Wine Service and Choice, Theater Food & Infusions

| Posted in General News, Distilling & Cocktails, Wine

The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes advice on improving wine lists and wine service in Portland’s restaurants,

“The server who constantly points people to Chardonnay and Merlot,” Chase said, “might be a nice person. But being nice isn’t the only part of being a good server.” Amen, brother. I’d take a nice enough server who took genuine interest in her kitchen’s menu and wine list over a boatload of trying-too-hard “how’re we doings?” and “you guys” “you all set with thats?”

a report on the new healthy choices for snacks at Maine movie theaters,

You rarely find the words “movie theater” and “health food” in the same sentence, but this could change. As more Mainers seek out healthier fare and adopt alternative diets, cinemas around the state are responding with new menu offerings.

and an article about the current trend for bartenders to develop their own infusions.

Bresca Day

| Posted in General News

According to a report from The Forecaster, chef/owner Krista Kern Desjarlais will be adding lunch service at Bresca starting later in October.

Bresca Day will be European in style, open from late morning to mid-afternoon with fresh pastries, salads and local seasonal fare, she said Monday. Customers will be able to take the food to go or sit in with their children and friends. Coffee and espresso drinks will be provided by Matt’s Coffee of Pownal.

Kelp Farming

| Posted in Farming

The Forecaster has published an update on Ocean Approved and their kelp farming operation in Casco Bay.

Dobbins said the three varieties of kelp they grow are all native to Maine. They grow in the open ocean and filter nitrogen and phosphorus – often considered pollutants – out of the water.

The plants feed entirely on nutrients from the ocean and requiring no additional food. Dobbins said the final product has more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach and more fiber than brown rice.

This Week’s Events: 20 Mile Meal, Miyake Wine Dinner, Mushroom Workshop, El Bulli, Oktoberfest, Eco Appetito

| Posted in Events

Tuesday — the Urban Farm Fermentory is holding a mushroom growing workshop.

Wednesday — Rosemont and Miyake are collaborating on an Austrian wine dinner, and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.

Thursday — the South Portland Farmers Market is taking place in the afternoon.

Friday — there will be a wine tasting at Rosemont on Brighton, it’s the 1st day of the Oktoberfest at Novare Res, and the 1st showing of El Bulli: Cooking in Progress at the Museum of Art.

Saturday — it’s the last day of the Oktoberfest at Novare Res, and the 2nd showing of El Bulli: Cooking in Progress at the Museum of Art, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.

Sunday — Cultivating Community is hosting the 5th Annual 20 Mile Meal, the 4th Annual Eco Appetito at Cinque Terre and the last showing of El Bulli: Cooking in Progress is taking place at the Museum of Art.

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.

Fake Harding

| Posted in General News

Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram reports on the recent social media impersonation of Harding Lee Smith on Facebook and Twitter.

When Portland chef Harding Lee Smith appeared to send a Twitter message to Zapoteca restaurant calling the eatery “disgusting,” “gross” and other things that can’t be printed here, the restaurant’s owners had reason to be puzzled.

And so did Smith.

Turns out, Smith wasn’t the one tweeting from the @HardingLeeSmith account or posting on a similar Facebook page set up under his name.

Miss Portland Diner

| Posted in Profiles

Today’s Press Herald featured a front page story on the Miss Portland Diner.

In the three years since Tom Manning rescued and reopened the Miss Portland Diner, he has come to appreciate the many challenges of running a restaurant.

A change in the weather, good or bad, can draw a crowd to the old Worcester Lunch Car on Marginal Way or leave his staff with plenty of time to fill salt and pepper shakers. A spike in gas prices can drive up supply costs and make it tough to keep meatloaf and hash browns affordable.

Interview with John Myers on Esquire.com

| Posted in People

Bartender and cocktail historian, John Myers, was interviewed by Esquire magazine’s the Eat Like a Man blog.

My family owned a saloon outside of Chicago, like, the day after Prohibition, and they held it until about 1986. I just fell in love with watching the bartenders work. Even at ten years old, I said, “You know, that could not be a bad way to get through life.”

Maine Mag: Zapoteca, Coffee Roasters & Eating Guide to SoPo, Cape and Scarborough

| Posted in General News

The October issue of Maine magazine includes:

  • an article about Zapoteca, “Although there are as many opinions as there are styles when it comes to outstanding Mexican cuisine, anyone would agree that Zapoteca’s creative menu and superlative tequila selection are a long overdue addition to Portland’s ever-growing dining scene.””
  • profiles of three Maine coffee roasters: 44 North, Rooster Brother, and Matt’s
  • an eating guide to South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough: The Cheese Iron, Aroma, 158, etc.

The articles aren’t online yet so you’ll need to find a paper copy at your local newsstand.