The Portland Phoenix has kicked-off their 2018 Best of Portland readership poll. The Phoenix follows a modified 2-step process: an open voting/nominations process now through April 17. On the 18th, the Phoenix culls down the list in each category to the top 6 and voting continues.
There are dozens of food and drink categories ranging from burgers and barbecue to sushi and salad. Portland Food Map is listed as a nominee in the Best Blog category in the City Life section.
The Sentry reports that Cousins Maine Lobster will locate a truck this summer in Fort Williams Park. Bite Into Maine which has been in the park since 2011 will continue to operate in the park in their usual location.
According to Public Works Director Robert Malley, Site A, which was previously located at a 50-square-foot site on the south side of the circle, was moved to accommodate winning bidder Cousins Maine Lobster, a franchise food truck business. The truck will be stationed next to Site B, also 90 square feet, designated for Gorgeous Gelato.
Update: The Forecaster has posted an update on the Cousins food truck.
The inaugural issue of Incomer magazine includes articles on Ameera Bread (page 10) and Maiz (page 14).
The Blueberry Files has published a first look report of Black Cow.
Everyone who mourned the closing of Sonny’s, Jay Villani’s Latin-themed restaurant on lower Exchange Street can breathe easy—Black Cow is now open, and the bar remains functionally the same. The food, however, is completely different with a focus on hamburgers, ice cream, and sodas. Those who enjoyed cozying up to Sonny’s large bar and ordering a creative cocktail will be pleased to see Black Cow has a list that rivals Sonny’s in its inventiveness.
Chef Christian Hayes beat out the other contestants on Chopped last night to win $10,000 and become a Chopped Champion. Hayes is the chef/owner of Dandelion Catering Company in Yarmouth.
Both Tempo Dulu and Opium, the restaurant and bar in the Danforth Inn, are scheduled to close at the end of this month, reports the Press Herald.
Raymond Brunyanszki, co-owner of the inn, said the businesses were not profitable enough and that a “disconnect” existed between the guests staying at the inn and people dining at the restaurant. He also cited the difficulty of finding qualified staff familiar with Southeast Asian cuisine.
Portland is the focus of a new episode of Andrew Zimmern’s TV show The Zimmern List set to air tonight at 9:30 on the Travel Channel.
But when a Portland-centric episode of his new show, “The Zimmern List,” airs Tuesday night, it’ll be largely about his dad.
“The whole episode is really an homage to him. I went to places that he first turned me on to,” Zimmern, 56, said Monday from his home in Minnesota. “It was a very poignant and personal episode for me. I think it’s one of the better pieces I’ve done for television.”
It’s been three and a half years since Ed and Molly Foley sold the business to their baker Andrea Swanson. Now Foley’s will be undergoing a name change to Scattoloni.
Scattoloni is family name and an homage to Swanson’s father who ran a bakery by the same name. She doesn’t plan to make any major menu changes as a result of the name change.
Saturday – Sur Lie chef Emil Rivera is preparing a meal at the James Beard House in NYC, Evo chef Hagai Bernstein is serving a supper club dinner at The Inn at English Meadows, Oakleaf is holding a pop-up dinner at Fork Food Lab, and the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.
Sunday – it’s Maine Maple Sunday, and the Tiki Shake-off competition is taking place at Tiqa.
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.
