CNN Travel has included Portland on their list of the world’s Best Beer Cities.
As the US city with the most breweries per capita, Portland, Maine is at the top of every beer lover’s must-visit list. To sample a bunch of Maine beers in one go-round, stop at Novare Res in the Old Port neighborhood. From pioneers like Allagash to new standards like Bissell Brothers, Maine Beer Co., and Liquid Riot, the bar’s rotating taps won’t disappoint.
Today’s Food & Dining section in the Maine Sunday Telegram includes:
Recognition of the growing number of restaurants and bars offering non-alcoholic cocktails on their menu,
Walk into just about any bar or restaurant in southern Maine, and it’s likely you’ll find other drinks like the Kermit – mocktails that contain no alcohol, for customers who prefer not to imbibe. Most times there’s a simple explanation for their abstinence – they’re on medication, they’re pregnant, they’re in recovery, or maybe they just don’t like the taste of alcohol. More recently, bartenders have seen the rise of the “sober curious,” people who have quit drinking completely or severely cut back – not because they were addicted but because they want to feel better and say goodbye to hangovers.
intel on where to find vegan and vegetarian tasting menus, and
These chef-curated, small plate meals found at high-end, often meat-centric restaurants can be exciting sources of plant-based nosh, if you know where to look. Each restaurant serves something different, of course, but the tasting menus share an emphasis on seasonal produce and a desire to offer an extra-special dining experience.
a review of Woodford Food & Beverage from the perspective of 6-year old Margaux Boger written up by her parents.
At Woodford Food & Beverage, foodie families can have their cake and eat it, too. Family night out has something for everyone, with sophisticated adult food and an upscale take on kid food favorites. It’s the kind of restaurant that makes you feel like you’re having a classy night out without making you feel like you shouldn’t be bringing your kid. It’s welcoming. This is what we’re looking for in a restaurant.
The new Old Port location of Po’ Boys & Pickles at 225 Federal Street is set to open on Thursday. They’re still staffing up and so during this initial phase will be open more limited hours, 11 am – 7 pm, and a slightly reduced menu.
Ow a related note, owner Chris Bettera is getting married on August 10th at the Guster concert—apparently the couple are big Guster fans.
Photo courtesy of Po’ Boys.
Mast Landing and Guster are collaborating to produce On the Ocean, a pale ale that will be released August 9th in time for a weekend of concerts by Guster taking place in Portland.
“We’re thrilled to brew another collaboration beer with Guster for On The Ocean weekend this year,” said Parker Olen, Co-owner of Mast landing Brewing Co. “Last year was a blast and everyone loved the beer, so we knew we had to brew a new beer for 2019. We’re also stoked to have the collaboration beer available in more places throughout Portland and Maine this year, including during the concert at Thompson’s Point!”
An Italian restaurant called Leeward (website, instagram) is under construction at 85 Free Street. The name is a nautical term that means “sheltered from the wind” and evokes the sense of hospitality the owners intend for the restaurant. Leeward has also been the name of the series of pop-up dinners the held by owners Jake and Raquel Stevens in 2018 and early 2019 where they have further developed the concept for their restaurant.
The Stevens are planning a 50+ seat restaurant with a full bar and wine program that’s focused on minimal intervention wines. Handmade pasta will be the primary focus of the menu but it will also include vegetable, meat and seafood based entrees. The Stevens hope to open Leeward before the end of the year.
Before moving to Portland the Stevens lived and worked in restaurants on the west coast. Jake Stevens was the former Chef de Cuisine at Beast in Portland, Oregon. He’s currently on staff at Eventide. Raquel has worked in the front of house in restaurants in Oregon and in LA, and is currently on staff at Drifters Wife. Raquel Stevens grew up in New England and its her connection to the region that initially prompted the move east two years ago.
If 85 Free Street rings a bell for you it may be because it was the original location of the Winter Farmers’ Market when it launched in 2010.
Monday – Sommelier Lauren Friel from Rebel Rebel will be at Austin Street for Franks & Frizz.
Wednesday – the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.
Thursday – there will be a wine tasting at Maine & Loire.
Saturday – Coffee by Design is holding a coffee cupping of three coffees from Hacienda La Minita including an anaerobic process coffee, and the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market is taking place.
Sunday – the 6th Annual Jamaican Independence Day Festival is taking place in Payson Park.
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.
Each year Portland Buy Local organizes the Indie Biz Awards, a program to celebrate and recognize the best of the independently owned businesses in the city.
The nominations process has kicked off, and you can put forward the businesses you value and admire the most in 10 categories including Eat Local and Drink Local.
Author Nancy Harmon Jenkins makes the case for bringing restaurant dining room volumes down to a more tolerable level in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.
So what’s the solution? You can tuck your ears between your shoulders and put up with it. Or you can complain. Complain loudly, if you must to get above the noise. If enough of us Ancient Mainers with money in our pockets, looking for enticing places to spend it, if enough of us complain, the owners will hear, believe me. Or they will, perish the thought, get old too and understand what we’re yelling about.
A new business called 
Taytene Cafe is under construction at 863 Broadway in South Portland. According to the awning signage, their offerings will include coffee, boba tea, smoothies, house-made bread, banh mi and pho.
This bakery/cafe has been in development since early 2019.
MaineBiz has published an article on the continuing development of East Bayside as a location for food and beverage businesses.
East Bayside was “a very rough neighborhood when I was growing up,” said Justin Lamontagne, of NAI The Dunham Group and a Portland native. Now it’s become one of the peninsula’s fastest-growing commercial areas. “It wasn’t originally designed to be what it is,” he said. “It evolved organically into a vibrant area.”