New Cafe Slated for Aurora Property

| Posted in Under Construction

West Enders will be happy to read the report in today’s Press Herald that the former Aurora Provisions building has been bought by a developer with plans to “replace the longtime West End eatery with a similar business”.

In an interview Friday, Landry said he was interested in the property because his office is nearby and he wanted to ensure that the property’s new owner would replace Aurora, a West End fixture that opened in 1997, with a similar type of business. Aurora’s gourmet market and café shut down in August, followed by the closure of its catering business in November.

Frog & Turtle Expanding

| Posted in Under Construction

The American Journal has a report on Frog & Turtle’s plans to expand upward, adding a second floor and deck with water views to their building in Westbrook.

More than a decade after opening the Frog & Turtle Gastro Pub, James Tranchemontagne and his co-owners want to buy the building, build a second floor and expand.

Guy Cote, a partner in Vallee Square Holding, the owner of the restaurant, said the plan is to add an outdoor deck and glassed-in lounge area “so our guests see views of the river.”

This Week’s Events: Aurora Auction, Counter Culture Series, Quebecois Dinner, Roasting Seminar

| Posted in Events

Wednesday – Old Port Wine Merchants is holding a Cru Beaujolais wine tasting.

Thursday – the former Aurora Provisions building is getting auctioned at 11 am, Time & Tide is holding coffee roasting seminar/tasting, and The Great Lost Bear is holding the Industrial Park Challenge.

Friday – the A&C Grocery Luncheonette is launching their Counter Culture pop-up dinner series with a “casual pan-Asian 3 course meal celebrating Maine’s edible bounty” by guest chef Will Gibney, and Rosemont is holding a wine tasting in the West End.

Saturday – there will be a wine tasting at LeRoux Kitchen, and the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday – The Purple House is holding a sold out Quebecois Dinner.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

Reviews: Highroller Lobster

| Posted in Reviews

The Bollard has reviewed brunch at Highroller Lobster Company,

First off, let me say that at any other time of day, I love Highroller. Both their mobile and brick-and-mortar kitchens put out a killer lobster roll, their crispy-cheese-shell lobster taco is the stuff of dreams, and they have an outstanding selection of local beers. But after a recent visit for Sunday brunch, I can’t recommend their morning meal.

Gross Confection Bar Opens Today

| Posted in Openings

Brant Dadaleares’ new dessert/cocktail destination, Gross Confection Bar (website, facebook, instagram) is scheduled to open today. You can see a full menu of desserts (ranging in size from tastes to large format dishes intended for 4 people), cocktails, mocktails, and wines on the Gross website.

Gross is located in the 2,000 sq ft former location of Christmas Noel at 57 Exchange Street.

Tonight’s hours are 5 pm to 12:45 am.

Under Construction: Quinn’s Bardega

| Posted in Under Construction

The new owners of Mellen Street Market are planing to repurpose some of the space within the 79 Mellen Street building to include a dining area, bar and kitchen. Co-owners Tim Ly and Shawn Freeman, are calling the new element of their business Quinn’s  Bardega (facebook). The 44-seat Quinn’s will be serve “cafe style, full course, plated meal service” with a full liquor license.

Ly and Freeman have shared a draft menu (page 134) as part of the materials supplied with their liquor license application. Here’s an excerpt,

Also up before the City Council on Monday for their liquor license applications are Three Dollar Deweys and Luke’s Lobster which have been previously reported on.

Botto’s Bakery Turns 70

| Posted in General News
Botto’s Bakery is celebrating their 70th anniversary in 2019. According to their press release,
The company, started by Joe Botto in 1949, has grown in the same location in Portland, Maine under the ownership of the Mathews Family, now reaching its 3rd generation. Providing freshly made bread daily to area food establishments, Botto’s Bakery has been a neighborhood fixture of East Deering for 7 decades.
“It gives me great pride in joining Botto’s Bakery employees, customers, and business partners in celebrating the company’s 70th anniversary,” said Robert Mathews, Owner at Botto’s Bakery. He continues, “We have come a long way since I joined the family business in 1978, and excited about the future of the company as we continue to grow and evolve in the changing food culture.”
Botto’s Bakery will be unveiling new products throughout 2019. For January, the pastry department will be unveiling an expanding selection within the pastry cases, including Italian Rum Cake Squares with fresh cream and Italian Ricotta Cheesecake with Marsala wine and Mission Fig Sauce.