Book Signing with Blue Bottle @ Tandem Coffee

| Posted in Uncategorized

Rabelais and Tandem Coffee are co-hosting James and Caitlin Freeman, founders of Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco, to celebrate the release of their new book The Blue Bottle Craft of Coffee, Growing, Roasting and Drinking, with Recipes. The event is taking place Sunday October 21, 1-3 pm at Tandem Coffee, 122 Anderson St in East Bayside.

Blue Bottle is one of the nations leading coffee roasters. Kathleen and Will Pratt, owners of Tandem, are alums of the Blue Bottle organization in San Francisco and Brooklyn. During the event you’ll have the chance to sample their coffee and tour their new coffee shop/roastery.

Review of Fore Street

| Posted in Reviews

Eat Maine has published a review of Fore Street.

One of the elements that I enjoy most about Fore Street—in addition to the chewy, soft bread from Standard Baking Company slathered in butter—is the fact that warm foie gras is perpetually found amongst the menu offerings, with an ever-changing array of accouterments. On this particular evening the foie gras is served grilled with sweet cherries, pesto, and bitter arugula, with toast points provided as a conduit for the decadent, fatty duck liver.

Feed the Monster: Micucci’s & Gilbert’s

| Posted in Reviews

LA food blogger Feed the Monster continues his eating tour across Portland with reviews of Gilbert’s,

This is in and out eating (The Monster clocks in at twenty minutes total) which is perfect because you’ll want to take a walk afterward.  Luckily the beautiful city of Portland beckons.

Why go?  Bacon.

Monster rating: 3/5 Monsters

and Micucci’s.

The Monster having put away a piece of each the pizza bread and the slab is now going for a walk.  Followed by a run.  Followed by the gym.

Why go?  Gluttony.

Monster rating: 4/5 Monsters

New Wave of Maine Brewers

| Posted in Beer

Today’s Press Herald includes a feature story about the new batch of beer brewers (Maine Beer Co, Oxbow, Rising Tide, Bull Jagger, etc) and  related ventures (Novare Res, Bier Cellar, etc.).

The late 1980s and early 1990s brought Geary’s, Gritty McDuff’s and Shipyard, now the granddaddies of the industry in Maine even though they’re still much smaller than “big beer.”

The growth of the industry has paved the way for more competitors and more specialization. A second wave of “beer geeks” is brewing small batches at home or in tiny rented spaces, using unconventional ingredients to develop a diversity of flavors that could only be dreamed of two decades ago.

Feed the Monster on Five Fifty-Five and Duckfat

| Posted in Reviews

LA food blogger Feed the Monster has published reviews of Duckfat,

So, how does a duckfat caramel shake turn out?  Absolutely exquisitely.  It’s rich without being overpowering, a touch sweet but never cloying.  It’s a grown up shake with enough going on to satisfy the kid in us all.

and Five Fifty-Five.

The pepper-crusted New England scallops with whipped fennel-potatoes, butter glazed local summer beans and organic baby carrots-vanilla emulsion makes the grade as the main course.  The freshness of the ingredients can’t be questioned.  But overall, the meal registers as nice.  As good.  As satisfying.

Reviews of Fresh Approach & Spread

| Posted in Reviews

The Press Herald has published an Eat & Run review of Fresh Approach,

The meatloaf sandwich could not have been better. It featured two hunks of seasoned meatloaf, each sliced about a half-inch thick, and served on a chewy 12-inch sub roll with melted cheese and a touch of ketchup. My intent was to eat half and save the other half for dinner. But I plowed through all 12 inches without hesitation.

and a bar review of Spread.

The brunch drink menu was nothing short of spectacular. All the cocktails were priced at $7, and even standard drinks had a special twist. Mimosas are made with fresh squeezed orange juice, and the bar uses Stoli Jalapeno Infused Vodka and a homemade mix for the Bloody Mary. And, maybe you could try Second Marriage – Double Cross Vodka, Aperol and fresh grapefruit juice – if your Saturday night shenanigans would leave you questioning your love life.

Portland Eats

| Posted in Reviews

Mister Meatball has published a list of some of his favorite spots in Portland. The list includes Eventide, Local 188, Emilitsa, Otto, Schulte & Herr and Speckled Ax.

Last year I listed a bunch of the best places to eat in Portland. A couple are no longer open (the Porthole and District), but all the others still are. This time around there are three new places that weren’t open last year, plus three others that I’d neglected to get around to.

You can’t go wrong with a single one.