Under Construction: Canelli’s

| Posted in Under Construction

A sign in the window at 7 Exchange Street is announcing a new Italian restaurant called Canelli’s “Fantastic Food at Fantastic Prices!” that’s under construction. If that address sounds familiar it may be because last Spring it was the site a construction site for Wasabi, a sushi restaurant that never launched. A source tells me that Canelli’s is being opened by a Boston area couple who ran a similar restaurant in Massachusetts for many years.

Just up the street from Canelli’s is the construction site for another Italian restaurant, G’Vanni’s which is going in at the old Walter’s space.

Under Construction: Mike's Rock 'N Roll Sandwiches

| Posted in Under Construction


There’s been a new restaurant under construction for a few weeks over at 437 Congress Street at the former location of GRO Cafe. Signage is now up and it look’s like it will be a sandwich shop called Mike’s – “We make Rock ‘N Roll Sandwiches”. Info on the Guitar Grave (Mike’s neighbor and owner) website promises “a small menu of fast, inexpensive and delicious items as well as luncheon and drink specials”.

Under Construction: Mike’s Rock ‘N Roll Sandwiches

| Posted in Under Construction

There’s been a new restaurant under construction for a few weeks over at 437 Congress Street at the former location of GRO Cafe. Signage is now up and it look’s like it will be a sandwich shop called Mike’s – “We make Rock ‘N Roll Sandwiches”. Info on the Guitar Grave (Mike’s neighbor and owner) website promises “a small menu of fast, inexpensive and delicious items as well as luncheon and drink specials”.

This Week's Events

| Posted in Events

Monday — the Monday Farmers Market in Monument Square.
Wednesday — the midweek Farmers Market in Monument Square, a Discover the Tastes of France open house and dinner at Evangeline to benefit Share Our Strength, 2 wine tastings at RSVP and Old Port Wine Merchants, a pair of Cultivating Community Farmers Markets, and a Wine Wise class at The Wine Bar.
Thursday — Great Lost Bear is showcasing beer from Run of the Mill, the PortlandTaps.com 3rd Thursday event is taking place at Dock Fore, a Cultivating Community Farmers Market and their are wine tastings at Leavitt & Sons and Kitchen & Cork.
Friday — a wine dinner at Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe, a Cultivating Community Farmers Market, and it’s the first day of the 45th Yarmouth Clam Festival.
Saturday — the weekend Farmers Market at Deering Oaks Park and the Yarmouth Clam Festival continues into its 2nd day.
Sunday — the 20/20 French wine event at Caiola’s, Munjoy Hill is holding their annual MunjFest street festival, and it’s the last day of the  Yarmouth Clam Festival.
A Look Ahead — 11 Portland restaurants and some of Maine’s top author are teaming up with the Maine Writer’s & Publisher’s Alliance to offer the Author! Author! Dinner next month on August 12. It’s an opportunity to have a great meal with one of you favorite authors. Paul Doiron (The Salt Exchange), Richard Russo (Cinque Terre) and Jennifer Finney Boylan (Fore Street) are among those participating.
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

Monday — the Monday Farmers Market in Monument Square.

Wednesday — the midweek Farmers Market in Monument Square, a Discover the Tastes of France open house and dinner at Evangeline to benefit Share Our Strength, 2 wine tastings at RSVP and Old Port Wine Merchants, a pair of Cultivating Community Farmers Markets, and a Wine Wise class at The Wine Bar.

Thursday — Great Lost Bear is showcasing beer from Run of the Mill, the PortlandTaps.com 3rd Thursday event is taking place at Dock Fore, a Cultivating Community Farmers Market and their are wine tastings at Leavitt & Sons and Kitchen & Cork.

Friday — a wine dinner at Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe, a Cultivating Community Farmers Market, and it’s the first day of the 45th Yarmouth Clam Festival.

Saturday — the weekend Farmers Market at Deering Oaks Park and the Yarmouth Clam Festival continues into its 2nd day.

Sunday — the 20/20 French wine event at Caiola’s, Munjoy Hill is holding their annual MunjFest street festival, and it’s the last day of the  Yarmouth Clam Festival.

A Look Ahead — 11 Portland restaurants and some of Maine’s top author are teaming up with the Maine Writer’s & Publisher’s Alliance to offer the Author! Author! Dinner next month on August 12. It’s an opportunity to have a great meal with one of you favorite authors. Paul Doiron (The Salt Exchange), Richard Russo (Cinque Terre) and Jennifer Finney Boylan (Fore Street) are among those participating.

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.

New Food Blog: Vin et Grub

| Posted in Reviews, PFM

Vin et Grub, a new food blog, has been added to the directory on Portland Food Map. The blog’s most recent entry is a review of Boda,

i honestly don’t have anything to complain about from boda.  the atmosphere was great- the food, delicious as ever, and the service was prompt.  the prices are also very reasonable.  obviously, it’s sort of unfair.  boda- the thai restaurant that serves up creative and real thai cuisine has a huge advantage over thai places like veranda, saebeing, and pom’s.  i’ll be taking many more trips to boda- seeing as they’re open late-night.

The blogger is also trying to establish a roving dinner club, to be called Port City Eaters.

First Review of Bubble Maineia Dessert & Noodle Bar

| Posted in Reviews

Soooo . . You Really Like Cats has published a review of Bubble Maineia Dessert & Noodle Bar.

Overall, we were quite pleased with the entire experience. We went in after a long Wednesday’s worth of errands after work and collapsed in a heap at Bubble Maineia’s Noodle Bar seeking some nourishment. We were quite full and energized by the end of the meal and had a wonderful conversation with Mrs. Chen about Taiwanese cuisine and the presence of Chinese people in Maine. She was quite excited to hear that I really enjoyed her beef stew noodle soup because she made it herself, and insisted that I try her sister’s curry chicken the next time I come by…

First Review of Bubble Maineia Dessert & Noodle Bar

| Posted in Reviews

Soooo . . You Really Like Cats has published a review of Bubble Maineia Dessert & Noodle Bar.

Overall, we were quite pleased with the entire experience. We went in after a long Wednesday’s worth of errands after work and collapsed in a heap at Bubble Maineia’s Noodle Bar seeking some nourishment. We were quite full and energized by the end of the meal and had a wonderful conversation with Mrs. Chen about Taiwanese cuisine and the presence of Chinese people in Maine. She was quite excited to hear that I really enjoyed her beef stew noodle soup because she made it herself, and insisted that I try her sister’s curry chicken the next time I come by…