Food Truck Update

The Saturday Portland Daily Sun has published an update on the food truck task force.

While the task force previously kicked around the idea of figuring out the distance that a food truck ought to be from a bricks-and-mortar restaurant, Friday’s conversation shifted to where the trucks ought to be allowed to operate rather than where they can’t.

The idea that came out of the discussion was creating an overlay zone for parts of the Portland peninsula that would be suitable for food trucks.

Review of Paciarino

Map & Menu has published a review of Paciarino.

There are a few Italian-inspired restaurants in Portland that we’ll always love, but we both agreed that the food at Paciarino just felt more Italian than that of any other restaurant in town. The ingredients are simple, wholesome, and fresh, which, in my mind, only further supports Paciarino’s authentic Italian cuisine and motto: ‘Eat well… live long.’

Selecting a CSA

Vrai-lean-uh has posted some advice on what to look for when selecting a CSA.

The other point is that there are many types of farms and CSAs**, and which (or if) one works best for you depends on a number of things. When I was first choosing a CSA, I made a spreadsheet. I am the kind of person who encounters a situation with many options and variables and makes a spreadsheet. You could make a list? Or mentally compare? I just don’t want you to lay down $500 and be unhappy.

Here are some things to consider…

Ball Park Eats

Today’s Portland Daily Sun reports on this season’s menu at Hadlock Field.

No ballpark favorites are being cut, but a few new options are available.

“We’re introducing a Healthy Food Line in our new Shipyard Grill, located down the third base side,” said Portland Sea Dogs General Manager Geoff Iacuessa. “We’ll be offering two different kinds of Italians, chicken and veggie wraps, and two different salads. Shane’s of Maine frozen yogurt will be at all concession stands, and as far as the healthy line goes, we’re happy to try it again.”

Reviews of Marcy’s and Blue, Duckfat Cook on Chopped

The Press Herald has published a review of Marcy’s,

My sunny-side up eggs were perfect, with nice big yolks. When I see “home fries” on the menu, I think of chunks of potatoes. But I got what I consider hash browns — thin, shredded potatoes. Maybe they were out of the chunky ones. I didn’t care, because these were some of the best hash browns I’ve ever had. No pre-made hash brown patties for Marcy’s. This was a big ole’ mess of shredded potatoes, nice and toasty, with just the right amount of crispness.

and a bar review of Blue.

On one wall, large chalkboards display the night’s menu, featured wines and beer listings. Blue has eight beers on tap and three more offered by the bottle. The average price is about $5. There were eight wines to choose from, ranging from $6 to $10, a couple of which you can buy by the bottle. If you’re looking for a liquor drink at Blue, though, you’re out of luck.

Today’s paper also includes a report on Duckfat cook Melissa Corey’s recent appearance on Chopped,

“I was the youngest contestant and the only female contestant, so it was sort of intimidating first walking in there,” Corey said in a phone interview from Chicago. “I don’t think any of the guys who were against me thought that I would be the one to pull it off in the end. I think I sort of surprised them.”

and the latest installment of the What Ales You column.

Tandoor Bakery & UFF Kombucha

The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes a profile of Tandoor Bakery,

Bread is not the only thing Naser bakes at Tandoor Bread & Restaurant, his little bakery across the street from Baxter Woods.

Every day, he and his wife, Kanat Saad, and their helpers produce a good array of delicious Middle Eastern fare, from falafel and shawarma to baklava and other Arabic pastries.

and an article about the Urban Farm Farmentory’s new line of kombucha products.

The initial release of Urban Farm Fermentory Kombucha Culture offers three varieties: Wild blueberry, ginger and oak barrel, with more flavors to be added in coming months.

Also in today’s paper is a report on a recall of seafood produced by the Portland Shellfish Co.