Review of The Picnic Basket

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of The Picnic Basket.

So I was glad to try the Picnic Basket in the dead of winter, when there is no reason not to settle in at one of the eclectic set of tables in the cozy second room. The room has a wall of wine and lots of artisanal jars of this or that jam or mustard. It has a very Stonewall-Kitcheny look. There are twigs clinging to the track lighting.

PBJ in the Press

The Portland Daily Sun has published a profile of Peanut Butter and Jelly Time, the PB&J sandwich shop and breakfast cereal purveyor located on the second floor of the Public Market House.

The combination of Borealis multi-grain bread, cashew butter and raspberry preserves is the most popular sandwich at Peanut Butter Jelly Time, but everybody has their favorite.

Steve Miner, owner of Peanut Butter Jelly Time, reported logging his 500th customer in only three weeks of operating on the second floor of the Market House in Monument Square.

Press Herald: Chef Kaldrovich, Gus' Gluten Free, Fox Urine

The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes profiles of chef Mitchell Kaldrovich from the Sea Glass Restaurant

“I met the real cooks (in Maine), I have to say,” Kaldrovich said in a thick accent that carries traces of Spanish and French, the other two languages he speaks. “Working for hotels in California and Florida, I just met French chefs doing fancy stuff. But there was not a soul cook. Here, there are soul cooks.

and of Pam Wellin from Gus’ Gluten Free Baking Co.

As a busy mom of three boys, Pam Wellin admits she’s doesn’t devote much time to promoting her business. She started Gus’ Gluten Free Baking Co. three years ago in her Falmouth Foreside kitchen as a way to provide her youngest son Gus, who’s now 17 and has had celiac disease his whole life, with treats that don’t contain gluten.

There’s also a Bill Nemitz column on the strange fox urine incident that took place Sunday at a protest by ROC-ME outside The Front Room.

We can only assume that when Portland’s fledgling Restaurant Opportunities Center of Maine holds its first “summit” next month, it will be high on the agenda: “Fox Urine: The Untold Story.”

It happened Sunday night outside The Front Room on Munjoy Hill, where protestors from so-called ROC-ME gathered for the second time in as many months to demonstrate against owner and chef Harding Lee Smith.

Press Herald: Chef Kaldrovich, Gus’ Gluten Free, Fox Urine

The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes profiles of chef Mitchell Kaldrovich from the Sea Glass Restaurant

“I met the real cooks (in Maine), I have to say,” Kaldrovich said in a thick accent that carries traces of Spanish and French, the other two languages he speaks. “Working for hotels in California and Florida, I just met French chefs doing fancy stuff. But there was not a soul cook. Here, there are soul cooks.

and of Pam Wellin from Gus’ Gluten Free Baking Co.

As a busy mom of three boys, Pam Wellin admits she’s doesn’t devote much time to promoting her business. She started Gus’ Gluten Free Baking Co. three years ago in her Falmouth Foreside kitchen as a way to provide her youngest son Gus, who’s now 17 and has had celiac disease his whole life, with treats that don’t contain gluten.

There’s also a Bill Nemitz column on the strange fox urine incident that took place Sunday at a protest by ROC-ME outside The Front Room.

We can only assume that when Portland’s fledgling Restaurant Opportunities Center of Maine holds its first “summit” next month, it will be high on the agenda: “Fox Urine: The Untold Story.”

It happened Sunday night outside The Front Room on Munjoy Hill, where protestors from so-called ROC-ME gathered for the second time in as many months to demonstrate against owner and chef Harding Lee Smith.

This Week's Events

Last week’s famine of food events has turned into a 13 item feast this week:
Tuesday B. Nektar Meadery is at Novare Res for a tasting, Churchill Catered Events is teaching an Italian cooking class, wine dinners are taking place at Bar Lola and Walter’s.
Wednesday — Black Tie Bistro is teaching a cooking class and Black Cherry Provisions is providing a class on wine and food pairings for Indian cuisine, spicy foods, bloomy cheese and smoked meats.
Thursday Kitchen and Cork is holding a wine tasting and there will be a wine dinner at the Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth.
Friday BiBo’s Madd Apple Cafe is holding a wine dinner.
Saturday — Wolf Neck Farm is hosting an apple preservation workshop, Vignola’s 4th Annual Beer & Cheese Tasting is taking place, pick-up for the Port Clyde Fresh Catch Maine shrimp CSF is at El Rayo in the afternoon and the 3rd performance of the Dual Site psychogeographic dinner theater is Saturday night.
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

Last week’s famine of food events has turned into a 13 item feast this week:

Tuesday B. Nektar Meadery is at Novare Res for a tasting, Churchill Catered Events is teaching an Italian cooking class, wine dinners are taking place at Bar Lola and Walter’s.

Wednesday — Black Tie Bistro is teaching a cooking class and Black Cherry Provisions is providing a class on wine and food pairings for Indian cuisine, spicy foods, bloomy cheese and smoked meats.

Thursday Kitchen and Cork is holding a wine tasting and there will be a wine dinner at the Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth.

Friday BiBo’s Madd Apple Cafe is holding a wine dinner.

Saturday — Wolf Neck Farm is hosting an apple preservation workshop, Vignola’s 4th Annual Beer & Cheese Tasting is taking place, pick-up for the Port Clyde Fresh Catch Maine shrimp CSF is at El Rayo in the afternoon and the 3rd performance of the Dual Site psychogeographic dinner theater is Saturday night.

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.

More Meal Deals

Here’s a few additional meal deals I’ve come across since last week’s post:

  • Pepperclub – in celebration of their 21st anniversary, Pepperclub has a 4 course for $21 special
  • G & R Dimillo’s – two pasta dishes for the price of one from a selection of 4 options, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
  • J’s Oyster Bar – any 2 pasta or seafood dishes for $25
  • Borealis Breads – in celebration of National Pie Day on the 23rd, Borealis is offering 10% off all apple, blueberry, chocolate mouse and chicken pot pies ordered by the 20th.