There are two cooking classes scheduled this week: at Piatto per Tutti tonight and at Black Tie Bistro on Wednesday. The Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place mid-day on Wedneesay, and Cinque Terre is holding a wine dinner on Wednesday night. Thursday night Slow Food Portland is holding a potluck dinner and The Great Lost Bear is showcasing the beer from the Run of the Mill Brew Pub. There are four wine tastings scheduled this week: at Rosemont on Brighton on Tuesday, at Public Market House on Thursday, at West End Grocery on Friday and at Leroux Kitchen on Saturday. Friday through Saturday the Flavors of Freeport is taking place. A series of cooking demonstrations with Maine chefs are taking place Saturday and Sunday at the Maine Home & Garden Show. The annual CSA Fair is taking place at several locations throughout the state on Sunday. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
Civil War Chocolate
Dean’s Sweets has an interesting Valentines Day special offer. They’re giving away a CD by musicians Jay Ungar and Molly Mason with each 16 item box of chocolate. Ungar and Mason’s song Ashokan Farewell is well known as the theme from Ken Burn’s Civil War documentary. Ungar and Mason are personal friends of Dean Bingham and his wife and played at their wedding in 2006.
Jubba Internet Cafe
Jubba Internet Cafe has opened for business on Veranda Street. According to Portland Psst!, “In addition to the inexpensive finger food for the early afternoon, they also have a full menu for lunch and dinner–with goat, beef, and spaghetti.”
Taco Land
The program for the Maine Garden Show’s Meet the Chefs program indicates that new Mexican restaurant slated for York Street is going to be called Taco Land. It was originally thought that Taco Land was going to be located at the old spot for the Icehouse but it now looks like it will be just down the street where Harbor View Pizza used to be.
Asmara
Cornucopasetic has reviewed Asmara.
There aren’t that many places in Portland where one may find an entirely whole food vegetarian meal, but Asmara is certainly one of them. I knew about this place a few years ago, but never found the time to go. What a mistake.
Maine Food and Drink Certificate
Kris Horton and Margo Mallar will be teaching a course on cheese this Winter. The first class, Three Milks: Cow, Goat and Sheep, takes place February 10. This is intended to be “the first module in the Maine Food and Drink Certificate program, designed to create a cadre of Maine Food and Drink ambassadors, who can serve as knowledgeable volunteers at various events throughout the state.”
January's Stats
The 10 restaurants looked up most often during the month of January were:
- Loco Pollo (1)
- Paciarino (-)
- Bresca (4)
- Emilitsa (2)
- Evangeline (3)
- Five Fifty-Five (7)
- Miyake (10)
- Caiola’s (6)
- Local 188 (23)
- Olive Cafe (76)
The numbers in parentheses indicates their rank last month.
Super Bowl
If you’re looking for a place to watch the Super Bowl, 1:00 a.m. Curfew has a list of local bars planning to air the big game. And if you’re looking for eats to pick-up for home viewing, Rosemont Market on Brighton will be grilling up wings to go on the front porch and promises “all the other party supplies you may want (except for foam finger-pointer thingies and beer helmets).”
Fisherman Trades in Boat for Business Degree
There’s an article in today’s paper about a fisherman, Craig Pendleton a 3rd generation fisherman, and his decision to get out of fishing entirely.
Pendleton, 48, is trying to sell his boat, and last month started taking classes toward a business degree at Husson University in South Portland. For the third-generation fisherman, it is more than a career change. It’s the end of a way of life and a family heritage.
“I’m the last Pendleton to fish out of Camp Ellis,” he said. “I held out for as long as I could.”
Miss Portland Diner
The Miss Portland Diner received 3½ stars from this week’s Taste & Tell column in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.
Simple, and straightforward, Miss Portland Diner’s classic informal meals show off fresh ingredients and a light touch, especially appetizing with their low prices.