Category: Events

This Week’s Events: Sticky Sweet, Good Food Awards, Barrel Aging Tours, The Locker Project

| Posted in Events

Tuesday – a new food vendor under  construction in the Public Market House called Sticky Sweet will be handing out free samples starting at 11am, and Vena’s will be teaching a cocktail making class.

Thursday – Bao Bao is hosting an Oxbow tap takeover.

Friday – 3 Maine companies will be waiting to hear how they fair in the 2017 Good Food Awards taking place in San Francisco, Woodford F&B is celebrating their 1-year anniversary by raising money to fight hunger in Maine through The Locker Project, and  Rising Tide will be leading 30 minute tours of their new West Wing barrel-aging space.

Saturday – the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday – Two Fat Cats is starting their celebration of National Pie Day a day early with the launch of their pie buffet.

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: Maine Ag Show, Tipo Opening, Winter Market

| Posted in Events

Tuesday – it’s the opening day of the 76th Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show in Augusta.

Wednesday – Tipo is scheduled to open at 4 pm.

Friday – Maine & Loire is holding a wine tasting to celebrate their 2nd anniversary.

Saturday – LeRoux Kitchen is holding a wine tasting, and the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

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: K. Horton, Vena’s Cocktail Dinner

| Posted in Events

Tuesday – it’s the start of the K. Horton Specialty Foods clearance sale.

Friday – the West End Rosemont Market is holding a wine tasting.

Saturday – The Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday – Vena’s is serving an Italian cocktail dinner.

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.

Year in Review: Drifters Wife, Upcoming Restaurants, Most Popular Restaurants & Articles, Obituaries

| Posted in Under Construction, Year in Review, Closings, Openings, Events, General News

I’ve scanned through the records for the past year and here’s a summary of events and trends for 2016:

  • Best New Restaurant – 2016 saw the opening of a number of strong new restaurants. However, it’s an easy decision to call out Drifters Wife as the best new restaurant of 2016. On all accounts, food, service and atmosphere they’ve been outstanding and brought something new to Portland. Bon Appétit named Drifters one of the best new restaurants in the nation, the Press Herald selected them as the best restaurant of 2016 and Ed Behr, editor of Art of Eating, wrote a review in the Financial Times concludes with “For a meal, snack or just to drink wine in a low-key atmosphere, on a totally human scale, Drifters Wife is an outstanding place to pass an hour — or a whole long evening”.
  • Breweries/Distilleries – fermentation-based businesses continued to expand and grow in number in 2016. Notable were the moves of Bissell Brothers to Thompson’s Point and Bunker to Libbytown, the opening of Stroudwater Distilling, Hardshore Distilling and the Cellar Door tasting room, and the expansions of Foundation Brewing, Maine Beer Co, Rising Tide and the upcoming expansion of Maine Craft Distilling.
  • Juice Bars – 2016 was the year of the juice bar. Farm Truck Juice opened in the West End, Blake Orchard in the Old Port, Flying Fox on Washington Ave, and Maine Juice Company in Biddeford joined Maine Squeeze and Samantha Lives in this segment of the industry.
  • Upcoming in 2017 – The pace of new restaurant and bar projects looks likely to pick-up in 2017. 40+ new ventures are already being tracked on the PFM Under Construction list and I’m aware of several other ventures in earlier stages of development. The ones I’m most looking forward to in 2017 are:
    • Baharat – CN Shawarma’s new restaurant in East Bayside
    • Black Cow – ‘re-imagining of the classic soda fountain’ by Nick Nappi and Gary Bowcott
    • Cong Tu Bot – a pho noodle bar being launched by Vien Dobui and Jessica Sheahan
    • Gross Confection Bar – a dessert/cocktail bar by Brant Dadaleares
    • Izakaya Minato – a new Japanese restaurant on Washington Ave
    • LB Kitchen – chef Lee Farrington’s new breakfast and lunch restaurant on Congress Street
    • Lio – a wine-driven restaurant by Cara Stadler in conjunction with Chris Peterman
    • Little Giant – Hunt & Alpine’s restaurant in the West End
    • Sichuan Kitchen – a Chinese restaurant scheduled to open on January 2nd
    • Tipo – Central Provision’s new restaurant in Back Cove

Top 10 Articles

The most popular articles published on Portland Food Map in the past year.

  1. Tipo – first word on Central Provision’s new restaurant in Back Cove (July 23)
  2. Petite Jacqueline – Corry’s decision to relocate Petite Jacqueline to Market Street (January 27)
  3. Lio – first word on Cara Stadler’s new wine restaurant (October 7)
  4. Woodford F & B – announcement of opening day (January 15)
  5. Ebb & Flow – news that Ebb & Flow was closing (March 7)
  6. Baharat – first word on CN Shawarma’s new brick and mortar restaurant (October 5)
  7. Fork Food Lab – first word on the commercial kitchen/business incubator (March 16)
  8. BA Article – Bon Appétit article on Portland (May 18)
  9. Scales – opening day announcement (March 5)
  10. Little Giant – first word that Hunt & Alpine was planning a restaurant and market for the West End (October 31)

 

Notable Events of 2016

  • January – Bissell Brothers announced plans to move to Thompson’s Point, 6 Maine food producers were honored at the Good Food Awards, Woodford F&B opened, and Fore River Brewing launched.
  • February – 8 chefs and restaurants were listed as James Beard Award semifinalists, the Brew Bus made plans to expand to Boston, Harvest on the Harbor was sold, and Thai Essan, Drifters Wife, Portland Mash Tun, Farm Truck Juice and Rhum opened.
  • March – 3 Maine chefs were named James Beard award final nominees, The Press Herald published an article about Jason Loring, Scales, Falafel Underground, Hero and Mast Landing opened, and Little Lad’s closed.
  • April – The Milk and Honey Cafe and the Lone Pine Brewing tasting room opened, the Salt Box Cafe launched, and Paul’s Food Center closed.
  • May – Bon Appétit published an eating guide to Portland, the New York Times published an article about The Honey Paw, PFM won Best Food Blog and Best Blog in the Portland Phoenix readership poll, Solo Italiano and the Cellar Door tasting room opened, the Sugarbird Coffee Truck and the Gorgeous Gelato truck launched.
  • June – Hugo’s and Miyake were listed on OAD’s list of the Top 100 restaurants in the US, Bissell Brothers opened their new brewery on Thompson’s Point, Petite Jacqueline, Blake Orchard, Tiqa Cafe, and Salty Sally’s opened, the LemonCycle food cart and Taco del Seoul food truck launched, and Sala Thai closed.
  • July – Damian Sansonetti and Ilma Lopez purchased Caiola’s, Central Provisions announced plans to open a new restaurant in Back Cove, Down East published an oral history of the lobster roll, Food & Wine published an article about Portland, Novare Res was included in Draft magazine’s list of the 100 best beer bars in the country, and Stroudwater Distilling, Flying Fox Juice Bar, and the Munjoy Hill Tavern opened.
  • August – Bon Appétit named Drifters Wife to their list of the 50 Best New Restaurants in America, Food & Wine named Andrew Volk one of 2016’s Best New Mixologists, Big J’s Chicken Shack and Rossobianco opened, and Hero closed.
  • September – USM announced plans for a new food studies program, Condé Nast Traveller has included Eventide in their list of the best restaurants in the world, Food Republic published a guide to eating in Portland, Mark’s Sports Bar, Fork Food Lab and El Rayo opened, and Thurston’s closed.
  • October – acclaimed food writer Rowan Jacobsen visited Portland to launch his new book, Cara Stadler announced plans for her new wine restaurant Lio, Hunt & Alpine announced plans to open a restaurant and market in the West End, Sugarbird sold their food truck to Tandem, Hardshore Distilling opened, and Rossobianco closed.
  • November – Some of Maine’s best chefs collaborated on the 2nd Annual Fabulous Femmes dinner to raise money for the Barabara Bush Children’s Hospital, Bunker Brewing completed the move to their new brewery in Libbytown, and both Tin Pan Bakery and the New England Distilling tasting room opened.
  • December – Eventide announced plans to open a 2nd location in Boston, Pho Co, Bambo Bistro, Big Fin Poke, The Purple House, Little Giant Market, Mini Mogadishu and Baristas + Bites opened, and Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe closed.

Top 25 Restaurants

  1. Roustabout (-)
  2. Woodford F&B (-)
  3. Scales (-)
  4. Isa (1)
  5. Abilene (11)
  6. Solo Italiano (-)
  7. Union (8)
  8. Terlingua (3)
  9. East Ender (7)
  10. Petite Jacqueline (20)
  11. Piccolo (17)
  12. Caiola’s (25)
  13. Lolita (18)
  14. Evo (9)
  15. Big J’s Chicken Shack (-)
  16. The Treehouse (13)
  17. Bao Bao Dumpling House (6)
  18. The Honey Paw (2)
  19. Back Bay Grill (21)
  20. Rossobianco (-)
  21. Five Fifty-Five (17)
  22. Pizzaiolo (-)
  23. Rhum (-)
  24. Outliers Eatery (19)
  25. Hot Suppa (43)

The numbers in parentheses indicate their rank last year. The order of the list is determined by the number of times these restaurants were looked up on PFM during the year.

Passings

For some other perspectives on the past year see Portland Press Herald, The Golden Dish, Bangor Daily News, Portland Phoenix, Peter Peter Portland Eater, Portland Magazine and The Beer Babe.

Here are links to the Portland Food Map year in review reports for 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Year in Review: Drifters Wife, Upcoming Restaurants, Most Popular Restaurants & Articles, Obituaries

| Posted in Openings, Events, Reviews, Under Construction

I’ve scanned through the records for the past year and here’s a summary of events and trends for 2016:

  • Best New Restaurant – 2016 saw the opening of a number of strong new restaurants. However, it’s an easy decision to call out Drifters Wife as the best new restaurant of 2016. On all accounts, food, service and atmosphere they’ve been outstanding and brought something new to Portland. Bon Appétit named Drifters one of the best new restaurants in the nation, the Press Herald selected them as the best restaurant of 2016 and Ed Behr, editor of Art of Eating, wrote a review in the Financial Times concludes with “For a meal, snack or just to drink wine in a low-key atmosphere, on a totally human scale, Drifters Wife is an outstanding place to pass an hour — or a whole long evening”.
  • Breweries/Distilleries – fermentation-based businesses continued to expand and grow in number in 2016. Notable were the moves of Bissell Brothers to Thompson’s Point and Bunker to Libbytown, the opening of Stroudwater Distilling, Hardshore Distilling and the Cellar Door tasting room, and the expansions of Foundation Brewing, Maine Beer Co, Rising Tide and the upcoming expansion of Maine Craft Distilling.
  • Juice Bars – 2016 was the year of the juice bar. Farm Truck Juice opened in the West End, Blake Orchard in the Old Port, Flying Fox on Washington Ave, and Maine Juice Company in Biddeford joined Maine Squeeze and Samantha Lives in this segment of the industry.
  • Upcoming in 2017 – The pace of new restaurant and bar projects looks likely to pick-up in 2017. 40+ new ventures are already being tracked on the PFM Under Construction list and I’m aware of several other ventures in earlier stages of development. The ones I’m most looking forward to in 2017 are:
    • Baharat – CN Shawarma’s new restaurant in East Bayside
    • Black Cow – ‘re-imagining of the classic soda fountain’ by Nick Nappi and Gary Bowcott
    • Cong Tu Bot – a pho noodle bar being launched by Vien Dobui and Jessica Sheahan
    • Gross Confection Bar – a dessert/cocktail bar by Brant Dadaleares
    • Izakaya Minato – a new Japanese restaurant on Washington Ave
    • LB Kitchen – chef Lee Farrington’s new breakfast and lunch restaurant on Congress Street
    • Lio – a wine-driven restaurant by Cara Stadler in conjunction with Chris Peterman
    • Little Giant – Hunt & Alpine’s restaurant in the West End
    • Sichuan Kitchen – a Chinese restaurant scheduled to open on January 2nd
    • Tipo – Central Provision’s new restaurant in Back Cove

Top 10 Articles

The most popular articles published on Portland Food Map in the past year.

  1. Tipo – first word on Central Provision’s new restaurant in Back Cove (July 23)
  2. Petite Jacqueline – Corry’s decision to relocate Petite Jacqueline to Market Street (January 27)
  3. Lio – first word on Cara Stadler’s new wine restaurant (October 7)
  4. Woodford F & B – announcement of opening day (January 15)
  5. Ebb & Flow – news that Ebb & Flow was closing (March 7)
  6. Baharat – first word on CN Shawarma’s new brick and mortar restaurant (October 5)
  7. Fork Food Lab – first word on the commercial kitchen/business incubator (March 16)
  8. BA Article – Bon Appétit article on Portland (May 18)
  9. Scales – opening day announcement (March 5)
  10. Little Giant – first word that Hunt & Alpine was planning a restaurant and market for the West End (October 31)

 

Notable Events of 2016

  • January – Bissell Brothers announced plans to move to Thompson’s Point, 6 Maine food producers were honored at the Good Food Awards, Woodford F&B opened, and Fore River Brewing launched.
  • February – 8 chefs and restaurants were listed as James Beard Award semifinalists, the Brew Bus made plans to expand to Boston, Harvest on the Harbor was sold, and Thai Essan, Drifters Wife, Portland Mash Tun, Farm Truck Juice and Rhum opened.
  • March – 3 Maine chefs were named James Beard award final nominees, The Press Herald published an article about Jason Loring, Scales, Falafel Underground, Hero and Mast Landing opened, and Little Lad’s closed.
  • April – The Milk and Honey Cafe and the Lone Pine Brewing tasting room opened, the Salt Box Cafe launched, and Paul’s Food Center closed.
  • May – Bon Appétit published an eating guide to Portland, the New York Times published an article about The Honey Paw, PFM won Best Food Blog and Best Blog in the Portland Phoenix readership poll, Solo Italiano and the Cellar Door tasting room opened, the Sugarbird Coffee Truck and the Gorgeous Gelato truck launched.
  • June – Hugo’s and Miyake were listed on OAD’s list of the Top 100 restaurants in the US, Bissell Brothers opened their new brewery on Thompson’s Point, Petite Jacqueline, Blake Orchard, Tiqa Cafe, and Salty Sally’s opened, the LemonCycle food cart and Taco del Seoul food truck launched, and Sala Thai closed.
  • July – Damian Sansonetti and Ilma Lopez purchased Caiola’s, Central Provisions announced plans to open a new restaurant in Back Cove, Down East published an oral history of the lobster roll, Food & Wine published an article about Portland, Novare Res was included in Draft magazine’s list of the 100 best beer bars in the country, and Stroudwater Distilling, Flying Fox Juice Bar, and the Munjoy Hill Tavern opened.
  • August – Bon Appétit named Drifters Wife to their list of the 50 Best New Restaurants in America, Food & Wine named Andrew Volk one of 2016’s Best New Mixologists, Big J’s Chicken Shack and Rossobianco opened, and Hero closed.
  • September – USM announced plans for a new food studies program, Condé Nast Traveller has included Eventide in their list of the best restaurants in the world, Food Republic published a guide to eating in Portland, Mark’s Sports Bar, Fork Food Lab and El Rayo opened, and Thurston’s closed.
  • October – acclaimed food writer Rowan Jacobsen visited Portland to launch his new book, Cara Stadler announced plans for her new wine restaurant Lio, Hunt & Alpine announced plans to open a restaurant and market in the West End, Sugarbird sold their food truck to Tandem, Hardshore Distilling opened, and Rossobianco closed.
  • November – Some of Maine’s best chefs collaborated on the 2nd Annual Fabulous Femmes dinner to raise money for the Barabara Bush Children’s Hospital, Bunker Brewing completed the move to their new brewery in Libbytown, and both Tin Pan Bakery and the New England Distilling tasting room opened.
  • December – Eventide announced plans to open a 2nd location in Boston, Pho Co, Bambo Bistro, Big Fin Poke, The Purple House, Little Giant Market, Mini Mogadishu and Baristas + Bites opened, and Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe closed.

Top 25 Restaurants

  1. Roustabout (-)
  2. Woodford F&B (-)
  3. Scales (-)
  4. Isa (1)
  5. Abilene (11)
  6. Solo Italiano (-)
  7. Union (8)
  8. Terlingua (3)
  9. East Ender (7)
  10. Petite Jacqueline (20)
  11. Piccolo (17)
  12. Caiola’s (25)
  13. Lolita (18)
  14. Evo (9)
  15. Big J’s Chicken Shack (-)
  16. The Treehouse (13)
  17. Bao Bao Dumpling House (6)
  18. The Honey Paw (2)
  19. Back Bay Grill (21)
  20. Rossobianco (-)
  21. Five Fifty-Five (17)
  22. Pizzaiolo (-)
  23. Rhum (-)
  24. Outliers Eatery (19)
  25. Hot Suppa (43)

The numbers in parentheses indicate their rank last year. The order of the list is determined by the number of times these restaurants were looked up on PFM during the year.

Passings

For some other perspectives on the past year see Portland Press Herald, The Golden Dish, Bangor Daily News, Portland Phoenix, Peter Peter Portland Eater, Portland Magazine and The Beer Babe.

Here are links to the Portland Food Map year in review reports for 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Bourdain Interviews

| Posted in People, Events

Today’s Press Herald includes an interview with Maine native and Bourdain cinematographer Zach Zamboni about growing up in Maine and his life on the road with Anthony Bourdain.

They may be buddies, but Zamboni is nothing like Bourdain’s no-holds-barred public persona. Soft-spoken and thoughtful, Zamboni often speaks in imagery that evokes the landscape, whether he is describing the rolling hills and deep forests of Maine or talking about how when you eat an oyster, you’re tasting the tides. He credits his rural childhood in Maine with helping to prepare him for the life he leads now.

and an interview with Bourdain.

Q: Our culture is so engaged with food now – almost to the point of fetishizing what’s on the plate. Is there any turning back? Or is this fascination with food a good thing?

A: We are more educated about what we’re eating and where it comes from and who’s making it than ever before. I think as silly as it is and as excessive and fetishistic, it signals a real cultural shift where we actually care about what we’re eating and who’s cooking, and this is good. I imagine that at some point we will shift to a more emotional response to food without taking pictures of it. We’re sort of catching up with France and Italy. On balance, however ridiculous it is at times and lampoonable, I’m happy with it.

Bourdain will be in Portland on October 9th for a show at the civic center.

This Week’s Events: Food Systems, Food Lab, Dessert Pop-up, Kermit Lynch, The Coffee Man, Cantillon Zwanze

| Posted in Events

Monday — there will be a lecture at the Public Library on Arctic Ocean Food Systems.

Tuesday — Fork Food Lab is holding their Grand Opening, and pastry chef Brant Dadaleares is serving a dessert pop-up at The Honey Paw.

Wednesday — there will be a Kermit Lynch wine tasting at the Old Port Wine Merchants, and the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Thursday — Arabica is hosting a screening of The Coffee Man at their cafe on Commercial Street, and a colloquium is taking place at Bowdoin to “explore a whole system approach to increased food production in Maine and to examine the connections between economic growth potential in the food sector, good natural resource stewardship, and the overall health of our communities.”

Friday — Cellardoor is holding an event called VinFest at Thompson’s Point.

Saturday —  Novare is once again the location for the relase of this year’s Cantillon Zwanze, Rosemont is holding their annual Harvest in the Hood, and the Saturday Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday — Rising Tide is throwing a party to celebrate their 6th Anniversary, and Cellardoor is running a second event, Pairing at the Point.

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: Falchini, Maculan, The Coffee Man, Nikita, Noshbow, Cheese Iron 10th

| Posted in Events

Monday — Solo Italiano is holding a Falchini wine dinner, and the Scarborough Land Trust farm dinner is taking place at Broadturn Farm.

Wednesday — There will be a Cellardoor food pairing event on Thompson’s Point, Black Tie is holding a farm dinner in New Gloucester, and the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Thursday — special guest Angela Maculan will be at Piccolo for a 5-course dinner featuring her family’s wine from the Veneto region, there will be a cider and cheese tasting at the Public Market House, and Coffee by Design will be screening the movie The Coffee Man (if you can’t make it this week, Arabica will also be screening this film next week on the 29th)

Friday — it’s the fist day of the Common Ground Fair, The Cheese Iron is celebrating their 10th anniversary (Congratulations to Vince and Jill), Rising Tide is releasing their new beer Nikita, and Maine & Loire is holding a Shacksbury wine tasting.

Saturday — the first PSO Symphony & Spirits event of the season and the Saturday Farmers’ Market are taking place.

Sunday — the 2016 edition of Noshbow is taking place at Slab.

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.

Seed: The Untold Story

| Posted in Farming, Events

PrintThe Nickelodeon will be screening the award winning movie Seed: The Untold Story starting this Friday, through Wednesday September 21st.

Few things on Earth are as miraculous and vital as seeds. Worshipped and treasured since the dawn of humankind. SEED: The Untold Story follows passionate seed keepers protecting our 12,000 year-old food legacy. In the last century, 94% of our seed varieties have disappeared. As biotech chemical companies control the majority of our seeds, farmers, scientists, lawyers, and indigenous seed keepers fight a David and Goliath battle to defend the future of our food. In a harrowing and heartening story, these reluctant heroes rekindle a lost connection to our most treasured resource and revive a culture connected to seeds. SEED features Vandana Shiva, Dr. Jane Goodall, Andrew Kimbrell, Winona Laduke and Raj Patel.

The screening of Seed at the Nickelodeon is in partnership with Rosemont Market, Cultivating Community, The Wild Seed Project and the Portland Pollinator Project.

This Week’s Events: Sandy Oliver, Belgian Beer Fest, S&M Cocktail Pop-up, Italian Wine Dinners

| Posted in Events

belgianbeerfestTuesday — food historian Sandy Oliver will be delivering a lecture at the Tate House on “the Early American kitchen and its importance to the Colonial household”.

Wednesday — the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Thursday — in anticipation of the weekend’s Belgian Beer Fest, the Great Lost Bear will be featuring Maine produced Belgian inspired beers.

Saturday — there will be two sessions for the Belgian Beer Fest, Maine & Loire is holding a wine tasting, and the Saturday Farmers’ Market will take place. While not a food event, and not even in Portland, I also want to mention that Saturday is the opening of the Amy Stacey Curtis exhibit in Lewiston.

Sunday — Little Tap House is serving a post Belgian Beer Fest brunch, and Spencer Albee and Mark Hubbard are holding an S&M Cocktail Pop-up at the Blue Spoon.

Italian Wine Dinners — special guest Angela Maculan will be at Piccolo for a 5-course dinner featuring her family’s wine from the Veneto region on 9/22, and Micheal Falchini will be at Solo Italiano for a 6-couse dinner featuring his family’s wines from Tuscany on 9/19.

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.