The Press Herald interviewed Steve Shamos about his family’s decades long ownership of Quality Shop on Stevens Ave, and his decision to sell the business and let “some young people to take over”.
Shamos’ grandfather, Elias Shamos, a Greek immigrant who moved to Portland from Brockton, Massachusetts, bought the shop from another owner in 1945. Shamos’ father, Steve, then took over, moving the Quality Shop next door to its current location at 473 Stevens Ave. in the 1970s.
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HopCulture has published an interview with Allagash brewmaster Jason Perkins.
KG: Where is the industry headed? What do we have to look forward to? What’s coming?
JP: More and more consumers will be turned on to what’s being offered out there, and what’s being offered in the craft beer world is a range of new flavors and new experiences. I think people will always want that. But there’s a lot, a lot of breweries out there, and there are a lot of breweries expanding. At some point, there won’t be the same growth that exists right now. Two years ago, almost anyone who wanted to could grow. I don’t think that’s going to be the case anymore. But that could end up being good for the industry. I think the overall quality that’s out there right now is good, but it could be better. I think there are some headwinds coming for people but in the end I think it’ll be good for the industry and good for the consumer.
The Press Herald has posted the first review of Big Fin Poké in Westbrook.
If this restaurant were in Portland, it would be swamped. The food is well worth the short drive to Westbrook though, and I hope people will support it. We need more fast casual choices like this that go beyond the typical fast food burger joint. I’m already fantasizing about my next poke bowl – chicken, shrimp, honey miso sauce, crab salad, crispy onion and …
I would echo the recommendation of the Press Herald on this one. Go to Westbrook and check this place out.
Big Fin Poké (website, facebook, twitter, instagram) opened in Westbrook on Christmas Eve day. They’re located at 855 Main Street open for lunch and dinner.
David Levi is working on a new restaurant called Trattoria Fanny in the former Rossobianco space in Bramhall Square. Levi’s plan is for the new restaurant to be “Simpler, more rustic, and more affordable than its last incarnation,” serving food from Northern Italy with a few Roman classics in the mix. He has hired Roman native Siddharta Rumma as the chef.
The new restaurant is named Levi’s grandmother, Fanny Levi, who was born and raised in Milan and immigrated to New York City in 1939.
Levi plans to open the restaurant in February, serving lunch weekdays and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, and will eventually add a brunch service.
Update: Urban Eye has posted some additional info on Trattoria Fanny.
Monday – Sticky Sweet is opening for business at 11 am, and Two Fat Cats is celebrating National Pie Day with a pie buffet.
Thursday – The annual Brew Pub Cup is taking place at The Great Lost Bear, and there will be a mead tasting at the Public Market House.
Friday – Solo Italiano is hosting 2 Italian food producers from the Rogers Collection for 4-course pasta tasting menu.
Saturday – the Allagash Wild Beer Roundup is taking place, Zen Chinese Bistro is holding a Year of the Rooster dinner, and the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.
Sunday – it’s the opening day for Coffee Me Up at 221 Cumberland Ave.
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.
The Maine Sunday Telegram have reviewed Eventide Oyster Company,
Likewise, when it comes to cooked seafood, Eventide manages to find a way to preserve essential flavors. The stuffed mahogany clams ($7) offer a good example, with chopped, deepwater Gulf of Maine quahog meat that shines through against a backdrop of bacon, butter, parsley and paprika, and a breadcrumb-crunchy texture that reminded me of Thanksgiving stuffing. It’s true in the Maine lobster stew ($14), where even through a gauzy screen of aromatic ginger, green chilies and lemongrass, fresh lobster always remains the focus of the hearty, chive oil-dotted bowl, rich with coconut milk and substantial chunks of maitake mushroom.
The Golden Dish and Eatcentric Me have reviewed Sichuan Kitchen,
On my third visit with a friend, we ordered those fabulous pork dumplings again and the pork buns, the latter being a tad dry. We tried the eggplant salad (I like Empire’s better) and pork in sweet bean paste. That was a good meal with brighter moments than previous visits. [TGD]
and Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Yosaku.
Yosaku is a good place to go whether you want sushi or are looking more for tempura or noodles. Their food is artfully prepared by chefs who clearly know what they are doing. The presentation is first class and the product always tasty.
Anna Horne Wingren passed away earlier this month at the age of 100.
Congratulations to the three 2017 Good Food Awards winners from Maine announced last night at the GFA Awards Gala in San Francisco:
The winners in all 14 categories were chosen from 2,059 entrants from across the country.
Eatcentric Me has reviewed Sichuan Kitchen.
I will be returning over and over again for the dan dan noodles, but I am also thrilled about getting some of the other dishes again as well as trying others! Thank you, Sichuan Kitchen. You’ve filled a hole in the food culture scene of Portland, and you did it without sacrificing the flavors, integrity, and taste that makes Sichuan food so tantalizing.
Sichuan Kitchen is located at 612 Congress Street opposite the State Theatre building. Here’s a link to their menu.
A new brewery called Good Fire Brewing (website, facebook, instagram, twitter) is under construction in East Bayside, reports the Press Herald.
Cardente Real Estate announced Wednesday that it’s leased a nearly 4,000-square-foot space at 219 Anderson St. to Goodfire Brewing LLC for a brewery and 39-seat tasting room. The brewery, located just behind U-Haul on Marginal Way, is expected to open in June.