Booze, Fish & Coffee has posted an interview with Tao’s chef/owner Cara Stadler. Among other topics, they discuss Stadler’s plans to launch a Chinese dumpling shop in Portland later this year (late night hours, full bar, likely launching in late spring/early summer). Stadler also provides a rundown of some of her favorite eating destinations in Portland.
Chef Bard at the Beard House
Today’s Press Herald includes a report on the dinner chef Shannon Bard prepared last night at the Beard House.
An hour and a half before her sold-out “Mexico meets Maine” dinner on Monday night, the ebullient chef, in the kitchen since 8 a.m., admitted she had been too wrapped up in preparation to fully take in her surroundings – the very same kitchen where not only the great Beard himself had cooked, but also nearly every luminary in the culinary world.
Review of Vinland
Wines; Tasted! has reviewed Vinland.
Bottom line for me is that David is an idealistic and passionate guy with some lofty goals. I’ve had some really good food at Vinland and as the restaurant refines what they do it should keep improving. David’s put himself out there and sacrificed a lot to open Vinland, like all chef owners do. I feel that when someone believes in something that strongly and invests so much of themselves into it, they deserve a fair open minded chance. Chef owners as a rare entrepreneurial breed and I respect them all very much. Vinland and it’s philosophy is a great addition to Portland’s fantastic food culture and it’s something you should go and make up your own mind about.
DC Food Blogger in Portland
DC food blogger, Florida Girl in DC recently visited Portland and has published a pair of posts (day 1, day 2) from her two days in the city.
While her she visited the Winter Farmer’s Market, Tandem, Duckfat, Piccolo, Hunt & Alpine, Speckled Ax, Eventide, The Thirsty Pig, Vena’s Fizz House, Street & Co.
Allagash Brewery of the Year
World of Beer has named Allagash Brewing their selection for the 2013 Brewery of the Year.
Of course, there were other [beer]s besides, many of them, but these “Best of…” posts aren’t supposed to be about the qualities of individual beers. No, they are meant to highlight the brilliance of a single brewery over the course of a calendar year, and in that regard Allagash achieved in spades, making it my no-doubt pick as U.S. Brewery of the Year for 2013.
Under Construction: Foundation Brewing
Active Beer Geek has posted an article about Foundation Brewing, including a video interview with co-founder Joel Mahaffey.
Foundation plans on releasing two flagship beers to the market in March. One is an IPA saison called Blaze that is going to be out of this world. It’s a slightly hoppy and funky brew that uses Millenium, Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Nugget, Columbus hops making it very tasty. With Eddy you get the floral and slightly funkyness of the saison as well as the flavor and citric hop profile of an American IPA.
Foundation hopes to start selling their first two beers, Blaze and Eddy this March.
This Week’s Events: Hilltop, Brew Pub Cup, Banded Horn Crawl, Oxbowl
Monday — Hilltop Coffee is opening at its new location, 100 Congress Street, this morning.
Wednesday — Black Tie is teaching a cooking class, and Outliers is hosting a French wine dinner.
Thursday — there will be a wine tasting at Rosemont on Brighton, and a beer and cheese tasting at the Public Market House; Run of the Mill, Sebago, Gritty’s, In’finiti, Seadog, Marshall Wharf will be competing in the Brew Pub Cup at The Great Lost Bear.
Friday — there will be a wine dinner at BiBo’s Madd Apple Cafe.
Saturday — both Browne Trading and LeRoux Kitchen are holding wine tastings, a Banded Horn Beer Crawl is scheduled for 5 bars in Portland, and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place at the Urban Farm Fermentory on Anderson Street.
Sunday — Eventide is transforming into a sports bar (two 60″ plasma screens and a menu of hearty pub fare) for the Oxbowl Super Bowl party, and Petite Jacqueline is screening Romantics Anonymous for their movie night.
New Maine Breweries Tour — author Joshua Bernstein will be participating in a Maine Brew Bus tour of Maine newest breweries: Banded Horn Brewing, Bissell Brothers, Austin Street and Foundation Brewing on February 15th.
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.
Maine Restaurant Inspections
Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes a feature article about restaurant inspections in Maine.
The Maine Legislature may step up oversight of restaurant safety by allowing cities and towns to do their own kitchen inspections, but the effort faces strong opposition from an industry group.
The bill comes after the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram exposed weaknesses in state and local inspection programs, including less frequent inspections and less public access to inspection results than all but two other states. The paper found that lawmakers reduced the mandated frequency of inspections even as complaints about sanitation or food-borne illnesses were on the rise.
Review of Kon Asian Bistro
Kon Asian Bistro received 2 stars from a review in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.
Dinner at Kon Asian Bistro had its many ups and down on a recent Saturday night visit to this flashy Westbrook [sic] dining establishment. While the setting is gaudily opulent, the food is woefully mediocre. Instead of cooking one type of Asian cuisine well, the kitchen sends out run-of-the-mill Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Indian dishes.
Review of Kon Asian Bistro
Kon Asian Bistro received 2 stars in today’s review in the Maine Sunday Telegram.
Dinner at Kon Asian Bistro had its many ups and down on a recent Saturday night visit to this flashy Westbrook [sic] dining establishment. While the setting is gaudily opulent, the food is woefully mediocre. Instead of cooking one type of Asian cuisine well, the kitchen sends out run-of-the-mill Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Indian dishes.