Under Construction: Eighteen Twenty Wines

| Posted in Under Construction

eighteentwentyEighteen Twenty (website, facebook) has leased space at 219 Anderson St in East Bayside. Co-owners Pete Dubuc and Amanda O’Brien hope to open their rhubarb winery and tasting room sometimes this fall.

Read Joe Appel’s recent article in the Press Herald for more information on the Eighteen Twenty.

It’s the eighteen twenty wine’s “mystery,” as Dubuc puts it, that is so compelling. The flavors are at once intense and other, hinting at sweetness but not presenting it outright, offering substantial mass on the palate without weighing you down, combining a vegetal leafiness with the bright drive and vividness of a well-made cocktail. It’s tasty, savory, refreshing, with balanced sweetness, but the best thing about it is that it doesn’t taste like grape wine yet you can’t pin it down. It invites repeated inquiry.

This Week’s Events: Beard Awards, Rising Tide Dinner, Star Wars Dinner, Falmouth Kitchen Tour

| Posted in Events

Monday — The 2016 James Beard Awards Gala is taking place in Chicago. Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley from Eventide, and Brian Hill from Francine Bistro are nominees for Best Chef: Northeast, and Rob Tod from Allagash is a nominee for Outstanding Beer Wine and Spirits Professional. Sur Lie is holding a Rising Tide beer dinner.

Wednesday — the 3rd Annual Piccolo Star Wars dinner is taking place, as is the Monument Square Farmers’ Market.

Thursday — The Great Lost Bear is showcasing beer from Lone Pine Brewing.

Saturday — it’s the first day of the Falmouth Kitchen, and the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday — products from a number of food vendors and local vendors will be on sale at the weekly Crofters & Artisan Market.

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.

 

Reviews: Emilitsa, Woodford F&B, Hot Suppa

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Emilitsa,

Emilitsa serves high-end renditions of Greek classics in a tiny, quiet space right in the heart of downtown Portland. Chef Niko Regas took command of the kitchen from his father, Demos Regas, in the past year and has proven through his cooking that the decision was a good one…The grilled fish is a great entrée choice, and the traditional Greek herb-rubbed lamb chops and their oniony, potato-parsnip mash accompaniment are not to be missed. Wines are all Greek and are generally good. Our pick is the light and floral Sigalas white, also available by the glass.

the Kennebec Journal has reviewed Hot Suppa,

The first time I tasted Hot Suppa!’s fried green tomatoes I fell in love. They are double battered before being fried, and the batter is well-seasoned. Once cooked, the crusty outside combines perfectly with the soft tangy tomato inside. Their addictive remoulade of mayonnaise, capers, cilantro and a dash of hot sauce (with some other spice I can’t quite figure out) has me craving these often.

and Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Woodford F&B.

From the drink to the dessert, they produced a stellar spread. I felt the service was particularly good too. Our waiter alone was top notch, but the addition of host and hostess assisting at times provided a great team to take care of us. I would highly recommend Woodford F & B.

New Juice Bars

| Posted in Under Construction

The Bangor Daily News has published a report on the growing number of juice bars serving the Portland market.

Smoothies and juice bars are to 2016 what espresso bars were to 2003. Not entirely new, but taking off and here to stay. While Greater Portland is a far cry from San Diego, where liquid kale in a cup is dispensed from every streetcorner, new concepts abound this spring. They promise health, vibrancy and vitality by the ounce.

Farm Truck Juice opened earlier this year, Fly Fox and Blake Orchard are under development, and a new firm called the Maine Juice Co recently leased production space in Biddeford.

Barr Hill Spirits Tasting

| Posted in Events

The Blueberry Files has posted a report on the recent Portland Spirit Society Barr Hill spirits tasting.

We learned about the process of making the vodka and gin, both made from honey (which must be so expensive). The vodka is distilled until it has a neutral flavor, while the gin has some honey added back into it, giving it a lovely floral characteristic. The Tom Cat gin is “rested” gin that is aged in charred oak barrels, giving it a most delicious smoky sweetness. It’s one of my new favorite craft spirits. 

Under Construction: Tiqa Cafe

| Posted in Under Construction

The City Council approved a 5-year lease of the Deering Oaks Castle to Deen Haleem and Carol Mitchell, the owners of Tiqa restaurant. Their plan is to operate a year round  cafe called Tiqa Cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. They hope to be open in time for the summer.

Tiqa has approval to make modification to the building to put in a small kitchen and also has been granted a beer and wine license for the establishment.

This Week’s Events: Okami Pop-up, Chopped Challenge, City of Gold, CBD Reopens, Allagash Izakaya, Farmers’ Markets, Ballet in the Brewhouse

| Posted in Events

CityofGoldMonday — Central Provision’s Ian Driscoll is serving an Okami pop-up at Bao Bao tonight, Space Gallery is screening the movie City of Gold at 1pm at at 7:30pm, Coffee by Design is opening their newly renovated shop on Congress Street, and The Velveteen Habit is serving a dinner at the Beard House in NYC.

Tuesday — Pai Men is teaming up with Allagash that will pair 12 of their beers with an izakaya menu for the evening.

Wednesday — the first Monument Square Farmers’ Market of the season is taking place.

Thursday — Sea Glass is holding a Justin Vineyard wine dinner, and The Great Lost Bear is showcasing beer from Redhook Brewing.

Saturday — and the first Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market of the season is taking place.

Sunday — the 2016 Chopped Challenge is taking place as is the Ballet in the Brewhouse collaboration between Allagash and Portland Ballet, and the weekly Crofters & Artisan 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.

 

Jack Van Paepeghem Earns Advanced Cicerone Certification

| Posted in Beer, People

Portland resident Jack Van Paepeghem is one of just six people in the world to have earned the Advanced Cicerone Certification. The day long exam for the advanced level includes six hours of written questions, four taste panels, and two oral exams.

“It is incredibly exciting to be named as one of the country’s very first Advanced Cicerones,” said Van Paepeghem. I am proud to represent not just Oxbow and The Maine Brew Bus, but Maine’s beer community as a whole.”