Reviews: Big Fin Poké, Baharat, Vieux Port Creole, Artemisia, Empire, Pizzaiolo

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Big Fin Poké,

And overall, it is a successful one, with fresh (though mostly not local) ingredients, clear attention to food safety and cleanliness, and an almost infinite number of choices to personalize a meal to your tastes. The poké bowls with short-grain sushi rice and salad bowls can be very good, especially ones with cubed tofu, tuna, yellowtail and salmon. Both the yuzu citrus and spicy aioli sauces are excellent, and do well to cut the flavors of heavier, fattier ingredients like the sake-marinated beef brisket.

the Press Herald has reviewed Vieux Port Creole,

I expected they’d perhaps arrive on a big platter, running together over a mound of rice, but instead when the dish arrived (not exactly swiftly; I’d just checked my watch and 14 minutes had elapsed) each dish was presented in its own little bowl, with a big lump of white, buttered bread on the side. I went fork-to-fork between all three. The jambalaya was definitely too salty on first bite, but as I kept pulling pieces of chicken and andouille from the thick, brown gravy, I realized it was addictive.

the West End News has reviewed Artemisia Cafe and Pizzaiolo,

The Charlie sandwich, served on grilled peasant bread, featured roast beef, tomato, lettuce, red onion and a Gorgonzola aioli, served warm. Both sandwich and side were delicious, save for some stringiness to the meat.

and Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Baharat and Empire,

The amount of food we received in addition to the quality of both food and drinks made it feel like a bargain. The atmosphere was cool and casual and even though they just opened, they’re drawing quite a crowd. I’m happy to say that Bharat was so awesome that I’m already planning what to order on my next visit.

Under Construction: Vegan Hot Dog Cart

A vegan hot dog cart called Sup Dawg (website, facebook, instagram) is under development. You can check-out their menu online.

We are a mobile, vegan-dawg-slingin’, local as heck food stand located in picturesque Portland, Maine. We use as many local & organic ingredients as possible, make toppings and condiments in-house, and yes, it’s always VEGAN!

Owners Katie Knowles and Sean Ahern plan to be open by June 1st and operate the cart Wednesday through Sunday. Knowles and Ahern are both employed at Flatbread. They’re both vegan and see their food cart as a way to add to the number of vegan eating options in Portland.

Under Construction: Blyth & Burrows

Urban Eye has posted an update on Blyth & Burrows, the cocktail bar that’s been under construction at 26 Exchange Street.

Molecular mixology (drinks that foam), cocktails on tap and potent libations like Navy strength, will be matched with creative small plates. The drink menu is based on old trade routes that Blyth and Burrows navigated, highlighting spirits and spices that would have been available in their day. “I am a son of Portland. I am a Mainer,” said Miranda. “I will use local spirits as much as possible.”

Under Construction: Eaux

A new food cart called Eaux (instagram) is under development and on track to launch in late April or Early May.

Chef/owner, and New Orleans native, Evan Richardson will serve Jambalaya and a rotating menu of dishes made with “local ingredients…and New Orleans technique and flavors”.

Richardson plans to primary locate Eaux in East Bayside at Lone Pine Brewing. He will operate Eaux while continuing to serve in his current position as the chef at Portland Mash Tun.

Tip Credit Hearings

The Press Herald has published an article on Wednesday’s hearing regarding tip credit legislation.

While the majority of workers urged lawmakers to retain the tip credit, which allows employers to pay tipped employees a lower hourly wage, others said the experiences of other states shows that paying waiters, bartenders and other restaurant workers a higher base wage does not mean customers will become less generous when tipping.

Under Construction: Bakery on Munjoy Hill

A new 1,100 sq. ft. bakery is under development in the store front at the corner of North and Congress on Munjoy Hill.

Owners Chris Deutsch and Amy Fuller plan to offer French baked goods in the morning, and serve focaccia, Roman-style pizza and sandwiches for lunch. They will eventually add a dinner service.

Deutsch and Fuller learned to bake in Paris and prior to moving to Portland they operated a French bakery food cart in DC called Hot Hot Bakery.

The couple hope to open their as-yet-unnamed bakery this fall.

Bugs, They’re Whats for Dinner

The Press Herald has published an article about Entosense, a local firm that sells edible insects.

The Broadbents are the team behind Entosense, home of a large online marketplace at edibleinsects.com for people who like to chow down on crickets, grasshoppers, ants, beetles, scorpions, tarantulas and other critters with lots of legs and plenty of crunch. They even sell (may your gag reflex forgive us) housefly pupae.

Visit entosense.com to learn more, and edibleinsects.com to buy their products.

Under Construction: Blyth & Burrows

Blyth & Burrows is the new DBA for the cocktail bar under construction at 26 Exchange Street. Here’s a statement on the concept,

Blyth & Burrows is a classic cocktail bar steeped in the traditions of exceptional hospitality and a dedication to craft. The bi-level room features a raw bar and a creative food program, but the focus here is on perfectly poured cocktails and impeccable service.

The name is a reference to Captain Samuel Blyth from the HMS Boxer and Lieutenant William Burrows of the USS Enterprise who were buried in the Eastern Cemetery and died during an naval battle between their ships in Casco Bay in 1813.

The bar was originally slated to be named Proper Charlie’s. It is being launched by Josh Miranda.