Cliff Island Store and Locavorian Island Eating

The new issue of Working Waterfront includes a profile of Pearls Seaside Market and Cafe which is run by Steve and Johanna Corman on Cliff Island in Casco Bay.

Johanna prefers to work the cafe. While neither she nor Steve had formal restaurant experience, Johanna grew up on Apple Acres Farm in South Hiram, where she ran the gift shop and created gourmet apple products that were eventually picked up by Dean & Deluca. In the morning she bakes goods like cinnamon rolls and egg sandwiches-without a stove. “We don’t have the right ventilation system for an oven, so I do it all on a griddle!” she says. Other highlights on her menu are homemade pizza (the feta and spinach pie was delicious) and the B.L.L.T, a classic bacon, lettuce, lobster and tomato sandwich.

The newspaper also features an examination of the intersection between locavorism and island living by food historian Sandy Oliver.

slanders, and everyone else, used to be so much better at producing food for themselves, especially vegetables, milk and eggs. Pigs, cows and chickens dotted our landscape, as well as the occasional beef critter. In this, we were hardly different from mainlanders. Some of this urge is creeping back, at least here on Islesboro, and a fine looking steer moored to a spike graces the yard of a neighbor about a mile away. We hear about chicks being hatched and, despite last year’s disastrous gardening seasoning, a few new gardens have been created and fenced in.

German 4th of July

Tuesday’s Portland Daily Sun highlights the German roots of many popular 4th of July picnic foods.

Oh, the Germanity. Hamburgers and Frankfurters, those Fourth of July grill favorites, are reminders of the roots of classic American picnic food. Sausages, cold cuts, cole slaw and potato salad are as likely to be found on a table in Deutschland as they are in Downeast. Without German brewers like Joseph Schlitz, Frederick Pabst, Adolph Coors, Eberhard Anheuser and Adolphus Busch to create the beer establishment, we might have neither cheap beer nor the microbrew revolution. Ach du lieber!

Taste of the Nation

The Press Herald has published a report on yesterday’s Taste of the Nation event.

The Lily Bistro joined 26 other restaurants from across the state to participate in the fifth annual Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation event.

Nearly all the proceeds raised at the event, which was held under a tent on a deck next to the city’s Ocean Gateway terminal, will benefit organizations in Maine that serve children from poverty-stricken families.

AAA Magazine

The current issue of Northern New England Journey includes an article about the dining scene in Portland. The article draws special attention to Bresca, Caiola’s, Duckfat, Emilitsa, Fore Street, Hugo’s, Miyake and Paciarino.

[Chef Sam] Hayward attributes the vibrant food scene to what he calls “a perfect convergence” of three elements. First, Portland chefs are using an eye-opening variety of Maine products. Second, farmers, fishermen, and foragers are supplying those chefs with outstanding ingredients. Instead of ordering standard cuts of meat and seafood from national provisioners, chefs buy animals from local sources and use every part they can. This means familiar dishes share menu space with such items as beef heart, monkfish liver, and cod cheeks. Third, Portland’s diners have embraced the new dishes.

This Week's Events

Monday — the Monday Farmers Market is taking place in Monument Square.
Wednesday — the midweek Farmers Market is taking place in Monument Square, there’s a wine tasting at Old Port Wine Merchants, a tequila tasting at The Salt Exchange and a Wine Wise class at The Wine Bar.
Thursday — there will be a wine tastings at Aurora Provisions and Black Tie Bistro and a tequila tasting at El Rayo.
Friday — A combination of First Friday Art Walk and the start to the holiday weekend will make for some very busy restaurants so make your reservations early, Wine Wise is teaching a  class at DiMillo’s and there’s a wine tasting at the West End Deli.
Saturday — the weekend Farmers Market is taking place in Deering Oaks Park and LeRoux Kitchen is holding a wine tasting.
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

Monday — the Monday Farmers Market is taking place in Monument Square.

Wednesday — the midweek Farmers Market is taking place in Monument Square, there’s a wine tasting at Old Port Wine Merchants, a tequila tasting at The Salt Exchange and a Wine Wise class at The Wine Bar.

Thursday — there will be a wine tastings at Aurora Provisions and Black Tie Bistro and a tequila tasting at El Rayo.

Friday — A combination of First Friday Art Walk and the start to the holiday weekend will make for some very busy restaurants so make your reservations early, Wine Wise is teaching a  class at DiMillo’s and there’s a wine tasting at the West End Deli.

Saturday — the weekend Farmers Market is taking place in Deering Oaks Park and LeRoux Kitchen is holding a wine tasting.

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.

Havana South Three Ways

There’s some new material on Havana South, the Wharf Street restaurant that opened earlier this week:

  • PortlandTown has published photos of several dishes (Moqueca, Rack of Lamb, Chile Rubbed Yellow Fin, etc) that are now on the menu. (There’s also a few images of Mura, Shima’s new bar/bistro space)
  • The July issue of Maine magazine includes an article penned by Samantha Hoyt Lindgren about owners Deidre Swords and Michael Boland and the restaurant’s chef Jason Casey. (The new issue also provides advice on where to grab a bite on Peaks, Chebeague and the other islands in Casco Bay, and a guide to the best in Maine ice cream.) The July issue isn’t online yet but you can usually find a free copy at Bard Coffee.
  • Maine Ahead magazine has published an interview with chef Jason Casey and his recipe for Moqueca.

Weekend Events: Rabelais Book Sale & Maple's Grand Opening

Here are a couple additional items for this weekend’s event calendar:

  • Wine Maniac Book SigningLayne Witherell will be at Rabelais today, 3 – 4:30 pm to sign copies of his book Wine Maniac: Life in the Wine Biz.
  • 2nd Annual Sidewalk Book Sale – Rabelais is holding their annual sidewalk book sale on Sunday, 11 – 3 pm. Hundreds of books will be priced at $1, $3 or $5 and all other books are 10% off. For bookish food fans this is a must-attend event.
  • Maple’s Grand OpeningMaple’s Organics is having a Grand Opening at their new location in South Portland on Sunday, 1 – 5 pm. According to the press release, “There will be live music, prizes and fun for the kids, and plenty of gelato samples going around.”