This Week’s Events: Maine Restaurant Week, Breakfast Cook-off, Japanese Tea Tasting

| Posted in Events

Monday — Maine Restaurant Week continues through Saturday; see the MRW’s website for a full list of participating restaurants.

Wednesday — Wine Wise is leadingan Italian Reds wine walk.

Friday — the Incredible Breakfast Cook-off is taking place at Sea Dog Brewing in South Portland.

Saturday — the Winter Farmers Market is taking place at the Irish Heritage Center.

Sunday — Dobra is holding Japanese Tea tasting.

All Month — Starting on Thursday and running throughout the month of March, Grace, Miyake, Pai Men Miyake and the Foreside Tavern in Falmouth will make a donation to fight hunger in Maine for every 3- or 7-course meal you order. “The idea that there are children in our state the are hungry is simply unacceptable to us. When we learned that each dollar raised connects a child with ten meals we knew we could make an impact right here in our own community.” said Anne Verrill, owner of Grace & The Foreside Tavern.

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.

4½ Star Review for The Back Bay Grill

| Posted in Reviews

Back Bay Grill received 4½ stars from the review in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

Its quality comes from a keen dedication. Chef/owner Larry Matthews Jr., who became executive chef in 1997 and bought the restaurant in 2002, was fully engaged on the night we visited, keeping one eye on the open kitchen and examining each plate as it left for the table and the other eye on front-of-house flow. Creating a complete and exceptional dining experience is his art, and his standards appear to be sky-high.

Lucky us, for that translates into an atmosphere of unpretentious elegance, a menu that changes frequently and mixes traditional fare with some adventure, and food that sings.

Review of Ruski’s

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The Blueberry Files has published a review of Ruski’s.

I honestly can’t say I’d recommend Ruski’s for the food, but I enjoy drinking there. If you stay long enough, order something that comes out of the fryer; they’ll even make you gangster poutine, by adding brown gravy and cheese to your fries. 
But really, the people watching is my favorite part.

Signature Event, Museum Cafe, 15 Exchange & Geary’s

| Posted in Reviews, Events, Beer

Today’s Press Herald includes a report out on last night’s cocktail and dessert competition,

Asked what he was looking for in a winner, [John] Myers said, “It’s that X factor.”

“I want something that’s going to stand out, something that I don’t know exactly what they made it of, something that I wish I had come up with, you know,” Myers said. “And something that I want two or three of.”

a 4 star review of the Museum Cafe,

My sandwich tasted entirely original. Served cold on dark bread with fresh greens, it included moist flanks of freshly prepared chicken with a creamy, zesty sauce. It came with a few chips on the side, and was entirely satisfying.

a bar review of the 15 Exchange Grille,

Under a sign that reads, “think different,” the full bar is displayed with some choice liquor bottles placed on cubed shelves. That’s where I spotted a bottle of Crown Royal and opted for a Crown and ginger that cost $8. After a few sips, I determined that was pricey, considering there was more ginger ale in the glass than whisky.

and this week’s What Ales You column.

Portland Community Food Forum

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The Portland Phoenix has published a report on a local food forum being organized by Local Sprouts.

Attendees, whether they are farmers, business owners, lawyers, accountants, schools, emergency-food service organizations, or people with technical, marketing, or writing skills, can meet and discuss ways to share resources and collaborate.

The gatherings led to a desire for a larger food discussion, presently called the Portland Community Food Forum: Creating a Healthy and Resilient Food System. It’s tentatively scheduled to be held on Thursday, April 19, at the Woodfords Congregational Church in Portland, Fertig says.

Reuters Profile of Grace

| Posted in Profiles

The Reuters news service has produced a profile of Grace.

Every element of the design shows a keen eye for detail. Napkin rings are made from spare parts harvested from the original pipe organ. The dramatic architectural feature over the bar echoes two trefoil stained glass windows. Even the knives mimic tall, spear-shaped windows.

Chef Peter Sueltenfuss presides over the large open kitchen located in the church’s former altar. There, he produces an eclectic blend of modern American cooking that leans heavily on Maine seafood and locally-raised produce.

Maine Food Producers Alliance

| Posted in Profiles

The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes a feature article on the Maine Food Producers Alliance.

The alliance holds workshops that teach up-and-coming stovetop businesses all the practical things they need to know, from picking out the best packaging to the do’s and don’ts of approaching major retailers. The group includes businesses of all sizes, from Stonewall Kitchen – whose owners started out selling their products at local farmers markets – to smaller ventures such as the Perfect Peanut Brittle Co. in Saco.

For more information on the MFPA visit their website.