Under Construction: Magnus on Water

| Posted in Under Construction

A cocktail bar named Magnus on Water (website, facebook, instagram, twitter) is under construction in Biddeford. Magnus will be headlined by Elda bartender Brian Catapang and the restaurant’s former GM Brittany Saliwanchik, in partnership with Julia Russell and Carmen Harris. Magnus on Water will draw its menu inspiration from locally foraged-ingredients.

The bar will be located in the former Lacava space at 12 Water Street adjacent to Liberty Park, and the team hopes to open the 30-seat establishment sometime this Summer. Seasonal outdoor seating will also be available for private events.

Magnus is named for Albertus Magnus, a 13th Century alchemist and Catholic saint, thought of as one of the “greatest German philosopher and theologian of the Middle Ages”.

The Magnus team is working with Might & Main on branding and graphic design.

This Week’s Events: Wine Tastings, Beer & Cheese, Winter Market

| Posted in Events

Wednesday – There will be a wine tasting at the Old Port Wine Merchants.

Thursday – Maine & Loire is holding a Sangiovese wine tasting.

Friday – there will be a wine tasting at the West End Rosemont, and Foundation Brewing is teaming up with Winter Hill Farm for a beer and cheese event.

Saturday – there will be a wine tasting at LeRoux Kitchen, Tipo is holding a Winter Carnival all day with a cocktail ice luge, hot chocolate and more. The Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Walkers Maine – Chef Justin Walker will be teaching a set of cooking classes starting in March. The series kicks-off March 24th with a class on Hearth Cooking.

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.

Review of Izakaya Minato

| Posted in Reviews

The Portland Phoenix has reviewed the Izakaya Minato, “one of the best dining experiences Portland has to offer”.

Choosing a standout dish at Izakaya Minato is challenging given the fact that nearly every menu item offers something unique and discussion-worthy, but the honors must go to the sublimely complex shiromi ankake. An almost gravy-like base of smoky amber dashi sets the scene for tender mushrooms and blisteringly hot fried white fish, topped with a flurry of cooling shaved daikon. It is, at its heart, the very definition of “comfort food,” yet distinctly different from the fat and salt-laden dishes typical of the Western usage of that same term.

Oxbow in Oxford

| Posted in Openings

Oxbow Brewing has opened a new tasting room and bottle shop in Oxford. They’re also working on launching a wood-fired pizzeria in the building in future. Oxbow plans to brew beer onsite to “create special batches of beer for the upcoming restaurant”. They’re located on Route 26, and will be open noon – 7pm this weekend.

Oxbow was founded in Newcastle, and opened their Portland location in late 2014.

Aquaculture Business Development Program

| Posted in Fisheries

Mainebiz has published a report on the Island Institute’s Aquaculture Business Development program.

“Maine’s emerging aquaculture industry has a lot of opportunity and growth potential. The Aquaculture Business Development program provides both the academic and experiential learning tools to enter that growing arena,” Peter Piconi, marine business specialist with the Island Institute, said in the release. “More importantly, fisherman can diversify their income which, in turn, helps island and coastal economies thrive. We are excited to help a new group of individuals gain the tools they need to launch their aquaculture businesses.”

Strata Soft Opening Today

| Posted in Openings

Strata (website, instagram) a cutlery retail business and knife sharpening service is holding the soft opening for their new retail shop at The Black Box container building on Washington Ave.

Owner Evan Atwell sells specialty Japanese, French and New England made cutlery, as well as sharpens knives using a traditional Japanese whetstone process. Atwell moved to Portland from California where he worked for the Bi-Rite Market group.

Under Construction: Coals Pizza (Updated)

| Posted in Under Construction

Coals Pizza (website, instagram, twitter) has leased 114 Preble Street where they plan to open their first location outside of New York. They specialize in grilled pizza. You can see their full menu online.

A 2015 review in the New York Times sums up coals this way,

The atmosphere is as quirky and appealing as the food, with a Catskills-meets-Brooklyn vibe from mounted deer antlers and painted country scenes. Sit there long enough and you’ll become aware of the rhythmic sound of the pizza cutter, a guy who wields a huge half moon of a knife that he rocks across the pies as they come out, dividing them into three- or four-bite squares. It’s a kind of siren call — one that should be heeded by all pizza lovers.

Coals was founded in 2004 in the Bronx. Their first two locations are located in Bronxville and Port Chester. 114 Preble Street has not been used as a restaurant since 2014 since Portland & Rochester closed.

Back Story: Coals owner Billy Etzel was born and raised in NYC, but he’s been visiting Maine since age 3 and always felt connected to the state. Four years ago Etzel’s son began doing some family genealogical research. Etzel himself is adopted, and through the research online they discovered that his biological family was trying to get in contact with him. As it turns out his biological family is from Kittery, just 30 minutes away from where Etzel owns a cabin. It’s as a result of this connection to Maine to Etzel decided to open his latest branch of Coals Pizza here in Portland.

Under Construction: Royale Lunch Bar

| Posted in Under Construction

Garrett FitzGerald along with business partners Teagan Curry, Joe Farr, and Mike Willett have leased the 855 square foot space at 11 Union Street where they plans to open the Royal Lunch Bar (website, facebook, instagram) a 25-seat serving “lunch daily from 8am-6pm”.

The draft menu (page 121) pastrami sandwiches, reubens, roast chicken sandwiches, burgers, and grilled cheese. Royale’s menu will be available for take-out via online ordering. They also plan to offer catering both from the Royals Lunch and Bar Harbor Lobster menus.

FitzGerald owns the Bar Harbor Lobster Company. His last venture in Portland was the Portland & Rochester on Preble Street.

Under Construction: Island Lobster Company

| Posted in Under Construction

Katie and Thom Werner are planning to launch the Island Lobster Company (facebook, instagram) in the space formerly occupied by Peaks Island House. The restaurant has seating for 64 seats. The draft menu (page 69) supplied with the liquor license application can be seen in Monday’s City Council meeting packet.

Island Lobster Company is a trap to table restaurant harvesting from the sea and local farms. A small and simple menu, letting the product speak for itself and the patrons enjoying a traditional Maine meal.

The Werners hope to open in May.

This Week’s Events: Chef’s Summit, Pasta Class, Alsatian Wine Dinner, Central Provision’s 5th Anniversary

| Posted in Events

Monday – the 2019 Chef’s Summit kick’s off today. You can see the full 6-day program of activities on the MSC  website.

Tuesday – Chef Paolo Laboa will be teaching a pasta making class at Solo Italiano.

Thursday – Petite Jacqueline will be holding an Alsatian wine dinner, and The Great Lost Bear will be showcasing beer from Definitive Brewing Co.

Friday – there will be a wine tasting at the Brighton Ave Rosemont.

Saturday – Central Provisions is celebrating their 5th anniversary with a special menu with guest chef Brandon Rice from Rich Table in San Francisco and an Allagash tap takeover, and the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

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.