been hand-selected, and while the stores are small, they somehow contain everything you need. In addition to offering some of the best vegetables and locally raised meats in the state, they also sell freshly baked bread, have a discerning selection of inexpensive and higher-priced wines, and serve a selection of gourmet foods [made] from the same local vegetables and meats they carry.

The articles aren’t online (yet) but you can usually pick up a free copy of the magazine at Bard Coffee.