Under Construction: 5 Dana Street

| Posted in Under Construction

Chef Damian Sansonetti has joined up with a group of 3 partners that are launching a new cafe at 5 Dana Street in the old home of Big Mama’s Diner.

Sansonetti tells me they hope to fill a niche for the weekday lunch crowd and catering for nearby office workers. Just a stones throw from both Commercial and Wharf Streets they would seem to be well positioned to tap into late night weekend Wharf Street crowd as well as serve hungry tourists in the Summer. The menu is still under development but will be sandwich-centric with some interesting twists.

They hope to open the new, and as yet unnamed business, in February.

While working on the Dana Street project, Sansonetti is continuing to search for digs in Portland to open his own restaurant, Sonnet.

Under Construction: Maine Craft Distilling

| Posted in Under Construction

Maine Craft Distilling is a new distillery that’s under construction at 101 Fox Street in East Bayside. The company was founded by Luke Davidson and three IDEXX alumni Fred Farber, TJ Dupree and John Rogers. This weekend I had the chance to meet up with Luke to learn more about the operation and get a tour of the facility.

Maine Craft Distilling describes themselves as a farm-to-flask operation and listening to Luke it sounds like they have a strong experimental streak that could lead to some very interesting products. The company is developing relationships with Maine farmers to source grains and other ingredients. They’ve received their federal license to distill and are on track to get their state licenses as well.  They plan to produce a carrot-based gin called Chesuncook, as well as a rum “Ration”, a single malt whiskey “Fifty Stone” and a vermouth. They hope to start production and sales in the coming year.

A year ago there wasn’t a single distiller in Portland. The launch of New England Distilling in 2012 and upcoming developments from Maine Craft Distilling and In’finiti (from Novare Res) are rapidly changing that. If the trend continues, we may soon have as many options for local spirits as we already do for local craft beer.

Photos: wall mural that runs along the Maine Craft Distilling malting floor (above),  malting floor, stills and other equipments (below), tasting room and office, MCD exterior sign, hybrid bicycle that’s been retrofitted to run on methanol.

 

This Week’s Events: Veranda Market, Bar Lola, Zev Rovine, Holiday Hulabaloo, Pocket Brunch, Step up to the Plate

| Posted in Events

Monday — Veranda Asian Market is holding their grand opening at noon. Read this article from Maine a la Carte to learn more. In the evening Bar Lola is hosting a sold out cocktail event featuring New England Distilling.

Tuesday — natural wine expert Zev Rovine will be at the Bier Cellar for a tasting organized by Ned Swain from Devenish Wines.

Wednesday — Zev Rovine will be the special guest for a natural wines dinner at Bresca.

Thursday — The Great Lost Bear will be showcasing Andrews Brewing, Nosh will be showcasing beers from Chimay, and there will be a wine and cheese tasting at the Public Market House.

Friday — a wine tasting is taking place at Rosemont Market and a cocktail tasting/open house at Portland Trading Company.

Saturday —there will be a wine tasting at Browne Trading, it’s the first day of a pork butchering workshop, Rosemont Produce is hosting their Holiday Hulabaloo, and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place.

Sunday — a sold out Pocket Brunch featuring guest chef Joe Ricchio is taking place, the Portland Food Co-op is holding a food swap, and Rabelais in conjunction with SPACE Gallery are screening the movie Step up to the Plate.

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.

Russell Libby, 56

| Posted in People

Russell Libby, the longtime Executive Director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, passed away early Sunday morning after a battle with cancer.

Russell lent his extraordinary leadership skills to MOFGA for almost 30 years. He served on the Board of Directors for a decade before becoming its long-serving Executive Director in 1995. He held that position until November 2 of this year, when he assumed the title of Senior Policy Advisor. In that role he continued to guide the organization with his characteristic wisdom, compassion and dedication, even as his health failed.

For more information see  the Bangor Daily News, Portland Press Herald, Broadturn Farm, MPBN, Maine Cheese Guild and MOFGA on Facebook.

The State flew flags at half-staff to honor his passing.

Joe’s Moving to Boston

| Posted in People

Joe Ricchio has announced he’s moving to Boston.

Why? Well, I’ve accepted a sales position with an established wine company, which is certainly the catalyst for the transition. More importantly though I think it’s important for Food Coma to expand a bit (and really, Boston is closer to Portland than Camden!), and there are few things I enjoy more than drinking and eating my way through a new city, so this seemed like as good a time as any to pull the trigger and get the f[***] out of dodge.

SoPo Wok Inn Closing

| Posted in Closings

According to a report in today’s Press Herald, the Wok Inn in South Portland is closing as of today.

The closing may seem sudden to its fans, but the restaurant’s owners say that its original purpose, to put the Lee children, graduates of Scarborough High School, through college, was accomplished some years ago…It’s a bittersweet time for the family. They’re looking forward to leaving behind the grueling schedule the restaurant requires, but they’re also saying good-bye to longtime customers who have become friends and regulars, like Munson.

Gingerbread Scratch Baking House

| Posted in Uncategorized

Scratch Baking has published photos (set 1 and set 2) of their intricate gingerbread rendition of the bakery in Willard Square.

The gingerbread house is currently on display in the lobby of the Downtown Residence Inn/Marriott on Fore Street. It’s an entry in a gingerbread house competition raising money for the Ronald McDonald House in Portland.

Photo Credit: Scratch Baking Co.

Best Sushi Restaurants in US: Miyake

| Posted in Reviews

Travel and Leisure has named Miyake to their list of the Best Sushi Restaurants in the US.

Lobster may come to mind first when you think of Maine. But at Miyake, an elegant restaurant in downtown Portland, chef and owner Masa Miyake serves some of the best sushi along the Atlantic. His menu focuses on local catches: there’s sweet Maine shrimp laced with a spicy mayo and avocado, mini sardines, and even sea urchin roe harvested just up the coast. And yes, there is lobster on the menu, but it’s probably prepared in ways you’ve never tasted.

Earlier this year Bon Appetit had named Miyake one of the 10 best new sushi restaurants in the country.

 

Three Buoys Seafood Shanty

| Posted in People, Profiles

The Munjoy Hill News has published a report on the Three Buoys Seafood Shanty and Grille which opened earlier this week on Cumberland Ave.

The two business partners behind 3 Buoys are former Legal Seafood officials.  Bill Park, chef/owner, directed the test kitchen for it.  “I got tired of being a number,” Park said recently.  Legal Seafood has 30 restaurants between Boston and Florida.  Although they do have growth in mind, the first and highly successful 3 Buoys in York will always be the flagship restaurant for Park.  Currently, he’s looking for the right chef to step into his shoes here so Park can return to the larger York restaurant.  The other business partner is Bill Holler, formerly vp of purchasing at Legal Seafood, Boston, with his wife Nikole.  She’s  former employee in the seafood business and is the operations manager at 3 Buoys.  Nikole is looking for a few good servers, to fill out the staff.  Currently Katie Haggerty is doing that job.