New USM Food Studies Program

| Posted in Under Construction

The Press Herald has published an article on a new Food Studies program at USM,

The University of Southern Maine is launching a food studies program next spring to provide a broad, liberal arts-style education in food and offer at least 30 paid internships a year to students who want to try working in food-related businesses or anti-hunger organizations in Maine.

as has the Bangor Daily News.

The first of its kind in the state, USM’s Food Studies Program will launch as an undergraduate minor in the spring semester, and cover subjects such as the economics of Maine’s thriving microbreweries and how public policy might improve food insecurity in the state. The university plans to expand the program over the next two years to include graduate-level courses, a graduate certificate program in food studies and internship placements for students in the various food enterprises around Portland.

For more detail see the original proposal to establish the program (82 pages).

Mike Wiley Series

| Posted in People

Mike Wiley, co-chef/owner, of Hugo’s, Eventide, and The Honey Paw, has penned an article providing a behind the scenes look at staffing a restaurant. This is the first of a three-part series by Wiley.

When I try to be frank with our guests about where the ideas and food come from, I get the sense they think my explanations are false modesty. That’s not it at all: A lot of really talented and hardworking people work in our restaurants, and everything is a collaboration.

Seed: The Untold Story

| Posted in Events, Farming

PrintThe Nickelodeon will be screening the award winning movie Seed: The Untold Story starting this Friday, through Wednesday September 21st.

Few things on Earth are as miraculous and vital as seeds. Worshipped and treasured since the dawn of humankind. SEED: The Untold Story follows passionate seed keepers protecting our 12,000 year-old food legacy. In the last century, 94% of our seed varieties have disappeared. As biotech chemical companies control the majority of our seeds, farmers, scientists, lawyers, and indigenous seed keepers fight a David and Goliath battle to defend the future of our food. In a harrowing and heartening story, these reluctant heroes rekindle a lost connection to our most treasured resource and revive a culture connected to seeds. SEED features Vandana Shiva, Dr. Jane Goodall, Andrew Kimbrell, Winona Laduke and Raj Patel.

The screening of Seed at the Nickelodeon is in partnership with Rosemont Market, Cultivating Community, The Wild Seed Project and the Portland Pollinator Project.

Thurston’s Closed (Updated)

| Posted in Closings

Thurston’s Wicked Good Burgers has gone out of business. They served their last burger Sunday night.

Thank you all for visiting Thurstons Wicked Good Burgers and Frozen Custard over the last two years. I wanted to let you all know that at the End of business hours today; 9:00pm, we will be serving our last burger.
Thank you all for your support

Chef Schilly and Team.

Update: The Press Herald has published a report on the closing of Thurston’s.

This Week’s Events: Sandy Oliver, Belgian Beer Fest, S&M Cocktail Pop-up, Italian Wine Dinners

| Posted in Events

belgianbeerfestTuesday — food historian Sandy Oliver will be delivering a lecture at the Tate House on “the Early American kitchen and its importance to the Colonial household”.

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

Thursday — in anticipation of the weekend’s Belgian Beer Fest, the Great Lost Bear will be featuring Maine produced Belgian inspired beers.

Saturday — there will be two sessions for the Belgian Beer Fest, Maine & Loire is holding a wine tasting, and the Saturday Farmers’ Market will take place. While not a food event, and not even in Portland, I also want to mention that Saturday is the opening of the Amy Stacey Curtis exhibit in Lewiston.

Sunday — Little Tap House is serving a post Belgian Beer Fest brunch, and Spencer Albee and Mark Hubbard are holding an S&M Cocktail Pop-up at the Blue Spoon.

Italian Wine Dinners — special guest Angela Maculan will be at Piccolo for a 5-course dinner featuring her family’s wine from the Veneto region on 9/22, and Micheal Falchini will be at Solo Italiano for a 6-couse dinner featuring his family’s wines from Tuscany on 9/19.

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.

Reviews: Bill’s Pizza, The Armory

| Posted in Reviews

The Press Herald has published a bar review of the Armory Lounge,

The dark, cozy and classy hotel bar keeps locals coming back with its iconic décor, well-made martinis and free snack plate. Equally good for date night or for after-work drinks (particularly if you’ve been binge-watching Mad Men and want to enjoy some throwback thrills).

and a review of Bill’s Pizza.

But sometimes you want, as my daughter Sophie calls it, “pizza” pizza. We’re talking about good, basic, time-tested pizza. You know, the kind where the crust is not too thick and not too thin, the sauce is red and the cheese is abundant.

Bill’s Pizza, a venerable pizza place on Commercial Street in Portland, sells exactly that kind of pizza.