Mainebiz takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the history of Moxie.
But Moxie does have a strong Maine connection. In 1884, Dr. Augustin Thompson of Union changed Moxie to take advantage of the new and growing soft drink market. The tonic became known as “Beverage Moxie: Nerve Food.” Later it was changed to “Moxie: That nasty-tasting stuff,” or words to that effect.
The annual Moxie Festival will take place July 9-11 in Lisbon Maine.
Chefs Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier from Arrows in Ogunquit have won this year’s Best Chef Northeast award from the James Beard Foundation.
The pair were interviewed by the Press Herald,
“We are on top of the world,” Frasier said in a telephone interview from the awards ceremony Monday night. “After seven years, it is more than sweet.”
In 1977 the Maine Times published an article entitled “Why are so many restaurants opening in Portland and will it ever end?” According to the article,
Ten years ago [1967], Portland was practically without restaurants. The Roma . . . was almost alone in trying to serve food that was not pre-portioned and pre-packaged. Then came the Gaslight on Exchange Street, then the Old Port Tavern and then it seemed to explode.
Author Mark Mogensen asked several restauranteurs about whether a “saturation point” had been reached—quite ironic given the ever growing number of eateries to be found in the city in 2010.
Opinions ranged from “it’s fast approaching” from the owner of the Hollow Reed* to “I think the saturation point has been reached” from Charles McGee, co-owner of the Old Port Tavern.
I wonder what they would say about the Portland restaurant scene of today?
The Maine Times article also includes the earliest reference I’ve ever seen to the “most restaurants per capita” stat.
“Christ there’s a lot of them” [Portland license inspector Ed] Newbegin said. From a survey, Newbegin said he learned that “Portland Maine, per capita, has the highest population of restaurants in the U.S.”
*Reportedly Portland’s first vegetarian restaurant.
Monday — Fans of Arrows in Ogunquit will be holding their breath to see if the restaurant wins the Best Chef Northeast award from the James Beard Foundation.
Tuesday — the new food and drink trivia competition continues at Grace.
Wednesday — The midweek Farmers Market is taking place in Monument Square, and Black Tie Bistro is teaching a cooking class.
Friday —the First Friday Art Walk is taking place and restaurants will be very busy so make your reservations early. The West End Deli is holding their monthly wine tasting.
Saturday — the weekend Farmers Market is taking place in Deering Oaks Park, and the Maine Bar-B-Que Showdown is being held.
Sunday — it’s Mother’s Day and brunch locations will be packed with families giving Mom a rest from the kitchen.
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.
Monday — Fans of Arrows in Ogunquit will be holding their breath to see if the restaurant wins the Best Chef Northeast award from the James Beard Foundation.
Tuesday — the new food and drink trivia competition continues at Grace.
Wednesday — The midweek Farmers Market is taking place in Monument Square, and Black Tie Bistro is teaching a cooking class.
Friday —the First Friday Art Walk is taking place and restaurants will be very busy so make your reservations early. The West End Deli is holding their monthly wine tasting.
Saturday — the weekend Farmers Market is taking place in Deering Oaks Park, and the Maine Bar-B-Que Showdown is being held.
Sunday — it’s Mother’s Day and brunch locations will be packed with families giving Mom a rest from the kitchen.
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.
Boda has received 4 stars from the Taste & Tell review in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.
But go at dinner hour and taste more of another kind of Thai food, more delicate in seasoning and yet rougher in texture, more exciting in flavor and meatier than the Thai dishes you are likely to have already encountered.
Today’s paper also includes a report on the opening day of the Portland Farmers Market.
The 10 eateries looked up most often in April were:
The numbers in parentheses indicates their rank last month.
There are a few additional food events taking place today:
There are a few additional food events taking place today:
Mt Desert Island Ice Cream is going to open a shop at 51 Exchange Street. According to their Facebook wall their targeting an opening date in May.