First Look at Black Cow

| Posted in Reviews

The Blueberry Files has published a first look report of Black Cow.

Everyone who mourned the closing of Sonny’s, Jay Villani’s Latin-themed restaurant on lower Exchange Street can breathe easy—Black Cow is now open, and the bar remains functionally the same. The food, however, is completely different with a focus on hamburgers, ice cream, and sodas. Those who enjoyed cozying up to Sonny’s large bar and ordering a creative cocktail will be pleased to see Black Cow has a list that rivals Sonny’s in its inventiveness.

Tempo Dulu/Opium to Close

| Posted in Closings

Both Tempo Dulu and Opium, the restaurant and bar in the Danforth Inn, are scheduled to close at the end of this month, reports the Press Herald.

Raymond Brunyanszki, co-owner of the inn, said the businesses were not profitable enough and that a “disconnect” existed between the guests staying at the inn and people dining at the restaurant. He also cited the difficulty of finding qualified staff familiar with Southeast Asian cuisine.

Zimmern Show in Portland

| Posted in People

Portland is the focus of a new episode of Andrew Zimmern’s TV show The Zimmern List set to air tonight at 9:30 on the Travel Channel.

But when a Portland-centric episode of his new show, “The Zimmern List,” airs Tuesday night, it’ll be largely about his dad.

“The whole episode is really an homage to him. I went to places that he first turned me on to,” Zimmern, 56, said Monday from his home in Minnesota. “It was a very poignant and personal episode for me. I think it’s one of the better pieces I’ve done for television.”

New Name For Foley’s

| Posted in General News

It’s been three and a half years since Ed and Molly Foley sold the business to their baker Andrea Swanson. Now Foley’s will be undergoing a name change to Scattoloni.

Scattoloni is family name and an homage to Swanson’s father who ran a bakery by the same name. She doesn’t plan to make any major menu changes as a result of the name change.

This Week’s Events: Sur Lie at Beard House, Maine Maple Sunday, Tiki Shake-off

| Posted in Events

Saturday – Sur Lie chef Emil Rivera is preparing a meal at the James Beard House in NYC, Evo chef Hagai Bernstein is serving a supper club dinner at The Inn at English Meadows, Oakleaf is holding a pop-up dinner at Fork Food Lab, and the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday – it’s Maine Maple Sunday, and the Tiki Shake-off competition is taking place at Tiqa.

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.

Andrew Knowlton in Portland

| Posted in People

[Recently former] Bon Appétit editor Andrew Knowlton landed in Portland yesterday and is eating his way around the city. So far he’s visited:

  • Goodfire Brewing where he’s had a roll from Mr. Tuna
  • The Island Creek Oyster Shop on Washington Ave
  • High Roller Lobster on Exchange St
  • Cong Tu Bot
  • Oxbow Blending & Bottling
  • Blyth & Burrows
  • The Francis
  • Rose Foods
  • Ten Ten Piè
  • Speckled Axe
  • J’s Oyster Bar
  • Central Provisions
  • Ruski’s
  • Izakaya Minato
  • Belleville
  • Drifters Wife
  • Little Giant

Little Spruce Baking Co. Launched

| Posted in Openings

Big Tree Hospitality, the restaurant group that includes Eventide, Hugo’s and  The Honey Paw, has launched their newest venture, the Little Spruce Baking Company (instagram).

Baked goods went on sale yesterday at the Saco River Farmers’ Market in Biddeford. The options included a Pizza Croissant (tomato jam, ricotta, peperoni), Moonstruck (egg, maitake mushroom, mustard greens), PB&J Croissant (strawberry jam, peanut glaze, sprinkles) and Sourdough loaves.

Yet another reason to visit Biddeford on top of Rabelais, Palace, Elda, Sweet Cream, 2 distilleries, 2 breweries, etc.