Under Construction: Sonny's

| Posted in Under Construction

PortlandTown has published some interior photos of Sonny’s and details on its planned opening this Friday night.

Well the buzz for Local 188’s Jay Villani’s new place…  Sonny’s, 83 Exchnge Street, at Post Office Park is about to get a little louder with the opening night happening this Friday at 5PM.  You’ll be able to sample some of the South American tinted menu like Brazilian Style Mussels, Fried Plantains and Yam Fries, Rice & Beans, Empanadas and Cuban Chicken.  They’ll have a cash bar and a party atmosphere! I’ll be there taking more pictures so the next post will have both food & foodies, so dress to kill.

Under Construction: Sonny’s

| Posted in Under Construction

PortlandTown has published some interior photos of Sonny’s and details on its planned opening this Friday night.

Well the buzz for Local 188’s Jay Villani’s new place…  Sonny’s, 83 Exchnge Street, at Post Office Park is about to get a little louder with the opening night happening this Friday at 5PM.  You’ll be able to sample some of the South American tinted menu like Brazilian Style Mussels, Fried Plantains and Yam Fries, Rice & Beans, Empanadas and Cuban Chicken.  They’ll have a cash bar and a party atmosphere! I’ll be there taking more pictures so the next post will have both food & foodies, so dress to kill.

When It Rains, It Pours Soup

| Posted in Reviews

Fast on the heels of this monrning’s Press Herald profile of Kamasouptra, the Portland Phoenix has published a set of soup highlights on the menus at Brian Boru, Rosemont, Big Sky, West End Deli and Local 188.

As such, Portland is a great city for soup. We’ve discovered plenty of delicious liquid lunches (not that kind), and while this is by no means a comprehensive review of those options, it is a survey of some personal highlights. We’d love to hear your favorites.

The Only Constant Is Change So Eat Soup

| Posted in Under Construction, General News, Profiles, Fisheries

The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald provides insight on:

  • Bresca’s plans for offering lunch services and expanded menu to include “European and classic American pastries and tarts”
  • the New Orleans-style sandwich shop Po’Boys & Pickles that opened on Forest Ave in late December
  • El Rayo‘s delivery service
  • the plans for Havana South which is under construction on Wharf Street
  • Walter’s under construction bar Gingko Blue
  • the transformation of Bangkok Thai into Boda which “will feature homestyle Thai cooking and Thai street-vendor specialties”
  • and information on a new seafood CSF

There’s also a nice profile of the Kamasouptra soup delivery services in Avery Yale Kamila’s Natural Foodie column this week.

With the snow piling up and the wind howling around the house, who couldn’t use a steaming bowl of soup? Even better if it’s delivered piping hot to your door.

Enter Kamasouptra, the Portland-based vegetarian soup purveyor which makes house calls.

The Sun's Year in Food Review

| Posted in General News

The Portland Daily Sun has published an omnibus review of the 2009 year in food.

This year saw many openings, including: Papaya King, Paciarino, Bard, Mornings in Paris, Maine Bean Cafe, The Farmer’s Table, El Rayo, Grace, Binga’s Stadium Smokehouse and Sports Bar, the Salt Exchange, Peace Food Market, Otto’s, Kon Asian Bistro, the Corner Room, Shima, JPs, Veranda Noodle Bar, Linda Bean’s Perfect Maine Lobster Roll, the second floor of the Public Market House, Saigon Restaurant, GRO Organics and Po Boys and Pickles.

The Sun’s Year in Food Review

| Posted in General News

The Portland Daily Sun has published an omnibus review of the 2009 year in food.

This year saw many openings, including: Papaya King, Paciarino, Bard, Mornings in Paris, Maine Bean Cafe, The Farmer’s Table, El Rayo, Grace, Binga’s Stadium Smokehouse and Sports Bar, the Salt Exchange, Peace Food Market, Otto’s, Kon Asian Bistro, the Corner Room, Shima, JPs, Veranda Noodle Bar, Linda Bean’s Perfect Maine Lobster Roll, the second floor of the Public Market House, Saigon Restaurant, GRO Organics and Po Boys and Pickles.

Ammending the 2009 Wine Tasting Law

| Posted in General News, Wine

Chow Maine’s Bob Rossi has published an update on the effort to revise the flawed wine tasting law that went into effect last year. Hopefully the revisions make it quickly through the legislative process so wine shops can resume their normal tasting schedules.

There are currently two proposed bills aimed at correcting the “no children” aspect of the tasting law. One is sponsored by Representative Stacey Fitts of Pittsfield; the other is sponsored by Representative David Webster of Freeport, the legislator who introduced the “no children” amendment that made it into the final bill that was passed in 2009.

Review of Green Elephant

| Posted in Reviews

Appetite Portland has published a review of Green Elephant.

Green Elephant’s small but thoughtful wine list (with generous pours) also earns high marks from me, as do the affordable prices and the ambiance. Stylish drop lights and quirky crystal chandeliers mix with faux golden brick, bamboo floors, and giant flatware cut outs that double as coat hooks. The effect is all cozy and ”Buddhist hip.”

But, it is the food – specifically that Roti Canai – that keeps me going back.

Anthony Bourdain at J's and Street & Co.

| Posted in Events

According to a Press Herald news update, Anthony Bourdain was in town on Saturday. His Portland eating itinerary included J’s Oyster Bar (see photo) and Street & Co.

[J’s bartender Sandy] D’Alfonso said Bourdain sampled the restaurant’s steamed clams, oysters and mussels. Bourdain’s crew “interviewed him, and he had someone with him who lived in the area,” D’Alfonso said. “They interviewed a couple of the people that work here. He had a good visit as far as I could tell.”

Bourdain’s camera “crew told the staff at J’s that the Portland episode [of the TV show] would be on in April”.
For a first-hand account you can listen in to the Dining With the Duleys radio show on WMPG on Tuesday night at 7:30.

Anthony Bourdain at J’s and Street & Co.

| Posted in Events

According to a Press Herald news update, Anthony Bourdain was in town on Saturday. His Portland eating itinerary included J’s Oyster Bar (see photo) and Street & Co.

[J’s bartender Sandy] D’Alfonso said Bourdain sampled the restaurant’s steamed clams, oysters and mussels. Bourdain’s crew “interviewed him, and he had someone with him who lived in the area,” D’Alfonso said. “They interviewed a couple of the people that work here. He had a good visit as far as I could tell.”

Bourdain’s camera “crew told the staff at J’s that the Portland episode [of the TV show] would be on in April”.

For a first-hand account you can listen in to the Dining With the Duleys radio show on WMPG on Tuesday night at 7:30.