Portland Hunt + Alpine Club

| Posted in Profiles

Star Chefs has published a profile of the Hunt + Alpine Club.

When he opened Portland Hunt + Alpine Club, he didn’t want to recreate that Portland. Instead, he wanted to help Maine develop its own cocktail and spirit culture. “In smaller markets in particular, it’s important that owners pay very close attention to what their guests are looking for,” he says—facilitating but never foisting, forcing, or otherwise (sometimes literally) funneling cocktail culture down local gullets. But with his nurturing and finesse, Portland Hunt + Alpine Club has received “an overwhelming positive response.”

Vena’s Fizz House

| Posted in Profiles

Maine Today has posted a profile and set of photos of Vena’s Fizz House.

Owned and operated by Johanna and Steve Corman, longtime Portlanders who also own the seasonal Pearl Seaside Market & Cafe on Cliff Island, Vena’s is named for Johanna’s great-grandmother, a staunch proponent of Maine’s temperance movement in the 1900s. She would approve of the drinks mixed and served at her namesake shop: housemade sodas, shrubs, mocktails and slushes — all made from high quality ingredients and without a drop of demon rum (or gin, whiskey or vodka).

Culture Trip: Food in Portland

| Posted in Reviews

Culture Trip has posted an eating guide to Portland.

With local fresh seafood on its doorstep, a popular farm-to-table movement and a smattering of creative restaurants spicing up traditional recipes with contemporary flair, Portland, Maine, is quickly become a foodie’s paradise. Whether you choose from freshly dug Maine clams in a floating restaurant, New American cuisine in a former church or French fare in a cosy bistro, Portland’s eclectic dining scene – and these ten great cultural restaurants – will leave an impression.

Profile of Ilma Lopez

| Posted in People

Star Chefs has posted a profile of Ilma Lopez, the pastry chef and co-owner of Piccolo.

From comfortingly familiar Italianate desserts like budinos and zeppole, to unexpected Sunday Supper finales incorporating everything from wasabi to bone marrow, this petit chef brings her special brand of refinement and ingenuity to every level of the Piccolo operation, delivering big city flavor to her small city patrons.

Reviews: Petite Jacqueline and Hot Suppa

| Posted in Reviews

Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Petite Jacqueline.

Whamo! The flavor of the burger was so delicious that it created a level 5 shield of protection from mind-eating zombies around me. It pretty much felt like I was eating another order of onion soup, but this time on a burger. That definitely wasn’t a bad thing. I chomped the pickle on my plate. That was hella good too.

The Blueberry Files has published a Maine Restaurant Week review of Hot Suppa,

Restaurant Week is a promotion that participating restaurants have to pay to participate in, and I’d like to think that restaurants want to show off on their featured menus so as to attract new customers. Hot Suppa must have been taking a different approach by serving these safer menu items, but in doing so, I think they missed an opportunity to shine.

and the Portland Daily Sun has posted some opinions on Maine Restaurant Week.

The temptation to make T-shirts that say, “I survived Restaurant Week 2014” is overridden by my appreciation for the extra jingle in my tips-to-tuition change jar. Knowing I’m not alone in the stress and exhaustion department, I asked restaurant folks and diners alike to send in their thoughts around the event.

Review of Central Provisions

| Posted in Reviews

Central-Provisions-Scallops

Map & Menu has published a review of Central Provisions.

Central Provisions is one of the latest in a stocked season of great openings in Portland. Piccolo, Hunt + Alpine, and Miyake Diner have already deservedly garnered rave reviews and national recognition, but after a couple of meals at Central Provisions, there is no doubt in our minds that they belong near the top of the list of Portland’s best restaurants and bars. Owners Chris and Paige Gould have done an exceptional job with both the space and the menu, and bar manager Patrick McDonald and wine director Chris Peterman have put together an amazing selection of drinks to boot.

Photo Credit: Map & Menu

Hugo’s Sets a new Standard for Restaurant Coffee

| Posted in General News

Sprudge has published an article about the coffee service at Hugo’s and the restaurant’s partnership with Tandem Coffee Roasters.

But what’s most unique here—besides being served an amuse course of a single, roe-topped french fry—is, you guessed it: the coffee. Wish to follow your meal with a seasonally paired coffee brewed for you on Chemex? Or a meticulously made syphon, theatrically prepared at the bar, thermocouple and all? Or simply a cup of delicious French press coffee? In partnership with new-kid-on-the-block Tandem Coffee (our friends and partners here at Sprudge), Hugo’s has transformed the finale of an already transformative dining experience.