A new food vendor called Azure is under construction on the 2nd floor of the Public Market House. Azure “a salad company” is taking over the space formerly occupied by Pie in the Sky Pizza.
Black Cat Coffee
The Portland Daily Sun has posted a profile of Black Cat Coffee.
Black Cat Coffee owner Keith Dunlap had no intention of opening and running a coffee shop. Instead, the former attorney, along with wife and co-owner, novelist Jenny Siler, saw an unfilled need.
Black Cat is located at 463 Stevens Ave.
Bollard: 2nd Article on Harding Lee Smith
Editor Chris Busby has announced that the September issue of The Bollard will include a second article about Harding Lee Smith, chef/owner of “The Rooms” series of restaurants.
New York Times & Food Republic Eat in Portland
Both the New York Times and Food Republic have published articles today highlighting some of their favorites from recent visits to Portland.
The New York Times article entitled “Portland, Me.: Locavore in Menu and Décor” features Hugo’s, In’finiti, Grace and Fore Street,
It’s hardly a secret that Portland, Me., is a food-lover’s paradise. Stroll down the sloping streets and cobbled lanes in the heart of this small maritime city, and you can’t miss the evidence: bakeries fragrant with just-baked sour cherry pies; indie coffee shops selling wood-roasted beans; bars where cocktails might be infused with local rhubarb or kale or blueberries; and, of course, restaurants of seemingly every ethnic and gastronomic stripe.
while the Food Republic article “7 Places To Eat And Drink Incredibly Well In Portland, Maine” draws attention to Little Bigs, Miyake, Opus 10, Blue Rooster, Eventide, Outliers and Vaughan Street Variety.
Portland, Maine is quickly climbing the ranks as a culinary destination, offering much more than sublime lobster rolls. With easy access to both fresh seafood from the ocean and seasonal produce from local farms, a recent influx of big-city chefs seeking calmer waters, and a local less-is-more attitude (which translates into top-notch, ingredient-driven food sans hype or attitude), Portland’s dining scene is vibrant, diverse and hotter than ever. Here, a few places worth checking out during your next trip to the beautiful coastal town.
Bar Review of Sonny’s
The Press Herald has published a bar review of Sonny’s.
But aside from its local history, 83 Exchange St. is now known for good cocktails. Ask a 20- or 30-something professional where to find the best house-made infusions and mixed drinks, and Sonny’s likely will be at the top of the list.
Today’s paper also includes the latest installment of the What Ales You column.
More Food TV: Tastemade
Online TV show Tastemade will be in town next week to film episode about Portland lobster rolls. They’ll be at Bite into Maine on Thursday (11:30 – 1). They also plan to visit Eventide and perhaps Portland Lobster Company.
Hank Shaw: Duck & Goose Dinner at Beale Street
Hank Shaw, author and the 2013 Jame Beard award-winner for Best Food Blog (Hunter Angler Gardener Cook), will be at Beale Street Barbeque in Bath on October 30. Shaw and Beale Street chef Michael Quigg will be cooking a “duck & goose with an emphasis on versatility and an eye to the October hunting and harvest seasonal food Maine has to offer.”
Mainely Burgers & Bite into Maine to Appear on Eat Street (Updated)
The Cooking Channel show Eat Street (website, facebook) will be in Portland this weekend. On Sunday they’ll be filming with Mainely Burgers. You can get in on the action by visiting Mainely Burgers at “108 St. John St in Portland from 11:30-2”.
And on Monday from 12-3 they’ll be in Fort Williams Park filming with Bite into Maine.
Under Construction: Coffee by Design in East Bayside
Sprudge has published a set of photos as well as a Q&A with Coffee by Design about their new roastery and cafe in East Bayside.
The triangular shape of the coffee bar is designed to highlight different coffee brewing method…A blending station will also be part of the coffee bar mix so customers have the opportunity to create their own blends from that roaster’s choice of origin coffees each week.
CBD expects to open the new cafe “sometime during the holidays”.
Imbibe: Matt Bolinder from Speckled Ax
Matt Bolinder, owner and roaster at Speckled Ax, was featured in article about wood-roasted coffee in the latest issue of Imbibe magazine.
For Bolinder, wood choice is about controlling this highly specialized process. “The type of wood is important for the rate of burn and how quickly I can manipulate temperature,” he says. “I can’t go from zero to full gas in a second like most roasters, so I compensate by using different types of wood. Ash takes off quickly and with it, I can increase temperature fairly quickly. On the other hand, red oak takes longer to catch and start throwing heat, but its large pieces hold the temperature.”
The article isn’t yet available online but there is a copy behind the counter at Speckled Ax which you can take a look at. Imbibe has posted a short list of coffee shops in the US that feature wood-roasted coffee.