There are New Year’s Eve dinners taking at Sea Grass Bistro, Bar Lola, Five Fifty-Five, Frog & Turtle, Emilitsa and Verrillo’s on Wednesday. Frog & Turtle is also holding a New Year’s Day dinner too. Novare Res is having a tasting of Franconian lagers on Wednesday. There are wine tastings taking place at the West End Grocery on Friday and Leroux Kitchen on Saturday. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
Eating Out During the Recession
There’s a front page article in today’s Press Herald on the impact the recession is having on Maine restaurants.
The Corner Luna
Portland Psst! has posted information on the new restaurant named Luna Rossa going in at 188 Middle St and on a new Harding Smith venture called The Corner Room.
Restaurant Week ME
The gBritt public relations firm is organizing Restaurant Week ME which is scheduled to take place in early March. According to today’s paper, Back Bay Grill, Fore Street, Cinque Terre and Hugo’s are all already on board.
Winter Farmers’ Market Menu
A new post from Portland in a Snap reports on the Winter Farmers’ Market and includes a detailed menu of items and prices available from participating vendors. The options range from rutabagas and golden shallots to creme freche and ewegurt.
Big Sky Lunch
The Press Herald has reviewed the lunch options at Big Sky.
“It’s somewhat surprising to me that Big Sky Bread Company does lunch so well. I mean, it’s a bakery, so making great breads and baked goods is the priority. But the lunches are worth getting excited about too.”
Wayside Soup Kitchen
Today’s paper has a report on the collaboration by members of Portland’s Jewish and Muslim communities to serve a holiday meal at the Wayside Soup Kitchen.
Best New Restaurant of 2008
This week’s Portland Phoenix takes a look at the impact of tourists on Portland restaurants and names Emilitsa the Best New Restaurant of 2008.
“While Greek cuisine is not exotic, Emilitsa shows the kind of deep loyalty to the clarity of a certain set of flavors and ingredients — in their case primarily lemon, olive, lamb, and yogurt — that more often emerges in larger cities that can cultivate the novel without external assistance.”
Imigrant Food Traditions
Today’s Press Herald has articles on the French tradition of Reveillon, the way imigrants weave food traditions into their new lives, and the Wayside Soup Kitchen’s holiday meal being cooked by members of Portland’s Jewish and Muslim communities.
Burrito
The Maine Switch has reviewed Burrito.
“When the temperature nosedives and the snow starts to fall, it’s convenient to have a way to escape the weather. One of my favorite getaways is ¡Burrito! in Westbrook, where the laid-back atmosphere and Latin-influenced fare make it feel like a South-of-the-Border vacation.”