A Day at Len Libby

As part of its ongoing Maine at Work column, the Press Herald sent a reporter to Len Libby in Scarborough to spend the day making candy.

A few minutes later, I was dipping my fingers into a bowl of satin-smooth melted dark chocolate, then gently flicking ribbons of chocolate onto a giant pan of peppermint bark candy. I felt like Jackson Pollock, creating some wild abstract work of art as I let the chocolate fly from my fingertips.

Lindgren Pens an Evans Interview for Gastronomica

Samantha Hoyt Lindgren, co-owner of Rabelais Books, is the author of an interview with Rob Evans appearing in the new issue of Gastronomica.

Samantha’s interview gives us the back story on Rob, who’s risen from yeoman’s cooking on cruise ships to the top of the heap with his recent James Beard Award. Fortunately, she didn’t mention his amazing new charcuterie platter, so there will still be some for us.

Interview with Lee Farrington

Portland Food Heads has published an interview with Lee Farrington. Farrington is in the process of opening a new restaurant called Figa that will focus on “globally inspired cuisine”.

…and offer small tastes, and then have a couple different sized portions along with thoses tastes. I really wanted people to try things that they would never necessarily try.  So we’ll have a board of things between $2 and $4—just weirdness—and hopefully people will spend $2 try things, and if they like it they can get a larger portion.

Interview with Exec Dir of Wayside Soup Kitchen

Today’s newspaper includes a ShopTalk interview with Susan Violet, Executive Director of the Wayside Soup Kitchen.

Q: Sounds like extensive preparation for the soup kitchen.

A: Oh, well! People don’t always understand the full extent of Wayside’s work and the impact on all of Cumberland County. There’s a lot more going on here than managing a soup kitchen.

We’re also Wayside Food Rescue, which sources and distributes food, which might have gone to waste, throughout Cumberland County to food pantries, soup kitchens and a few social service agencies. We help with Milestone, for example, on India Street, and the Friendship House here in Portland.

Interview with Otto's Anthony Allen

The Portland Phoenix has published an interview with Anthony Allen, owner of Otto Pizza.

People queued up along Congress Street during the First Friday Art Walk last week may have been in town for the art, but they were in line for the pizza. As one of the few late-night eateries downtown, Otto Pizza has caused a buzz in Portland during its four short months in business.

Interview with Otto’s Anthony Allen

The Portland Phoenix has published an interview with Anthony Allen, owner of Otto Pizza.

People queued up along Congress Street during the First Friday Art Walk last week may have been in town for the art, but they were in line for the pizza. As one of the few late-night eateries downtown, Otto Pizza has caused a buzz in Portland during its four short months in business.

James Ledue

An obituary for James Ledue, a pioneering Portland restauranteur, appeared in today’s paper (via Meredith Goad).

Mr. Ledue, who helped start Portland’s restaurant renaissance with businesses such as The Good Egg, Alberta’s Cafe and Bella Bella, died Oct. 23 after a lengthy illness. He was 57 years old.

Mr. Ledue had a limitless range of interests, from surfing to acting to wine and poetry.

“He crowded in an awful lot,” said his father, Herbert Ledue of Portland. “If he wasn’t at the restaurant, he’d be out surfing or kayaking.