This Week’s Events: Foley’s, Miyake, Twilight Dinner, BiBo’s Wine Dinner, Yarmouth Clam Festival

Tuesday — Mayor Mavodones will be at Foley’s for a ribbon cutting ceremony to formally celebrate their Grand Opening. The bakery was reopened last month by the original owners, Ed and Molly Foley.

WednesdayRSVP and Old Port Wine Merchants are holding wine tastings, and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.

Thursday — the Great Lost Bear is showcasing Unibroue Brewing, Cultivating Community is holding their first Twilight Dinner of the season.

FridayBiBo’s Madd Apple Cafe is holding a comfort food wine dinner, and it’s the opening day of the Yarmouth Clam Festival.

SaturdayLeRoux Kitchen is holding a wine tasting, the Yarmouth Clam Festival continues, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.

Sunday — the last day of the Yarmouth Clam Festival.

Openings — the White Cap Grille and Miyake’s new Fore Street location plan on opening this week, perhaps as early as Wednesday.

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.

Blue Spoon Bistro Burger

The Boston Globe has included the Blue Spoon on their list of Ten Great Burger Spots in New England.

Far from the tourist-haunted Old Port, this little neighborhood bar and restaurant on artsy Munjoy Hill is one of those secrets that Portland gourmands mostly keep to themselves. The burger is one of the leanest yet tastiest pieces of beef most of us will ever encounter. The beef is free-range, grass-fed Scottish Highland supplied by A Wee Bit Farm (operated by a retired South Boston police officer) in Orland, Maine.

Review of Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre received 4 stars from today’s review in the Maine Sunday Telegram.

On the night we visited, every plate was outstanding. Our server knew the menu inside and out and spoke intelligently about the wine list. We were greeted warmly and well taken care of from start to finish.

I departed with a feeling of calm contentment rather than titillation, reminded that there’s no need to head to large cities — or the five villages of Italy — for excellent cuisine redolent of this region. Farm- and sea-to-table dining is in very good hands at Cinque Terre. The establishment deserves its many kudos for helping to put Maine’s largest city on the destination list for food lovers.

Review of Gogi

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Gogi.

There is enough pulled pork, for example, to appreciate the way the blend of spices (especially garlic, soy, and sesame) give it a Korean character distinct from Mexican or Southern versions. The mix of chopped vegetables on top is mostly dark lettuce, but with a nice cilantro brightness and some crunchy radish, cabbage, onion, and bean sprouts. Perched on a thin layer of cucumber slices is a cool dollop of garlicky brown sauce.

Review of Otto Pizza

Edible Obsessions has published a review of Otto Pizza.

The cheese slice was just as righteous as I thought it would be. Their sauce, neither too sweet nor too salty, was more acidic than anything. The cheese wasn’t dense or plasticky and, again, the crust was perfectly charred and crunchy. It was a cheese slice that reminded me of so many I had eaten while visiting New York City before I moved up here.

First Review of Cobblestones

Cobblestones received 3½ stars from the Eat & Run review in today’s Press Herald.

…I decided to try the El Cubano ($7.99), which was a grilled ciabatta filled with lime spiced, slow-roasted pork loin, ham, Swiss cheese, hand-tossed pickles, red pepper relish and whole grain Dijonaise. The pork loin was tender, and the seasonings weren’t overdone. This sandwich was both satisfying to the taste buds and very filling — you could probably eat half and save the other half for later.

This takes the number of restaurants on the Unreviewed List down to 44.

Mug Clubs

The What Ales You column in today’s Press Herald writes about the mug clubs at several Portland area bars.

The idea behind mug clubs is that members pay a fee upfront, and for the rest of the year get a number of benefits, which vary from club to club. Members get a mug — larger than the typical pint glass — to hang on the wall, and they use that when they come to the pub. Often members get T-shirts and food discounts on certain nights, as well.

Review of The Well

The Golden Dish has published a review of The Well, a small farm-to-table restaurant located at Jordan’s Farm in Cape Elizabeth.

My main course was grilled chicken breast (Serendipity Farms) that was cooked sous vide first and then finished off over wood on the grill. It was served with a perfect puree of local potatoes and crisp grilled local asparagus. The chicken was melt-in-your-mouth tender and juicy.

Review of Pizza Time

From Away has published a review of Pizza Time.

The entire experience was a throwback to an era in Maine pizza-making that I thought had ended long ago, when pizza was almost exclusively the domain of gas stations and convenience stores, when pounds of poor-quality toppings were pulled from giant, garbage-bag-sized plastic containers, piled on thick dough cushions, and cooked in anemic, lukewarm ovens.