The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Figa.
An entrée of seared cod was served with funny, chewy little bits of beet and watercress spaetzle that shined and curled like a veggie organ-meat. The fish was firm but moist, and the sauce both buttery and bright with lemon. The meat of the braised rabbit was very mild, without a hint of gameyness. This bunny really chilled on the farm, I suspect. It was served with a simple red wine sauce, and sat on a profoundly creamy puddle of polenta.
The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes a profile of Dobra Tea. Dobra is located on Middle Street in the same building as Bull Moose and Videoport.
Walking into Dobra Tea feels like stumbling upon an eastern European cafe.
The arched windows, the warm mustard and burnt-orange walls, and the curvy woodworking details that look like something out of the genie’s bottle all shift your mood from rat-race mode to a lower-gear humming with old-world Bohemian tranquility.
Today’s paper also includes an update on the Urban Farm Fermentory. Among the many projects underway now is an experiment with Tilapia farming.
Under the glow of special lights, tomato plants and basil grow fast and lush. This unusual indoor garden sits atop two fish tanks where six freshwater tilapia swim, and the nutrient-rich water from the tanks is circulated through the hydroponic system feeding the plants’ roots.
The Portland Daily Sun has published a review of Gogi.
Both the BBQ pulled pork and the Marinated Shiitake Mushroom tacos were nicely seasoned, and meaty each in their own way. Tacos are dressed with tomato, red onions, a lettuce/cabbage mix, pickled cucumber and pickled bean sprouts. Good innards but the tortillas were lackluster. It might be their supplier or a reluctance to put those little disks on a griddle.
Maine Ahead magazine has published a profile of Eric Simeon.
When you realized you really were a chef: I would never call myself a chef until I was the actual leader of the kitchen, which happened in Philadelphia in 2004. My dad, however, started introducing me as a chef to whoever would listen (especially waitstaff when we were out to dinner) way back in the ’90s.
Monday — Abigail Carroll owner of Nonesuch Oysters will be at El Rayo for a “Shuck & Greet”. Passover begins at sunset tonight. Aurora Provisions is selling a special menu of prepared foods for Passover.
Tuesday — The 2nd Annual Beer & Bacon Dinner is taking place at The Salt Exchange.
Wednesday — there will be a wine tasting at Old Port Wine Merchants, a wine event at Havana South, and the Portland Phoenix will announce the winners of the 2011 Best of Portland Readership Poll.
Thursday — The Great Lost Bear will feature beer from Run of the Mill Brewery for their weekly Thursday night showcase.
Saturday — the last Winter Farmers Market of the season is taking place at the Irish Heritage Center. Wine Wise is teaching a Bordeaux class at The Wine Bar.
Sunday — a few Portland restaurants are serving special menus/buffets for Easter: DiMillo’s, the Eastland Park Hotel, Season’s Grille, and Twenty Milk Street. Aurora Provisions is offering a special menu of prepared foods for Easter.
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.
Where is Jenner’s Mind has published a brief review of Gogi,
given the affordability and uniqueness of gogi in portland, i think this establishment is a great addition to the portland food scene. what is really cool is that gogi is open late night so if you need some korean/mexican fusion at 1 am, and who of us hasn’t, you have a great option.
and Vin et Grub has published a review of brunch at Caiola’s.
The Bird’s Nest consisted of two eggs, cooked over medium, nestled into pieces of Pullman Toast- which had been highly praised by other food bloggers- and lived up to their impressions I must say, served with country sausage gravy, and roasted sweet potatoes. The toast was buttery, flaky, and delicious. Toasted to a crisp, but sopped in some runny egg yolks did the trick to add a bit more flavor. The sausage gravy was creamy and savory. It had a pleasing aroma- somewhat resembling Shepard’s Pie, but highly reminiscent of my stay down south last year. All in all, this dish blew my mind.
A new eatery is under construction at 15 Monument Square at the former location of Henry VIII. The sign in the window promises “soup, salad and sandwiches” are “coming soon”. According to a job posting on Craigslist they plan on opening in May.
The East Ender has received 3½ stars from today’s review in the Maine Sunday Telegram.
Barflies and dinner guests alike will want to dig into the traditional and novel items on the snack menu. Tasty trout fritters ($7) served with caper aioli and lemon have a good portion of smoked trout inside light dough. Even better are the mussels mirepoix ($10), the carrot/celery/thyme/parsley aromatic adding a subtly sublime flavor. A hunk of grilled bread is served alongside. Include a salad, and you’ve got a lovely dinner.
From Away has published a review of Deux Cochon.
And boy, did I like it. This is barbecue unlike any we have seen in the Portland area, with big, pull-apart chunks of moist, mouthwateringly slow-cooked pork shoulder piled high on a warm, fluffy bun, and speared with two pieces of pickled okra. The sauce (which I insist you add by the ladleful) only enhances the natural flavors of the meat, with the mustard, the acid from the vinegar, and just a tiny bit of heat combining marvelously with the fat and the smoky flavor of the pork.
Deux Cochon opened for business earlier this week. They’re located on the 2nd floor of the Public Market House and have taken the place of Peanut Butter & Jelly Time.
A Cambodian restaurant named Apsara has opened on Cumberland Ave.