This Week’s Events: Cong Tu Bot, Apres Ski, Valentine’s Day, Sweetgrass Tasting Room, Joshua Berstein

| Posted in Events

Tuesday — the local chapter of American Sommelier is teaching a sparkling wine class. Rosemont, Tandem and Con Tu Bot (twitter, instagram) are teaming up on a Vietnamese bar night.

Wednesday — Black Tie is teaching a cooking class.

Thursday — the Hunt & Alpine Club is hosting a Bols Genever Apres Ski Night, and a chocolate/wine/cheese tasting at the Public Market House.

Valentine’s Day — nearly every restaurant in town will be open for Valentine’s Day., many offering fixed price special dinners.  Call your favorite spot asap to make reservations. Here’s a list of venues that are planning something a little different:

  • Allagash Brewing, 4 rare beers (Old HLT, Midnight Brett, Mattina Rosa, and Red Howes) and chocolate from La Creme Chocolate and Haven’s Candies, 4 – 7.
  • Bier Cellar will be holding a Port/Madeira tasting, 5:30 – 7:30.
  • Flanagan’s Table will be hosting a dinner prepared by chef Erin French from The Lost Kitchen, 6 – 10.
  • Novare Res is collaborating with Sweet Marguerite’s to serves a set of beer and chocolate pairings.
  • Rising Tide is working with with truffles from La Créme Chocolat, there will be chair massages and supplies to make Valentine’s Day cards, noon – 5.
  • Sweetgrass Farm Winery & Distillery is opening their new tasting room at 324 Fore St, noon – 8.

Saturday — author Josua Bernstein, will be on a Maine Brew Bus tour and then at Rising Tide for a book signing, and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place at the Urban Farm Fermentory on Anderson Street.

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.

Review of David’s 388

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed David’s 388.

Serving thoughtfully prepared American bistro fare handled with skill and intelligence, this engaging bistro has many standout dishes at prices that are very moderate for the high quality of the fare. For starters and first courses, the duck canapés are a favorite as are the crispy vegetable pot stickers and the beef tenderloin carpaccio with capers. All the entrees offered are excellent including the house-made pappardelle, rack of lamb, pan-seared salmon and a classic burger. A special burger is also offered topped with a medallion of seared Hudson Valley foie gras. Desserts are house-made, and don’t miss the lemon crème brulee or beignets with caramel sauce.

Phoenix’s Burger Reviews

| Posted in Reviews

The Portland Phoenix has published set of burger reviews from 8 different restaurants with tasting notes, and details on what they felt like during and after the meal.

Restaurants have such distinctive styles around here that it’s usually apples-to-oranges to compare them — how do you measure risotto against fish tacos or pad thai? But a majority of menus still have a burger option, which allows us compare the city’s styles in a quasi-scientific way. We subjected a handful of Portland’s signature burgers to our own test, factoring taste, style, source, and the feelings we experienced eating them.

For more Portland burger reviews see the Burger Meister Meister blog and the o-rama burger collaboration.

Little Bigs Interview

| Posted in People

Eat Maine has published an interview with Pamela and James Plunkett, owners of Little Bigs.

“First, I want the thing to taste like the thing and not just like sugar, as in: lemon is tart and chocolate is chocolate. I think my years as a bread baker have served me in understanding that doughnuts do not have to taste like sweet air. By using a pre-ferment and by taking care of the dough, one can create a doughnut that has all the characteristics of great bread: structure, crust color, and creamy interior. It’s all about paying attention to what the dough wants.”

Review of Central Provisions

| Posted in Reviews

The Golden Dish has posted his initial impressions of Central Provisions based a visit on opening night.

I could wax poetically about the food, the drink and the ambiance with its nightly asylum of epicurean pretense.  But instead I’ll not litter this forum with the loquacious totems of purple prose and get right to the point.  This is a great place.  The food is amazing, the vibes are everything an Old Port establishment should be in the best sense, and kudos to Chris Gould, proprietor and chef, for giving Portland this fine dining establishment—the ultimate pub with international flavors.

Bar Review of Spread

| Posted in Reviews

Drink Up and Get Happy has published a bar review of Spread.

All in all we enjoyed our time at Spread.  The cocktails were delicious and potent and the spreads were very tasty! The prices, even at happy hour, may not put it in the running for an every week place but it’s a great place for splurging or a special night. Taking advantage of the happy hour specials also helps in the budget department and makes these artfully made cocktails even more of a treat!