The signs and paper blocking the windows at 47 Middle Street are now down and pedestrians on Middle Street can now get a look in at the renovations underway for the EastEnder, the restaurant that’s taking the place of Norm’s East End Grill.
This Week’s Events: Rwandan Cooking, Winter Farmers Market, Sonny’s
Wednesday — Grace’s Wine Revolution will be tasting wines from Optimus Imports with special guest Barney Schneider.
Thursday — The Great Lost Bear will be showcasing beer from Andrews Brewing Company.
Friday — a Rwandan Cooking demonstration is taking place and the West End Deli is holding a wine tasting. It’s also the January First Friday Art Walk and restaurants will be busy so be sure to make reservations now.
Saturday — it’s the opening day of the Winter Farmers Market, Wine Wise is teaching a class on Italian Reds, Sonny’s is celebrating their 1st year anniversary and LeRoux is holding a wine tasting.
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.
4 Star Review of Korea House
Korea House received 4 stars from the Taste & Tell review in the Maine Sunday Telegram.
Spicy, vibrant dishes offer Mainers a fine opportunity to eat like a Korean, choosing from dishes that are utterly authentic.
Restaurant IPOs?
Brian Duff from the Portland Phoenix has put together some recommended business strategies for restaurants in the new year,
Another plan is to take advantage of government stimulus spending while it lasts. Hot Suppa! recently got a Community Development Grant to develop a dinner service that should find its feet in 2011…Other restaurants should pursue this strategy. There are a lot of unemployed college grads around who would probably write a grant application right at your bar for a free drink or two.
December 2010 Monthly Stats
The 10 eateries looked up most often in December on Portland Food Map were:
- District (1)
- Hot Suppa! (3)
- Pai Men Miyake (8)
- Bresca (6)
- Figa (5)
- 15 Exchange (-)
- Bar Lola (13)
- Little Seoul (7)
- Boda (18)
- Caiola’s (2)
The numbers in parentheses indicates their rank last month
First Review of Gorgeous Gelato
Appetite Portland has published a review of Gorgeous Gelato.
My advice? Get thee to the newly opened Gorgeous Gelato (434 Fore Street) and celebrate this balmy bliss with a creamy cold mound of sheer joy. I stopped in yesterday and tasted my way through half a dozen flavors (the proprietor will happily hand you mini spoonfuls to try) and each one was better than the next.
Review of The Salt Exchange
Portland Magazine has published a review of The Salt Exchange.
The small-plate (3 to 5 make a complete dinner) menu choices are sensational, imaginative, and affordably priced. The Hudson Valley Foie Gras Terrine ($17) has real wow factor, served with cherries, pistachios, and savory black pepper confections–truly a memorable experience. Ditto for the skillfully crafted pork terrine ($5) served with whole-grain mustard and shaved beef tongue ($9) highlighted with a soy-caramel-ginger vinaigrette.
Back and Forward
Edible Obsessions published her 2010 round-up and wish list (as well as a Christmas turducken post)
My own food wishes for 2011? Well, I hope the Missus gets her never ending wish for a less expensive and fulfilling Middle Eastern place(how about Emilitsa-lite?) and I would, in our great expansion of Asian places around town would love to be able to chow down at a Malaysian restaurant, even if it’s a chain. And tonight, in a perfect way to end the year, we’re revisiting the one local restaurant that completely left us speechless, Bresca.
and Portland Magazine has published a 2011 calendar of food events happening throughout the state.
Under Construction: Petite Jacqueline
According to the liquor license application submitted by the Corry’s and their business partner Elizabeth Koenigsberg, the name of the French bistro the trio are opening in Longfellow Square will be Petite Jacqueline. You can see draft lunch and dinner menus for Petite Jacqueline on pages 31-35 pf the City Council agenda for January 3, 2011.
Baxter Brewing
According to the What Ales You column in today’s Press Herald, Baxter Brewing expects to starts shipping beer by the end of this month.
The Stowaway IPA is a great example of a West Coast IPA. It has an aggressive hoppy aroma at the start and a strong flavor, but you still can taste the malt in the background. The Stowaway, at 6.9 percent alcohol, is a beer you would want to take some time with.