The Press Herald has published details of the family connections between Huong’s Vietnamese on Saint John Street, the new Bánh Appétit under construction on Cumberland Ave, Pho Huong the newly renamed Pho Co in the Public Market House, and Melting Pot Variety which is under development in Westbrook.
Category: People
The Minervino Family
The Maine Sunday Telegram has published an article about Minervino Family.
The Minervinos are perhaps not as well known as some Portland restaurateurs, but their roots here run deep – their family immigrated to Portland from Italy in the early 20th century. In addition to Pizza Villa, which reopened March 25, the Minervino brothers and two of Sam’s children, Tom and Meg, own Tomaso’s Canteen in the Old Port, and Rob’s son Marcus has worked there. Sam owns Samuel’s Bar & Grill on Forest Avenue, where Rob is assistant manager. Siblings Tom and Meg are partners in Legends Rest Tap Room in Westbrook and hope to open a second restaurant together in Portland within the year.
Tio Pepe Challenge Finalist
Congratulations to Chaval bar manager Pat McDonald for becoming a national finalists in the 2019 Tio Pepe cocktail competition.
McDonald’s cocktail is the Alcázar, a combination of “Gonzalez Byass “Leonor” Palo Cortado Sherry | Spanish Olive Oil washed Tanqueray Malacca | Gonzalez Byass “La Copa” Extra Seco Vermouth | Barspoon Meletti Anisette | Homemade Saffron Bitters | Expressed Lemon Oil | Pickled Fennel Garnish”
Natalie DiBenedetto, Chopped Champion
Congratulations to Natalie DiBenedetto, chef/owner of Figgy’s, on becoming the latest Chopped Champion from Maine.
Dibenedetto competed against chefs Sebastian Wijata, Allen Fisher and Stephan Brezinsky in an episode entitled Dollar Dishes where the contestants prepared dishes using inexpensive ingredients in each round.
Sylvi Roy, Speed Rack Champ
Congratulation to Hunt & Alpine bartender Sylvi Roy on beating out the competition at yesterday’s Northeast regional Speed Rack event.
Roy will now go on to compete in the national Speed Rack event in NYC in May.
Speed Rack
Five bartenders from Portland are competing in the Northeast regional Speed Rack competition:
- Liz Smith from Lio
- LyAnna Sanabria from Chaval
- Sylvi Roy from Hunt & Alpine
- Kristen Mixter from Hunt & Alpine
- Charlotte Stanton from Little Giant
Speed Rack is a charity female bartending competition that raises money for breast cancer research. The winner in the Northeast will go on to keep in the national competition in NYC this May.
Tickets for the Northest regional competition taking place March 11 are available online.
Elise Miller, Chopped Champion
Rosemont Butcher Elise Miller beat out the competition to become a Chopped Champion this week, reports the Press Herald.
Interview with John Naylor
Winsight has published an interview with Rosemont co-owner John Naylor.
WGB: What do you consider to be most special about your company, and what are you most proud of?
JN: Our role in our communities is what I’m most proud of; our tag line is “good food from people you know,” and for 15 years, we’ve kept our commitment to that mission even as we’ve grown.
In 2018, we did about $2.5 million in local produce from about 55 different independent farms. Our customers love that we stay as seasonal and as local as we can, from produce to wine and cheese to having our own butcher shop and working with local fisheries. They get excited when we spread the word via social media about the latest arrivals—they’re very involved!
Pizza Villa Changing Hands
Brothers Sam and Rob Minervino recently signed a lease for Pizza Villa after extended discussions and coordination with Maine Med, and with the Regios brothers who own the restaurant.
The Minervinos plan to do some minor renovations, but otherwise keep things going as they are once takeover. Maine Med is in the process of buying the building and is expected to complete the transaction later this month.
Pizza Villa was founded in 1965 by Mike Regios and is currently owned and operated by his sons Tony and Phil. Various members of the Minervino family own Samuels on Forest Ave, Tomasso’s on Hampshire St, and Legend’s Rest in Westbrook.
Figgy on Chopped
Natalie “Figgy” DiBenedetto, chef/owner of Figgy’s on Walker Street will be appearing on an episode of Chopped that’s set to air on March 26th at 9 pm.