Saigon Sandwich and Variety is now open for business.
Where to Eat Now '09
Down East has published the ’09 edition of their annual Where to Eat Now feature. The magazine compiled the favorite eating spots of 18 chefs, food writers and other eating experts into a timely guide of where to eat now. A number of Portland area restaurants made the cut this year: Susan’s Fish and Chips, Fore Street, Bonobo, Thanh Thanh II, North Star, Haggarty’s, Bar Lola, Bresca, Five Fifty-Five, Paciarino, Vaughan Street Variety, The Grill Room, Novare Res, Top of the East, Una.
Bard Coffee Review
Justin Henry’s Green Galoshes has posted a review of Bard Coffee.
Really want to get blown away? Try the breve macciatto. I believe my exact words were, “Wow. Is there cinnamon in this?”. Nope, the friendly barista across the counter replied, just a shot and steamed half-and-half.
Phoenix Readership Poll Results
The Portland Phoenix 2009 Reader’s Choice Awards results are now out. There are dozens of food related categories ranging from Bagel to Wine List and everything in between (Bakery, Beer Selection, Barbecue, etc). Portland Food Map won in the Best Food Blog category. Thanks so much to all of you who voted for the site!
Pending Food Legistlation
There’s an article in today’s Press Herald on the four bills pending in the legislature that are focused on genetically modified crops in Maine.
Nobody knows just how many acres of genetically altered crops are grown every year in Maine.
A bill being proposed by Rep. Benjamin Pratt, D-Eddington, would change that.
“We need to know what we are dealing with,” Pratt said.
The Farmer's Table Review
The Portland Phoenix has reviewed The Farmer’s Table.
But while the Farmer’s Table gets its name a bit wrong, it gets many things right. There is clearly talent in the kitchen, and care goes into the ingredients and the preparation…Most importantly, the Farmer’s Table is the first restaurant in this part of town to feature this sort of food at the sort of price-points for both food and wine that make Caiola’s, the Blue Spoon, and the Front Room popular.
Sapporo Review
Type A Diversions has reviewed Sapporo.
All-in-all, we had a perfectly adequate sushi lunch at Sapporo, in line with my expectation. I have yet to be “wowed” by Sapporo on any of my visits. Bottom line: If you’re in Portland and in the mood for sushi, there are better sushi options than Sapporo.
Bubba's Review
Portland Bar Guide has reviewed Bubba’s Sulky Lounge.
Never been there? Oh, you are in for an experience to remember – one for all your five senses. In room after room there is memorabilia galore – old photos and ads displayed, mannequins of men, women and babies sitting on couches, and hundreds of tin lunch boxes displayed from the ceiling.
GRO/Lamb in The Switch
The Maine Switch has published a profile of Grassoots Organic/GRO Cafe.
GRO chef Andrew Borne, who previously worked at a raw foods restaurant in Beverly, MA, explains that “when you cook foods, 90% of the nutrients are cooked off. We soak the nuts and seeds beforehand. (The soaking) gets rid of enzyme inhibitors, which helps digestion.”
This week’s Switch also includes an article by Back Bay Grill’s Chef/Owner Larry Matthews Jr. on cooking local lamb.
I purchase whole lambs for the restaurant from Sunrise Acres Farm in Cumberland Center from April through November. Purchasing the whole animal is a great opportunity for chefs (or a home cook with a good freezer). It allows a level of versatility that you don’t get when you buy single cuts and allows cooks to use more parts of the animal than otherwise would be put to use.
Online Wine Sales
The state legislature is weighing three separate proposals to enable Mainers to buy wine over the Internet.
The third measure, proposed by Rep. Melissa Walsh Innes, D-Yarmouth, is modeled after similar legislation in 35 other states. It would establish just one permit for wine producers wishing to ship directly to Maine consumers, but not require Mainers to register themselves with state government in order to make the Internet wine purchases.