Review of Quiero Cafe

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Quiero Cafe.

If you visit, start with a pulled-pork-and-fried-plantain Puerco empanada and move on to aioli-topped yucca fries and either a toasty, chorizo-stuffed choripan sandwich or the uncompromisingly indulgent Colombiano hot dog, loaded with mayo, pineapple salsa and crushed potato chips. Skip dessert, but don’t miss one of the smoothies or milkshake-style juices, especially the bracing lulo, blended with whole milk into an icy, Creamsicle-like treat.

Knotted Apron Takes Over JP’s Bistro Location

| Posted in Under Construction

A new restaurant called The Knotted Apron (instagram) is slated for the storefront at 496 Woodford Street which was formerly occupied by JP’s Bistro.

Chef/owner Ryan Hickman (instagram) has most recently been on staff at the Chebeague Island Inn,  and prior to that he helped launch the Pine Point Grille. Hickman worked at Arrows and the Back Bay Grill earlier in his career.

Hickman hopes to open The Knotted Apron early next year. The restaurant will serve dinner Thursday through Sunday, and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

Here’s a look at the draft menu:

Uncharted Tea Opens This Morning

| Posted in Openings

A new tea shop called Uncharted Tea (website, facebook, instagram) is set to open this morning at 8 am. Uncharted Tea is located at 662 Congress Street in Longfellow Square.

Owners Michael Bowser and Emma Vonderheide will be serving a menu of “inspired bubble tea” such as the Bermuda Triangle which is made with jasmine tea, lychee, simple syrup and lychee jelly.

Plucked Salsa

| Posted in Profiles

The Press Herald has published a profile of Plucked Fresh Salsa, a Fork Food Lab success story.

Now the brand and its whimsical name can be spotted at dozens of Hannaford  and Whole Foods stores, as well as on colleges campuses, across the Northeast. It just passed the $1 million mark in sales. Not bad for a business that started in her kitchen, moved to her basement and then nearly cost Towle and her husband their home.

This Week’s Events: Ada’s, Non-Alcoholic Beer Dinner, Cider 101 Class

| Posted in Events

Monday – Little Giant is hosting an Ada’s pop-up dinner, and Solo Italiano is holding a sold out Pig Roast in conjunction with Gradis’ Cuitta.

Tuesday – there will be an Italian wine dinner at Tipo.

Wednesday – a 5-course dinner with non-alcoholic beer pairings in collaboration with the Athletic Brewing Co is taking place at Little Giant, and  the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Thursday – The Porthole and Evo are both holding wine dinners, there will be a Trillium Beer dinner at Hugo’s, and there will be a whiskey blending workshop at New England Distilling.

Saturday – the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday – The Righteous Russet (aka Sean Turley) will be teaching a Cider 101 class at Lorne Wines in Biddeford.

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.

Reviews: The Garrison, The Cider House

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed The Garrison, and

With his Mediterranean-and-Asian inflected modern American menu, he creates creative plates that underpromise and overdeliver. Everything from Thai-inspired, butter-poached lobster in a sunny coconut curry broth; pulled short rib mounded onto a dark brioche bun with iceberg lettuce and American cheese; and a phenomenal, pseudo-Provencal pappardelle good enough to convert anyone to the pleasures of slow-braised rabbit.

the Press Herald has reviewed The Cider House.

Local spot with a neighborhood feel and not an ounce of snobbery. There’s something for everyone, even your friends who don’t like cider.

Cocktail Mary Now Open

| Posted in Openings

A new cocktail bar called Cocktail Mary (website, instagram) held a soft opening last night. They’ll be back open tonight at 5 pm. Cocktail Mary is located in the former Ramen Suzukiya space located at 229 Congress Street.

Owner Isaac MacDougal grew up in Portland where his family owned and operated Vaughan Street Variety. MacDougal has worked as a general manager or bartender in a number of restaurants in New York City including at WD-50. In Portland he was the original bartender at Izakaya Minato from 2017 until earlier this year.

Vibrant Food Scene

| Posted in General News

A new article on Medium explores “Why is the Whitest, Oldest State in the U.S. Home to Such a Vibrant Food Scene?

When I moved to Portland, Maine, I started a list of restaurants I wanted to try. But it’s been harder than I imagined to check off a pho dinner here and a Sunday bagel there. It’s no secret that Portland is a food destination, and I quickly realized I’m competing for a table with hundreds of locavore enthusiasts and hungry tourists.