The weekly Food and Drink Trivia Contest is taking place at Bull Feeney’s tonight. The next Wine Flight 5k Training Run is scheduled for Tuesday. There’s a wine event at The Salt Exchange on Wednesday. There are wine tastings at RSVP on Wednesday, Rosemont (Brighton) on Friday and Scarborough Wine Outlet on Saturday. The Slow Food Book Group is meeting on Thursday to discuss Bottomfeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood by Tara Grescoe. The Great Lost Bear is showcasing the beer of Run of the Mill this week on Thursday. On Friday Susan Olcott from Ocean Conservancy is offering a walking tour to discuss the Casco Bay’s Lobster Fishery. Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. This year’s Maine Fare is taking place in Camden this year and will be running Friday through Sunday. Also on Sunday, Rippling Waters Farm is holding their 5th Annual Soil to Supper dinner at their farm in Steep Falls. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
September Bollard
The September issue of The Bollard is now out. This month’s newspaper includes articles on where to find free coffee in Portland, a perspective on food stamps, a Breakfast Serial review of local venues that sell breakfast sandwiches, and a new installment from the Land of Forgotten Cocktails series by John Myer.
Food & Drink Certificate Classes
Registration is now open for the fall series of the Maine Food and Drink Certificate program. The certificate consists of a set of 5 classes on everything from bread to seafood to beer and wine and everything in between. The program is being offered both in Falmouth and in Portland. For more information visit the Maine Ambassadors of Food and Drink website.
Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Review
Blog About Beer has published a review of Smashed Pumpkin, the Puglsey Signature Series beer from Shipyard.
But best of all, all of the spices from the nose are there in the taste, too. Plus some real pumpkin tastes — like the actual gourd, not just the pie — too. the wheat and munich malts lend a nice bready, biscuity flavor too, which compliments the spices. A bit of the hop bite and the warming alcohol bite (forgot to mention that this “imperial-style” brew weighs in at 9% abv) come through in the finish, too. Especially as the beer warms to room temperature.
Under Construction: Sonny's & Your Grandma's
Also unearthed in the latest Portland City Council agenda were a draft menu for Sonny’s (page 128), and news of a new Greek restaurant that’s planned for the old Chef et al location on Forest Ave—see their draft menu on page 143.
Under Construction: Shima
There’s a “coming soon” sign in the window for a new restaurant called Shima at the former location Siam Grille on Fore Street. According to records filed with the city, the restaurant plans to serve “Japanese style cuisine”. A draft copy of the menu (page 163) was submitted along with their liquor license application.
Video Interview with Mike Mastronardi
Portland Food Heads has published an interesting video interview with Mike Mastronardi the new owner of Fit to Eat.
Mastronardi: When people say Fit to Eat I want them to immediately salivate…I want them to be sitting at their desk thinking about the sandwich they had a couple days ago and just dying and saying I need that again. I want them to crave it, I want them to be addicted to it.
Colucci’s Review
Colucci’s Hilltop Market received 3½ stars from today’s Eat & Run column in the Press Herald.
The meatball sub had plump, moist meatballs. They were a little spicy, but not too much. The marinara sauce was tangy, and the melted cheese was soft and gooey, not stringy. The rolls for both sandwiches were the kind I love. They were the big, thick, soft and slightly chewy sub rolls you seem to find at local Portland places. They aren’t the harder, crustier sub rolls you get at chains.
Phoenix Review of Grace
The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Grace.
Dinner at Grace will set you back, especially as vegetable sides, like crunchy green beans frosted with a bit of sugar, are ordered separately. But Methodist theology preaches that grace, and its heavenly rewards, is only available for those who give themselves over completely. If you give yourself over to Grace Restaurant for a splurge some evening, the rewards are worth it.
Peace Food Market
Portland in a Snap has a report on a new halal market called Peace Food Market that under construction on Cumberland Ave.
The building permit indicates it will be a convenience store and meat market. It’s clear work is going on inside…Shelving and fixtures are in place, but I couldn’t see any product. My best guess is it will be at least a couple weeks before it opens.