Bob’s Clam Hut Opens Today

The new Bob’s Clam Hut (website, facebook, instagram) located at 111 Cumberland Ave in Portland is scheduled to open today at noon with an expanded menu.

“I’ve always kept my eyes open for potential expansion opportunities but was waiting for a location to really grab me and this one did. We had decided a while ago that any new Bob’s would need to be in a standalone building and this spot in Portland stood prominently and quaintly (as all clam shacks should), on the corner of five streets,” says Owner Michael Landgarten. “We are excited to continue revitalizing the East Bayside neighborhood and our team is definitely eager to grow, as proven by the explosion of energy and desire to go work in this new Bob’s outpost in Portland.”

Gritty’s Turns 30

Maine Today and The Forecaster have published articles about Gritty’s 30-year anniversary.

Before throwing back a few pints of Gritty’s well-known ales and lagers, imagine the world of brewing in 1988. While only a handful of the nation’s breweries that were opened in the pioneer years of the 1980s and 1990s still exist, several big names remain. The famous Class of ’88 includes Brooklyn Brewery (Brooklyn, New York), Deschutes Brewing Company (Bend, Oregon) and Vermont Pub & Brewery. If you ask Stebbins what’s changed in the last 30 years, he’ll tell you, “pretty much everything.”

Claire Z. Cramer, 64

Claire Z. Cramer passed away unexpectedly earlier this month.

Claire was well known in the restaurant industry for the years she served (2001 – 2004) as the restaurant critic for the Maine Sunday Telegram, and, more recently, for her work over the last several years while she’s been an editor at Portland Magazine writing numerous articles about the Portland food scene.

Her loss will be deeply heartfelt by her many friends.

This Week’s Events: Eaux/Mr. Tuna, Little Hunter Release, Beer Cocktails, Suga Suga, Thirsty Thirty

Wednesday – A Eaux/Mr. Tuna collaboration dinner is being held at Eaux, and the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.

ThursdayLittle Giant is celebration their 1-year anniversary with a 4-course Oxbow beer dinner, and the release of a collaboration beer with Oxbow called Little Hunter (blueberries, raspberries and strawberries; and aged 6 months in single-barrel selects from Four Roses and Buffalo Trace), and 10 to midnight Hunt & Alpine bartenders will be mixing beer cocktails at Oxbow on Washington Ave.  The Great Lost Bear is showcasing beers from Baxter Brewing.

Saturday – the Suga Suga food cart is scheduled to launch, Gritty’s is celebrating their 30th Anniversary with the Thirsty Thirty event, and the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market is taking place.

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: Drifters, Highroller, Clam Digger, Eaux, Vantage Point

Down East has reviewed Drifters Wife,

Any seafood dish is a smart order. On any given night, Jackson might be working with hake, butterfish, or monk, but no matter the fish, he has a gift for hitting just the right temperature for perfect flavor and feel. The luxuriousness of the textures he creates ought to win over even the most devoted carnivore.

the Portland Phoenix has reviewed Highroller Lobster,

Lobster is undoubtedly the main attraction, showing up in grilled cheese, “pop,” and taco forms among other items. The lobster cheese crisp taco that has accumulated over 16 million views in a one-minute Thrillist video is one of Highroller’s most popular choices. Essentially a giant parm crisp brimming with lobster meat, it’s certainly over the top, if not a bit conflicting in taste due to the sharp and assertive flavors the cheese brings to the table. A fried lobby pop is the most decadent corndog analog I’ve come across in my day; the perfect match for a side of charred pineapple mayo.

the Portland Press Herald had reviewed Vantage Point Provisions,

When I got back to the office and tried the chowder, I was even gladder to have finally found him. It’s just the kind of chowder I like. He’d described his spin as “traditional but different,” and that was accurate, with fresh herbs floating in the broth but not taking away from the essential clam character.

As the Lobster Rolls had reviewed Clam Digger, and

While I was eating this roll, I noticed that the mayo was applied directly to the roll and not mixed in with the lobster – something I’d never experienced but kinda liked. I also noticed that because of the amount of lobster in this thing, the beefier brioche roll was welcomed to hold it all together. Overall, I was quite pleased with the experience. The fries and cole slaw were tasty too… just too much!

the Portland Press Herald had reviewed Eaux.

By this point, we knew we had to try the signature fried chicken and waffles ($14). The skillfully-seasoned chicken was crispy, the waffles had the perfect amount of syrup, and the dish was served with thinly sliced apple, an addition which transformed each bite into a mini-vacation to New Orleans.

Canopy Farms Kickstarter

Cara Stadler has launched a $25,000 Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for Canopy Farms, the aquaponics greenhouse she’s building in Brunswick. The funds will be used to buy:

  • Monitoring and control systems so we can learn what’s working, and share our learning $6000
  • Water filtration and supplements to fill our system and support its cycle into production $5500
  • Additional grow beds and equipment for experimental and educational projects $9000
  • Consumable materials to support student projects, including water test kits, additional safety gear, and more $4500