Scratch Baking is having a launch event on Sunday at 2-4 pm for Baker’s Notes their new “bi-annual journal offering recipes, stories, images and illustrations about the Scratch Baking Co. experience”.
Sun: Deux Cochon, Groceria Cafe, PFM Top 10, Where to Eat
Today’s Portland Daily Sun profiled Deux Cochon and its owner Adam Alfter,
“I love pickled pig’s feet, they are so good, but people are kind of scared of them,” said Adam Alfter, owner of the Public Market House’s newest BBQ joint, Deux Cochon.
“Probably about three people will eat it and I’ll eat the rest of them, but I’m cool with that, because those three people get to know what it’s like,” said Alfter.
reported on the upcoming return of the Groceria Cafe (aka Cafe at Pat’s),
“I had leased it for the last five years, and now I have it back with Greg Gilman, who is the original chef who built it with me. He’s coming back. Everybody’s excited,” [Jaime] Vacchiano said.
The cafe won rave reviews in local media, and one patron who dined at the cafe in its early years said Gilman’s return is great news.
and spread the word about Broke 207’s call for more affordable restaurants and the PFM Top 10 List.
The Changing Face of Maine Farming
The latest issue of Mainebiz reports on the changing face of farming in Maine,
Younger farmers like Brenner and Bliss are invigorating Maine’s agriculture industry, riding a societal shift toward locally sourced goods that has made farming a viable enterprise even for those lacking land and generational expertise. The average Maine farmer is 56.4 years old, hardly a spring chicken but ranking the state a decent 17th in the nation (between Wisconsin and Indiana’s youthful 55 years and last place New Mexico’s comparatively old 59.6), according to 2007 USDA census figures, the most recent available. The age is lower among Maine’s organic farmers, who average 52 years old.
Mushroom Legislation
Today’s Press Herald reports on mushroom safety legislation making its way through the Maine Legislature,
Nearly three years after a couple of Portland chefs got sick from eating poisonous mushrooms, Maine lawmakers may adopt the nation’s most extensive food safety regulations for wild fungi.
Legislators are considering a bill to require that at least one person who is trained and certified to identify edible wild mushrooms handle the delicacies before they are sold at markets or served in restaurants.
Here’s a link to the full text of the bill.
This Week’s Events: Austrian Wine, Falmouth Kitchen Tour, Brewer for a Day, Mother’s Day
Tuesday — Bresca is holding a 5-course Austrian Wine Dinner.
Wednesday — the Farmers Market is taking place in Monument. Grace is holding their monthly wine club event.
Thursday — authors T. Colin Campbell and Meg Wolff will be at Whole Foods for a book signing.
Friday — the first day of the Falmouth Kitchen Tour. There will be wine tastings at Rosemont and the West End Deli, and Rosemont is running a Austrian Wine Showcase ($45/person) in the evening. Friday is also First Friday Art Walk and restaurants will be very busy so make your reservations early.
Saturday — the Farmers Market is taking place in Deering Oaks Park, the second day of the Falmouth Kitchen Tour, LeRoux is holding a wine tasting, Sebago Brewing is offering a chance for you to work with their brewers on a special batch that will raise funds for their Trek Across Maine cycling team.
Sunday — Mother’s Day, one of the busiest restaurant days of the year, so be prepared to wait a little longer to get in at your favorite Sunday brunch spot. Wine Wise is teaching a special Mother’s Day wine class.
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.
Review of Gogi
Vin et Grub has published a review of Gogi.
The tofu taco I liked the best- it was great, simply because I love tofu. Otherwise I felt like they weren’t anything special, and had too much stuff packed onto the corn tortilla itself- which I might add ended up tearing apart upon picking it up. I don’t want to eat my taco with a fork… and I guess they should have given more than one tortilla per order, because the amount of food could easily fill two tacos. The cucumber salsa was delicious- maybe that was the high point of the tacos in general.
Review of The Front Room
Eat Here. Go There. has published a review of The Front Room.
Overall, The Front Room is a very good deal for the quality of food. They don’t accept reservations so there can be a wait on the weekends, but just get a drink. A bonus if you get there between 4-6 on Friday–Happy Hour! They have $2 glasses of house wine and a number of other beer and cocktail specials. Both of our entrées were $19. Their daily special list could be a menu in and of itself, and makes me wonder why they even have a traditional menu at all. We will be back again this summer for sure, and can’t wait to give it a whirl at brunch!
Burger Review of Petite Jacqueline
Chubby Werewolf has published a review of the burger at Petite Jacqueline.
As good as the burger looks, it tasted even better. Cooked exactly as I had requested (I tip my hat to you, Rebecca and kitchen staff!), the grilled burger patty was tender, flavorful and juicy. On its own, without the toppings, it would have been an example of a really outstanding straightforward burger. But the addition of the salty blue cheese and those amazing, sweet-tasting caramelized onions propelled the burger to a sublime level. Whereas lesser buns might have given way to the weight and juiciness of the patty, mine held up extremely well. I was provided with mustard and ketchup, but found that I had want for neither.
April 2011 Monthly Stats
The 10 eateries looked up most often in April on Portland Food Map were:
- Gogi (-)
- Deux Cochon (-)
- Petite Jacqueline (1)
- Figa (20)
- District (7)
- East Ender (3)
- Bar Lola (9)
- Caiola’s (4)
- Boda (6)
- The Merry Table (42)
The numbers in parentheses indicates their rank last month
First Review of Petite Jacqueline
Portland Magazine has published a review of Petite Jacqueline.
Next to arrive is the terrine of foie gras ($13), graced with local honey, brioche rounds, and a compote of cherries and apricots, which plays silky and sweet on the palate. Following up is the roast pork belly with cabbage and herbs ($8). The buttery and salty belly is crisped on the outside, and the kraut lends well-balanced crunch and acidic tang.