According to a news update from the Press Herald, chef Rob Evans of Hugo’s will be appearing on the Martha Stewart TV show on January 22.
Category: General News
Meal Deals & Maine Restaurant Week
Last year was such a success, the organizers of the Maine Restaurant Week 2009 are bringing the program back in 2010 and expanding its reach to include fixed price lunches ($15.10) as well as dinners ($20.10, $30.10, or $40.10).
However, with discount prices of Maine Restaurant Week still over the horizon in March it’s worth taking a look a what pricing specials, seasonal and otherwise, are available right now:
- Bar Lola – 5-course prix-fixe menu, Wednesday-Saturday, $36, optional wine pairings are an additional $24.
- Bonobo – slice and soup or salad for $6.50, get all three for $9, lunch Wednesday – Saturday.
- Emilitsa – wine and meze pairings, Monday – Thursday, 5-7 pm, $5 for wine, $7 for mezes. Starts January 11.
- Evangeline – 3-course prix fixe menu on Monday nights, $25-30.
- Hugo’s – 3-course (first course, main course and dessert), Tuesday-Thursday, $35.
- Duckfat – 3 courses, choice of soup or salad, panini specials & dessert, $15. Mondays – Thursdays, 5pm to 9pm; Monday – Saturday 11am to 9pm; Sunday 11am to 6pm.
- Five Fifty-Five – raw oysters $1.55 each & drink specials, Thursdays.
- Pom’s Thai Taste – $1 sushi, Monday & Tuesday.
- The Salt Exchange – Cioppino fish stew and green salad, Tuesday 5:30 – 9:00 pm, $20.10; $5 add on for a glass of Pinot Noir or a bottle of Anchor Steam. Starts January 19.
If you prefer you discount calories in a more liquid form take a look at the happy hour specials listed at Portland Taps.
Anything missing from the list? Post a comment and share what you know.
Meal Deals & Maine Restaurant Week
Last year was such a success, the organizers of the Maine Restaurant Week 2009 are bringing the program back in 2010 and expanding its reach to include fixed price lunches ($15.10) as well as dinners ($20.10, $30.10, or $40.10).
However, with discount prices of Maine Restaurant Week still over the horizon in March it’s worth taking a look a what pricing specials, seasonal and otherwise, are available right now:
- Bar Lola – 5-course prix-fixe menu, Wednesday-Saturday, $36, optional wine pairings are an additional $24.
- Bonobo – slice and soup or salad for $6.50, get all three for $9, lunch Wednesday – Saturday.
- Emilitsa – wine and meze pairings, Monday – Thursday, 5-7 pm, $5 for wine, $7 for mezes. Starts January 11.
- Evangeline – 3-course prix fixe menu on Monday nights, $25-30.
- Hugo’s – 3-course (first course, main course and dessert), Tuesday-Thursday, $35.
- Duckfat – 3 courses, choice of soup or salad, panini specials & dessert, $15. Mondays – Thursdays, 5pm to 9pm; Monday – Saturday 11am to 9pm; Sunday 11am to 6pm.
- Five Fifty-Five – raw oysters $1.55 each & drink specials, Thursdays.
- Pom’s Thai Taste – $1 sushi, Monday & Tuesday.
- The Salt Exchange – Cioppino fish stew and green salad, Tuesday 5:30 – 9:00 pm, $20.10; $5 add on for a glass of Pinot Noir or a bottle of Anchor Steam. Starts January 19.
If you prefer you discount calories in a more liquid form take a look at the happy hour specials listed at Portland Taps.
Anything missing from the list? Post a comment and share what you know.
Employees Defend Harding
According to an article in today’s Press Herald, a group of 22 current and former employees at Harding Lee Smith restaurants have written a letter in his defense. See the article for the full text of the letter.
Bob Murphy, a bartender at The Front Room, said he came up with the idea for the letter in support of Smith because he wanted the public to know that he and other employees feel Smith has treated them fairly.
Murphy said he worries that publicity about the lawsuit could hurt business at Smith’s restaurants, thus affecting employees, who earn much of their income through tips.
Workers Sue The Front Room
An article in today’s Press Herald reports that a group of six current and former employees are suing The Front Room.
A group of restaurant workers is suing The Front Room, claiming that it violated state and federal wage and hour rules.
The restaurant’s owner, Harding Lee Smith, disputes the claims, calling the lawsuit “frivolous.”
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Portland, is likely to be followed closely by the state’s restaurant owners because many of the alleged practices are widespread in the industry.
There’s also been news coverage from The Forecaster, MPBN, WMTW, Munjoy Hill News and the Portland Daily Sun.
The Only Constant Is Change So Eat Soup
The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald provides insight on:
- Bresca’s plans for offering lunch services and expanded menu to include “European and classic American pastries and tarts”
- the New Orleans-style sandwich shop Po’Boys & Pickles that opened on Forest Ave in late December
- El Rayo‘s delivery service
- the plans for Havana South which is under construction on Wharf Street
- Walter’s under construction bar Gingko Blue
- the transformation of Bangkok Thai into Boda which “will feature homestyle Thai cooking and Thai street-vendor specialties”
- and information on a new seafood CSF
There’s also a nice profile of the Kamasouptra soup delivery services in Avery Yale Kamila’s Natural Foodie column this week.
With the snow piling up and the wind howling around the house, who couldn’t use a steaming bowl of soup? Even better if it’s delivered piping hot to your door.
Enter Kamasouptra, the Portland-based vegetarian soup purveyor which makes house calls.
The Sun's Year in Food Review
The Portland Daily Sun has published an omnibus review of the 2009 year in food.
This year saw many openings, including: Papaya King, Paciarino, Bard, Mornings in Paris, Maine Bean Cafe, The Farmer’s Table, El Rayo, Grace, Binga’s Stadium Smokehouse and Sports Bar, the Salt Exchange, Peace Food Market, Otto’s, Kon Asian Bistro, the Corner Room, Shima, JPs, Veranda Noodle Bar, Linda Bean’s Perfect Maine Lobster Roll, the second floor of the Public Market House, Saigon Restaurant, GRO Organics and Po Boys and Pickles.
The Sun’s Year in Food Review
The Portland Daily Sun has published an omnibus review of the 2009 year in food.
This year saw many openings, including: Papaya King, Paciarino, Bard, Mornings in Paris, Maine Bean Cafe, The Farmer’s Table, El Rayo, Grace, Binga’s Stadium Smokehouse and Sports Bar, the Salt Exchange, Peace Food Market, Otto’s, Kon Asian Bistro, the Corner Room, Shima, JPs, Veranda Noodle Bar, Linda Bean’s Perfect Maine Lobster Roll, the second floor of the Public Market House, Saigon Restaurant, GRO Organics and Po Boys and Pickles.
Ammending the 2009 Wine Tasting Law
Chow Maine’s Bob Rossi has published an update on the effort to revise the flawed wine tasting law that went into effect last year. Hopefully the revisions make it quickly through the legislative process so wine shops can resume their normal tasting schedules.
There are currently two proposed bills aimed at correcting the “no children” aspect of the tasting law. One is sponsored by Representative Stacey Fitts of Pittsfield; the other is sponsored by Representative David Webster of Freeport, the legislator who introduced the “no children” amendment that made it into the final bill that was passed in 2009.
Chinese for Christmas
The Portland Daily Sun food writer Margo Mallar paid a visit to Saigon and Kon Asian Bistro as part of her Christmas day.
The soup was a delight to my gentile tastebuds but it was a Christmas gift that our pescatarian Jewish friend Rachel had to decline on two counts: treif and meat. \We were eating light so limited ourselves to Saigon Veggie egg rolls, steamed french beans, a sardine banh mi sandwich and a tofu curry entree. The portions were abundant, made with fresh ingredients and well seasoned. The homemade chili sauce alone is worth a return trip.