Portland magazine has published a calendar of 2013 food events from across the state, from National Pie Day on January 23 through to the Feast of the Seven Fishes on December 24.
Top 10 Most Ridiculous Tips
Portland Daily Sun columnist Natalie Ladd has assembled a list of her Top Ten Most Ridiculous Tips of 2012.
1) $10 Gift Card to Pizza Hut. Um, I’d rather have been left a crispy Hamilton IF the tab had been $50, but it was $87 and in addition to the competitors’ gift card, I got a little love note about how great the service was. Call me ungrateful here (and in the following gratuities), but these people peeled out of the parking lot in a new Audi convertible.
Favorite Dishes
John Golden has published a listof his favorite dishes of 2012.
At this time of year, dining critics often proclaim their picks for best restaurants of the year. Instead I’m offering my picks for the best dishes I’ve had at area restaurants. From the archetypal hamburger to more exalted choices, herewith are the dishes that made the grade.
Maine Food Law Colloquiem
The Maine Law Review has published A program for the Maine Food Law Colloquiem which is taking place this February in Portland.
The colloquiem is billed as “a chance to hear scholars, policymakers, farmers, and community members discuss and debate the challenges confronting food initiatives in an era of globalized food production.”
Reviews of Scratch Baking & Old Port Tavern
The Press Herald has published a review of Scratch Baking Company,
But it was love at first sight when I saw the list of sandwiches (all $7.95), and this was followed by further infatuation when I sunk my enthusiastic teeth into the pulled pork. It’s described as “slow braised pork shoulder, house-made pickles and slaw on a house roll with tangy sauce.”
I describe it as zippy and delicious sandwich perfection. The pork melted on my tongue, and the coleslaw, pickles and sauce held a flavorful dance party in my mouth.
and a bar review of the Old Port Tavern.
As someone who has ended many a night at Old Port Tavern, I can tell you — don’t let the quaint tavern charm fool you. Sunday through Thursday, the tavern features karaoke, and on Friday and Saturday nights, tables and chairs are moved aside for a dance floor, disco lights and a DJ. The tavern quickly becomes a nightclub with $2 Jell-O shots and all your favorite alcohols to mix any cocktail under the sun.
Phoenix’s Look Forward to 2013
Portland Phoenix food columnist Brian Duff has published his look forward to what we can expect to be eating in 2013.
It also might finally be the year you can find some dim sum in this town, or at least something dim-summy. Encouraging developments include new brunch service at two restaurants adept at Asian flavors and techniques: Pai Men Miyake and Eventide Oyster Company. The terrific Tao in Brunswick is rumored to have been offering dim-sum dishes as bar snacks and appetizers. The new year will bring a dim sum pop-up restaurant called CHINESE LAUNDRY which promises to show up in “galleries, coffee shops, residences, First Fridays, and street corners.”
Beekeeping Classes
The Root has assembled a list of upcoming beekeeping classes taking place in Cumberland County.
BDN’s Ten Tasty Things
Bangor Daily News food columnist Emily Burnham has included Otto, Sonny’s and The Holy Donut in her list of the “ten favorite things I’ve eaten this year”.
Fresh Maine Scallops
The Food & Wine section in today’s Press Herald includes an article about Maine dayboat scallops.
Sea scallops are so delicious, Brawn and other scallop experts say, that fishermen always claim they are best eaten raw, right on the boat.
“When you have a really, really fresh scallop, it has an ocean flavor,” Brawn said. “When it’s raw, it has a really good texture, and it doesn’t have a fishy flavor at all. Scallops in general, relative to other seafood, are mild, but Maine scallops particularly are very mild. It’s almost a shame to cook them because they’re so good raw.”
Golden’s Lunch: Walter’s, Duckfat, Olive Cafe
The Golden Dish has published the second of a 3 part series on lunch options in Portland.
What Portland restaurants lack on their lunch menus is the serious fare that one would otherwise find at big city restaurants in Boston, New York and LA. Whether Portland’s dining world could support serious dining at midday as it does for dinner could be a vital notion for restaurateurs to consider.