Sabor Latino celebrated their Grand Opening on Saturday. The restaurant is located at 249 Saint John Street, formerly the home of Viet Bangkok Cuisine. They plan on serving Mexican, Salvadoran and Cuban food and the draft menu submitted to the city indicated they’d also be open for breakfast so perhaps Portland has one more destination for Sunday Brunch to try out.
Marcy’s New Owners
Earlier this week the Portland Daily Sun published a profile of Marcy’s Diner including details on the eatery’s change in ownership.
Back in March, the previous owners and motorcycle fanatics Murray and Joely Sparks put the word out that they were looking for someone to take over the diner. They had a 2-year-old son at home, and work days that could sometimes turn in to 24-hour-long marathons proved to be incompatible with the challenge of raising a little boy. They wanted to make sure the location, a diner since the early 1940s, would remain an eatery, and decided to find a new owner rather than close and risk the space being leased to other entities.
Bathras Market Closing
Bathras Market in Williard Square has announced that they will be going out of business. January 20 will be their last day in operation.
We have had a wonderful year filled with support and encouragement from all of you, but it seems that the competition from larger supermarkets combined with the seasonal nature of our location, as well as our own family circumstances, are preventing us from doing the business we need to do in order to survive as a year-round grocery market and deli.
We have tried our best to have a unique mix of quality products with fair pricing, but it has become clear that we do not have the buying power to compete with prices at larger stores, which greatly impacts our ability to generate sales during these difficult economic times.
Havana South Closed
Indications have been piling up all week but this afternoon the Press Herald received confirmation that Havana South has gone out of business.
Michael Boland, who opened the restaurant with his wife, Deirdre Swords, in 2010, confirmed the closure today in an email to the Portland Press Herald that was also signed by chef Cassady Pappas. The restaurant’s last day of business was New Year’s Eve.
“We worked long and hard, but in the end it just wasn’t possible to continue financially,” the email read.
Interview with Food Coma TV
This week’s issue of the Portland Phoenix includes an interview with the creative team behind Food Coma TV.
Based on gustatory adventurer Joe Ricchio’s cult foodie blog Portland Food Coma, Food Coma TV (foodcomatv.tumblr.com) has had a revelatory first season. Centered around Ricchio’s widely entertaining personality and anchored by comic foil Joel Beauchamp, producer Alex Steed, and director of photography Kurt Graser, Food Coma TVhas become a viral sensation in just three months.
Review of Y-Lime’s Gourmet
Edible Obsessions has published a review of Y-Lime’s Gourmet.
I chose the Chocolate Pomegranate right off the bat. The use of fresh pomegranate seeds, nestled atop a dollop of ganache, then vanilla buttercream, intrigued me greatly. When you bit into the cake, the fresh sheets popped and released a lovely tart and tangy juice that balanced the rich dark chocolate cake very nicely.
Reviews of Roma Pizza and Season’s Grille
Today’s Press Herald includes reviews of Roma Pizza,
Each slice was distinctive. The pear and blue cheese was most surprising. I took a bite with reluctance, but was pleased with both the texture and sprite nature of the pear. The pairing of tastes was perfect, and the pear slice retained its substance. It was neither soft nor droopy.
and a bar review of Seanson’s Grille.
Rules for Customers
Today’s Portland Daily Sun proposes a set of resolutions for restaurant customer behavior in 2012.
5) Do not bring your own food into a restaurant. Please do not ask for hot water and lemon because you brought your own Lipton tea bag, or single serving VIA coffee from Starbucks. Your server works on commission, and the restaurant owner earns a living off what is sold, not what is unintentionally given away. Even restaurants with BYOB policies charge a wine corking fee.This one tied with: Do not ask for extra bread you clearly intend to take home.
Review of Katahdin
Portland Magazine has published a review of Katahdin.
The major draw here, aside from the gorgeous bar and glamor perspective, is the wood grilling. Firing up with almond, oak, and apple wood, chef and owner Becky Lee Simmons puts out some mighty mean fare, including my hanger steak ($26). A sure-fire winner, succulent slices of tender meat cooked exactly as requested (for me rare, and Simmons nailed it) are complemented with scrumptious potato purée, braised greens, and rich, bounteous steak jus.
This issue also includes the magazine’s list of 2012 food events taking place across the state.
Under Construction: The Holy Donut
According to a report from the Munjoy Hill News, Leigh Kellis, owner of The Holy Donut, has leased the old Terroni’s Market on Park Ave with plans to open a retail location for her business.
“I’m passionate about it. Donuts are cheap thrills,” said a likeable Leigh Kellis, this afternoon as she discussed the remarkable growth of her 7 month old business during 2011. The growth has been so fast that Leigh has just leased the former Terroni’s Market at 194 Park Avenue from where she will sell retail/wholesale 12 varieties of her Holy Donuts. She plans to have the new location up and running within several months.