GRO/Lamb in The Switch

| Posted in Profiles, Cooking

The Maine Switch has published a profile of Grassoots Organic/GRO Cafe.

GRO chef Andrew Borne, who previously worked at a raw foods restaurant in Beverly, MA, explains that “when you cook foods, 90% of the nutrients are cooked off. We soak the nuts and seeds beforehand. (The soaking) gets rid of enzyme inhibitors, which helps digestion.”

This week’s Switch also includes an article by Back Bay Grill’s Chef/Owner Larry Matthews Jr. on cooking local lamb.

I purchase whole lambs for the restaurant from Sunrise Acres Farm in Cumberland Center from April through November. Purchasing the whole animal is a great opportunity for chefs (or a home cook with a good freezer). It allows a level of versatility that you don’t get when you buy single cuts and allows cooks to use more parts of the animal than otherwise would be put to use.

Online Wine Sales

| Posted in General News, Wine

The state legislature is weighing three separate proposals to enable Mainers to buy wine over the Internet.

The third measure, proposed by Rep. Melissa Walsh Innes, D-Yarmouth, is modeled after similar legislation in 35 other states. It would establish just one permit for wine producers wishing to ship directly to Maine consumers, but not require Mainers to register themselves with state government in order to make the Internet wine purchases.

This Week's Events

| Posted in Events

The second night of a two-part Maine Food & Drink Ambassador’s class on beer, wine, mead and spirits is taking place on Tuesday night at the Bar of Chocolate Cafe; and the first night of the Ambassador’s course on cheese is taking place at Horton’s on Thursday. On Tuesday, ‘Gasharoo, an all-Allagash event is on tap at Novare Res. On Thursday The Great Lost Bear is showcasing beers from Long Trail Brewing. The 10th Annual Best Of Portland readership poll results will be announced on Wednesday at a party to be held at the Port City Music Hall. There are two cooking classes scheduled this week: at Piatto per Tutti on Monday and Black Tie Bistro on Wednesday. There are three wine tasting:  at Old Port Wine Merchants on Wednesday, Leavitt and Sons on Thursday and Scarborough Wine Outlet on Saturday. Also on Saturday, the 5th Annual International Food Festival is taking place at SMCC. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

Bar of Chocolate Cafe Review

| Posted in Reviews

The Bar of Chocolate Cafe has received 3 stars from the Taste & Tell column in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

The Cuban panini ($8) was encased in a well-browned oblong white roll, which wrapped up thin prosciutto and tender slices of house-roasted pork, melted cheddar and Swiss cheese and sour sliced pickle with a mustard sauce made of ground mustard, hot sauce and a lighter mustard. “It’s pretty spicy because it does have some red chilies,” Martin said.

Urban Chickens

| Posted in Farming

This week’s Forecaster includes an article on Portlander’s new found ability to raise chickens in the city. Paris Farmers Union on Auburn Ave is a source for buying baby chicks. Portland Adult Ed is offering Chicken 101 classes, however all three sessions are alredy fully booked. The Union is getting a shipment of 800 chicks and the classes are sold out, but the Forecaster reports that only “four residents have taken out applications for permits”.

Meal at Miyake

| Posted in Reviews

Portland Food Coma has written up what sounds like quite an amazing 10-course meal at Miyake.

7th [course] Skate and hotate salad with parsley garlic oil, and micros over rice. Presentation was beautiful. You’d think I would have had something that wasn’t amazing at this point. Wrong.