The Portland Phoenix has published a trio of reviewlettes for Bard, Morning in Paris and Maine Bean Cafe.
In Portland’s Old Port the turnover this year has been notable. JavaNet closed recently, the last café in town to welcome animals. The old Breaking New Grounds was reborn as Morning in Paris Café. Bard Coffee Roasters opened across the street from Starbucks, and on Commercial Street, Maine Bean Café replaced the Portland Coffee Roasters.
Where is Jenner’s Mind has published a review of Ruski’s.
tonight after voting, seth and i went to celebrate democracy with a pint of beer and some fried food. and what better place for such a celebration than ruski’s (212 danforth street)? ruski’s really is a go to place for seth and i for many reasons. number 1: its awesome. number 2: two blocks from our house. number 3: real dive bar. number 4: good food. number 5: unpretentious.
Yesterday’s Portland Daily Sun published a feature article on the federal government’s pilot efforts to promote organic food.
[U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary] Merrigan was in Portland to promote more than $19 million in USDA grants that have been awarded to universities to be applied toward organic agriculture research and education. More than $1.3 million of this appropriation was granted to University of Maine and the University of Vermont for an initiative called the “Northern New England Local Bread Wheat Project.”
This project features Portland’s Borealis Breads as one of its partners, with the goal of increasing the supply of locally grown organic wheat.
The USM Free Press has published a review comparing and contrasting the coffee at StarEast and Big Sky.
Both the Star East Cafe and Big Sky Bread Company have other things going for them than what they offer for coffee and breakfast. However, first impressions are first impressions, and Star East didn’t cut it by a long shot. It might be a good place if you are interested in trying falafel or okra stew, but it’s no coffee shop. Big Sky Bread Company takes the cake.
While an unrelated article in the Portland Daily Sun commented on the politics of where you get your java in a independent store friendly food town.
Portland Bar Guide has published a review of Norm’s East End Grill.
The bar though, is like the really quiet, interesting guy standing behind the loud, drunk popular guy at a party. You know how some bars are stocked like they’re prepping for Prohibition? Norm’s has one of each of all the bottles you could want, but not two. They make feisty creative drinks with their own names, like the East End Margarita ($7), and pour Maine beers out of subtle, central taps at the elbow of the corner bar. The highlight of the whole scene? The tunes.
Portland Bar Guide has published a review of Norm’s East End Grill.
The bar though, is like the really quiet, interesting guy standing behind the loud, drunk popular guy at a party. You know how some bars are stocked like they’re prepping for Prohibition? Norm’s has one of each of all the bottles you could want, but not two. They make feisty creative drinks with their own names, like the East End Margarita ($7), and pour Maine beers out of subtle, central taps at the elbow of the corner bar. The highlight of the whole scene? The tunes.
Here are a few additional events taking place this week that weren’t on the list published earlier today:
For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
Saigon Restaurant has its signage up, the interior looks finished and, while it’s not easily visible in this photo, there are “Coming Soon” signs in the window so an opening day doesn’t seem all that far off. An early draft menu showed a mix of Vietnamese and Chinese dishes on the menu.
Monday—The weekly Piatto per Tutti cooking class and the Foodie Trivia Contest are taking place this evening. As is the Full Moon Cask Beer Night at Sebago Brewing.
Tuesday—Bar Lola is holding a beer dinner featuring brews from Belgium and France, and there’s a Japanese cooking class taking place at SMCC.
Wednesday—The Monument Square Farmers’ Market takes places in the morning. I the evening, The Salt Exchange is running their weekly wine and canapes event, and Black Tie Bistro is holding a cooking class.
Friday—First Friday Art Walk is taking place. Restaurants tend to be very busy during FFAW so make your reservation early.
Saturday—The Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market takes places in the morning. The Maine Brewer’s Festival has sessions planned for both the afternoon and evening at the Portland Expo.
For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
An obituary for James Ledue, a pioneering Portland restauranteur, appeared in today’s paper (via Meredith Goad).
Mr. Ledue, who helped start Portland’s restaurant renaissance with businesses such as The Good Egg, Alberta’s Cafe and Bella Bella, died Oct. 23 after a lengthy illness. He was 57 years old.
Mr. Ledue had a limitless range of interests, from surfing to acting to wine and poetry.
“He crowded in an awful lot,” said his father, Herbert Ledue of Portland. “If he wasn’t at the restaurant, he’d be out surfing or kayaking.