Gelato Fiasco on Fore Street & Tony Bourdain Interview

| Posted in Under Construction, Events, Uncategorized

The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes an interview with Tony Bourdain about his upcoming appearance with Eric Ripert at Merrill and lingering ill will generated by the Maine episode of his TV show No Reservations,

If comments on social media are any indication, Mainers sure know how to hold a grudge. While some loved Bourdain’s view of Maine through the eyes of his cameraman Zach Zamboni (who grew up in Milo), many others are still wondering more than a year after the show aired: Why wasn’t Portland more prominent in the show, given its growing reputation as a food town? Why didn’t Bourdain go to (fill in the blank) restaurant in Portland? And why was he so mean to restaurateur Dana Street when they were having dinner at his Portland restaurant, Street and Co.?

And for an article in today’s paper food reporter Meredith Goad lands interviews with owners of Gorgeous Gelato and Gelato Fiasco. Gelato Fiasco is in the process of opening a shop at 425 Fore Street almost directly across the street from their local competition.

“It’s not a very clever move in business strategy,” [Gorgeous Gelato co-owner Donato Giovine] said. “If I were them, I’d go to Boston. The only thing I think is, they want to kill us as a business.”

[Gelato Fiasco co-owner Josh] Davis denies that. He says he and [business partner] Tropeano have looked at 80 different locations in the Portland area during the past two years, “and have just not found the place we thought would make it work.”

When the Fore Street spot became available, Davis said, they both thought it was perfect for their business. It has “great foot traffic,” he said, as well as outdoor seating.

For additional commentary on the Gorgeous Fiasco issue see the Portland Examiner.

And Another Review of Schulte & Herr

| Posted in Reviews

The Golden Dish has published a review of Schulte & Herr.

 I daresay goulash, schnitzel and dumplings? Homemade rye bread and liptauer cheese with cornichons and capers? Spaetzle and caramelized onions under melted Emmentaler or the bratwurst platter with all the fixings?

These uber old school dishes herald from a charming new restaurant called Schulte & Herr — tucked into a humble space along the inauspicious nether lands of Cumberland Avenue.

Taylor Griffin

| Posted in People

According to a report from the Press Herald, Taylor Griffin has died in a fatal car crash in California. Griffin is President of The Rogers Collection, a specialty food importer located in Portland.

Taylor Griffin, 40, whose talents and tastes were well-known in the restaurant world, died after he lost control of the rented Chevrolet Corvette he was driving Sunday night on Highway 20 in Upper Lake, Calif. He was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the car.

Bull Jagger in Mainebiz

| Posted in Beer

Mainebiz has published an article about Bull Jagger, Portland’s newest brewery.

A new beer will soon join Portland’s growing batch of homegrown brews, but this one is a bit different.

Tom Bull and Alan Jagger have launched Bull Jagger Brewing Co. in a 1,500-square-foot facility in Portland’s Riverside Industrial Park to make lagers, which they say is rare among microbrews.

“Tom and I love lagers,” Jagger says. “And we saw a void. Most of the microbrews are making ales, and we thought Maine could use a new lager.”

For additional reporting see the Press Herald.

Food Trucks Event, Editorial, Interview and Commentary

| Posted in General News

The Blueberry Files and Delicious Musings were at El Rayo yesterday for an appearance by the Cabin Cove Oysters shuck truck and have both posted some photos from the event.

Oysters were briny, served with a salt-cutting red wine migonette.  Sold out fast, but the Shuck Truck will be back.  And hopefully we’ll be seeing all manner of food trucks all over Portland soon anyway.

Edible Obsessions has published an editorial in favor of food trucks.

Now, because of the combined efforts of Creative Portland Corporation, along with the input from those in the community who support or wish to operate a food truck in the city, we are no longer asking if food trucks will finally come to Portland but, rather, when.

Across the board, the recommendations from CPC are more than agreeable and address everything from location to sanitation…

Who I Met published an interview with Sarah Sutton, co-owner of the food truck Bite into Maine which is located in Cape Elizabeth.

Sarah and her husband have become “the reference point” for a local issue that is gaining attention. A town that closely guards local food and business, food carts are denied business permits in the metro Portland area- mostly for fear of competition. Despite that, their cart, “Bite Into Maine” is thriving- it even placed highly in the Food Network’s “America’s Favorite Food Truck” contest after being open for only three months.

Portland Daily Sun columnist Bob Higgins recalls some recent exceptions to the current prohibition.

Just about six years back, I worked down at Tartan Textiles down in West Bayside. Every day, a food truck arrived to dispense wares of hot coffee, pre-made wrapped sandwiches, fruits, donuts, and all other manner of tasty snackery.

Review of Schulte & Herr

| Posted in Reviews

Edible Obsessions has published a review of Schulte & Herr.

With nearly everything made on site, and where dishes seemed pressed to reach above $10 a plate, Schulte and Herr is easily one of the best new restaurants in town, where people always seem to be calling for ‘more bang for my buck.’ The portions are generous, preparation simple and, most importantly, the food is good. Really, really good.

This Week’s Events: Charity Apple Picking, Oyster Shuck Truck, Wine Dinners, Roastery Tour, Harvest on the Harbor

| Posted in Events

Monday — the Cabin Cove Oysters shuck truck will be at El Rayo serving up $1 oysters.

Tuesday — a Cotes du Rhone wine dinner is taking place at the East Ender and Local Sprouts is hosting a local foods networking breakfast.

Wednesday — Bresca is holding a 5-course dinner featuring wines from Dominio do Bibe, there will be a wine tasting at the Old Port Wine Merchants, and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.

Thursday — it’s the starting day of Harvest on the Harbor, the monthly Havana South wine event is taking place as is the South Portland Farmers Market, and The Great Lost Bear will be showcasing Maine Brewing Co.

Friday — Coffee by Design is having an open house at their roastery, Bull Jagger Brewing’s first beer, Portland Lager, will go on sale at RSVP & Downeast Beverage, and it’s the 2nd day of Harvest on the Harbor.

Saturday — Delicious Musings has arranged a charity apple picking event at Thompson’s Orchard in New Gloucester: you donate your labor and all of the apples you pick will go to the Good Shepherd Food Bank. The Munjoy Hill street festival is taking place as is the Deering Oaks Farmers Market, and it’s the last day of Harvest on the Harbor.

Sunday — this month’s 20/20 wine charity event will take place at the Falmouth Sea Grill.

Farms & Fables — performances of the play Farms & Fables are taking place October 28, 29 and 30 (with a preview performance on October 27) at Camp Ketcha in Scarborough on Blackpoint Rd. You can read more about F&F on farmsandfables.blogspot.com or by calling (207) 200-6982. Tickets are $15 per person.

 

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.

Bull Jagger Brewing

| Posted in Under Construction

Bull Jagger Brewing Company has been added to the food map. Portland’s newest brewery plans on specializing in lagers. Their first product, Portland Lager, is billed as “a crisp golden, premium lager modeled after the traditional Helles beers of Bavaria.”

They will be debuting at the Harvest on the Harbor and Portland Lager will go on sale Friday at RSVP on Forest Ave and Downeast Beverage on Commercial Street.

For more information visit their website or “like” them on Facebook.

Review of Tu Casa

| Posted in Reviews

Eat Here Go There has published a review of Tu Casa.

While the décor at Tu Casa is sparse, the flavors certainly aren’t. Get yourself there and taste some authentic Salvadoran cuisine, and meet some really awesome people. The place is really starting to get packed, even on weeknights. When the tables are full you can pretty much anticipate a wait for your food, but rest assured it will come out piping hot and extremely fresh.