The Golden Dish has published a report on the New England Summer Dinner put on last week by Damian Sansonetti and Andrew Volk.
Sansonetti is co-owner of Blue Rooster and Volk will be launching the Portland Hunt and Alpine Club later this summer.
This Week’s Events: 4th of July Fireworks and Concert, Mainely Treats, Farmers Markets
Tuesday — there will be a wine tasting at Rosemont.
Wednesday — the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.
Thursday — nearly everyone in Portland will be on the Eastern Promenade for fireworks and a Independence Day concert by the Portland Symphony. The Mainely Treats food truck will be launching that evening at the Eastern Prom.
Friday — there will be a wine tasting at the West End Deli. First Friday Art Walk is taking place and restaurants will be busy so be sure to make reservations at your favorite spot in advance.
Saturday — there will be wine tastings at LeRoux Kitchen and Browne Trading, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.
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.
June 2013 Monthly Stats
The 10 eateries looked up most often in June on Portland Food Map were:
- Outliers (1)
- Blue Rooster Food Co. (2)
- Local 188 (32)
- Little Tap House (8)
- The Well (>50)
- Artemisia Cafe (14)
- In’finiti (5)
- Eventide (6)
- JP’s Bistro (>50)
- The North Point (7)
The numbers in parentheses indicates their rank last month.
Pocket Picnic
The June edition of Pocket Brunch took place today at Bresca and the Honey Bee in New Gloucester. Krista Kern Desjarlais and Erik Desjarlais were guest chefs for the picnic themed meal.
- Premeal – financier with plum and goat ricotta, and bacon-wrapped Deuben-dog in a blanket of deviled eggs accompanied by cucumber, dry gin and Aperol cooler
- Snack Board – Hahn’s End Blue, York Hill Capriano, Fermin Salchichon Iberico, Wild Boar cacciatorini, Fermin Chorizo Iberico accompanied by UFF’s Buchanan Hard Cider
- Lunch Basket – buttermilk fried chicken, fennel slaw, black Sabbathday potato salad, pickled watermellon accompanied by Oxbow Farmhouse Pale Ale
- Sweet Basket – blueberry crumb pie with lemon buttermilk sherbert, and strawberry shortcake with basil ice cream accompanied by Twin Vines Vinho Verde
Tandem Coffee was also on-hand with pour overs and their wonderful malt ice coffee.
Under Construction: Omi’s Coffee Shop (Updated)
A new neighborhood coffee shop called Omi’s (facebook) is under construction at 28 Brackett Street just across the street by Outliers. Co-owners Naomi Hall and Katie Bruzgo plan on sourcing their coffee from Maine roaster Seacoast Coffee.
Checkout the renovation photos on their Facebook page. Their plan is to have a colorful and comfy space.
The shop was briefly mentioned last week in a Portland Daily Sun article about the Harbor View Park neighborhood.
July Bollard: Harding Smith, Little Tap House, Taco Escobar
The July issue of The Bollard is now available on newsstands. It includes:
- A feature article on chef/restaurateur Harding Lee Smith
- A brunch review of Little Tap House
- A bar review of Taco Escobarr
US Airways Magazine Visits Portland
The July issue of US Airways Magazine includes a profile of Portland. The articles highlights Bite into Maine, Eventide, Fore Street, Micucci’s, The Holy Donut, Novare Res, Standard Baking, Boda, and LFK.
Review of Fore Street
Peter Peter Portland Eater has published a review of Fore Street.
There was no doubt the meal made us happy. I was thrilled with the portion size. It wasn’t a cheap night at $140 after tip for two people but the meal did include two apps, two entrees, two sides, and a drink. For a special night it was worth it. I’d recommend Fore Street for those times when you’re looking to impress. They’ll provide an excellent meal, but it would probably be too pricey for the average person to visit on a regular basis. Give it a shot and add it to your special occasion list. And make your reservations early because they get booked really quickly.
Lanzalotta/Micucci Controversy
Maine a la Carte has posted a report on the news that Stephen Lanzalotta is no longer running the bakery at Micucci’s.
Lanzalotta sent out an email on Thursday to his Piatto per Tutti mailing list. In it he explains that he’s been fired for ” ‘overstepping my bounds’ in advocating for raises and fuller workweeks for bakery assistants”. The letter goes on to establish his claim to the recipes used and the bakery and asks for a boycott of baked goods at Micucci’s.
Meredith Goad contacted owner Rick Micucci about the issue,
Rick Micucci, president of Micucci Grocery Co., confirmed Friday that Lanzolotta is no longer working at the store, but wouldn’t say why or give any other details. “It is something I can’t comment on,” he said, “but the bakery is operating as usual.”
Wannawaf Opened Today
Wannawaf (website, facebook, twitter) opened for business today (photo) and will be staying open until 2am this evening. They’re located at 15 Monument Square in the space formerly occupied by Cobblestones.
Owner Anya Arsenault (aka Waffle Girl) opened the original Wannawaf in Boothbay in 2003. The menu for the Portland store includes a selection of savory and sweet waffle-based options such as The Kitchen Sink (“egg, home fries, your choice of meat all baked inside a warm waffle”) and the Grand Tradition (“hot waffle, vanilla ice cream, real Maine maple syrup, whipped cream & cinnamon”).