Changes to the SMCC Culinary Program

| Posted in General News

Today’s Press Herald includes a report on big changes to the Culinary Arts program at SMCC to address falling enrollment and other issues.

Culinary students entering Southern Maine Community College this fall will choose from a different menu of coursework and lecturers as the school’s culinary arts and hospitality management departments undergo major restructuring. Those changes include a new and unusual arrangement in which the college will share resources with the University of Southern Maine’s tourism and hospitality program.

Nonesuch Oyster Tour

| Posted in General News, Fisheries

The Blueberry Files has published a report on the Nonesuch Oyster Tour.

Last month a friend of mine came to visit Maine, and we used that as an excuse to check out the Nonesuch Oyster aquaculture tours that owner Abigail Carroll has started offering. Carroll’s farm is located in the Nonesuch River off of scenic Pine Point in Scarborough. Her oysters can be found occasionally on Portland raw bar menus and at Harbor Fish Market. They’re characterized by their green shells and grassy flavors, which we learned all about why that is on our afternoon tour.

You can sign-up for a Nonesuch touch on Eventbrite.

This Week’s Events: Rossobianco, Nothing Gold, Farm Marketing, Pig Roast, Guild Beer Festival, Open Farm Day

| Posted in Events

Tuesday — Rossobianco will be holding a pop-up at Vinland to preview the restaurant’s menu.

Wednesday — MOFGA is holding a workshop on Creative & Collaborative Marketing for Farms, and the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Thursday — Rhum is hosting a Ballast Point tap takeover.

Friday — Bissell Brothers is releasing a double IPA called Nothing Gold (a reference to the Frost poem), and there will be a wine tasting at the East End Rosemont.

Saturday — the Portland Club is collaborating with Rising Tide on a Pig Roast, and the Maine Brewers Guild Beer Festival and Saturday Farmers’ Market will take place.

Sunday — it’s Maine Open Farm Day, and the weekly Crofters & Artisan Market is taking place.

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: Drifter’s Wife, Foulmouthed Brewing

| Posted in Reviews

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Drifter’s Wife,

Most of all, they’ll encourage you to drink whatever you like, rather than steer you toward traditional pairings, and because of executive chef Ben Jackson’s thoughtfully versatile, constantly changing menu, it all works beautifully. Start with something green like the Red Russian kale salad with breadcrumb topping, or the broccoli with harissa-spiced almonds. And if beef tongue in a rich, herbal broth is on the menu, take a leap and order it, no matter how you feel about tongue; Jackson’s version will make you a convert.

and Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Foulmouthed Brewing. For some history on Foulmouthed and thoughts on their beer see this article by the Beer Muse.

Foulmouthed Brewing turned out to be more than just a brewery. They’re a brewery. They’re a bar. They’re a restaurant. They’re a Brewbararaunt. And they’re a really good one. With excellent food and top notch brews it’s like going to your favorite eatery that makes everything from scratch, including the beer. Plus, the prices are very reasonable. South Portland most certainly has a new go-to location and you’d be doing yourself a favor if you get there soon.

Interview with Eric Michaud & Terry Peterson

| Posted in People

This week’s Great Beer Adventure episode is an audio interview with Eric Michaud and Terry Peterson from Liquid Riot.

Collaborating is big in the beer world, at least here in Maine! Amanda sits down with Terry Peterson and Eric Michaud from Liquid Riot Bottling Co. Not only do they chat about how and why folks choose to team up; Eric and Terry introduce Amanda to something she never even knew existed.

Maine Calling: Farming in Maine

| Posted in Events, Farming

Wednesday’s episode of Maine Calling on MPBN focuses on what it takes to be successful at farming in Maine and what resources are available to get started.

Maine is bucking a national trend – as farms and farmland shrink in other states, the number of new farms in Maine has been on the rise for more than a decade. What does it take to be a small farmer in Maine?  Where can new farmers turn to get help? We’ll learn what it takes to till the land and make a living as a farmer in Maine.

Sam Hayward will appear on the show today on a segment about the novel Sweetbitter,

We’ll hear from the author about her life as a waitress at an upscale restaurant in NYC, how much of the book is based on her own experiences, and we’ll be joined by a Maine restaurateur and by a Maine writer to get their take on food, restaurants and writing.

Caiola’s

| Posted in General News

The Urban Eye met with Damian Sansonetti and Ilma Lopez to learn more about their recent purchase of Caiola’s and plans for the West End restaurant.

The couple has ideas for wine dinners, to work in more local produce and feng shui the space, but that is all down the road. For now the biggest change is an Italian ice cream maker in the back and new energy coursing through the sage and terra cotta building, which they now own.