Category: Reviews

Mr Sandwich, Mama’s, Bayside Bowl

| Posted in Under Construction, Reviews

Today’s Press Herald includes a review of Mr. Sandwich & Mrs. Muffin,

I thought the roll was fresh and tasted fine, but I was disappointed not to have the crunchy baguette. I also couldn’t tell if there was jalapeno and mayo dressing (it seemed to be just mayo), but that may have been because of the strong taste of the pepperjack cheese. I really liked the kick of the cheese, because it jazzed up what amounted to a standard ham sandwich. I got chips, but no pickle.

a bar review of Mama’s Crow Bar,

At Mama’s, like any good neighborhood bar- you never know what you are going to get and there is something for everyone. That’s why you go. Well, that and the fine drink and good company, because that never changes.

and an update on Bayside Bowl which is slated to open next month.

There’s also focaccia bread pizza, grilled ribeye, mini chicken chimichangas and double cheeseburgers. The veggie stir-fry and garden burger mean the meat-free won’t have to brown-bag it.

JP's Bistro Review & Wholesome Junk Food

| Posted in General News, Reviews, Events

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of JP’s Bistro.

A more interesting assortment of mushrooms spotted the risotto that was served with grilled scallops. They gave the risotto a deep, rich flavor. The grains had softened to just the right tenderness in plenty of butter and broth. The scallops were a bit over-seared — their appearance hinted at the slightest of shrivels — but still juicy in the center.

This week’s Phoenix also includes an article about Laura Trice who

has been in the business of healthy junk food since 2001, when she left medicine to launch her cookie company, Laura’s Wholesome Junk Food, in Venice, California. The company currently distributes its fruit-sweetened, vegan, and kosher cookies in natural-food stores nationwide (in Portland, you can find Laura’s cookies in the Whole Foods bakery and at Maine Medical Center’s coffee shop, where a share of the proceeds helps pay for Maine students to attend medical school).

Trice will be at Longfellow Books in Monument Square on Sunday at 3 pm for a signing of her book The Wholesome Junk Food Cookbook.

JP’s Bistro Review & Wholesome Junk Food

| Posted in General News, Reviews, Events

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of JP’s Bistro.

A more interesting assortment of mushrooms spotted the risotto that was served with grilled scallops. They gave the risotto a deep, rich flavor. The grains had softened to just the right tenderness in plenty of butter and broth. The scallops were a bit over-seared — their appearance hinted at the slightest of shrivels — but still juicy in the center.

This week’s Phoenix also includes an article about Laura Trice who

has been in the business of healthy junk food since 2001, when she left medicine to launch her cookie company, Laura’s Wholesome Junk Food, in Venice, California. The company currently distributes its fruit-sweetened, vegan, and kosher cookies in natural-food stores nationwide (in Portland, you can find Laura’s cookies in the Whole Foods bakery and at Maine Medical Center’s coffee shop, where a share of the proceeds helps pay for Maine students to attend medical school).

Trice will be at Longfellow Books in Monument Square on Sunday at 3 pm for a signing of her book The Wholesome Junk Food Cookbook.

Puttanesca Taste Test

| Posted in Reviews

Mister Meatball has published a taste test between Micucci’s house brand puttanesca sauce and the puttanesca available from Pemberton’s, Scarpetta’s and Rao’s. (the taste test begins about halfway down the page)

1st Place. Micucci is lucky indeed to have hooked up with Lanzalotta (I know, I sound like I’m in the tank for this guy, but the truth is that I’ve never actually met the man). This is one very concentrated, complex flavor profile you got here, folks, loaded with good stuff, and plenty of tasty olives. If you’re looking for a jar of sauce to pour over pasta that needs no doctoring whatsoever, this is it.

Joint Review of PB&J Time, Market House Coffee and Kamasouptra

| Posted in Reviews

The May issue of The Bollard includes a joint review of Market House Coffee, Peanut Butter & Jelly Time and Kamasouptra. All three eateries are on the second floor of the Public Market House. Author Dan Zarin writes that his morning coffee “was among the best I’ve ever had in this city” and enthused over the quality and value of the options at Kamasouptra and PB&J Time before finishing with some simple instructions,

Dear reader, here are your marching orders: Go to the Public Market House and go upstairs. Go now. Go often. Eat. Drink. Tell your friends. If we, the food-and-leisure enthusiasts of Portland, lose this space, we may never see another like it again.

Joint Review of PB&J Time, Market House Coffee and Kamasouptra

| Posted in Reviews

The May issue of The Bollard includes a joint review of Market House Coffee, Peanut Butter & Jelly Time and Kamasouptra. All three eateries are on the second floor of the Public Market House. Author Dan Zarin writes that his morning coffee “was among the best I’ve ever had in this city” and enthused over the quality and value of the options at Kamasouptra and PB&J Time before finishing with some simple instructions,

Dear reader, here are your marching orders: Go to the Public Market House and go upstairs. Go now. Go often. Eat. Drink. Tell your friends. If we, the food-and-leisure enthusiasts of Portland, lose this space, we may never see another like it again.

Thai-o-rama Reviews: Boda

| Posted in Reviews

For the sixth round of the Thai-o-rama (Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Round 5) collaborative food writing project, we selected Boda, Portland’s newest Thai restaurant which is located in Longfellow Square. Boda is the creation of Nattasak Wongsaichua and Danai Sriprasert who also own Green Elephant.
Appetite Portland – read the full review

Oily and aromatic with sesame overtones in a savory broth, the [bitter melon] soup provoked my tastebuds like little I’ve tried before or since. It awoke areas of my tongue I didn’t know existed! A remarkable balance of flavors, it played the role of appetizer to a “T” – kicking my hunger into overdrive.

And it killed with a crisp martini.

Edible Obsessions – read the full review

So, what can I say? Boda, in my book, is the best Thai place in town. If you go, don’t go there with preconceived notions based on Take Out Thai. Go with an empty belly and an open mind. And try a lot of different things. Order enough for left overs, trust me on this the panaeng is quite yummy cold when you’re intoxicated. But, by all means, just go.

Portland Daily Sun (article not available online)

Anyway we set it aside and ordered some shrimp skewers and grilled Thai sticky rice. The rice patty had a nutty crunchiness on the outside, which contrasted with the gummy softness inside, a great side dish to the shrimp and spicy chili garlic lime dipping sauce.

Where is Jenner’s Mind – read the full review

all in all, this was a pretty good meal. first off, i have never seen any of these things on a menu at any other thai restaurant, so they get points for showing me something different. second, even though there were a couple of items that i didn’t really care for, the things i did like were really great.
i would go back just for the cocktails, dessert, and people watching.

For additional perspectives check out one of these earlier reviews:

or visit Boda’s website.