7 Reviews: Tomaso’s, Bayou Kitchen, Bao Bao, Samuel’s, Terlingua, Slab, Oxbow

The Bollard has reviewed Terlingua and Slab.

Slab successfully transforms traditional brunch ingredients into imaginative new dishes with bold flavors. There are at least a half dozen other menu items I want to try. The next time I’m torn between craving the familiar and the unexpected, I know exactly where I’m going.

The Press Herald has published a review of  Tomaso’s and a bar review of Oxbow.

Tomaso’s Canteen is a short walk from just about anywhere in downtown Portland and I encourage people to color outside their pre-established lunch lines and give it a whirl. Don’t be in a huge hurry so you can sit back and relax.

The Golden Dish has reviewed both Bayou Kitchen and Bao Bao.

The homies were perfectly delicious red-skinned potatoes given a nice crisping on the flat top.  Two poached eggs were just right, with firm whites and runny yolks.  I chose Bayou’s cornbread as my toast selection.  It was so light that the bread nearly crumbled in my hand.

Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Samuel’s.

We finished eating and paid our bill which I believe was somewhere around $40 buck before tip. It wasn’t pricey, but the food didn’t distinguish itself in selection or quality. Nonetheless, it wasn’t bad and was pretty much what one would expect from a neighborhood location outside of Portland.

Zoning Blocks Brewery Snack Sales

The Press Herald reports that Portland zoning on Industrial Way currently blocks breweries from selling pretzels and other packaged snacks with their beer.

A city zoning administrator has denied the Allagash Brewing Co.’s request to sell prepackaged snacks – such as chips, popcorn and trail mix – to beer tasters at the company’s brewery on Industrial Way, an area that has become a hotbed for beer enthusiasts who flock to its cluster of breweries to sample and buy fresh beer and ale. An Allagash representative will appear Thursday before the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals to try to have the ruling overturned.

“We’re not trying to expand our business,” said Jill Perry, Allagash’s retail manager. “We’re just trying to be responsible purveyors of alcohol.”

Under Construction: Sip of Europe (Updated)

Sip of Europe (website, facebook, instagram, twitter) has leased a 600 square foot space at 229 Congress Street. For the past year Sip of Europe owner Yulia Aleksandrovna has run a seasonal open air coffee shop on the pier in Old Orchard Beach.

Aleksandrovna found success in Old Orchard Beach and decided to open a shop in Portland to “share goodness with other Mainers” on a year round basis. Sip of Europe will serve Lavazza Coffee from Italy, as well as sweet and savory crepes.

Sip of Europe is moving into the space next to Ramen Suzukiya formerly occupied by Goddy G’s clothing store. Aleksandrovna hopes to open as soon as possible but understands that permitting and build-out can sometimes take longer than expected.

Under Construction: Bissell Brothers Moving

After months of speculation, Bissell Brothers has confirmed that they’ll be moving the brewery to Thompson’s Point in 2016.

We are excited to announce that in the second quarter of 2016 we will be moving our entire operation to the Brick North building at Thompson’s Point in Portland. The move will include a significant increase in production capacity, tap room size, & retail efficiency, while allowing us to keep the Bissell Brothers spirit, experience, and commitment to providing fresh beer for Maine intact.

The announcement from Noah and Peter Bissell shares that the “need to consider relocation came far earlier than any of us expected” and they are “pumped to be able to use the flexibility of the larger space to deliver you more of the beers you love, as well as new offerings, and take customer service and the on-premise experience to the next level”.

Bissell Brothers plan to send out regular updates as the build out for the new brewery gets under way.

Plans submitted to the planning board for Thompson’s Point show a 10,000 square foot designated for a brewery. In addition to Bissell Brothers, the point will also be home to a 5,000 square foot tasting room for Cellardoor Winery, Stroudwater Spirits distillery, and Jason Loring’s seafood restaurant called The Point.

Westbrook Food Business Development

An article in today’s Press Herald takes note of the growing number of food producers starting in or moving to Westbrook.

The proximity to Portland, but at a reduced price, easy access to Interstate 95 and support from city officials are among the reasons that food producers are choosing Westbrook as a place to grow.

“We welcome the palpable enthusiasm for the Westbrook market and look forward to becoming the manufacturing hub for foodie Maine,” said Assistant City Administrator William Baker, whom several companies credited with reaching out to them before they started looking in Westbrook and helping them find a location there.

This Week’s Events: Bitter’s Workshop, GFA Tasting, Lobster Dinner, American Sommelier Series

TuesdayVena’s Fizz House will be teaching a bitter’s workshop.

ThursdayRising Tide is hosting a Good Food Awards tasting event, Evo is serving a 5-course lobster dinner, and the American Sommelier discovery series kick’s off with a program on sparkling wine.

SaturdayLeRoux Kitchen is holding a wine tasting, Rosemont is holding their monthly pizza night, and the Winter Farmers’ 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.