The Golden Dish has published a review of Havana South.
For my main course I had the roast chicken breast, which the menu describes as being prepared with a Peruvian marinade. What exactly might that be, I wondered? Whatever it was, the dry rub (or brine) produced a white meat that was so dark, stringy and dry that I thought I had been served an old thigh instead. The accompaniment of purple potatoes and braised kale would have been undecipherable had I not read it on the menu.
Will Travel for Vegan Food has published a review of Green Elephant.
Hold onto your hats because at this very moment, this is the best vegan dessert I’ve ever, ever, ever had. I AM already a chocolate lover. So that might have something to do with it. But we’re talkin’ rich, creamy, melty-in-your-mouthy moussey goodness that I’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing until this day. I actually needed to take a time out so that my taste buds could catch up. Wow.
Zapoteca received 4 stars from today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.
At Zapoteca, you’ll find fabulous cocktails, varied appetizers from chipotle pork tacos to mussels with a Mexican twist, and substantial and delicious entrees that bring gourmet flair to south-of-the-border cuisine. The restaurant boasts excellent service in a chic and thematic atmosphere that’s uncluttered and comfortable.
This Week’s edition of the Portland Phoenix includes a guide to cheap eats in Portland for the newspaper’s annual student guide,
We know you’re dirt poor. Those textbooks are outrageously expensive and you’re forced to divvy out your remaining dollars on cheap beer and illegal substances. We’ve all been there. However, we wanted to remind you that there are places you can afford to eat in Portland that won’t bankrupt you (any more than those student loans will when you graduate). We even helped you with the math and organized it by how many dollars you have in your pocket. So, give up your tray and check out these places.
and a feature article about Maine’s wild blueberry industry.
Whether scooped by hand-held rakes or gathered mechanically by tractors, Maine’s blueberry crop is expected to be down a bit from the recent annual average of 83 million pounds. All told, Maine accounts for nearly all of America’s wild blueberry production, and is second to Michigan (which grows cultivated varieties) in terms of overall blueberry production in America. The US grows more blueberries than any other country in the world; Canada ranks second.
Chubby Werewolf has published a review of the newly reopened Cafe at Pat’s.
As for me, I hit the proverbial jackpot with my entree. Despite feeling a bit guilty about ordering mostly seafood at a restaurant with strong ties to red meat, I opted for something called the “Portuguese Shrimp Saute.” Somewhat evocative of a cioppino stew, the dish featured several large shrimp over a generous helping of fettucini, and accompanied by sweet Italian sausage, Mahogany clams, Jonah crab claws, mussels, lemon, garlic, tomato and saffron. (As with Ilsa’s scallop dish, it came with asparagus, that day’s vegetable offering.) It is a lot of ingredients, but they all worked together in unison to produce the perfect meal: one that is balanced and flavorful enough to be eaten on a breezy summer evening, and yet hearty enough to be savored on some cold night in mid-November.
The Golden Dish has published a review of Nosh.
The Blueberry Files has published a review of Boda.
The Miang Kum Som-oh is not to be missed though. The “bite-sized pummelo fruit salad [is served] on betel leaves w/ toasted coconut, peanut, lime, ginger, shrimp & shallots in a palm sugar dressing ($5).” As you can see, these fruit salad bites include a lot of great Thai flavors, and it comes together nicely in a mix of bitter, crunchy, sweet, and herby.
Will Travel for Vegan Food has published a review of Little Lad’s.
What is lesser known about Little Lad’s is that they also have a wonderful bunch of cafes. Our trip in Portland, ME included a stop on Congress Street at Little Lad’s Basket, a quaint eatery which features a menu and a buffet as well as takeaway items like bags of popcorn, pints of frozen vegan desserts, whole grain breads and more.
From Away has published a review of Petite Jacqueline.
Our dinners, they were very fine. Extremely well-crafted, best examples of basic fare. Each cube of tuna was seared immaculately; our only desire was that they were a little more integrated into the the salad, composed of olives, egg, potatoes, string beans and the rest. My medium-rare steak was dead on, seared well and melt-in-the-mouth. Oh, but then. That best portion of a good woman’s meal. Frites so lithe and narrow to call them shoestring would be an insult, crisped, crackling, and lightly drizzled with aioli.
Appetite Portland has published a review of The Thirsty Pig.
The Exchange street purveyor of tasty pig parts slings a Sweet Italian that fairly bursts with fennel flavor. Slapped into a hot-pressed Italian roll and piled high with caramelized red peppers – it truly doesn’t get much better than this juicy, herbed-up sausage. A side of cole slaw also satisfies. Crisp strings of carrot and cabbage float in a light mayo puddle – a gaggle of poppy seeds swimming freely.