The Blueberry Files has published a brunch review of Havana South.
We had a lovely time at Havana, but unfortunately, the food wasn’t good enough to make us want to return for a meal any time soon. Again, I guess we’ll stick to drinks at the bar.
Barber Foods, From the Land, Linda Bean
The Maine Sunday Telegram includes a Q+A with the Executive Director of the Maine Farmland Trust about their new book From the Land: Maine Farmers at Work,
Q: How did this book come about?
A: The idea grew out of the photos. We had a need for the organization to do some basic photography to document some of the work we were doing on different farms. We engaged Bridget for that project, and had no idea that it would develop into something more extensive. We were really impressed with the quality of the photos, and that led to a showing. We have a small gallery at our headquarters, and we have shown the photos there and at a few other places, the Frontier at Brunswick and the statehouse. And that led to the idea of a book. It really was an evolution rather than a plan.
a pair of articles about Barber Foods and the family that has run the business since its founding in 1955,
From here, the Portland-based company, launched 55 years ago from the back of a truck, cooks up 900,000 pounds of frozen prepared food every week, fighting for market share in the $31.7 billion frozen food industry and the roughly $20 billion food service industry. Barber competes with such mega corporations as Tyson Foods, Perdue and ConAgra Foods.
and a business profile of Linda Bean,
Bean spent her first year in the business learning everything Albano could teach her. Today, she said she depends heavily on CEO John Peterdorf’s knowledge of the lobster market. But she is very hands-on in other aspects of the business. She works the crowds at trade shows, dollops lobster into rolls at country fairs and studies the fine print in all her business contracts.
Boston Globe: Boda & Pai Men Miyake
The Boston Globe Travel section has published an article about a new generation of Asian restaurants in Maine. The article focuses on Boda and Pai Men Miyake in Portland and Long Grain in Camden.
The partners are from northern Thailand and came to Portland by way of Seattle. They opened Boda in February with general manager Katie Boone, who with endless patience sets just the right mood for the front of the house. “We wanted to take the Asian restaurant out of its typical giant menu and giant portions and lots of takeout business Americanized box,’’ says Boone, “to serve Thai food, but to do it in a way that makes sense for Portland.’’
Cranberry Island on Fox
Carol Ford and Karen Haase, owners of Cranberry Island Kitchen, appeared on the Portland Fox morning show to talk about their win in a Whoopie Pie Throwdown with Bobby Flay.
A Look Back at North Star
The Forecaster has published a retrospective look back at the former North Star Music Cafe.
“Coffee and lunch and beer and rock and acoustic, maybe it was too much,” Anderson said, without mentioning poetry night, psychic readings and dance events. “The space wasn’t about what I wanted to do. It was about what the community wanted to do.”
Buttercup Cupcakes and a Cupcake Blog
On the heels of the comparative cupcake tasting engineered a couple weeks ago by Edible Obsessions, The Blueberry Files and Appetite Portland comes word of an additional cupcakery, Buttercup Cupcakes, and a blog wholly devoted to tracking down the best cupcake in Portland called Cupcakes! Cupcakes! Cupcakes!.
Food Security, Food Paintings and Seatinis
Today’s Press Herald includes articles about food security in Cumberland County,
The Campaign to Promote Food Security in Cumberland County is scheduled to release its report today after a yearlong study. It says the recession has dramatically increased the number of Cumberland County residents who aren’t sure they can put food on the table, or skip meals because they run out of money.
a Maine artist who paints portraits of family recipes,
With titles like “Mom’s Spaghetti,” “MaryLou’s Fish Chowder” and “Merriam Family Camp Apple Pie,” Erickson’s work preserves memories of holiday dishes, grandmothers’ treats and just good old home cooking.
Ocean Approved’s latest product the Dilly Kelp Pickles which you can buy on the OA website,
The newest product from Portland-based Ocean Approved features the company’s kelp noodles in a dill-infused vinegar brine. With a flavor that blends the essence of dilly beans and a subtle sea taste, the pickles have a slight crunch, and have the look of spinach noodles.
and an Appel on Wine column.
Jack Rosen
Jack Rosen passed away on Sunday. Rosen was a long-time fixture at Full Belly Deli working along with his son David who is the restaurant’s owner. Today’s Press Herald includes a Passages article on Rosen and an obituary.
His son said it was his father’s dream to open a deli. He said customers expected to see him there – even those who he insulted for ordering a sandwich wrong.
“It’s inappropriate to order corned beef or pastrami on white bead,” his son said. “He wouldn’t let them do it. He told them to order a different bread and they listened.”
30% Rise in Enrollment at SMCC
Today’s Press Herald reports on the SMCC culinary arts program. The program has seen a 30% increase in enrollment in the last 3 years.
“The No. 1 driver is jobs,” said Chef Wilfred Beriau, a professor and former department chairman. “People are recognizing that food service is thriving in Maine, especially as part of the tourism industry. No. 2 is the Food Channel and all of the cooking shows on television. It’s showing people the color and excitement of food as an industry.”
This Week's Events: Terry Thiese, Whoopie Pie Throwdown, Terra Madre
Monday — Chef Jennifer Flock is teaching an Italian cooking class tonight.
Tuesday — wine guru Terry Thiese will be in Portland for a book signing at Rabelais and a sold out dinner at Bar Lola.
Wednesday — RSVP and Old Port Wine Merchants are both hosting wine tastings, Wine Wise is exploring French wines and the Food Network is airing a whoopie pie throwdown between Cranberry Island Kitchen and Bobby Flay.
Thursday — a French wine dinner is taking place at the Sea Glass restaurant in Cape Elizabeth, there will be wine tastings at Aurora Provisions and Rosemont Market, and the Great Lost Bear will showcase beer from Rising Tide.
Friday — Slow Food is holding a potluck dinner and panel discussion entitled “Bringing Home Terra Madre: A Panel Discussion on Slow Food & Maine Food”.
Saturday — Rosemont Market and Black Cherry Provisions are holding a wine tastings, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.
Christmas Eve — I haven’t heard yet from any restaurants that are planning dinners on Christmas day but several have announced that they’ll be open Christmas Eve: El Rayo, Five Fifty-Five, The Corner Room, The Front Room, The Grill Room and Vignola. Cinque Terre is also open on Christmas Eve when they’ll be holding their annual Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner, 4-8, $65 per person.
New Year’s Eve — Bar Lola, Five Fifty-Five, Figa, Frog & Turtle and Sea Glass have all announced special events for New Year’s Eve. I’ll be adding more to the calendar as I hear of them.
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.