Bonfire Country Bar (website, facebook, twitter) opened last night. Bonfire will have a self service beer wall. Red solo cups to serve all drinks.
Bonfire is located at 37 Wharf in the former home of Seawall.
Cheap Eats
The Portland Phoenix has assembled some cheap eats recommendations for the new crop of college students who have recently arrived for the fall semester.
But after a trip to the campus bookstore, the annual pilgrimage to Target, and let’s not even mention that first tuition installment, your bank account balance is starting to look mighty paltry in the face of anything truffled or sous vide. So here’s 13 options that will satisfy your inner foodie without causing you to decide between the omakase and your Econ text book.
Review of MJ’s
The Press Herald has reviewed MJ’s Wine Bar.
Portland’s only wine bar, MJ’s offers a diverse selection of wine and a solid list of craft beer. Snacks such as cheese, olives and nuts are offered, but there is not a kitchen. Romantic and cozy, MJ’s is great for happy hour, a glass of wine before a show or an event or a private event.
Just a Little Bit Off
Rosemont and Piccolo are collaborating on a set of cooking classes called Just a Little Bit Off.
Piccolo chef Damian Sansonetti, along with special guests from Portland’s food and wine world, will demonstrate techniques and recipes that any interested home cooks can use to dramatically expand their range.
In groups of no more than a dozen, we will explore the glories of less familiar vegetables, “off” cuts of meat (which are usually the tastiest kinds!), unfamiliar (but simple to execute) preparations, and small-production wines from out-of-the-way and often unfamiliar regions.
Visit Brown Paper Tickets for details on the first five classes and to register.
Common Ground Fair
The Common Ground Fair kicks off today in Unity Maine. You can see the full schedule of activities on the MOFGA website.
Best Oyster Bars: Eventide
Travel+Leisure has included Eventide in their list of the Best Oyster Bars in America.
Turquoise walls make a fitting backdrop for this overflowing oyster bar, where stakes in the ice categorize the bivalves as “from Maine” or “away.” The Old Port area restaurant does New England classics like lobster rolls and chowder along with creative offerings like Kim Chee Ice or cucumber ginger. Eventide’s Chinese-style steamed bun, filled with crispy fried oysters, tomato, and tart pickled daikon, red onion, and jalapeño, is a standout.
Under Construction: Bramhall
Urban Eye has posted an update on Bramhall, the casual food and drink destination now under construction in the old Bramhall Pub in the West End.
“New places are super food-focused and the food scene is awesome,” he said, but amid all the James Beard nods, something was amiss.
“It can be a challenge to grab a meal for two, even lunch, for less than $80 in Portland,” said Fraser. “I want people to be able to come in and have a few drinks and have a good time.”…Meals at the new Bramhall gastropub will be priced from $8 to $10. In the kitchen is Chris [Beaulieu], former sou chef at Duck Fat and chef at Sebago Brewery in Portland.
Owner Mike Fraser hopes to open Bramhall next month.
Top 100 Fit for Foodies List
Hugo’s and Primo in Rockland are both on the 2014 Open Table Fit for Foodies list.
The list is based on “the combined opinions of more than 5 million restaurant reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners for more than 20,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia”.
Interview with Chef Fred Eliot
Eater Maine has published a 3-part interview with chef Fred Eliot (part 1, part 2, part 3) from Petite Jacqueline.
Fred Eliot didn’t intend to cook for a living. Growing up in France, he learned plenty of useful kitchen skills from his grandmother and mother, but his English Literature studies led him away from food. A move to Iowa and then Ohio with his first wife took him even further from food culture, surrounding him with fast food chains. The shock this caused was enough to get him “cooking more” at home again, which ultimately convinced Eliot he needed to stand in front of stove rather than sit in front of a computer.
Food & Wine: Best New Bars
The Hunt & Alpine Club has been selected by Food & Wine magazine as a contender in their People’s Best New Bars readership poll.
In a city that’s only starting to show off its cocktail chops, PHAC features original craft cocktails such as White Noise, made with Cocchi Americano, elderflower liqueur and grapefruit zest, from bartender Andrew Volk.
Visit the F&W website to cast your vote Hunt & Alpine.