The Casual Travelist has posted a report on her recent experience on a Maine Foodie Tours guided tour. The tour visited Vervacious, Sweetgrass Distillery, Vena’s Fizz House, Harbor Fish, and Eve’s at the Garden.
Tandem Bakery Open
Tandem Coffee’s new location is now in full operation serving a line of house made baked goods by Briana Holt complemented by Tandem’s fine coffee and service.
The new coffee shop/bakery is located at 742 Congress Street in the West End.
Maine Seaweed Festival
The Bangor Daily News has published an article of the Maine Seaweed Festival which is taking place this Saturday at SMCC.
Food vendors for the event, including food trucks from Good Shepherd Food-Bank, Locally Sauced, Fishin’ Ships and Maine Grain Alliance, will provide seaweed dishes and the festival also will serve up Maine seaweed ice cream.
The festival will wind down with a ticketed dinner featuring offerings from local chefs and farmers.
Reviews: Ruski’s, Buck’s
The Press Herald has posted a bar review of Ruski’s,
And this ease-of-attitude – there’s absolutely no pretention or bar brawl disorder – seems to be a vibe everyone catches when they step through the door at Ruski’s. There’s a sense of respect whether you’ve been coming here for decades or just stumbled upon the corner bar for the first time.
While not a place to find a craft cocktail, Ruski’s is a fully stocked bar with 12 taps and a number of nightly cheap beer specials that are available until 1 a.m.
and a review of Buck’s Naked BBQ.
The brisket was served on a soft brioche bun, and I added a healthy dose of the house barbecue sauce. I don’t need a lot of heat with my meat, but I enjoy a mild kick. The meat was tender and came apart easily in sandwich-sized bites. A knife and fork were not necessary.
Piccolo Anniversary Feast
Piccolo will be celebrating their 1st anniversary on September 21st by serving a traditional Abruzzi Panarda, a feast of epic proportions. Piccolo’s Panarda will be a 20-course meal paired with wines from Southern Italy. $110 per person. Call (207) 747-5307 for reservations.
Under Construction: Suzukiya Ramen
Eater Maine has shared some additional details on the new ramen restaurant slated for 229 Congress Street. Suzukiya Ramen will be run by the father and son team of Katsuaki and Cory Suzuki. The family originally hails from the Hokkaido region of Japan.
Profile of Lolita
Eat Maine has published an article about Lolita.
Other dishes go for all-out comfort—the harissa-spiked lamb meatballs are baked in a skillet with tomato sauce, Aleppo chili, hearty croutons, and a single egg then topped with yogurt that with the addition of ghee becomes more decadent and aromatic. “You can eat this morning, noon, and night,” Guy says.
Uncle Andy’s Restaurant Impossible
Just in time for tonight’s 10pm airing of the Uncle Andy’s episode of Restaurant Impossible, the Press Herald has interviewed the family about the experience and checked out whats changed at the South Portland eatery.
Irvine’s team gave the diner new tables and chairs, a fresh coat of apple green paint, flat-screen televisions, a new alarm system, different light fixtures, and enlarged, framed photos showcasing scenes from the 60-year-old diner’s past. The restaurant kept its horseshoe-shaped counters, with updated stools. The menu had its own makeover as Irvine added dishes such as a lobster omelette and grilled Dijon chicken.
Reviews: Central Provisions & Boone’s
Tufts Now has reviewed Central Provisions,
Duck liver crostini have been finding their way onto a number of menus. This version, complemented with kumquats, fried shallot and fresh oregano, set the bar for elevated expectations. Our follow-up of caramelized Miticana sheep cheese from Spain with peaches and 15-year aged balsamic nearly prompted an immediate encore.
and Drink-up and Get Happy has reviewed Boone’s.
Overall it was a great evening enjoying some of the best that Portland has to offer. While the specials at Boone’s sister restaurants may be a little better, you can’t beat Boone’s for ample patio space, good drinks, and great views!
Interview with Steve Corry
As part of a new series that looks at how business leaders innovate their way around challenges, the Press Herald has interviewed Steve Corry, chef and co-owner of Five Fifty Five and Petite Jacqueline.
In a stroke of good timing, in April 2007, Corry was named Best New Chef by Food and Wine magazine. But he didn’t get to savor that success for long. In September 2008, Wall Street banking giant Lehman Bros. filed for bankruptcy, and the economy went into a tailspin.