The USM Free Press has a report on a protest that took place outside The Front Room last Friday.
Category: General News
Pineland Cheese & Beef
Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes a feature article on Pineland Farm’s cheese making and beef operations.
The farm’s beef cattle operation and its cheese-making business are poised to turn a profit this year, the foundation says. Demand for locally produced food is contributing to the farm’s success, along with economies of scale, luck and good timing.
The two businesses – Pineland Farms Cheese and Pineland Farms Natural Meats Inc. – are both putting Maine on the map as a major producer of natural food products.
Public Market House Set to Expand
According to an article in today’s Press Herald, the Public Market House’s 2nd floor renovation and expansion is near completion. An public open house is scheduled for Friday, and soon after the first 3 businesses to be located on the second floor hope to open: Market House Coffee, Peanut Butter and Jelly Time, and Pie in the Sky Pizza.
The space is open and inviting, comfortable and eclectic. Months of work have produced refinished wood floors and a brightly lit area overlooking Monument Square. Local artwork hangs on the red-brick walls.
“It’s sort of the fruition of what we want to be as a public market,” said Kris Horton, president of Market Vendors. “We see the market as a community meeting place.”
Photo added to post on December 6, 2009.
Freedom from Want
Today’s Portland Daily Sun has a report on a recent recreation of Rockwell’s 1943 painting Freedom from Want that was staged at the Blaine House. Members of the Maine food community modeled for the shot.
The table holds fruits and vegetables, cheese, bread, wine and milk, a reminder that Maine is capable of feeding itself. The challenge is, as it always has been, distribution, a matter of logistics, economics and political will. Feeding someone is a sacrament. Whether it’s with expensive ingredients or ramen noodles, it is still an elemental act of love. Although the most public praise goes to the chefs and food artisans, there are countless people-seen and unseen who work to feed us here in Portland…
Staff Meals at Miyake
Portland Food Coma has posted a list (with photos) of past staff meals he’s enjoyed while working at Miyake.
Katayaki Soba (crispy fried noodles with shrimp, scallops, and bacon) / Takoyaki (deep fried balls of octopus garnished with kewpie mayo, nori, bonito, and togarashi).
Interesting side fact: Takoyaki street hawker stalls are all run by the Yakuza in Japan.
Four Season Farming Editorial
The Press Herald has published an editorial extolling virtues of local farms operating year round.
The demand for locally grown produce distributed at year-round farm-stands, farmers markets and community-supported agriculture share systems provide enough income to support the greenhouse building and heating bills that extend the growing season.
The interest in local food is good for both the farmers and their customers.
Nouveau and Cranberry Mead
An article in Wednesday’s Portland Daily Sun reports on the upcoming arrival of the season’s Beaujolais Nouveau and the release of a new cranberry mead from Maine Mead Works.
Pine State Beverage Company has scheduled its first delivery of the 2009 Nouveau for 6 a.m. on Thursday (Nov. 19).
It will arrive at Rosemont Market & Bakery on Brighton Avenue in Portland where owner John Naylor and his staff will greet the new vintage of Georges Duboeuf Nouveau Beaujolais. They’ll be joined by the newest release from the boys from Maine Mead Works, a cranberry mead that comes on the eve of their one-year anniversary. It’s an old meets new meets older meets newer kind of thing.
Portland Past
There’s a group on Facebook that’s gathering memories of what Portland was like in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. There are ongoing discussions on a variety of topics such as the origins Old Port Festival and recollections of the Good Day Market. Also on the site is a long list of businesses that were around at the time, including a number of restaurants. (via Portland Daily Sun)
Gluten-Free Eats
The Natural Foodie column in today’s Press Herald takes a look at where to find gluten-free eats in the Portland area.
“When I first came back to Portland, I started cold calling restaurants asking if they’d be able to put something together for me,” said McDonnell.
The response varied considerably between eateries, with some offering a number of options and others asking, “What’s gluten-free?”
“Now people are really, really good about it,” McDonnell said. “Even compared to two years ago.”
November Bollard
The November issue of The Bollard is now out. It includes a breakfast review of Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe, an essay by Elizabeth Peavey on the passing of restaurateur James Ledue, and another installment of bartender John Myers Land of the Forgotten Cocktail series.