Canning Beverages

| Posted in General News

Today’s Press Herald reports on the expanded use of canning in favor of bottles, including for beverages like kombucha and cocktails.

“Cans are undoubtedly a more sustainable packaging vehicle,” Emmerich said. “They cost less to make. They cost less to ship. They’re more easily recyclable.” Canning is also faster than bottling. Madden said Lone Pine initially hand-bottled its product at a rate of 10 cases per hour. A canning line can produce 40 cans per minute, he said. “All the beer styles we do right now lend themselves to cans,” Madden said. “They’re made to be consumed soon. Fresher is better, and cans promote that idea.”

Maine’s first craft brewery to go all in with cans was Baxter Brewing back in 2010.

10 Years Ago in November

| Posted in History

Here’s a look at the top stories from a decade ago in November 2008:

    • Olive Cafe took over the space formerly occupied by Mike Keon’s restaurant One-Eyed Jack on Commercial Street.
    • Steve Corry was quoted in an article for Single Edition, “The way we see it is that if someone is willing to come in alone to dine with us then he/she has an elevated level of expectation that we will strive to exceed.”
    • Hugo’s held the 8th Annual Potato Dinner, “7-course meal featuring Maine grown potatoes and other root vegetables”
    • Dean’s Sweets opened at the original location on Middle Street on November 22nd.
    • The Maine episode of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern aired.
    • Both Binga’s Wingas and Al-Mustaqim Halal Market were damaged by a three-alarm blaze in Bramhall Square. The Binga’s building was replaced by Peloton Labs, but the Al-Mustaqim space has just undergone considerable renovation and is now in 2018 available for lease.
    • A campaign called Take Back the Tap was having some success in getting restaurants to stop serving bottled water.

This Week’s Events: Beer Week, Elda Wine Dinner, Food System Challenge, Brewmaster, Stars and Stripes, Claire Z. Cramer

| Posted in Events

Monday – Portland Beer Week is taking place through Saturday.

Tuesday – Elda is holding a Austrian wine dinner featuring wines from Netzl.

Wednesday – the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Friday – it’s the opening day of the 2018 New England Food System Innovation Challenge at Saint Joseph’s College, and Rosemont is holding a wine tasting at their West End location.

Saturday – Space Gallery is screening the movie Brewmaster, there will be a wine tasting at LeRoux Kitchen, and  the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday – Stars & Stripes Brewing is holding the Grand Opening of their tasting room in Freeport, Two Fat Cats is teaching a pie baking class, and friends of the late food writer Claire Z. Cramer will be gathering at Tiqa to remember her and her life.

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.

Now Open: Totally Tubers, De Nada Empanadas

| Posted in Openings

Two new businesses launched over the weekend:

Totally Tubers, a new food vendor on the second floor of the Public Market House. Totally Tubers sells Russet and sweet potato based dishes. Totally Tubers is run by the same owners as Daily Greens.

De Nada Empanadas (instagram) launched on Saturday at Bunker Brewing. De Nada is Winter business run by the owners of the Fishin Ships food truck. They will be making the rounds at various Portland breweries.

Reviews: Bob’s Clam Hut, Pizzarino, 3 Poké Restaurants

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Bob’s Clam Hut,

When you’ve finished that, move on to any of belly clam dishes. Sure, you could stick to a remarkably tender clam strip roll ($15.95) and not be disappointed, but the goal here is complete satisfaction – you’re in a fried seafood shack, after all. So head right for the Clams 2 Ways ($24.95), a generous basket that lets you pit Lillian’s puffed, crispy version of fried whole-bellies against Bob’s, which is a shade or two more caramel in color, with a fuller salinity. The two preparations differ by just a couple of ingredients and an extra minute in oil, but the difference in taste is striking.

the Press Herald has reviewed Pizzarino, and

Located in Zapoteca’s old space, Pizzarino is owned by three Milanese friends, one of whom also started Paciarino, a pasta-centric restaurant down the street. Opened in August, this place focuses on pizza, rice-based dishes and gnocchi. The bar area is lovely, with comfortable wooden barstools with backs and purse hooks underneath the bar. There’s even a tiny outdoor seating area. One of the owners greeted me and my two friends when we arrived and clearly wanted to make sure we enjoyed ourselves.

Portland Phoenix has reviewed Big Fin Poké, Poké Pop and Crunchy Poké.

And what you get is pretty good, especially if you don’t choose yourself. While Crunch and Pop emphasize the house’s pre-designed combinations, Big Fin’s chalkboard is dominated by a “build your own” section, nudging you to select from dozens of “mix-ins” and toppings and proteins. Inevitably you choose too many, and the toppings pile up in the wide paper bowl. What are you gonna do, not get more stuff? If we had that kind of restraint we would not be in this mess.

Rock Row Food Hall

| Posted in Under Construction

Plans for Rock Row, the new development in the former gravel pit off Brighton Ave, is slated to feature a 25,000 sq ft “food hall” with space for 15 food vendors, 7 beverage tasting rooms and seating for more than 500 people.

Inspired by the great public markets of the past and the future of Greater Portland’s deeply authentic food culture, Rock Row’s Beer and Food Hall will be an unparalleled dining, tasting, beer and wine experience. Curated by Colicchio Consulting, purveyors will offer a wide selection of local ingredients, artisanal goods, and onsite brews, while chef driven cuisine will mix with live music to bring together a vibrant mix of locals and visitors.

They’re now accepting vendor applications from “purveyors [that] will offer a wide selection of local ingredients, artisanal goods, and onsite brews…[and]…chef driven cuisine”. They’re now accepting vendor applications.

Under Construction: Candy’s

| Posted in Under Construction

A new project called Candy’s (website, instagram) is under development with plans to open in West Bayside next year. Billed as a queer community hub, Candy’s will include a cafe/coffee shop and bar:

grab a coffee and hang in the queer library in the morning. shoot some pool. teach a workshop. attend a workshop. come to a show. host a show. listen to our podcast. bring the fam, whatever that may mean to you. drink a drink. eat some snacks. talk to pals. be kind to one another.

There’s more details on the project and future programming on the Tell Me About It, What’s Happening, and FAQ pages of their website.

Candy’s will be holding an information session on the project and kick-off for their community fundraising efforts on November 9th, 6-8:30pm at LB Kitchen.