Portland Food Coma has posted the second half of his list of the 100 Things a Customer Should Never Do.
74.
Upon receipt of the “black” coffee you ordered, request cream and sugar. Upon receipt of the cream, insist that you wanted milk.
Outdoor Dining
Memorial Day weekend mark’s the cultural divide between Spring and Summer. Weather permitting it’s also the start of the outdoor dining season. I’ve been dusting off the PFM Outdoor Drinking and Dining List. Please take a look and let me know what new spots I’m missing.
Cupcake Review of Aurora Provisions
Cupcakes! Cupcakes! Cupcakes! has published a review of Aurora Provisions.
I am so glad that my tipster let me know they had cupcakes there that day, since it really was the best basic cupcake I have had in a while. The butter cream frosting was really light and not too sweet. The flavor for the frosting was spot on to complement the chocolate cupcake. The sugar sprinkles gave it a fantastic crunch and obvious visual appeal…
Rising Food Prices
Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram reports on the recent uptick in food prices.
After two years of the lowest food inflation rates since the 1960s, food prices are headed up again. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that nationally, overall food prices jumped 3.9 percent from April 2010 to last month.
Coffee prices have soared nearly 14 percent in the past year. Beef and pork prices shot up 10.4 percent. Dairy prices are up 6.3 percent, eggs up 4.8 percent and fresh vegetables up 4.5 percent.
Exchange Street Cafe Now Open
The Exchange Street Cafe is now open. The Petrucci family is serving a menu of economically priced sandwiches, salads and subs. They plan on adding pasta dinners and BBQ dinners to the menu soon.
DennyMike’s in Saveur
Saveur magazine has included DennyMike’s Sweet ‘n Spicey BBQ sauce in their list of “14 Sauces We Can’t Live Without” (page 123 of the June/July issue).
The Thirsty Pig Now Open
After a few day’s hiatus, Linda Bean’s Perfect Maine Lobster Roll has reopened on Exchange Street with a new name and concept. The restaurant is now known as The Thirsty Pig. There are a few carry overs from the prior menu including the eponymous lobster roll.
National Lemonade Day Prep
The Blueberry Files has published a report on last weekend’s Lemonade Day Recipe Contest. Kate served as one of the judges for the competition.
And in the end, we were all won over by Haley and Emma’s “Lemon Love” pink lemonade. These cute sophomores from Bowdoin and Topsham created the best tasting recipe, with fresh raspberries and slices of lemon. Absolutely delicious, and perfect for the almost hot day we had last Saturday.
Esquire and Huffington
Rosie’s clocked in at #76 on Esquire magazine’s 2011 list of the Best Bars in America.
And a Huffington Post food writer has published notes on a visit to Portland including commentary on Bard, Duckfat, Browne Trading, Fore Street and Five Fifty-Five.
Reviews of Paciarino and District
Appetite Portland has posted a review of Paciarino.
Next to me, Adam’s “oh man-ing” over fat ravioli pillows stuffed with goat cheese and Vidalia onions caramelized with a touch of fresh sage. A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil glistens on his fork as he stabs chunks of the tender pockets slathered in traditional Pomodoro sauce speckled with fresh ground parmigiano.
From Away has published a review of District.
In conclusion, I am once again stumped and confounded. I wanted to like District more than I did but am not making any sweeping judgments or passing pronouncements as yet. There are certainly reasons to have dinner at this neighborhood hopeful and perhaps a more narrow path to follow. Stick with the raw bar, offal and appetizers, I’m thinking. Have many cocktails at the bar. Go when it’s already dark. Be part of a large party. Laugh a lot, and loudly. There’s room there. Share food, eat off each other’s plates…