The results of the Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram Readers’ Poll are out. Fore Street got the nod for Best Restaurant ahead of DiMillo’s—thankfully Olive Garden didn’t make the cut this year. But national chains McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts beat out local favorites Becky’s and Coffee by Design in the Cheap Eats and Coffee categories. See the article for the full set of results.
Benkay Review
Benkay received 3½ stars from the Taste & Tell column in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.
A tuna maki roll was part of my companion’s regular sushi dinner, with two pieces of blue fin tuna, one piece of albacore tuna, and a roll set vertically to hold tiny orange eggs of flying fish roe, all crunching between the teeth with a satisfying sound. A small shrimp had been spread across its chewy sticky rice with a secret depth charge of wasabi hidden underneath.
Portland Food Co-op
Yesterday’s Portland Daily Sun published a trio of articles on local food, locavorism and the market factors that resulted in the close of the Whole Grocer and the birth of the Portland Food Co-op. According to the Sun, “Last month’s purchase [by the Co-op] from the Crown of Maine, the statewide distributor of organic Maine goods and products, exceeded the amount purchased by Whole Foods.”
Olive Cafe Review
Olive Cafe received 3 stars from the Eat & Run column in today’s Press Herald.
I tried the chicken shawarma sandwich ($8.50), which was marinated grilled chicken topped with garlic sauce, lettuce, tomato and pickles in a wrap. The chicken was so lightly spiced I couldn’t really distinguish any flavors. It was the light, creamy garlic sauce that made this sandwich worthwhile, boosting it a level or two above a ho-hum chicken wrap. I would order it again.
Flatbread Review
Type A Diversions has reviewed Flatbread.
Whenever anyone asks me where my favorite pizza place is in Portland, I always say Flatbread. Some don’t count Flatbread’s wood-fired, clay oven, all-natural pizza as “real pizza” because it’s not dripping with grease – but that’s exactly what I like about their pies.
Eric Simeon at Grace
Eric Simeon has been hired as to be the Chef at Grace. Simeon has worked at several high profile restaurants in New York and Philadelphia. The reference online to the “globe-trotting menu of smartly designed small plates” he served up at Park Blue might provide a hint at what we’ll see on the menu at Grace.
Portland Food Coma
A new food blog called Portland Food Coma has started up. The most recent post lists ten things to eat in Portland when you have “no time or patience for being disappointed“.
What’s your top ten list?
Chug a Mug Coffee Roasters
At the former Freaky Bean location on Main Street in Westbrook a new business is under construction. Chug-a-Mug Coffee Roasters is taking over the space that had been home to the Freaky Bean’s roastery. They hope to be open “very soon”.
Washington Post Visits Munjoy Hill
Here’s an article from the Travel section of this weekend’s Washington Post that slipped online a little early. Post writer Christina Talcott sings the praises of the “vibrant, eclectic” Munjoy Hill neighborhood and promises “while there’s snow still on the ground there, Munjoy Hill’s density of sights, shops and dining spots offers plenty of opportunities to pop in someplace warm. ” The article highlights some of the foodie spots on the Hill including: North Star, Hilltop Coffee Shop, Rosemont, The Front Room, Duckfat, Colucci’s and Homegrown Herb & Tea.
JBF Nominees
The list of nominees for this year’s James Beard Foundation awards has been released:
- Fore Street was nominated for Outstanding Restaurant
- Rob Evans from Hugo’s was nominated in the Best Chef Northeast category
- Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier from Arrows in Ogunquit were also nominated in the Best Chef Northeast category
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on May 4 in Avery Fisher Hall in New York.