Category: Reviews

A new post from Food for Thought has looks the local food options available at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and independent stores like Rosemont and Harbor Fish.

Ultimately locally good food abound at neighborhood markets.  At Rosemont today I saw that they carry the dairy products from Bisson’s, which I’ve mentioned here many times.  They’re the old line Topsham butcher shop whose grass fed beef comes from their own cows grazing across the road and the dairy products from the herd.  Try Bisson’s raw-cream butter and the thickest raw heavy cream now sold at Rosemont.  Other local goodies at Rosemont include Serendipity Farms pastured chickens and ducks, and throughout the winter they’ll be carrying local spinach and chard.

For the last round of our survey/review of Thai restaurants in Portland we visited Sengchai Thai which is located on Forest Ave in the same building as Haknuman Meanchey and just down the road from Mekhong Thai.
Appetite Portland – read the full review

I left feeling cozy and satisfied, but I think that was mostly due to the company and the odd, bubbly service. The food was pretty good. Servicable Thai.

Edible Obsessions repeated her approach from round 1 with a visual presentation of her eating notes – see the full review
From Away – read the full review

As for us, we were underwhelmed, as much as we didn’t want to be. When our delightful, aforementioned waitress brought a free round of steamy, yummy curry puffs, we were heartened. Alas, it all went downhill from there.

The Blueberry Files – read the full review

Larb Gai is described as ‘ground chicken tossed with lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, fresh lime juice, red onions, mint and Thai spices and sauce.’ And it was delicious. I ordered two stars, which was just the right amount of spice. There was crunchy toasted rice, great lemongrass flavor, and lots of fresh mint. The flavors melded together so nicely, and it was saucy, not dry. And while the menu said it would come on a bed of lettuce, my dish instead came with

Where is Jenner’s Mind – read the full review

so as you can tell, this was yet another mediocre thai meal. if you are in the area and you are really craving thai, by all means stop into sengchai thai and you will get a predictable meal of thai standards. but by no means go out of your way to dine at this restaurant.

The Maine Sunday Telegram published the one prior review of Sengchai Thai and in 2004 the reviewer wrote,”It was as if we had found the Thai version of an old-fashioned, trustworthy diner where the food was remarkably inexpensive but generously served and delicious.” You can see their menu online at sengchaithai.synthasite.com.
The group plans on putting together a retrospective look back at the last year of eating Thai with some overall recommendations on where to eat Thai in Portland. Watch for it next week.

WhaddaPita received 3 stars from the Taste & Tell review in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

With completely friendly service full of enthusiasm for the offerings, ordering a meal at Whaddapita! is easy enough to do.

Add to that welcome, nicely grilled chicken and pork laced on sticks, a spicy sauce that really heats up your mouth, creamy tzatziki that cools it down, and delightful freshly made fries, and you have a fast-food meal the way it should be.

Wines; Tasted! has published some initial impressions of the new District Grille.

The menu was, to me, a really interesting mix of Italian, American, unintimidating comfort food, and more creative exciting options.  It has lots of meat, lots of rich food, although there were at least three vegetarian options for the main course.  I was excited to see things like baked halloumi, mussels with creme fraiche, chicken wings with goat cheese dip for appetizers, along with a raw bar with oysters, littleneck clams, and king crab claws.

Brews and Books has published part 1 of review of the beer selection at Trader Joe’s.

The real difference between Trader Joe’s and the other shops in town is the selection of beers contract-brewed for the grocer. Brewed under the brand names Mission Street, Joesphs Brau, Trader José, Trader Joe’s Brewing and others, there are craft beers you can only get at Joe’s. Not only are these beers unique to the chain, but they are cheap by craft beer standards.

Brews and Books has published part 1 of review of the beer selection at Trader Joe’s.

The real difference between Trader Joe’s and the other shops in town is the selection of beers contract-brewed for the grocer. Brewed under the brand names Mission Street, Joesphs Brau, Trader José, Trader Joe’s Brewing and others, there are craft beers you can only get at Joe’s. Not only are these beers unique to the chain, but they are cheap by craft beer standards.

From Away has published a review of Nosh.

My complaint, then, seems to be this: When you craft sandwich options with such exaggerated, dizzying ingredients, you are setting certain expectations on the part of the diner. When a burger, perfectly serviceable on its own, also heaps on pork belly, and bacon, and foie gras, the expectation is that it will be the best hamburger you have ever had the pleasure of wrapping your lips around…Unfortunately, at Nosh, these expectations are never met.

The Bowdoin Orient has published a review of Local 188.

Can’t get into Fore Street? For a dinner in Portland, Local 188 offers a delicious and fun meal that takes you slightly off the beaten path. You might almost forget that you are in a city smaller than many colleges.

Local 188’s food is great and it’s atmosphere is even better. So, listen to me (and my mom) and check it out.