Appetite Portland, Blueberry Files and Edible Obsessions have posted reports on holiday cocktail tasting that I had the pleasure of participating in. For my part, I think the Whiskey Mac or the Glugg were the best of the ones we tried.
A Day at Len Libby
As part of its ongoing Maine at Work column, the Press Herald sent a reporter to Len Libby in Scarborough to spend the day making candy.
A few minutes later, I was dipping my fingers into a bowl of satin-smooth melted dark chocolate, then gently flicking ribbons of chocolate onto a giant pan of peppermint bark candy. I felt like Jackson Pollock, creating some wild abstract work of art as I let the chocolate fly from my fingertips.
This Week’s Events
Monday—the Maine Ambassadors of Food and Drink are running the weekly Foodie Trivia Contest at Bull Feeney’s, and Stephen Lanzalotta is teaching a cooking class.
Wednesday—Old Port Wine Merchants is holding a wine tasting, and there’s a cooking class taking place at Black Tie Bistro.
Thursday—the annual Twelve Beers of Christmas event is taking place at The Great Lost Bear, the Sea Glass Restaurant is is featuring Justin Vineyards as part of a 5-course wine dinner, and there’s a wine tasting at Kitchen & Cork.
Saturday—pick-up for the Winter Farmers’ Market is scheduled for Deering Oaks Park and a wine tasting is taking place at the Rosemont Market on Congress Street.
For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
If you are holding a local area food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.
Lunch at Saigon
foodquest had some good things to say about a recent lunch at Saigon on Chowhound.com.
Beef Pho Special – dare I say, better than Thanh thanh?! The beef in all forms was tender and flavorful, the noodles tender, aromatic broth, excellent broth to noodle ratio IMHO.
Portland in Translation
Meredith Goad uncovered this article in Metro ,a French language website, about the food scene here in Portland. For an entertaining translation try cutting and pasting the text of the article into Google’s translation service. Evangeline, Hugo’s, Bresca, 158, Miyake, Rabelais and others were mentioned in the article.
Maine Cheese
Chow Maine has published a report on some new Maine made chesses from Edible Rind, Winter Hill, Liberty Fields, Spring Day and Second Chance Farm and Longfellow Creamery.
The Curmudgeon was like “a cross between an Alsatian Muenster and an Epoisse,” my wise food-loving friend Ann Takman said. Both her and her husband, wine writer Bob Rossi, agreed that a better wine with the Curmudgeon would be an Alsatian Gewurztraminer.
Interview with James & Andre Tranchemontagne
Portland Food Heads has posted a video interview with James & Andre Tranchemontagne from The French Press Eatery and Frog & Turtle.
Bar Review of Bar Lola
Portland Bar Guide has published a review of Bar Lola.
As for the bar itself, it’s tiny, some five stools wide. But there is no barrier between dining room and bar and that just underscores this whole dual drinks/food identity that Bar Lola has worked so hard to create. The cozy space is warmly lit with sparse lanterns and candles, never an abrasive experience for the eyes.
For more of on the balance of food and drink at Bar Lola check out this piece by Appetite Portland about co-owner Stella Hernandez’s skill in pairing food and wine,
I held my judgment for the first bite of sole. With a mouthful of the fish I tried again. Perfection. The buttery sauce soothed the oak and brought out the wine’s fruit. The simple white fish, in response, popped with flavor.
Stella simply knows her stuff.
BiBo's Madd Apple Cafe
The Portland Phoenix has published a profile of BiBo’s Madd Apple Cafe.
When they took over, they wanted it to be more than a “theater restaurant,” but now says, “after being here for few years, we finally accepted that we’re a theater restaurant and excel at getting people in and upstairs on time,” he says. It means, of course, that a large number of customers all come in at the same time and need to leave before show time — handling the flow is an art form in and of itself.
Under Construction: Aroma Joes, Figa, Po'Boys, Walter's
Some updates from the Under Construction list:
- Aroma Joe’s is replacing Fog Cutter as the drive-thru coffee business on Warren Ave.
- According to the Munjoy Hill News, Figa was granted their liquor license last night. The article provides some additional details on the restaurant but no definitive statement on when they’re going to open. December 10 Update: MHN posted an update on Figa: The restaurant “expects a series of soft openings ending in possibly a Grand Opening on New Year’s Eve.”
- Meredith Goad tweeted on the menu in store at Po’Boys, “Creole sausage & fried oyster sammies, La. gumbo & PRALINE BACON!“
- The Portland Daily Sun reports that Walter’s hopes to re-open at their new location this month.