Interview with Chef Desjarlais on Bresca Day

| Posted in People

Chubby Werewolf has published an interview with Krista Kern Desjarlais about the new lunch service she’s launching at Bresca.

Despite a very busy schedule, Chef Desjarlais graciously agreed to sit down with me in advance of the launch of Bresca Day and answer some questions. Over the course of a very enjoyable hour or so, we discussed Bresca’s roots, the “celebrity chef” culture so pervasive on television these days and the ability of your average toddler to out-demolish even the most crazed high-on-bath-salts lunatic. Somewhere along the way, we also managed to talk about Bresca Day. I can neither confirm nor deny rumors that several minutes of the interview may have been spent by a teary-eyed Yours Truly, begging for a lunchtime version of those braised beef cheeks. But here’s what I can tell you…

According to the interview lunch service at Bresca will 11-2 and will initially be offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Review of Schulte & Herr

| Posted in Reviews

Eat Here. Go There. has published a review of Schulte & Herr.

Mark raved about his beef sandwich and after being afforded just one small taste I realized why. It was absolutely the best roast beef I have ever put in my mouth. The bun was spread with beautiful brown whole grain mustard and served with a side of horseradish. The mixture of the mustard and horseradish was incredible. It was a splendid choice on his part and I was slightly jealous of how amazing it was.

Fort Williams Liquor Laws & Winter Markets

| Posted in General News

Today’s Press Herald includes an article on the growing number of winter farmers markets in Southern Maine,

“Probably the busiest market in the state right now is Brunswick, and Portland’s not far behind,” said Lauren Pignatello, who runs the Swallowtail Farm micro-dairy in Coopers Mills, and helped launch both the Brunswick and Portland winter markets.

and a report that Cape Elizabeth may repeal the ban on alcohol in Fort Williams Park. If all goes well perhaps we’ll be able to enjoy a glass of pinot grigio next Summer with a lobster roll from the Bite into Maine food truck.

Holiday Eating Survival Guide

| Posted in General News

An article in today’s Portland Daily Sun advises readers on “How to relish the season without adding holiday pounds“.

You wake up puffy and your tongue feels like a giant saltine. After 12 rounds with the snooze button, you flop to the ground and wheeze out a few guilty sit-ups and a push up before the sugar shakes start in earnest. You inhale the festive pastries (they’re for my roommate!) that ended up in your purse after the office party. You vaguely recall a meticulous wrapping job involving one-ply napkins and toothpicks so why is there a frosted explosion at the bottom of your sparkly bag?

Review of Pai Men Miyake

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine magazine blog has published a review of Pai Men Miyake.

It would appear that Pai Men has finally found its identity, and now lives in harmony with Miyake on Fore Street. Each restaurant offers an entirely different experience, and if it’s been awhile since you’ve dined at Pai Men, I urge you to see these changes for yourself. It is also worth noting that the kitchen now remains open until midnight Monday through Saturday, and nothing is better after a long restaurant shift than noodles and meat on a stick.

Review of Cobblestones

| Posted in Reviews

Edible Obsessions has posted a review of Cobblestones.

Perfectly peppered and tender Pastrami was definitely the star, cut thick and piled generously on the rye. And, c’mon, who in their right mind DOESN’T like Marbled Rye? If that’s you, then you’re no friend of mine. The onions were a bit of a throw away for me, though they did add a nice sweetness against the biting whole grain mustard.

This Week’s Events: Sparking Wine Dinner, UFF Workshops, Winter Farmers Market

| Posted in Events

Tuesday — award winning sommelier Scott Tyree and Bar Lola are collaborating on a Sparkling Wine Dinner, and the Urban Farm Fermentory is running a mushroom growing workshop.

Wednesday — a wine tasting is taking place at Old Port Wine Merchants.

Thursday — the Urban Farm Fermentory is teaching a kombucha brewing class, the Great Lost Bear weekly showcase is featuring beer from Bray’s Brew Pub, and there will be a wine and cheese tasting at the Public Market House.

Friday — a wine tasting is taking place Rosemont on Brighton.

Saturday — a second wine tasting is taking place at Rosemont Market and it’s the first Winter Farmers Market of the season.

Sunday — the maiden voyage of The Corner Room’s new Sunday Brunch service.

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.

Review of Bresca

| Posted in Reviews

Vin et Grub has posted a review of last month’s Rocky IV Estonian wine dinner at Bresca.

A decadent softened quails egg topped with American caviar was a nice and cool way to start off the evening.  Despite the cold serving temperature and it’s slight conflict with the texture of the quail’s egg, I was more than pleased with the dish as a whole.  The caviar added the right amount of saltiness and the potato countered that flavor with it’s smokey flavor.  The creamed ruby chard was the highlight of the dish in my opinion- beautifully soft, slightly warmed, and borderline ambrosial, I couldn’t have imagined a better way to prepare chard.