An article in today’s Press Herald examines how the recession is changing the way Mainers spend their food budget.
People are eating out less often, and when they do go out, they order cheaper items and skip extras, such as dessert and alcohol, according to owners of local restaurants.
The blog Portbrio has posted an interesting article about the Maine Mead Works. It includes a number of details about the mead making process and photos taken during a tour of the manufacturing facility. According to the article, Maine Mead Works will be launching its second type of mead, a semi-sweet, in the first week of February.
The Portland Press Herald has kicked of its 23rd Annual Reader’s Poll. There are categories for Maine’s Best Restaurant, Best Cheap Eats, Best Lobster Roll, Best Coffee, Best Bakery, Best Pizza, Best Bar, and Best Beer. You have until February 27 to place your vote online.
In the article announcing last year’s poll results when Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks came in #1 and #2 for Best Coffee the Press Herald admonished readers to “Think local, people. We know Dunkin Donuts has good, reliable coffee and that Starbucks has taken over the planet, but the purpose of this poll is to tell your fellow Mainers about local options.”
Thursday night Slow Food Portland is hosting their annual Writer’s Night at the SPACE Gallery. There are two cooking classes scheduled this week: at Piatto per Tutti tonight and at Paciarino on Friday. There are three wine dinners is taking place this week: at Bar Lola on Tuesday, and at both the Foreside Tavern and Cinque Terre on Wednesday. The Great Lost Bear is holding the Brew Pub Cup competition on Thursday. The Scarborourgh Wine Outlet has a wine tastings scheduled for Saturday. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
1:00 a.m. Curfew has reviewed The Wine Bar.
I planned to spend a good twenty minutes digging into the wine menu. Instead I found a dry-erase board with the night’s varieties – just six whites and five reds! There were eleven choices if you don’t count the five port and dessert wines listed on the menu. I have to admit I was disappointed.
Type A Diversions has reviewed Five Fifty-Five.
Five Fifty-Five is casually elegant; the cuisine is creative, yet not over-the-top; portions are generous without being overwhelming. It’s the one of the restaurants I always take foodies visiting from out-of-town, the respite I seek after a long week at work, and is on the short list of spots I go when celebrating a special occasion.
After some delay, Port City Music Hall has opened for business. According to PCMH’s blog, State Senator Justin Alfond was a great help in getting their liquor license. The music hall is currently operating on a 30-day temporary license.
The Portsmouth Herald has reviewed Fore Street.
The restaurant isn’t fussy either. When you think accolades from big shot organizations and magazines you needn’t think pretentious or fancy when it comes to Fore Street — it’s warm, welcoming, entertaining, relaxed and above all, delicious.
The Portland Press Herald has reviewed Joe’s New York Pizza.
The first piece I sampled was chicken-tomato-basil, with chunks of chicken and tomato and very flavorful basil. The cheese was just right, and wasn’t rubbery the way some re-heated slices get. I also tried a white spinach pie, with globs of ricotta and mozzarella cheese, fresh garlic and spinach. You could really taste the garlic, which I loved.
Type A Diversions has reviewed lunch at Borealis Breads Bakery & Bistro.
Though the Borealis Bakery & Bistro serves breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, pizzas, soups, cheese plates and desserts, the only reason I would stop in again would be for a loaf of bread. If you’re in the area and looking for a breakfast or lunch spot, you’ll find far better fare a half a mile down the road at Big Sky.
Photo Credit: Type A Diversions