Kickstarter: The Jewel Box

| Posted in Under Construction

Nathaniel Meiklejohn has launched a $21,000 Kickstarter campaign to complete the funding needed for his his new West End craft cocktail bar, The Bearded Lady’s Jewel Box. As you can see in the video the build-out of the space he’s leased at 644 Congress is already well under way:

We have a great team working hard on the Jewel Box already. With the help of Petra Simmons’ architectural designs and layout, North By East Building Company’s build-out of those designs, More & Company’s brand/identity expertise, my industry experience, and your contributions, we will be able to take what was already going to be a cool place and make it sparkle brighter.

To learn more about the project and make a contribution to the campaign visit The Jewel Box Kickstarter page.

Profile of Oscar’s

| Posted in Profiles

Eat Maine has posted a profile of Oscar’s New American.

Often the elements of each dish are classic combinations that Krunkkala reimagines in his own way. The lamb belly, for example, is served with a delicate carrot puree, grilled asparagus, and fresh lion’s mane mushrooms. The meat is rubbed with garlic and rosemary then slowly braised for several hours in champagne vinegar and white wine, and finally is topped with pea shoots that are dressed in a lemon and mint vinaigrette. Plenty of familiar combinations, appropriate to the season, but still with a unique flavor and texture.

Food Truck RFP

| Posted in General News

The City of Portland has put out an RFP for food trucks and carts that want to operate this summer in parks and other public spaces, according the Bangor Daily News and West End News.

The City of Portland has issued a Request for Proposals to seek qualified vendors to provide concession operations through the use of food trucks and push carts at seven locations throughout the city. The food truck locations include: Back Cove Trail, Congress Square Plaza, Deering Oaks Park parking lot, Western Promenade, and Kiwanis Pool parking lot. The push cart locations include: East End Beach, Lincoln Park, Kiwanis Pool parking lot, and Western Promenade.

Casco Bay Kelp Farming

| Posted in Farming

The Business section in today’s Press Herald includes an update on Ocean Approved and their kelp farming operation in Casco Bay.

Dobbins said the potential market for the product is huge. Kelp is a $5 billion-a-year industry worldwide, and almost all of it is harvested and dried in Asia, where kelp farms are spread across entire bays. It is a staple of the Asian diet, a nutritious vegetable that doesn’t require any land, fresh water irrigation or fertilizer to produce.

Ocean Approved wants American consumers to think of kelp as a vegetable that can be served with a lot of mainstream dishes rather than just an ingredient in a sushi roll.

Kosher BBQ

| Posted in General News, Events

The Press Herald has published a feature on the kosher BBQ taking place this weekend to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Levey Day School in South Portland.

Why is a rabbi getting so close to a barbecue smoker, a device that is most often used to cook decidedly unkosher pork? This particular smoker, built by Doors Services Inc. (owned by a Levey alum) and never used before, will make its debut Sunday at a kosher barbecue at the school on Deering Avenue. A kosher barbecue is an event so rare that organizers could find reference to only one other like it in the whole country.

For more info see the event listing on leveydayschool.org.

Best Cities for Foodies

| Posted in Reviews

Conde Naste Traveller has included Portland in their list of the 20 Best American Cities for Foodies.

Sam Hayward’s Fore Street is the restaurant that kicked off Portland’s food revolution nearly 20 years ago and continues to be one of its great innovators with a daily changing menu of locally sourced items, prepared rustic-style in a wood-burning oven. While (relative) newcomers like Eventide Oyster Co. (pictured), a tribute to the old-fashioned raw bar, and the Miyake family of Japan-meets-Maine eateries are a testament to the city’s increasingly adventurous palate.

Sangillo’s Postponement

| Posted in General News

The Bangor Daily News reports that the City Council has voted to postpone sending the liquor license denial to the state to address a procedural matter.

Councilors unanimously approved the postponement to Monday, May 5, but cautioned Bryant and Sangillo that public comments will be limited to the record of the council action.

“This is not a do-over,” warned Councilor Ed Suslovic, one of the strongest opponents of the liquor license renewal because of incidents city police linked to the bar or its patrons.