The Philly Underground

| Posted in Profiles

The West End News has published an article about The 5 Spot’s basement bar, the Philly Underground.

Costello’s newest establishment, a Philadelphia themed watering hole dubbed The Philly Underground, opened on September 6th in the basement below The 5 Spot. It’s a genuine no frills, homie bar where the prices of the drinks won’t break the bank.

“It’s about trying to hold this together as a community,” said Costello. “Because what I think and what a lot of people see across town in Portland is that the small-town feel is being squeezed out.”

Review of the Maine Oyster Company

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed the Maine Oyster Co.

While the local oysters it serves are indeed excellent – especially the Bar Harbor MDIs and Eros from Georgetown – much of the rest of the extremely limited menu is lackluster, and little of it homemade. If you visit, stick with the lemon-and-dill-dressed lobster roll and a plate of the pickled crudité. Then, if you’re still hungry, try the C. Love Cookie Project ice cream sandwich, or better yet: another dozen local oysters.

Austin Street

| Posted in Profiles

The Blueberry Files has published an article about Austin Street’s new East Bayside tasting room.

We had the latter when we headed to check out the new Austin Street—G’s boyfriend was visiting from the other Portland (oh, how we’re trying to win him over with our cloudy New England IPAs!). And although Austin Street certainly has those, it also offers other styles that are less popular like the smoked brown ale and a Belgian strong ale. 

Nonalcoholic Bars

| Posted in Under Construction, General News

Vena’s was featured in an article on Eater about nonalcoholic bars.

Born out of a love for seltzer, Vena’s Fizz House in Downtown Portland, Maine is made to feel like a old-fashioned soda fountain spot. Bartenders shake up fizzy specialty mixed drinks like “The Pear Drop” (pear purée, pear shrub, lime, rosemary, and bitters) and “The Bangladesh Express” (coconut crème, blood orange, lime, ghost pepper, bitters). Downstairs, there’s a mixology shop, where owners, Johanna and Steve Corman sell homemade bitters and syrups, allowing attendees to make fun for themselves at home, too. The catch? When the bar opened in 2013, all of its drinks were zero proof.

The artcle also shares potential plans for a second Vena’s in Utah,

And while she’s not Mormon herself, she’s also seriously considering opening a second location of Vena’s Fizz House in Utah, because many tourists have come in saying nothing like it exists for the Mormon community there.

Under Construction: Maiz

| Posted in Under Construction

Maiz (website, facebook, instagram) owners Martha Leonard and Niky Walter have submitted their liquor license application for their new Woodfords Corner location. Their cover letter indicates they’ll be open 3 – 10 pm, Tuesday through Sunday. They included a draft menu with the materials submitted to the City Council.

The 1,200 square foot restaurant will be located at 621 Forest Ave. Maiz opened their original location in the Public Market House July 2, 2017.

This Week’s Events: Beer, Mead, Wine and Cocktails, Pie Buffet

| Posted in Events

Monday – Foundation and Sur Lie are collaborating on a beer dinner at the brewery’s Industrial Way location.

Tuesday – Two Fat Cats is kicking off their 2-day pie buffet in honor of National Pie Day (January 23rd). The next dinner in the Leeward series is taking place at The Honey Paw.

Wednesday – Evo is holding a 3-course cocktail dinner, and there will be a tasting at Old Port Wine Merchants.

Thursday – Bao Bao is hosting Maine Mead Works for a tap takeover.

Friday – Black Tie is holding a Graze Dinner in Yarmouth.

Saturday – Novare Res is holding a launch party for Hermit Thrush, and the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday – Liquid Riot is holding the first of their Back Door Dinner series, and The Good Table is holding a Maine Honey and Wine Dinner.

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.

Dolan Flavoring Co.

| Posted in Profiles

Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes an article about the history and present day products from the Dolan Flavoring Company.

The family-owned Dolan Flavoring Co. has survived the Great Depression, World War II, the rise in popularity of cake mixes in the 1950s, and many family tragedies. After 113 years, the secret formula for its most popular product is still a secret. Jack Dawson isn’t about to drop the ball on his family’s business now, even though few Mainers living in 2019 have ever heard of it.

New Vegan Products

| Posted in General News

Avery Yale Kamila has put together a list of new (mostly) vegan products that are now available in Maine.

Maine chefs and entrepreneurs have been busy making new vegan products to serve the growing plant-based food market. I wrote about new vegan meats being made in Maine last spring and the state’s growing group of vegan ice cream makers in July. Yet those just scratch the surface of the new items on Maine’s vegan food scene.