Buck’s Naked BBQ is scheduled to open today at their new location on Wharf Street. They’re located in the space formerly occupied by Havana South.
Review of Pocket Brunch
Food Coma has published a review of the November Pocket Brunch.
So that must be what keeps the critical mass of Pocket Brunch growing, the desire to experience a one day only performance by a group of cooks, dishing out material straight from the heart. This is something no mere restaurant could ever offer, either to its customers or the men and women that work the line.
This Week’s Events: Cloak & Dagger Tapas, Slow Food Potluck, Lobster Symposium, Winter Farmers Market
Monday — Cloak & Dagger is serving a tapas dinner, to welcome a group of Italian students visiting Maine, Slow Food Portland is holding a potluck lunch and a dinner at The Farmer’s Table.
Wednesday — The American Lobster in a Changing Ecosystem, a 2-day science symposium is taking place.
Thursday — the author of Hoosh: Roast Penguins, Scurvy Day, and Other Stories of Antarctic Cuisine will be at Longfellow for a book signing, Vignola/Cinque Terre is holding an Italian Beer Dinner, The Great Lost Bear will be showcasing Christmas Beers, and it’s the 2nd day of the lobster symposium.
Friday — there will be wine tasting at Rosemont on Brighton.
Saturday —the first Winter Farmers Market of the season is taking place, Novare Res will be one of only 17 bars in North America to be selling Cantillon Zwanze this year, and there will be wine tastings at Browne Trading and LeRoux Kitchen.
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.
Under Construction: Salvage BBQ & Smokehouse
Local 188 has announced that they’ll be naming the new restaurant they have under construction at 915 Congress Street, Salvage BBQ & Smokehouse. The restaurant is located at the former home of Portland Architectural Salvage. They’re planning on opening in Spring 2013.
Review of Gather
The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a review of Gather.
Surround yourself with warmth, energy, company and very good food at Gather, whose purpose is to offer healthy, locally sourced and deliciously prepared food so that people of all ages and many incomes can partake. The restaurant succeeds admirably. You may not gush, but you’ll certainly enjoy.
Review of Hot Suppa
The Golden Dish has published a review of Hot Suppa.
Places like Hot Suppa serve the kind of food that I go for in a big way: hearty down-home fare that when it’s done with care and cunning can be a soul-satisfying experience. But when the pageantry of such comfort grub goes awry, the allure is short-lived.
In other words, I’ve had two lackluster meals at Hot Suppa recently when my expectations were set so high.
Reviews of Howie’s & Pom’s
The Press Herald has published a bar review of Howie’s,
While I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I ventured outside the popular Old Port bar area of Portland, I’m glad I gave Howie’s a shot. It’s a fun little place if you’re looking to venture from the Old Port crowds.
and a review of Pom’s.
On a cold day, one of my favorite comfort foods is any kind of noodle soup, or noodles in broth. So I went for lunch the other day at Pom’s Thai Taste Restaurant & Noodle House in Portland in search of some warm comfort.
I found it, plus a little extra kick.
Today’s paper also includes a report on the sour and wild beer tasting that recently took place at the Bier Cellar.
The Flemish red ale Duchesse de Bourgogne from Brouwerij Verhaeghe is a classic for the style, with almost no carbonation and a rich flavor. It is a blend of 8- and 18-month-old beers, aged in oak casks, with just a bit of sourness. It was one of my favorites of the line-up.
Review of The Loft
The Portland Phoenix has published a review of The Loft, as well as Five Guys and Elevation.
There is also a lot of beef — 30ish varieties of burger. That’s probably too many, but there are things to like about them. The burgers are big, but patted hard enough to prevent that burger-as-ball effect that makes many upscale versions hard to eat. Not that these burgers are upscale, exactly. At $10 including fries, they are around the same price as burgers at the Five Guys and Elevation chains…
Brunch Review of Pai Men
Dispatch has published a brunch review of Pai Men Miyake.
In case you haven’t picked up what I’m putting down, I’ll spell it out: Brunch at Pai Men is great. You should totally try it. Or, at the very least, get the meatballs.
Thanksgiving Dinners at Harraseeket & Five Fifty-Five
The Press Herald interviewed chefs Steve Corry at Five Fifty-Five and Eric Flynn at the Harraseeket about the Thanksgiving dinners they’ll be serving at their restaurants.
On this Thanksgiving Eve, be thankful you’re not Eric Flynn, the head chef at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport, who will be cooking for a record 900 people today.
That’s equivalent to the entire population of Ogunquit.