Food Republic has published their top 10 list of Portland restaurants,
Inevitably when I spot a headline about eating in Portland I click on the link, eager to see which of my favorite restaurants made the cut, only to find that the article is not about Portland, Maine, but rather Portland, Oregon. I’m sure the Oregon Portland is terrific (I’ve never been), but in my book, nothing beats the food scene in New England’s Portland. Let the rivalry begin.
Both the Press Herald and MPBN has reported on proposed changes to the way the Maine Shrimp fishery is regulated that would limit the number of shrimp licenses issued.
“This fishery still remains open access, however the section has put in a control date which is June 7th, 2011. The purpose of that is that participants before that date may be treated differently than participants that come after that date,” [Michael] Waine says.
While Gulf of Maine shrimp populations are not thought to be directly threatened at the moment, Waine says there is concern that the amount of shrimp being caught over the last two years has exceeded the recommended catch limits.
Today’s Portland Daily Sun reports that the Creative Portland is “planning to discuss the feasibility of food trucks during its September meeting, potentially paving the way for a broader citywide discussion on the issue.”
“From an economic development point of view, it’s sort of an incubator for young chefs who want to get started. At the same time, it’s a way for existing restaurants to extend their brand,” [Andy] Graham [chair of the Creative Portland board] said. “Think how cool it would be if Fore Street did a food truck, or if Miyake did a food truck.”
For now, food trucks are not allowed under a smattering of overlapping city ordinances. Various city policies enacted over the years further complicate the picture, said Councilor Dave Marshall, a non-voting member who sits on the Creative Portland board.
The Exchange Street Cafe received 3½ stars from the Eat & Run review in today’s Press Herald.
Overall, this little cafe is a really nice addition to the Old Port, where it can be tough to get any kind of decent lunch for $10 or less these days. It’s nice to have a place that serves good food at reasonable prices that isn’t some kind of chain. I’ll be back to try the arancini, the panzerotti and more of those amazing meatballs.
If you haven’t tried this little cafe yet, it’s definitely worth a visit. And you can top off your meal with one of their homemade cannolis.
The Portland Phoenix has published a review of The Well in Cape Elizabeth.
Leaving the Well, you have not been burdened with a lesson regarding how one should eat. Instead, you have just had a very pleasant meal in beautiful surroundings, for a reasonable amount of money. If you leave the Well at dusk, just as the bugs descend, you can shoot down to Higgins Beach and watch the sky get orange and the ocean turn purple and inky. There is no lesson there either. The view is, like your meal at the Well, just profoundly pleasant.
The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes a feature article on Miyake’s farm in Freeport,
“They get to eat sushi-grade Japanese tuna every day,” says Chad Conley, who manages the farm. “Masa will trim a whole tuna, and there’s pounds and pounds of blood and scraps that can’t be used that normally, before the farm, were just going in the trash.
“But the pigs love it. They eat fish heads. They eat lobster bodies. They eat extra fat that we can’t use. They go crazy for it.”
and an interview with interview with Chris McClay about her personal chef service called Modern Vegan.
“It’s so interesting – nobody’s been vegan yet,” McClay said of the clients for her business, which she launched in April. “I’ve always had the feeling right from the beginning that my service is not for vegans. However, my clients do lean towards vegetarianism.”
The Bollard has published a bar review of Boda.
When I’m at Boda’s bar, I start most evenings with a Thai Basil Tom Collins ($9). It’s a visually attractive drink with a soft, opaque, yellow-green hue, served in a stemless martini glass with bits of the muddled basil dancing throughout. The flavor is nice and round. It fills your palette and leaves a hint of sweetness on your lips…
Vin et Grub has published a review of Street & Co.
I left with a knot in my stomach, with rage emanating, and with a desire to NEVER return to Street & Co. I’ve given it three chances, and unfortunately, it’s gotten worse every time I’ve gone back. I think I can now officially say, I will never have the desire to go back- no matter how delicious their Sole Francaise is, because honestly, food is only 40% of the dining experience, 60% is the overall atmosphere, environment, and service.
Flavor and Zest, Portland’s newest food blog, has published a lunch review of David’s.
For quality food and traditional dishes with slight quirks, I think David’s excelled. It was also reasonably priced – smaller portions but bigger flavors – and for four entrees, four alcoholic beverages, one appetizer, one dessert and a cappuccino, we made it out under $100 before tip. Not to mention four very happy and satisfied diners, which is the most important number to any meal.
MPBN interviewed Anthony Barrasso, owner of Anthony’s Italian Kitchen, for a report on Portland’s efforts to fight obesity with a $1.8 million grant from the CDC.
The city’s handiwork is also visible elsewhere–like at Anthony’s Kitchen, an Italian eatery in downtown Portland.
“This is called Anthony’s Lighter Side and this is our low-cal menu,” says restaurant owner Anthony Barrasso (above). “Three choices of wrap, white, wheat or spinach wraps, and then the dinners that we put out are also, as you can see, pretty fair calories, especially with the wheat linguine.”