Reviews of In’Finiti & Duckfat

The Press Herald has published a bar review of In’finiti,

Not feeling too adventurous to delve into a house cocktail, I flipped to the beer section of the drink menu. In’Finiti features eight house brews on tap and another eight “guest taps.”

I had recently seen a post on the bar’s Facebook page about E=mc2 IPA, and decided to try it…

and Lauren Loves to Eat has published a review of Duckfat.

Poutine, $6.50 (with farm fresh egg, + $2): The best, and I mean best snack/side dish I’ve experienced this year. I was excited to try this after reading all the reviews, but was still taken by surprise at how incredible this poutine was. Props to the bf for totally going against my wish of not adding an egg (fries with gravy and cheese sounds like a very complete dish already), and requesting the addition anyway. The Belgian fries are topped with house made duck gravy, Vermont cheddar, and fresh chives. With all the deliciously strong flavors, this dish managed to never taste too salty. 

The Holy Donut is Hot

The Holy Donut is top of the list of Eater National’s list of the Hottest Doughnut Shops in America.

Portland has a few solid doughnut options, but The Holy Donut is the newcomer that has gotten a lot of buzz. Even Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree let Tom Colicchio try a doughnut when he was lobbying in DC. These are Maine potato doughnuts and flavors include things like bacon and cheddar stuffed doughnuts, tart cherry and more.

Press Herald: Food Trucks

Today’s Press Herald Food & Dining section has a feature story on food trucks and some of the regulatory issues that still need to be addressed.

The presence of a few food trucks downtown will be a huge step forward for this food-loving city, which struggled over the regulations and made the whole process way more complicated than it needed to be. We should celebrate the fact that the city has finally embraced an idea that will make life here just a little bit better.

But don’t crack open the Champagne too fast.

The paper also includes a detailed directory of the food trucks now in operation and under development.

Review of The North Point

The Bollard has published a review of The North Point.

I settled on the Cucumber Gin Martini. The North Point uses fresh basil, rather than mint, in this libation, and Bulldog Gin, often described as brutish or more flavorful than fellow premium gins. I’ve never considered Bulldog heavy-handed, so was not surprised it meshed well with the pressed cucumber in this refreshing cocktail. The thick slice of cucumber garnish echoes the healthy portion in the mix. I definitely recommend this one.

May Flea Bites Reports

The Blueberry Files and Dispatch have filed reports from last the May edition of Flea Bites.

Next I had to get my hands on some chicken and waffles from the Wicked Good Truck along with a spicy steak sandwich. (For those of you who are judging at this point, I had a salad for lunch and I brought some friends along to share with – OK?!? JEEZE!) I also couldn’t stop watching the little girl who I can only assume is the daughter of the Wicked Good Truck owners. When she wasn’t serving food from the truck to hungry customers she was masterfully hooping with one of two hula hoops hanging from the bright green truck. Super festy and awesome – I love Portland. [Dispatch]

 

Melissa Kelly, Best Chef Northeast

Melissa Kelly has won the 2013 award for Best Chef Northeast from the James Beard Foundation for her work as the chef/owner of Primo in Rockland.

Kelly’s win brings Maine’s total up to 4 or 5 depending on how you count it:

  • 2004 – Sam Hayward (Fore Street)
  • 2009 – Rob Evans (Hugo’s)
  • 2010 – Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier (Arrows)
  • 2013 – Melissa Kelly (Primo)

Kelly was also won Best Chef Northeast in 1999 when she was at the Old Chatham in New York.

This Week’s Events: Speckled Ax, Barbara Damrosch, Kitchen Tour, De Struise, Sweet Weekend

TuesdaySpeckled Ax is celebration their first anniversary with free brewed coffee in the morning and espresso shots all day, the last Cloak & Dagger dinner is taking place, and there will be a wine tasting at Rosemont Market.

Wednesday — the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.

Thursday — Wayne Davis of Ocean Aerials will be giving a talk on offshore fishing and fish spotting at GMRI.

FridayBarbara Damrosch will be at Longfellow for a book signing, it’s the first day of the Portland Kitchen Tour, it’s the first day of Sweet Weekend, and there will be a wine tasting at Rosemont.

SaturdayUrbain Coutteau from De Struise will be at Novare Res, 16+ De Struise beers will be on tap; The Kitchen Tour and Sweet Weekend are continuing, the Deering Oaks Farmers Market of 2013 is taking place. Gusto’s food truck will be at Rising Tide as part of the brewery’s weekly food truck series.

Sunday —  In’finiti is holding a De Struise Brouwers Brunch, call (207) 221-8889 for reservations.

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.

Pocket Brunch: Cinco de Mayo

P1000436

The May edition of Pocket Brunch took place Sunday afternoon at Caswell Farm in Gray. Oaxacan guest chef Max Mejia and the Pocket Brunch crew put together an 8-course Cinco de Mayo backyard fair. As usual, the Bearded Lady and Tandem Coffee were providing cocktails and coffee for the event.

Here’s the menu:

  • Shrimp – pickled shrimp with Mexican cocktail sauce and crispy ramps
  • Ceviche – weakfish, tomato, jalepeno, cilantro and onion.
  • Sopes – sopes, pork belly, quesa seco and peanuts
  • Gazpacho – pineapple, mango, orange, jicama and habenero ice
  • Esquite – corn, lime mayo, cheese, fried corn silk
  • Chilaquiles – tortilla, chorizo, potato, sour cream, chile sauce and fried egg (shown below)
  • Carmes – a choice of chicken confit and mole sauce or pork country ribs and pumpkin seed sauce
  • Dessert – arroz con leche with blood orange sorbet and saffron salt

David Zwickerhill has published a set of photos from the event.

P1000474

P1000479