Delights & Prejudices, the in-house blog of the James Beard Foundation, has included Eventide’s Cucumber-Cured Arctic Char with Melon, Mint, and Kasha on the list of their favorite dishes of 2012.
Our favorite dish during an excellent lunch was this Arctic char crudo, which was joined by an unexpected but memorable scattering of toasty kasha and soft pieces of melon, made honey-sweet from the warmth of a fleeting Maine summer.
Food & Wine Executive Editor Dana Cowin has named both Eventide and Petite Jacqueline to her list of the Best Restaurants of 2012.
She praises PJ for their “Pitch-perfect bistro with magnificent renditions of classics” and calls Eventide a “supercute oyster bar with a great local selection and some Asian-accented dishes, like the lightly grilled Gloucester surf clam with daikon and nam prik.”
Cowin was in Portland for a visit in early August.
Portland magazine has published a calendar of 2013 food events from across the state, from National Pie Day on January 23 through to the Feast of the Seven Fishes on December 24.
Portland Daily Sun columnist Natalie Ladd has assembled a list of her Top Ten Most Ridiculous Tips of 2012.
1) $10 Gift Card to Pizza Hut. Um, I’d rather have been left a crispy Hamilton IF the tab had been $50, but it was $87 and in addition to the competitors’ gift card, I got a little love note about how great the service was. Call me ungrateful here (and in the following gratuities), but these people peeled out of the parking lot in a new Audi convertible.
John Golden has published a listof his favorite dishes of 2012.
At this time of year, dining critics often proclaim their picks for best restaurants of the year. Instead I’m offering my picks for the best dishes I’ve had at area restaurants. From the archetypal hamburger to more exalted choices, herewith are the dishes that made the grade.
The Maine Law Review has published A program for the Maine Food Law Colloquiem which is taking place this February in Portland.
The colloquiem is billed as “a chance to hear scholars, policymakers, farmers, and community members discuss and debate the challenges confronting food initiatives in an era of globalized food production.”
The Press Herald has published a review of Scratch Baking Company,
But it was love at first sight when I saw the list of sandwiches (all $7.95), and this was followed by further infatuation when I sunk my enthusiastic teeth into the pulled pork. It’s described as “slow braised pork shoulder, house-made pickles and slaw on a house roll with tangy sauce.”
I describe it as zippy and delicious sandwich perfection. The pork melted on my tongue, and the coleslaw, pickles and sauce held a flavorful dance party in my mouth.
and a bar review of the Old Port Tavern.
As someone who has ended many a night at Old Port Tavern, I can tell you — don’t let the quaint tavern charm fool you. Sunday through Thursday, the tavern features karaoke, and on Friday and Saturday nights, tables and chairs are moved aside for a dance floor, disco lights and a DJ. The tavern quickly becomes a nightclub with $2 Jell-O shots and all your favorite alcohols to mix any cocktail under the sun.
Portland Phoenix food columnist Brian Duff has published his look forward to what we can expect to be eating in 2013.
It also might finally be the year you can find some dim sum in this town, or at least something dim-summy. Encouraging developments include new brunch service at two restaurants adept at Asian flavors and techniques: Pai Men Miyake and Eventide Oyster Company. The terrific Tao in Brunswick is rumored to have been offering dim-sum dishes as bar snacks and appetizers. The new year will bring a dim sum pop-up restaurant called CHINESE LAUNDRY which promises to show up in “galleries, coffee shops, residences, First Fridays, and street corners.”
The Root has assembled a list of upcoming beekeeping classes taking place in Cumberland County.
Bangor Daily News food columnist Emily Burnham has included Otto, Sonny’s and The Holy Donut in her list of the “ten favorite things I’ve eaten this year”.