RestaurantWeekME winds up this week on Tuesday. In addition to the prix fixe menus at 30+ Portland restaurants there are also special events on the schedule for RestaurantWeekME on Monday and Tuesday. Piatto per Tutti is teaching a cooking class on Monday. Bar Lola is hosting a beer dinner on Tuesday night. RSVP is holding a wine tasting on Wednesday. The second class of the Maine Food & Drink Institute’s cheese course is also on Tuesday night, and on Thursday The Cheese Iron is teaching a class on blue cheeses. International Stout Bout is on the calendar for Thursday at The Great Lost Bear. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
The Farmer’s Table Review
Type A Diversions has reviewed Chef Landry’s new restaurant The Farmer’s Table.
The sign outside The Farmer’s Table the night we dined advertised “comfort food” – the perfect description for the simply prepared cuisine found inside…Bottom line: For those seeking simply prepared, well-executed comfort food, The Farmer’s Table fits the bill; it is a great new addition to Portland’s food scene.
Photo Credit: Type A Diversions
Veranda Thai Review
Veranda Thai received 3 stars from this week’s Taste & Tell column in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.
After years of getting to know all about it, Mainers are thoroughly convinced that Thai food is to their liking.
Neighbors of Veranda Thai are especially in luck, because this restaurant is serving a superior version worth a drive for folks farther afield, even if their neighborhood is already well-stocked with Thai eateries.
Ribollita Review
Chow Maine has reviewed Ribollita.
An entree of roast chicken puttanesca with huge pappardelle made up for a puttanesca tried elsewhere that didn’t make the grade. Ribollita’s doesn’t fudge on the hot black olives, exploding with flavor once they are heated in the sauce, or the garlic and capers — in fact maybe there were just a few too many — and tomato.
Food Laws
There are numerous proposed changes/additions to Maine food law being considered by the Maine Legislature. Here’s some highlights:
Wine & Liquor Tastings—as Chow Maine‘s Bob Rossi recently explained there are two bills before the Legislature regarding wine tastings. The first would “repeal the provision in the wine tasting statute which limits wine shops to one tasting per calendar month.” The second is more far reaching and would allow tastings for liquor as well as change rules regarding wine tastings. There are also proposals regarding Maine wineries, hotel minibars, agency liquor stores, etc.
Force Feeding—LD 9 “makes force-feeding birds in order to produce the food product known as foie gras a civil
violation”. Hugo’s Chef Rob Evans was on site in Augusta back in February and spoke up in defense of the agricultural practices of his supplier Hudson Valley Foie Gras in this story on MPBN radio.
Nutrition—lawmakers are discussing a requirement for restaurants with more than 15 locations to post calorie counts on their menus. There’s also a bill that seeks to “defines ‘food containing artificial trans fat’ and prohibits the storage, distribution or use of these foods in an eating establishment”
Barava Grand Opening
Barava, an “African and Middle East” restaurant had their grand opening today at 3pm. The sandwich boards out front advertises a $10 fee. According to a post on Portland Psst! thats for all-you-can eat Somali food.
Fresh Bollard
The new issue of The Bollard s out and includes another installment of the Land of Forgotten Cocktails series. Bartender John Myers mixes allusions to J.D. Salinger with a bit of cocktail lore in his examination of Irish mixed drinks.
RestaurantWeekME
Both the Portland Daily Sun and Portland Press Herald have run stories about RestaurantWeekME.
Also in today’s Press Herald is a news short on a pair of robberies at The Stadium and Five Fifty-Five.
Portland police are investigating the theft of $1,500 in fine wine from a downtown restaurant this week.
The owners of the 555 restaurant at 555 Congress St. reported Thursday that someone forced their way into the restaurant during the previous night and stole 30 bottles of wine, police said.
Details about the type of wine and vintage were not available.
The Farmer’s Table Now Open
Chef Jeff Landry opened his new restaurant The Farmer’s Table tonight. For a look at the restaurant and tonight’s menu read the latest post from Portland in a Snap.
RWME Hugo’s Review
Type A Diversions has published a RestaurantWeekME review of Hugo’s.
In addition to the three course prix fixe menu for $30.09, a supplemental course – either Maine Mussel Risotto or Mac & Cheese with Crimini Mushrooms – was offered for an additional $10. We chose one of each. Fresh peas graced the saffron-infused risotto, while a hint of lemon added wonderful lightness to the traditionally-heavy cheesy pasta dish.