This Week’s Events: The Maine Dish, Food Swap, Forge Release, Signature Event

| Posted in Events

Maine Restaurant Week — MRW began Sunday and runs through March 14. See mainerestaurantweek.com for details on participating restaurants.

Tuesday — The grand re-opening is still a couple weeks off but on Tuesday Vena’s is partnering with Sunrise Guides to raise money for Portland Trails; Vena’s will be debuting some of their new drinks.

Wednesday — Black Tie is teaching a cooking class.

Thursday — it’s the first night of The Maine Dish, the March Food Swap is taking place at the Urban Farm Fermentory, Tod Mott from the Tributary Brewing Company will be at the Great Lost Bear and there will be a wine tasting at the Munjoy Hill Rosemont and a Mayflower Brewing tasting at the Bier Cellar.

Friday — there will be a wine tasting at the West End Deli.

Saturday — Foundation Brewing is releasing Forge their Russian Imperial Stout (2 bottle limit), and the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday — the MRW Signature Event cocktail competition 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.

Under Construction: Old Port Slice Bar, The Sinful Kitchen

| Posted in Under Construction

The City Council meets Monday, and among other items on the agenda are consideration and approval of liquor licenses applications for:

  • The Old Port Slice Bar is taking over the space at 420 Fore Street formerly occupied by Joe’s NY Pizza. A draft menu (page 69) was submitted along with the application.
  • The Sinful Kitchen(facebook, website), as previously reported, will be located at 906 Brighton Ave in the building formerly occupied by La Familia. Chef David Mallari will be serving brunch Wednesday through Sunday. The draft menu (pages 84-85) is a mix of traditional brunch items along with food that will make gluten-free eaters and paleo dieters happy.

Also on the agenda is a California-based company called the Old Port Lobster Shack which has leased 425 Fore Street. The company has existing locations in Portola Valley, Redwood City and San Jose. According to their cover letter, their eateries are “seafood restaurants specializing in lobster prepared in various ways that are commonly found in Maine lobster shacks.”

Maine ♥ Allen’s Coffee Brandy

| Posted in Distilling & Cocktails

allensPunch has published an article about Allen’s Coffee Brandy.

To call the stuff a cultural phenomenon in Maine is an understatement. Statistically, one in eight bottles of alcohol purchased in Maine is Allen’s. The top-selling spirit in the state is the Allen’s 1.75-liter bottle, and its sales dwarf those of the number-two contender, Orloff Vodka. Overall, the coffee brandy occupies four out of the ten top-selling SKUs in the state, with popularity decreasing by the size of the bottle. On YouTube, you’ll find songs detailing nicknames for the product: The Champagne of Maine, Bitch Whiskey, the Trailer Park Toddy.

Review of Blue Spoon

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Blue Spoon.

Blue Spoon is a relaxed, neighborhood restaurant with a Mediterranean slant. Start with a mezze plate piled with cheeses, terrines and a selection of chef David Iovino’s pickled vegetables. If you crave comfort, ask about the braising pot – a seasonal ragu of slow-cooked meats served with house-made pasta. Or try the chicken under a brick: It’s crispy, juicy and accompanied by irresistible gruyere fritters. Just make sure to leave room for dessert. Blue Spoon may bill itself as a Maine bistro, but the coconut caramel flan is pure, unadulterated Cuban delight.

Vinland

| Posted in Profiles

The March issue of Down East includes an article about Vinland.

As an intellectual exercise — is it possible to build a fine-dining restaurant in northern New England on local ingredients only? — Vinland succeeds wildly. But it remains to be seen whether Levi’s experiment can attract large numbers of diners in Portland, where options for a $200 dinner for two with a local emphasis (if not a manifesto) isn’t hard to come by. “I stand by it 100 percent,” Levi says confidently. “Some people love it; some people don’t. But I know it comes from a good place, and that’s what matters.”

Breakfast Cook-off Results

| Posted in Events

Vignola/Cinque Terre took first place at yesterday’s Incredible Breakfast Cook-off competition.

The buzz at the Incredible Breakfast Cook-Off Friday was all about the Portland restaurant’s savory smoked brisket hash patties with scrambled eggs and pea shoots, Italian cheese fonduta and salsa verde. This was their first time at the cook-off, and they took home first place.

Four time winner The Good Table came in second and Sea Dog Brewing took third place.

Lolita

| Posted in Profiles

The March issue of Maine magazine includes an article about Lolita.

It is impossible to deny the sensory delight that one experiences upon first stepping through the doors of Lolita Vinoteca and Asador on Munjoy Hill. Warm, pungent aromas of clams and garlic roasting in the wood oven, which is constantly tended to by diligent cooks, are prevalent even amidst the din of patrons stationed up and down the long zinc bar on a busy night. Much of the menu is inspired by the ancient spice routes of Venice, successfully marrying flavors from the Mediterranean, Africa, and the Middle East, resulting in dishes like burrata with lemon zest and Aleppo chili oil on toast,or cured Spanish sardines augmented with harissa.

Bayside American Cafe

| Posted in General News

Portland Street breakfast restaurant Bintliff’s American Cafe is changing its  name to Bayside American Cafe. The current owners, Joe and Diane Catoggio, purchased the restaurant from Roger Bintliff in 2003. According to the press release,

The name change will be rolled out in the coming months. While the Catoggios are excited to embrace the cafe’s new identity, the message to their customers is clear: the name is the only thing changing. The menu, style and staff that diners have come to know and love will remain the same.

DiMillo’s Fundraiser for Adam Sousa

| Posted in Events

This past Sunday falling ice totaled bartender Adam Sousa’s car which was parked on Exchange Street. Sousa’s insurance doesn’t cover falling ice and so friends have set-up a gofund.me page to help raise money for Sousa to replace his car.

The local chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild is holding a fundraiser this Sunday at DiMillo’s, 3-5 pm. A portion of the sales from the drink specials will go toward the the gofund.me campaign.