Bar Review of Petite Jacqueline

| Posted in Reviews

The Portland Bar Guide has published a review of Petite Jacqueline.

Their cocktails take their cues from standard French fare, and feature ingredients such as cognac, champagne toppers and Grand Marnier. Wanting to feel a little “Moulin Rouge” I ordered the French Kiss (Absinthe, Bourbon, Lillet and 7-Up, $7) because I felt there was no way to be disappointed in a drink that was made with both bourbon and absinthe. To the glee of my tastebuds, I was not disappointed in the slightest. If those liquors sound a little gruff, you may want to try out the French Connection Cosmo (Cognac, Grand Marnier and Cranberry Juice ($11) or the Belgian Orange Blossom (Vodka, Grapefruit Juice, Bitters, Almond Syrup and Seltzer, $7).

The Host Position

| Posted in General News

Portland Daily Sun columnist Natalie Ladd wrote today about the important role the host plays at a restaurant.

To the unindoctrinated, it’s hard to explain why the host position is so difficult to execute and so vitally important to the operational flow of a busy restaurant. There’s the reservation book or list that’s been building, with the names and times often incorrect due to hasty human error that can set off a domino effect of disaster.

Review of Cobblestones

| Posted in Reviews

From Away has published a review of Cobblestones.

Overall, I was impressed by today’s sandwich, and tantalized by the other four “specialty” sandwiches available on the menu. I also tried a bowl of the homemade mushroom and dill soup, which was much, much better than any other soup I have tried nearby. Cobblestones represents a nice new addition to Monument Square: a workaday sandwich shop as designed and imagined by people who clearly think about and care a lot about sandwiches.

The Holy Donut Opens Tomorrow

| Posted in Openings

The Holy Donut is opening a retail shop on Middle Street. Owner Leigh Kellis tells me that tomorrow morning The Holy Donut will start selling donuts and coffee weekday mornings (7:30 – 10 am) from the first floor of the East Ender at 47 Middle Street.

For tomorrow’s launch she hopes to have 5-6 varieties available including: dark chocolate, ginger sweet potato, plain Maine potato, buttermilk with maple glaze & crushed walnuts and bacon & sharp cheddar.

Review of Havana South

| Posted in Reviews

The Golden Dish has published a review of Havana South.

For my main course I had the roast chicken breast, which the menu describes as being prepared with a Peruvian marinade. What exactly might that be, I wondered? Whatever it was, the dry rub (or brine) produced a white meat that was so dark, stringy and dry that I thought I had been served an old thigh instead. The accompaniment of purple potatoes and braised kale would have been undecipherable had I not read it on the menu.

Under Construction: The Edge, L.F.K., The Bakery on the Hill

| Posted in Under Construction

Here are a few updates on restaurants under construction in Portland:

  • The window at 416 Fore Street has a sign that says “Coming Soon, The Edge”. The Edge was reported on earlier this Summer by the Portland Daily Sun . It is a new venture by the owners of the Spring Point Tavern in South Portland.
  • The former Cunningham’s Bookstore in Longfellow Square is being converted into a neighborhood destination called L.F.K. The space is designed “to look and feel like an old study or library”. Owners Johnny Lomba and John Welliver will also have on display a “modest and rotating collection of old typerwriters with information on various writers who used the same models.” You can see the draft food menu they supplied as part of their liquor license application (page 22) and a floor plan (page 24) online.
  • See below for a photo from the site of The Bakery on the Hill which is under construction on Congress Street a couple doors away from Figa. Between the tin ceiling, hardwood floors and the skylight it has the potential to be a really great space.

 

Review of Green Elephant

| Posted in Reviews

Will Travel for Vegan Food has published a review of Green Elephant.

Hold onto your hats because at this very moment, this is the best vegan dessert I’ve ever, ever, ever had. I AM already a chocolate lover. So that might have something to do with it. But we’re talkin’ rich, creamy, melty-in-your-mouthy moussey goodness that I’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing until this day. I actually needed to take a time out so that my taste buds could catch up. Wow.

This Week’s Events: Forever Farms, Twilight Dinner, The Man Who Couldn’t Eat, Soil to Supper

| Posted in Events

Monday — Labor Day, the cultural end of Summer.

Wednesday — the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.

Thursday — the Maine Farmland Trust will be at Broadturn Farm in Scarborough to recognize them as part of their statewide Forever Farms program, the next Twilight Dinner at Turkey Hill Farm is taking place, the Great Lost Bear is featuring beer from D.L. Geary at this week’s brewery showcase, there will be a wine & cheese tasting at the Public Market House, and the South Portland Farmers Market is taking place in the afternoon.

Friday — Rosemont on Brighton is holding a tasting featuring wines from Italy.

Saturday — John Reiner, author of The Man Who Couldn’t Eat, will be at Rabelais for a book signing, The Honey Exchange is holding a Grand Opening as is Bam Bam Bakery, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.

Sunday — longtime vendor at the Farmers Market, Rippling Waters, will be holding the 7th Annual Soil to Supper at their farm in Steep Falls.

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.