Local Foodie is working on a project this year to create “an interactive map that represents all aspects of the food system and can be used by consumers, producers, distributors, and everyone in between to make connections with local food.” It sounds like a great idea. I look forward to seeing it come together.
A New Homepage for a New Year
As you’ve probably noticed Portland Food Map looks a little different today. The old homepage, which served the site well when it first launched, has been redesigned to provide more space for the news updates and better access to site features.
Along with the new homepage design comes a few additional capabilities for you including an RSS feed and the ability to comment on the posts, as well as making it easier for me to post news items. Also you can now search 400+ Portland food websites right from the homepage.
Here’s a brief PFM feature history:
August 7, 2007 – PFM Launched
September 3/4, 2007 – The Unreviewed and Under Construction lists
October 9, 2007 – Category Street Maps
November 28, 2007 – Portland Food Search
February 2, 2008 – Sunday Brunch List
April 7, 2008 – Event Calendar
January 1, 2009 – the new homepage blog
I hope you like the new homepage design. Have a Happy New Year!
December’s Stats
The 10 restaurants looked up most often during the month of December were:
- Loco Pollo (-)
- Emilitsa (2)
- Evangeline (3)
- Bresca (4)
- Back Bay Grill (6)
- Caiola’s (7)
- Five Fifty-Five (13)
- David’s (34)
- Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe (46)
- Miyake (9)
The numbers in parentheses indicates their rank last month.
Arabica
The Portland Phoenix has reviewed Arabica.
“Coffee preferences are profoundly idiosyncratic, but I find their dark roast a bit light and a hair under-brewed. It’s more nutty and smooth than rich and full. The espresso drinks, where technique is more important, are consistently excellent in the hands of the experienced staff.”
Thyme for Dinner
There’s an interview published in today’s newspaper with Paula Pelczar from Make Thyme for Dinner for the ShopTalk column. Pelczar’s business is a “meal assembly business” in South Portland which provides the raw materials, kitchen equipment and recipes for people to cook family meals in advance.
Interview with Rob Evon
Port City Life interviewed Rob Evon, the administrator of Port City Music Hall, for the January/February edition of the magazine (article not available online). Port City Music Hall is scheduled to open in mid-January.
Maine Mead Works
Today’s Press Herald published a profile of Maine Mead Works.
“Wait, don’t go anywhere. Yes, the topic is mead today. But no, you are not trapped in a time warp or at a Renaissance Fair. There will be no words with an ‘e’ randomly stuck on the end, no cheesy costumes, no faux lords and ladies who talk as if they just stepped out of the Middle Ages.
That’s not what Eli Cayer and Ben Alexander had in mind when they opened their new meadery in Portland.”
PeRx-U-Up
Portland in a Snap has published a profile of the PeRx-U-Up Cafe and the associate drug store, Apothecary by Design.
More New Year’s Eve Dinners
New Year’s Eve dinners for both Bresca and Evangeline have been added to the event calendar.
This Week’s Events
There are New Year’s Eve dinners taking at Sea Grass Bistro, Bar Lola, Five Fifty-Five, Frog & Turtle, Emilitsa and Verrillo’s on Wednesday. Frog & Turtle is also holding a New Year’s Day dinner too. Novare Res is having a tasting of Franconian lagers on Wednesday. There are wine tastings taking place at the West End Grocery on Friday and Leroux Kitchen on Saturday. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.