Category: Openings

A food blog called The Orexiad has been added to the Food Map. It’s written by “a man obsessed with cooking in, dining out and eating well [who] moves from the most ethnically diverse county (Queens, NY) to the whitest state in the nation (Maine), yet discovers new culinary worlds awaiting him.”

The most recent post on Orexiad is a review of  Tandoor Bakery.

We also had falafel, which came with the ful, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes and onions and that wonderful tenur as part of a plate for one that would have been enough for three. Texturally perfect, and its flavored married beautifully with the ful and vegetables to form a perfect sandwich.

Three businesses are newly added to the Food Map:

• Jay’s Philly Snacks is a food cart that sells pretzels and Italian ice in Congress Square (intersection of High and Congress Streets).
• The Portland Hot Dog Company is a food cart I spotted on Commercial Street
• Curly Cones is an ice cream shop that operates out of Casco Variety on Commercial Street

Hugo’s new companion eatery, Eventide Oyster Company, is now open for business.

The oyster menu is the most extensive in the city with 9 varieties of Maine oysters and another 9 from away (see menu below). Winterpoints, my favorite Maine oysters, are on the menu except these are Winterpoint Selects, which at least for now, are exclusively available at Eventide. In addition to the raw bar, Eventide serves a range of raw and cooked appetizers, as well as a small set of entrees and desserts.

I had the pleasure of attending their open house for friends and family earlier this week, (see photos below) and aside from when I dropped and broke a wine glass, it all went very smoothly. I’m looking forward to a return trip very soon to start making my way through the rest of the oyster list. I wonder if there will be a “mug club” for anyone who tries them all?

Eventide is located immediately adjacent to Hugo’s on Middle Street in the space formerly occupied by Rabelais.

The Munjoy Hill News reports that Portland Pottery has expanded into the adjacent and opened a small cafe and is now known as Portland Pottery Store & Cafe.

[John] Turner, a recent business management graduate of USM, said there is no set menu yet, because the Brunis are still trying to see what people want. “Eye catching specialities” are what they are looking or and only fresh ingredients are used. (MHN.com ate a delightful argulua salad which according to Turner contained walnuts, dried cherries, beets and goat cheese. It was fantastic and cost $5.00)

The Cabot Farmers’ Annex opened yesterday on Commercial Street. The store sells Cabot’s own line of cheeses plus a “variety of New England specialty foods to pair with Cabot cheeses for a truly American treat”.

Bier Cellar opened for business yesterday. They are located on Forest Ave adjacent to the entrance to Hannaford.

Carmen at the Danforth is set to open tonight. For some insight on the menu read this article on The Daily Meal, and for info on chef Gonzalez check out her website or earlier articles in Portland Magazine and the Press Herald.

You can make a reservation for tonight on OpenTable.

Spread is now open for dinner. The restaurant is located at 100 Commercial Street in the former location of Gaucho’s and Oolong.

LFK opened on Monday. They’re located in Longfellow Square in the space formerly occupied by Cunningham Books. You can see their drink menu on Facebook.