Reviews: Cheevitdee, Honey Paw, Little Giant, Ruski’s Little Bigs, Terlingua, Tipo

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed the Cheevitdee,

Chef/co-owner Jay Pranadsri uses riceberry to great effect in her ping ngob, a spicy, explosively herbal red salmon curry. Elsewhere, such as in the lackluster khao mun gai, it is not as successful…For the most part, dishes at Cheevitdee taste like they have been engineered to be wholesome first and foremost, usually at the expense of flavor or texture. Still, a rare few, like pla goong – delightfully spicy, tangy shrimp bites served in individual spoons – actually do make good on the restaurant’s promise that healthy restaurant dining is compatible with exceptional flavor.

The Bates Student has reviewed the The Honey Paw,

While at first glance this destination is a bit out of the price range of the standard college student (bring your parents!), The Honey Paw’s dining format makes it more affordable for a broad customer base. Like many Asian restaurants, servers at The Honey Paw suggest ordering a few plates and sharing them all with the table. This gives diners an opportunity to dive into multiple dishes and taste a greater range of flavors. While any one dish at The Honey Paw would be delicious on its own, sharing an array of dishes brings different flavors and textures to everybody’s plate.

Portland Magazine has reviewed the Little Giant,

Little Giant…has an appealing dinner menu for a neighborhood joint. Local bounty is showcased, and prices are reasonable. A ‘snack’ of Little Biscuits ($6) comes on a wooden board. Spectacularly flaky biscuits frame a smear of maple-whipped lardo topped with neon hot pepper jelly. You won’t leave a single crumb.

the West End News has reviewed the Ruski’s,

I liked the greasy egg rolls well-enough, though the sour cream on the side was boring. Portions here are generous, and I took home half my wrap, which tasted great the second time around, too.

the Press Herald has reviewed Little Bigs,

My favorite is the Thai red curry with chicken ($7.75), which is like eating an order of red curry from a good Thai restaurant in a pie crust. It’s filled mostly with huge chunks of white chicken meat, along with sliced carrots and bits of green beans, red peppers`and basil, all floating in a light red curry sauce, of course.

Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Terlingua, and

As Mrs. Portlandeater was downing her food, she inquired as to why we didn’t eat there more when it was so good. It’s a fair question. I think Terlingua is going to have to be moved up the list. I like their barbeque a lot, but the Latin American is also super tasty. It’s just really hard to go wrong with anything they serve. On my list of items to try? Brisket, chili, and the Mexican street corn.

the Portland Phoenix has reviewed the Tipo,

A pair of ragùs offered different virtues. In one case dark mushrooms had been cooked to a delicious earthy tenderness. They mixed with creamy yolk on a square pillow of creamy and fluffy polenta. A pork raguhad a pleasantly slow-developing roasted pepper heat, that emerged as you chewed the tough little cavetelli made from rye flour.

Crab Apples

The Press Herald has published the latest article in their ongoing apple series,

“Here are Super Chilly Farm we have a few favorites – it just depends on the week since they ripen throughout the season,” Watts said, listing Trailman and Centennial to start. “We often offer Martha the first week of our Apple CSA, and it is always a hit. Chestnut and Whitney are usually ripe about the time of the Common Ground Fair, and they have both been winners at the apple tasting there. And then my favorite late-season apple is Wickson, which is also a crab. All of these are amazing for fresh eating because they blend sweet and tart into one tiny package.”

Opening Soon….September and October

A number of new businesses are planning to open in late September and early October.

Between finalizing renovations and passing final inspections it’s always an imprecise game to say exactly when a new food venture will launch. That said:

If all going according to plans, the openings will put quite a dent in the Under Construction list. However, there’s no need to worry that the market is running out of steam, as there are a number of new projects in the works…stay tuned for details.

Blue Lobster Wine Co.

Blue Lobster Wine Company (facebook, website, instagram) launched earlier this month. The”urban winery” import wine and packages it in kegs for service at restaurants as well as in cans for retail sales.

We are Blue Lobster Wine Company, a small urban winery in Portland, Maine. We’re dedicated to bringing exceptional small batch wines to you from wineries from all over in convenient go-anywhere cans and also on tap in restaurants starting summer 2017. We are excited to announce the first release of our Rose and Bayside Blend. Why cans and kegs? Convenient, sustainable, economical and little waste. Stay tuned for the the next two beautiful wines coming soon – Unoaked Chardonnay and Zinfandel.

Blue Lobster wine is available at Bayside Bowl and Taco Trio. Cans are for sale at the Bier Cellar, The Farm Stand and The Honey Exchange.

Makers Mug Wraps Up

Makers Mug/Dirigo Coffee owner Jacob Perry has announced plans to move out of state and so is shuttering his mobile coffee business here in Portland.

For just under the last two years the Maker’s Mug/Dirigo Coffee cart has been an integral part of my life. A humbling, rewarding, and incredibly personal experience that I will never forget. At the end of summer 2017, my wife and I made a big move out of state and bringing the cart along for the ride wasn’t in the cards.

Perry has put the food cart up for sale and is seeking “someone who has aspirations of opening a food business of their own can keep the dream alive in Maine”.

This Week’s Events: Madeira Dinner, Alsace Dinner, Maine Food System, Eaux, Bunktoberfest, Rising Tide

WednesdayChaval is hosting a 6-course madeira dinner the line-up includes a 1954 Malvasia, Hugo’s is hosting a 5-course magnum wine dinner, there will be a Portuguese wine tasting at Old Port Wine Merchants, and the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.

ThursdayMaine Food Strategy holding a 1-hour webinar to provide updates on the food systems initiatives they have underway, and Petite Jacqueline is hosting a 3-course Alsace wine dinner.

SaturdayBunktoberfest is taking place in Libbytown, there will be an Eaux pop-up at A & C Grocery, and the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market is taking place.

SundayRising Tide is throwing a party to celebrate their 7th anniversary.

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, please provide details as a comment to this post.