Under Construction: Otto & East End Grill

| Posted in Under Construction

According to a report from the Munjoy Hill News, Otto Pizza’s liquor license application for the former North Star space on Congress Street was approved by the Portland City Council last night.

The new pizza house will have 75 seats indoors and 20 seats outside, weather permitting. The menu at the new Otto’s will duplicate the other location, 576 Congress Street. In addition to beer and wine, Otto’s will offer a salad and desert. The new Otto’s will be family-friendly said Allen.

Also on the agenda last night was a liquor license application by Megan Schroeter and Mitchel Gerow for The East End Grill. They are planning to open the new restaurant in the former Norm’s space on Middle Street. See page 35 of the agenda for a sample menu.

For additional reporting, read this article in the Portland Daily Sun.

The Salt Exchange Review & the 1855 Portland Rum Riot

| Posted in Reviews, History

The new issue of Down East magazine includes a review of The Salt Exchange,

As for the food itself: In a word, it’s stunning — well conceived, delicately balanced, and impeccably presented. Maine lobster salad with crème fraiche, cucumber, and greens is so delicately seasoned as to be a bit bland on first bite. But with successive nibbles the flavors reveal themselves, the slight tang of the crème fraiche creating a perfect complement to the lobster’s richness.

and an article about the 1855 Portland Rum Riot,

Men loitered in the square with an air of impatience. A cache of liquor had been seized in the basement of City Hall, Racklyffe was told. The rumor circulating that day was that the liquor belonged to Portland’s mayor, Neal Dow, the “Father of Prohibition” himself.

The Salt Exchange Review & the 1855 Portland Rum Riot

| Posted in Reviews, History

The new issue of Down East magazine includes a review of The Salt Exchange,

As for the food itself: In a word, it’s stunning — well conceived, delicately balanced, and impeccably presented. Maine lobster salad with crème fraiche, cucumber, and greens is so delicately seasoned as to be a bit bland on first bite. But with successive nibbles the flavors reveal themselves, the slight tang of the crème fraiche creating a perfect complement to the lobster’s richness.

and an article about the 1855 Portland Rum Riot,

Men loitered in the square with an air of impatience. A cache of liquor had been seized in the basement of City Hall, Racklyffe was told. The rumor circulating that day was that the liquor belonged to Portland’s mayor, Neal Dow, the “Father of Prohibition” himself.

This Week's Events

| Posted in Events

Wednesday — Down East and Rabelais are hosting an event at the Danforth Inn to relaunch Good Maine Food by Marjorie Moser and Cooking Down East by Marjorie Standish; food historian Sandy Oliver and chef Melissa Kelly will be at the event. Wine Wise is teaching a class on French Reds at The Wine Bar, and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.
Thursday — the first day of the 2010 Harvest on the Harbor, there will be a beer and cheese tasting at the Public Market House, and the weekly beer showcase at The Great Lost Bear will feature brews from D.L. Geary.
Friday — Coffee by Design is giving a tour of their roastery and the second day of the 2010 Harvest on the Harbor is taking place.
Saturday — Eve’s at the Garden is hosting the 6th Annual Caviar Dinner, there will be a cooking class at Kitchen & Cork in Scarborough, the last day of the 2010 Harvest on the Harbor, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.
Sunday — the opening night of the Fall Maine Restaurant Week – visit the MRW website for a full list of participating restaurants.
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.

This Week’s Events

| Posted in Events

Wednesday — Down East and Rabelais are hosting an event at the Danforth Inn to relaunch Good Maine Food by Marjorie Moser and Cooking Down East by Marjorie Standish; food historian Sandy Oliver and chef Melissa Kelly will be at the event. Wine Wise is teaching a class on French Reds at The Wine Bar, and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.

Thursday — the first day of the 2010 Harvest on the Harbor, there will be a beer and cheese tasting at the Public Market House, and the weekly beer showcase at The Great Lost Bear will feature brews from D.L. Geary.

Friday — Coffee by Design is giving a tour of their roastery and the second day of the 2010 Harvest on the Harbor is taking place.

Saturday — Eve’s at the Garden is hosting the 6th Annual Caviar Dinner, there will be a cooking class at Kitchen & Cork in Scarborough, the last day of the 2010 Harvest on the Harbor, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.

Sunday — the opening night of the Fall Maine Restaurant Week – visit the MRW website for a full list of participating restaurants.

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.

Reviews of The Porthole and Street & Co.

| Posted in Reviews

New Jersey blogger, A Slice of Earthly Delight recently visited Portland. She’s posted reviews of The Porthole and Street & Co.

What did I love most about Portland, Maine? Everything. Well, besides the amazing people I stayed with I’d have to say that a highlight of the trip was being treated to an exquisite dinner at Street and Company, located at 33 Wharf Street.

Reviews of The Porthole and Street & Co.

| Posted in Reviews

New Jersey blogger, A Slice of Earthly Delight recently visited Portland. She’s posted reviews of The Porthole and Street & Co.

What did I love most about Portland, Maine? Everything. Well, besides the amazing people I stayed with I’d have to say that a highlight of the trip was being treated to an exquisite dinner at Street and Company, located at 33 Wharf Street.

Review of Mekhong Thai

| Posted in Reviews

Mekhong Thai received 3 stars from the Taste & Tell review in the Maine Sunday Telegram.

Mekhong Thai has stood its ground for almost a decade, serving Thai dishes that rely on some tasty basics to please, like crunchy coatings and sweet and cream, aromatic sauces. Revved up with some hot spice, which transforms the sauces into something more sophisticated, dinner at Mekhong Thai has an appetizing allure that makes me a little uneasy.