Crowdfunding: Als Pals Pickles

| Posted in General News

Westbrook-based Als Pals Pickles(twitter, facebook, instagram) has launched a crowdfunding campaign on the Kickstarter-clone site Indiegogo. Owner Al Arsenault is hoping to raise $5,000 to “better pickling equipment, promotion and building up a stock”.

I am passionate about making awesome pickles, I take pride in the quality of my product and I’ve really enjoyed all of the pickle lovers I have come across in my time as a pickler What your contribution will go towards is better equipment for maintaining a great quality pickle, this includes kitchen equipment such as knives, cutting boards, pickling pots and gloves and would allow me to buy my pickle jars in bulk. It also includes promotional equipment like banners, business cards, label paper, label printers, promo art and a tablet for mobile card transactions.

For more information or to contribute to the campaign visit the Als Pals page on Indigogo.

Portland Food Co-op

| Posted in General News

The Forecaster has published an article about the new Portland Food Co-op.

West End resident Jennifer Morrison works nearby on India Street, and said her first store visit came after months of anticipation.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, clutching a carton of almond milk and an orange. “I feel like I could do all my shopping here.”

Morrison said she tries to shop at locally owned markets, and was pleased to find a large selection of organic fruits and vegetables. Before leaving, she stopped at a table in the front of the store and signed on as a co-op member.

The co-op has a grand opening planned for December 10.

Reviews: Bao Bao & Timber

| Posted in Reviews

pArts has reviewed Bao Bao,

Next up, my single order of dumplings (which come boiled, steamed or pan fried, I chose the last). Six beauties stuffed with a sausage ball of lamb, black bean, peanuts, and chilis, served with a homemade tomato relish/ketchup. I will likely order these every time I return. I was sorry I didn’t order the Hake dumplings which looked amazing . . . but I need something to look forward to next time.

and Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Timber.

My verdict on Timber is to go there for happy hour. The mac and cheese is half price and there are some cheap drinks – all of which I loved. For the price, I can’t say I was pleased with the main courses. Our meal came to over $100 with tax and tip, so it wasn’t cheap and we didn’t get any steak which would have upped the price significantly.  Nonetheless, the restaurant has an allure under the right circumstances, but it’s not for an entire meal.

MCD x Sur Lie Collaboration

| Posted in Events

mcdxsurlieMaine Craft Distilling and Sur Lie are c0-hosting a 2-step collaboration next week:

Monday – stop by the MCD distillery on Fox Street to taste some of the drinks Sur Lie bartenders come up with as they experiment with MCD’s spirits. 3 – 6 pm.

Wednesday – visit Sur Lie on Free Street for a Maine Craft Distilling bar takeover. Bartenders will be serving up the new drinks they developed as part of Monday’s experimentation at the distillery.

Interview with Chef Andrew Taylor

| Posted in People

A Blissful Interlude has published an interview with Andrew Taylor co-chef/owner of Eventide and Hugo’s.

Taylor says that the distinguishing factor about Eventide Oyster Co. is that “we wanted to be able to take as many liberties as we could with that style.  Our culinary approach is that we are farm to table, but what really excites us is our love of international food.  One of the things we love is that the techniques are so unique compared to what we were taught.  Using the basic blueprint, we then applied our own framework using the culinary influence of international cuisine.”

Friday Pie Club

| Posted in Profiles

fpcThe Press Herald has published an article about the Friday Pie Club.

For instance, wild blueberry pies – as iconic as the lobster roll in Maine – fell flat this summer. Yet blueberry ginger pies were wildly popular. At the farmers markets, slices of squash pie turned out to be a hit with teenage boys, while the girls coveted slices of lemon chess pie, a sweet blend of lemon, sugar, eggs and milk. Apple crumb, pear cranberry and green tomato pies were all best-sellers.

For more information visit the Friday Pie Club website or facebook page.

Under Construction: East Ender

| Posted in Under Construction

Karl Deuben and Bill Leavy co-owners of the popular Small Axe food truck are in the final stages of purchasing the East Ender at 47 Middle Street.

Deuben and Leavy will be completing the purchase of the restaurant from Megan Schroeter in January and after some renovation plan to re-open by early March “continuing the commitment to local ingredients and creative, high quality food that our customers have come to expect“. (Hopefully that means the Korean Pork Belly sandwich will make the transition to the East Ender menu.)

The Small Axe food truck is up for sale so they can “give the restaurant our undivided attention“. Prior to running Small Axe, the pair have worked at Miyake, Hugo’s. Bill has also been part of the staff at Back Bay Grill and before moving to Portland Karl worked at Alinea.

Schroeter and then partner Mitch Gerow opened the East Ender nearly 4 years ago. Prior to that it had been the longtime home of Norm’s East End Grill.

See the PFM Under Construction page for a list of other restaurant projects in development.