Feeding the 5000

| Posted in Events

A coalition of local non-profit organizations is organizing the Feeding the 5000 event this October in Monument Square.

The event will feature a community feast made from rescued foods that would otherwise not have made it to our plates, as well as cooking demos and select speakers. The goal is to raise public awareness and give practical tips on how to be more resourceful with our food. As part of an international community of cities that have hosted an event like this, including Sydney, Barcelona and NYC, Feeding the 5000 Portland, Maine will draw attention to efforts underway in Portland and around Maine to reduce the amount of edible food that goes to waste in our homes, fields, institutions and grocery stores.

Cumberland County Food Security Council, Healthy Acadia, and Natural Resources Council of Maine, Maine Farmland Trust, Portland Food Co-op, Garbage to Garden, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program, and the Locker Project are collaborating with the UK-based Feeding the 5000 founding organization to put on the event.

For more information or to get involved contact: Hannah Semler, hannah@healthyacadia.org

This Week’s Events: Terlingua 1st, Bluet Blow-Out, Danagol

| Posted in Events

Tuesday — Terlingua is  serving a 4-course dinner with pairings from Oxbow and Maine Mead Works to celebrate their 1-year anniversary.

Wednesday — the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Thursday — the 1st Annual Bluet Blow-Out is taking place, The Great Lost Bear is showcasing beer from Bunker Brewing, Black Tie is serving a farm dinner in New Gloucester, and there will be a wine tasting at Rosemont on Brighton, a Liquid Riot tasting at the Bier Cellar and a beer and cheese tasting at the Public Market House.

Friday — there will be a wine tasting at Rosemont on Commercial St.

Saturday — Bissell Brothers is releasing Danagol, and the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday — the weekly Crofters & Artisan 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: Tiqa, Taco Trio, Back Bay Grill

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine Sunday  Telegram has reviewed Tiqa,

Moreover, none of the dishes seem like they were dreamed up by a chef who has spent his entire professional career cooking in Portland – someone who told me he was never a very good student in school. Because through unremitting, ongoing research, Byrne has found a way through Tiqa’s multinational logic puzzle, and has stitched together a competent menu to represent 12 disparate cultures and cuisines. While it’s not always perfect, his solution is still a pretty elegant one.

the Press Herald  has reviewed Taco Trio,

Energetic, delicious, cheap and hospitable, Taco Trio’s second location on Forest Avenue has become a neighborhood fixture for its cozy bar scene, good beer selection and house margaritas and mojitos. Whether for a drink and a snack, or a full meal of enchiladas, this taqueria is not to be missed.

and The Golden Dish has reviewed The Back Bay Grill.

I’m often asked which is my favorite restaurant. I can’t answer that because there are so many that are praiseworthy. But I can say there’s nothing like Back Bay Grill in Maine. It prepares unimpeachably wonderful food, and what more could you want?

Old Port Sea Grill

| Posted in Profiles

The Portland Phoenix has published an article about the Old Port Sea Grill.

According to General Manager Justin C. St. Louis, guests can expect to experience an “elevated Old Port Sea Grill” in the coming weeks, as new Executive Chef Christopher Pierce takes the reins. Pierce, formerly of Denver, has an impressive resume: he’s staged at the prestigious Alinea in Chicago, and also worked for several Michelin-starred restaurants and under James Beard Award-winning chefs.

Foulmouthed Brewing Now Open

| Posted in Openings

foulmouthed_logoFoulmouthed Brewery (website, facebook, twitter, instagram) opened their new Knightville brewpub yesterday afternoon in a renovated garage at 15 Ocean Street.

They’ve launched with a line-up of 6 house beers and growler service. Chef Dan Lindberg is serving a compact menu of beer friendly appetizers, salads and sandwiches. Lindberg’s resume includes stints at Nosh and Hugo’s.

Foulmouthed joins Fore River Brewing as the 2nd new brewery to open in South Portland this year.

Fore Street Reservationist, Interview with the Britts, 2 New Vegan Groups

| Posted in People

Today’s Press Herald includes a behind the scenes look at Josh Doré’s job manning the reservations line at Fore Street.

“Every job is different. Every guest is different,” Doré said. “The way that you speak to one person may not be the way you are able to interact with another person. Some people are very straight and narrow, some people like to have more fun. They’ll joke with you on the phone. You have to be able to read your guest without being able to see your guest, which is a learned talent. Is this a sir or madam conversation, or can I call you Scott?”

an interview with Gillian and Jim Britt who own gBritt, a restaurant public relations firm,

Q:Still, it’s 2016. Why can’t I tweet/Instagram/website and market my restaurant myself?

JB: Our clients tend to be chef-driven restaurants. There is no marketing person in place. They are trying to do payroll, meet the delivery truck out back, fix that ice maker that stopped working…Then in the very back of their mind, they are thinking, “We haven’t posted on Instagram in a week,” or “We haven’t updated our Facebook.” Then there is the storytelling. They might have a great story to tell, but they just don’t have the contacts with professional media or the time.

and an article about two new vegan organizations in town.

Two new groups that have set up shop in the city are aiming to make Portland more vegan-friendly. V for All is working to increase the number of vegan items on restaurant menus, and Plant IQ is spreading the word about the health benefits of plant-based food.

 

Down East: Best of Maine

| Posted in Reviews

July-Cover-1050-463x580Down East magazine has published their Best of Maine issue. Editors choice food and drink selections include Palace Diner (best diner), Maine & Loire (best wine shop), Thomas Malz from Custom Deluxe in Biddeford (best new chef), East Ender (best brunch) and Allagash (best brewery).

There are a number of Portland area favorites in the reader’s choice list as well: Maine Craft Distilling, Novare Res, Allagash, Coffee by Design, The Holy Donut, Amato’s, Otto Pizza, Harbor Fish Market, RSVP and Gelato Fiasco.

The article isn’t available yet online.

This Week’s Events: Bitter Frenchman, Preventing Food Waste, Twilight Dinner, Greek Festival, Craft Brew Race

| Posted in Events

Tuesday — chef Fred Eliot is serving a 6-course French dinner at The Honey Paw, Local Sprouts is hosting the monthly local foods networking breakfast; a session at this week’s Maine Start Up & Create Week conference is focused on preventing food waste.

Wednesday — the Old Port Wine Merchants are holding a wine tasting, and the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Thursday — it’s the first day of the Greek Heritage Festival.

Friday — it’s the second day of the Greek Heritage Festival.

Saturday — the 2016 Craft Brew Race is taking place, as is the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market, and it’s the last day of the Greek Heritage Festival.

Sunday — Ilma Lopez and Damian Sansonetti are the featured chefs at the first Cultivating Community Twilight Dinner of the season, and the weekly Crofters & Artisan 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.