Asian Round-up

| Posted in General News

Live Work Portland has pulled together an overview of some of the upcoming and recent changes to the Asian food scene in Portland.

There’s always a lot going on in the restaurant scene in Portland, but this spring a few news items combined with some developments since the fall all add up to a significant upgrade in our Asian food infrastructure. When people from away think about Maine, Asian food is not what first comes to mind, yet Portland has a considerable South East Asian population and a sizable Korean community as well.

In addition, I’d add that Shanghai Tokyo opened on Congress Street in February and that two additional Asian restaurants are under construction: China Taste on Washington Ave and Top Thai on Saint John Street.

Review’s of Kim’s Sandwich & Cafe

| Posted in Reviews

From Away has published a review of Kim’s Sandwich & Cafe.

Kim’s is the kind of hidden treasure of a shop that you really want to love, from its small, unassuming storefront with its handpainted signage, to its strikingly friendly staff. They are serving up several different types of perfectly respectable banh mi, and strong, caffeine-spiked cups of iced coffee, for next to no money; most sandwiches clock in at under $3.00 . The meats were delicious, and the pickled vegetables were lively and crisp. The bread was my banh mi’s downfall…

Whoopie Pie Compromise and World’s Biggest W Pie Construction

| Posted in General News

According to a report from Maine Things Considered, the Maine House voted 107-34 to approve a compromise that would designate the whoopie Pie as the Maine State Treat and blueberry pie as the Maine State Dessert.

What started out as a fairly benign piece of legislation designating the whoopie pie as the state dessert, has whipped up an interstate dispute between Maine and Pennsylvania, and served up a dollop of national publicity. Although the bill has since been amended in committee to change the whoopie pie’s title to “state treat,” rather than state dessert, lawmakers representing the interests of the blueberry industry took to the floor of the House today in an effort to carve out their own share of the pie.

Wicked Whoopies will be at the Maine Mall this Saturday to assemble what they hope will be the World’s Biggest Whoopie Pie (take note Pennsylvania). They’ll be selling off slices of the 750-800 lb behemoth for $1 a slice and using the proceeds to send whoopie pies to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. (via Maine magazine)

Review of Pai Men Miyake

| Posted in Reviews

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Pai Men Miyake.

But at his new spot he has embraced mayonnaise, infused with a variety of spices, which pops up all over the menu — on the pork buns, under salt cod fritters, with fried flounder. The mustardy version served with the fritters also had a sharp capery bite. It was terrific with the light, moist, almost gooey balls of fried salt cod. With the flounder a sweeter mayo, and a greasier fry, obscured some interesting flavors of mushroom sauce and garnish.

Maine Farming & Looking Past the Pancake

| Posted in Distilling & Cocktails, Farming

An article in the Food & Dining section of today’s Press Herald looks past the pancake at cocktail and other drink ideas that incorporate maple syrup,

We usually run stories on how the season is going and share ideas for what you can do with all that springtime sweetness besides pour it over pancakes and ice cream. This year, inspired by a maple latte from Arabica, I decided to take a look at maple drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

and the Natural Foodie column exams how Maine’s growing network of small farms creates a better food system for the state.

According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Maine is home to 8,100 farms, and more than 90 percent of them are classified as small operations. Maine is also ahead of the curve in the organic farming movement, with the number of certified farms doubling between 2006 and 2008, the latest years for which the USDA’s figures are available.

Jet Set Maine

| Posted in General News

Jason Oliver Nixon, author of Delta’s Jet Set blog, was in Maine for a visit this weekend,

We kicked off the weekend at a spirited brunch with L.L.Bean’s superstar public relations guru Mary Rose MacKinnon and her husband, James, at Portland’s Local 188. (Try the Caribbean-style hash with a potent Bloody Mary). Then we hit P-town’s cobblestone byways: Don’t miss Rogues Gallery and Portland Dry Goods for exceptional menswear. I am crazy about the kitchenware and gourmet delicacies at LeRoux Kitchen and Browne Trading Company.

Review of Hugo’s

| Posted in Reviews

Vin et Grub has published a review of Hugo’s.

Our 4th course, was beautiful and intricate.  Referred to as the Suckling Pig Three Ways, we were presented with a large plate, with a piece of compressed shoulder, homemade thai sausage, and pig foot atop a long wonton noodle.  A curry froth, curried peanuts, and sweet potato medallions rendered this the most impressive dish of the evening.  The noodle (i love them) was soft and satiating and delicate.  The curry froth was light and pure, and it added an enriching effect on all of the proteins on the plate…