Food historian Sandy Oliver, author Nancy Harmon Jenkins, culinary antiquarian bookseller Don Lindgren, and Tilly Laskey, curator of the “Maine Eats” exhibit at the Maine Historical Society were interviewed earlier this week on Maine Calling about Maine’s food heritage.
In conjunction with a new exhibit at the Maine Historical Society, we examine Maine’s food heritage, including what ingredients and dishes have come from the different cultures that have shaped our state.
The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Bite into Maine and Highroller Lobster, and
Call Sutton’s approach cautious if you must, but it results in a roll that has been widely celebrated as one of the best in the nation. Bite’s classic Maine-style roll ($17.95) is almost architectural in its attention to balance among its few ingredients. First sweet lobster meat – claw and knuckle only, as long as supply from local lobstermen allows – which has to be mixed with cooling mayonnaise in precisely the right quantity and piled generously into the yielding center of a butter-toasted bun. With a million ways to get it wrong, Sarah Sutton and her husband, co-owner Karl Sutton, get it exactly right, every time.
the Portland Phoenix has reviewed Evo,
Evo’s menu separates proteins as “Fish” and “Meat” respectively, and this is where the bulk of the fun is to be had. A shallow monkfish stew with mussels, chickpeas and green garlic is as rich and satisfying in taste as it is beautiful to look at. Seared tuna with ginger, cilantro and avocado toum (an eggless Lebanese garlic emulsion) remains wholly faithful to the rest of the menu while clearly taking inspiration from Asian cooking. A dish of buttery cod, lobster and cauliflower—framed by tahini and celery root—steals the show in its barrage of opulent textures and flavors.
The Bier Cellar is opening a second location at 593 Main Street in Gorham.
We will spend the next couple of months building out the new location right on Route 25, located near Lone Pine’s new space as well as the beautiful new Sebago Brewing complex and right down the road from Mast Landing in Westbrook. We want to be a part of making Gorham a craft beer mecca just like we have watched the City Of Portland became one of the best craft beer destinations in the United States since we opened in 2012.
Boston.com has published an interview with Alison Pray from Standard Baking about her Beard Awards nomination for Outstanding Baker.
Pray described herself as “stunned” that her bakery, which specializes in old world-style breads, rolls, and pastries, is still on the Foundation’s radar. Bakeries, Pray said, are places that do “behind-the-scenes work — it’s not as glamorous as the restaurant world.” At Standard Baking Co., she strives to serve the repeat customer, the person who comes in every morning to buy their “daily bread.”
Chef Rob Evans will be preparing a Fire & Fowl dinner on May 6th at the new Duckfat Beer Garden collaboration with Oxbow Brewing. The dinner is a benefit for Full Plates Full Potential.
Join us for an evening of culinary and brewed delights celebrating a feast of seasonal flavors. Chef Rob Evans with his expert team at Duckfat, alongside the master craft brewers of Oxbow Blending & Bottling, and local fisherpeople, farmers and foragers come together to create a menu featuring the earthy bounty of spring in Maine. Craft cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, fire-driven full-course dinner and dessert with beverage pairings, live music, and two to-be-announced, money-can’t-buy auction packages featuring the talents who will bring this meal to life.
Tipo is launching a guest chef pizza series during April and May. Each Wednesday night for the next two months Tipo will be selling a custom pie designed by a local chef:
A few years ago Blue Rooster did something similar with guest chef designed hot dogs, and a food blogger named Chubby Werewolf stepped up to write a review of each week’s special. I wonder who will be game for writing about all 9 of the pies in this series.
Mainebiz has published an article about Gaetano Ascione, the new chef at Tiqa.
The native of Naples, Italy, has led kitchens in Germany, France, Singapore, and has also prepared meals for Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. He’s now bringing his “good food” approach to the three-year-old Mediterranean-themed restaurant at 327 Commercial St., replacing Bo Byrne, who left in January.
This year’s Fabulous Femmes dinner is scheduled to take place on April 22nd at Chaval and tickets are now available online. The benefit dinner for the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital is a collaboration of among an all female line-up of many of Maine’s most outstanding culinary talents:
Portland Wine Week (website, facebook, instagram, twitter) is launching a weekly email newsletter. It’s a great way to keep informed on all the new events and ticketing availability—one event has already sold out and others are on there way.
Upcoming issues of the newsletter will include profiles and interviews with speakers, winemakers and local sommeliers.
Sign-up today to be in the loop and receive the first issue of the newsletter which goes live tomorrow.
