The Portland Phoenix has published an article about Blue Spoon chef/owner David Iovino.
Nom Bai Food Truck
A new food truck called Nom Bai (instagram, facebook) launched over the weekend. They serve a menu of “Cambodian and Vietnamese street food”. Sovanna Neang is managing Nom Bai in collaboration with Matthew Glatz from Saltbox Cafe who owns the truck.
Nom Bai plans to be on Spring Street 11-3 today and tomorrow, and on the Eastern Prom on Sunday, 11-3.
Oysters, Apples and Duck
This week’s Food & Dining section in the Press Herald includes:
- For the next installment in the apple series, Sean Turley has written about appreciating late summer early season apples
- An article on the various ways you can develop and feed your enthusiasm for Maine oysters
- A one-dish write-up about the seared duck breast on the menu at Miyake on Fore Street
Hughes Attending Bar-5
Hunt & Alpine Bar Manager Trey Hughes will be attending the Bar-5 certification program. This is a high level training program for people in the bar tending profession taught by Dale DeGroff, David Wondrich and others.
Under Construction: Bob’s Clam Hut
Bob’s Clam Hut (website) in Kittery is opening a second location at 109 Cumberland Ave in Portland.
According to their press release:
Bob’s Clam Hut is actively involved in securing space for a second restaurant location at 109 Cumberland Avenue in Portland, ME. The Portland property will be an extension of the award-winning Kittery-based seafood restaurant that opened its iconic roadside stand over 60 years ago. Sticking to its roots, Bob’s Portland location will continue its emphasis on classic New England seafood, but with a few tweaks to offerings that better align with the Portland dining community and leverage distinct features of the new space.
Bob’s has been in business since 1956.
109 Cumberland was formerly the home of 3 Buoys Seafood Shanty & Grille, which closed earlier this year.
This Week’s Events: Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, Indie Biz, Mushroom Walk, Panarda
Wednesday – Old Port Wine is holding a tasting, and the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.
Thursday – the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs is holding the inaugural meet and greet at Sable Oaks, Terlingua is partnering with Austin Street and Cold Spring Ranch on a beer dinner.
Friday – Rob Evans and several other chefs are holding a Lettuce after party as a benefit for Full Plates Full Potential, it’s the last day to cast your vote in the Indie Biz Awards, and there will be an Italian wine tasting at Rosemont on Brighton.
Saturday – North Spore is leading a mushroom identification walk at Pineland, Portersfield Cider is holding a farm party in Pownal, and the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market is taking place.
Sunday – Piccolo is celebrating their 4th anniversary with a 20-course panarda dinner, Solo Italiano is holding a Porto Vino wine dinner, Portland Ballet will be performing at Allagash, and North Spore is leading a 2nd mushroom identification walk at Pineland
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, please provide details as a comment to this post.
Loring/Fraser Expand to Sugarloaf
Restaurateur Jason Loring has announced that he and business partner Michael Fraser are “taking over Gepetto’s and the side bar at Sugarloaf and will be opening 2 new restaurants.”
Reviews: Bayside Bowl, Local 188, Little Giant, Yobo, Tipo
The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Bayside Bowl and 33 Elmwood,
Its new outdoor rooftop deck is an absolute stunner, with a bar and an Airstream trailer that serves as a taco truck. Unfortunately, the food seems occasionally like an afterthought, lagging behind the standard set by the modern, often elegant spaces that make up the business. Among the better dishes are the tender cactus taco and Bayside’s vegan interpretation of a Reuben sandwich, the Rachael, made with smoky tempeh and tangy sauerkraut. Steer clear of the gloppy, oversauced tot poutine, which our server described as “unforgettable.” She’s not wrong.
the Portland Phoenix has reviewed Little Giant,
The LG Burger & Jojos (read: burly, delicious steak fries) served as the evening’s entrée, a no-frills take on the diner staple topped with American cheese, pickled grilled red onion, iceberg lettuce and BBQ mayo. Though a bit on the small side, the burger’s sheer and undulating juiciness made up for any perceived size discrepancies demanding bite after blissful bite. I left full and happy.
The Bollard has reviewed Yobo and Tipo,
The classic bibimbap ($15) is a solid choice — a combination of beef or tofu with rice (fried to a delicious crisp on the bottom of the hot stone bowl), veggies, a runny egg yolk and gochujang (red-chili paste) that you mix yourself. If there’s a taco special, order that too. The pork belly and local uni (sea urchin) tacos ($12) were the tastiest dish on the table one Thursday night.
Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Local 188,
On the other hand, the mushrooms had me at “hello”. One bite of the voluptuous oyster shrooms was enough to know I was in fungal heaven. I noticed the pickled shallots immediately and then a little romesco. My next bite added a couple slices of almond and there was something about the nut flavor that covered the mushrooms in a calmness, muting a little of the vinegar and blending everything together. I found it entrancing.
Lolita Chef Participates in Harvey Dinner
Lolita Chef de cuisine Kimmo Meronen is returning to Texas for a reunion dinner with other former coworkers at *17 Restaurant in Houston. The dinner is a benefit “providing emergency assistance funds to those in Houston’s hospitality community affected by the storm”.
Tickets for the event and donations can be made at at agricolehospitality.com.
Erin French, The Lost Kitchen
Forbes has published an article about Erin French, chef/owner of The Lost Kitchen.
At The Lost Kitchen in Freedom, Maine, owner Erin French begins imagining dinner at 7 a.m.—but first, she checks the weather. The evening’s courses, crafted with ingredients from nearby farms, pastures, fields and waters, need to suit the season and the temperature. Maybe it’s fried green tomatoes in the summer or whole-roasted trout in the spring. Forecast in mind, she’ll design her menu based on the produce en route to her kitchen and the food she’d prefer on her own dinner plate.