The Holy Donut had been slated to open their Exchange Street store this morning. Unfortunately they’ve had an equipment malfunction and will have to delay. They’re currently aiming for Thursday.
Under Construction: Slab
Today’s Press Herald includes a front page story on Slab, a new bakery/pizzeria headlined by Stephen Lanzalotta.
Slab will operate in the spot once occupied by Scales, a seafood restaurant that anchored the public market. The space has 30-foot-high beam ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. If approved by the city, the layout will include an outdoor beer garden with 20 taps and 160 seats.
Food Truck: Cafe Crepe
A Greenville Maine food truck called Cafe Crepe is now operating in Portland. They were at Tandem this weekend and have posted a schedule on Facebook that includes the Falmouth winter farmers market on Wednesday, Bunker Brewing on Friday night and Tandem Saturday morning.
Hunt & Alpine: Hottest Cocktail Bars in America
Eater National included the Portland Hunt & Alpine Club in their list of the 30 Hottest Cocktail Bars in America.
Gingko Blue Now Serving Food
Maine a la Carte has published a report on the new food menu at Gingko Blue.
This Week’s Events: Maine Food Means Business, The Holy Donut, Halloween, Portland Beer Week
Tuesday — the Maine Food Means Business Conference kick’s off in Freeport.
Wednesday — The Holy Donut’s new location on Exchange Street will be opening at 7am, it’s the second day of the Maine Food Means Business Conference, and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place in the morning.
Thursday — It’s Halloween there will be a Hallowine tasting at Aurora Provisions, Taste Tours will be leading a trick or treat tour of the Old Port, and Hugo’s will be serving a Halloween Curiosities Dinner.
Friday — it’s the start of Portland Beer Week, see portlandbeerweek.org for a full calendar of the all PBW activities taking place November 1-10. There will be a wine tasting at the West End Deli and it’s the November edition of First Friday Art Walk.
Saturday — the Maine Brewers Festival will be held at the Expo, LeRoux Kitchen and Browne Trading are holding wine tastings, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.
Sunday — Petite Jacqueline kicks off their fall movie night series with a screening of Entre Les Bras.
Winter Farmers Market — the Winter Farmers Market will be starting up on December 7. This year they’ll be located at the Urban Farm Fermentory on Anderson Street in East Bayside.
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.
Changes on Exchange Street: Steak House, Mornings in Paris, Holy Donut #2
There are a number of changes taking place on Exchange Street:
- The Mornings in Paris coffee shop at 13 Exchange Street is closing down sometime next month. From what I’ve heard the owners are closing their Portland location in order to focus their energies on the MiP in Kennebunk.
- The new Holy Donut location at 7 Exchange Street is scheduled to open this coming Wednesday at 7 am.
- North Point owner Daniel Talmatch is launching a steakhouse. He’s hasn’t signed a lease yet but hopes to locate the new restaurant at 106 Exchange, the longtime home of Oriental Table.
Review of Elsmere
The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Elsmere BBQ.
The results are quite good. The pulled pork has a touch of maple sweetness over a rich just-smoky flavor. The brisket has a peppery rub and earthy flavor that works especially well with the mustard-based barbecue sauce. The chicken was, unusually, the smokiest of the meats — utterly infused with the flavor of the wood. The danger of a long smoke without sauce is that things get a bit dry, and the chicken at Elsmere did lean a bit in that direction.
2013 Indie Biz Award Winners
Four food businesses were among the winners at this year’s Buy Local Indie Biz Awards:
- Rosemont Market (Flavor of Portland)
- Portland Food Co-op (Best Kept Secret)
- Coffee by Design (Community Hero)
- Harbor Fish Market (Portland Icon)
Betsy Nelson, Vegan Cheesemaker
The Press Herald has published an article about Portland-based vegan cheese maker, Betsy Nelson.
“A lot of people say to me, ‘I would go vegan, but I can’t give up cheese,’” said Nelson, 31, who lives on Munjoy Hill in Portland. “That was the thing I missed, too.”
To satisfy her taste for cheese, Nelson began making small-batch, artisanal cheeses from fermented nut milks. Her soft cheeses can be served on bread or crackers and pair well with fruit and wine. They are totally dairy free.