Portland Fodder has published an update on the construction status of The Corner Room and The Salt Exchange.
Under Construction: Kon Asian Bistro
The finishing touches are going up at the Kon Asian Bistro construction site on Brighton Ave. They’ve had a “Now Hiring” sign up for quite some time and the City Council gave the greenlight to the liquor license back in December. The latest info I have is that they hope to open in June.
This Week's Events
There’s A LOT going on this week. Rob Evans is teaching a cooking class tonight at Stonewall Kitchens in York. There’s also a gluten-free Italian baking class and the weekly Food and Drink Trivia Contest at Bull Feeney’s. Bar Lola is holding a wine dinner on Tuesday night featuring wines from Argentina. Buy Local is set to announce the results of the 2009 Indie Biz Awards at Empire Dine and Dance on Wednesday night, and Black Tie Bistro is offering a meat & potatoes makeover cooking class. Novare Res is celebrating their one year anniversary on Thursday. Author and food advocate Joel Berg will be speaking at USM Thursday morning and Longfellow Books Thursday night. There are wine tasting Thursday afternoon at Leavitt and Sons and at Black Cherry Provisions. Local 188 is holding a Portuguese wine dinner on Thursday night and there’s also a Peak Brewing showcase going on at Great Lost Bear the same evening. Kitchen & Cork is holding a wine tasting on Saturday. Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
Meet-ups
Check out the latest post from Portland in a Snap to learn about the meet/eat-up club options available in Portland.
Fuji Review
Fuji received 3 stars from the Taste & Tell column in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.
Popular with a young crowd, Fuji offers drama at its downstairs hibachi tables, while upstairs tables provide more good spots to assemble for sushi, tempura and udon noodles.
Saturday Farmers’ Market
L&A Farm was selling rhubarb this morning at the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market but it was going quickly. One of the other vendors still had some fiddleheads as well as some asparagus. And there was the usual spring line-up of flowers, seedlings, cheeses, etc.
Weekly Cookie Reviews
Hilly Town has kicked off a new weekly cookie commentary with a review of the chocolate chip cookie at North Star.
This hefty cookie is no lightweight snack: measuring just over four inches across, it stands up to dunking in cold milk, hot coffee, or both. The thick, chewy interior is pleasant, though the edges wobble on the line between crisp and dry.
Lobster 2009
After a very rough year in 2008, lobstermen are hoping for a better market price this year. According to a front page story in today’s Press Herald,
The price paid to lobstermen last week ranged from $4 per pound in Portland to $3.25 per pound Down East. Retail prices started at about $5.50 per pound for the smallest lobsters.
The lobsters on the market now are usually the most valuable of the season, both because they are in tight supply and because their hard shells mean they can be shipped live around the world as well as sold locally. When the peak summer season starts around July 4, the market is typically flooded with soft-shell lobsters that can only be sold locally, bringing the price down by as much as $2 a pound.
Luna Rossa
An article in today’s Press Herald reports that Luna Rossa “should open by early summer” and when it does the kitchen will be run by Antonio Bruno “who has worked in New York City and grew up on Capri”. Luna Rossa is under construction at 188 Middle Street at the old location of The Pavilion nightclub.
The space is being converted into an Italian restaurant, a banquet facility and a retail mall. The indoor galleria concept is modeled after the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
The restaurant will offer entertainment by Dueling Piano Services, which provides talent to the New York New York Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The performances are a “high-energy blend of singalong and comedy,” according to the company’s Web site.
Vivian's Review
The Portland Phoenix has published a review of a trio of burger joints including Vivian’s Drive-In on Forest Ave.
The double cheeseburger was remarkably similar to the Ray’s version. There is a bit more chew to the meat, and lots of diced grilled onion to complement the mustard and relish. The white cheese contributes more fatty texture than actual flavor. It comes with a bag of chips instead of fries or rings.