Purple House Evolution

| Posted in General News

Chef/owner Krista Desjalais has announced that she’ll be going into Summer recess for The Purple House after May 12th in order to focus time on her Bresca and the Honey Bee location.

When The Purple House reopens in October, Desjarlais will be launching “with a new format which will include new pastries, bread, bagels, savory baked goods and pizza al taglio for the weekend….we will also offer a fancyish lunch served Thursday and possibly Friday… two seatings, 8-10 people per seating, multi course”.

Details on how to reserve seats for lunch will be shared later this year.

This Week’s Events: Seaweed Week, Haus Alpenz, Pasta with Paolo, Sparkling Pizza

| Posted in Events

Monday – Seaweed Week continues with restaurants across the city participating by having seaweed based dishes and drinks on their menu. See the Seaweed Week website for a list of participating venues in Portland and across the state.

Tuesday – Solo Italiano is holding a Pasta with Paolo pasta making class.

Wednesday – the 1st Monument Square Farmers’ Market of the year is taking place, there will be a Greek wine tasting at Old Port Wine Merchants, and Jake Parrot will be at Little Giant for a Haus Alpenz cocktail and wine dinner.

Thursday – Jake Parrot will be at Maine & Loire for a Haus Alpenz wine tasting, and the Great Lost Bear will be featuring beer from Banded Horn.

Friday – there will be a wine tasting at the West End Rosemont.

Saturday – Devenish Wines and Belleville are teaming up on a sparking wine pizza night, and the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market is taking place.

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.

Street Food Survey

| Posted in General News

Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram takes a look at the diverse range of international street food now being served by Maine restaurants.

Street food taps into our culture’s growing preference for international flavors and casual restaurants, where curious diners can explore new dishes with friends and family. As with tapas-style dining, people can sample several dishes without blowing their budget, and can pass dishes around the table to share. A lower bill at the end of the night means diners can enjoy a restaurant meal more than one night a month, said Clay Norris, chef/owner of Baharat.

Reviews: Dizzy Bird, Bird & Co.

| Posted in Reviews

The Press Herald has reviewed Dizzy Bird, and

As I’ve already hinted, I discovered the meat was both tender and delicious. (It could have been just a touch more moist, but I feel like that’s nit-picking.) I remember thinking as I ate it, “I wonder how many modern kids raised on grocery store rotisserie birds even know what a chicken is supposed to taste like?”

the Press Herald has reviewed Bird & Co.

Unless you prefer to slog through life without even a glimmer of happiness, you should head straight to Bird & Co. Is it possible that soon the word tacocktail will be trending?

Under Construction: Bánh Appétit

| Posted in Under Construction

Tuyet Le has leased 171 Cumberland Ave, the former Ten Ten Pié space, where she plans to open a bánh mi shop called Bánh Appétit (instagram) which will serve “banh mi, banh bao, banh pateso and more”.

Le doesn’t have an opening date identified yet, but is hoping to open in late May or early June.

You can see some pictures of the food and stay on top of upcoming launch planns by following Bánh Appétit on instagram.

Liquor License for Rising Tide

| Posted in General News

The Press Herald has published a report on the City Council’s approval of a new liquor license for Rising Tide.

Portland city councilors have rushed through a liquor license for a local brewery despite a warning from the city attorney that doing so would violate the city’s zoning rules and code of ordinances, and go against precedent it set in dealing with a competing brewery.

Norimoto Bakery

| Posted in Under Construction

Former Ten Ten Pié baker, Atsuko Fujimoto, has founded Norimoto Bakery (instagram).

For now, she’s operating it as a wholesale bakery supplying goods to customers like Woodford F&B,  Boda and Kuno, as well as taking retail special orders. She’s working out kitchen space at Two Fat Cats in South Portland.

Fujimoto continues to look for a storefront in the Portland area where she plans to take the next step and open a retail bakery. I’ll post an update when that takes place, but not before buying up all the lingonberry pinwheels for myself!

Norimoto is a concatenation of Fujimoto’s last name and that of her husband.

Slurpfest 2019

| Posted in Events

This weekend (Friday – Sunday) the Maine Oyster Company on Portland Street will be holding Spring Slurpfest 2019.

The oyster festival will include, “Free oyster schwag from growers,  daily prize giveaways including private farm tours, club memberships & oysters, free shucking demonstrations, speciality oyster dishes” and on Sunday they’ll be holding the first of four Slurp Madness (an oyster eating contest) qualifying events.