Food Truck Ordinance Update

| Posted in General News

The Portland Daily Sun, Bangor Daily News, The Forecaster and Press Herald report that, at last night’s meeting, the City Council unanimously voted to revise the city’s food truck ordinance.

The amendments to the ordinances related to food trucks — which were passed unanimously — will allow trucks to be parked with 65 feet of each other but not an open restaurant; restructure the permitting process and fee; increase the size limits on trucks; and ease the time restrictions for trucks set up in metered parking spaces, giving them an extra two hours. [PDS]

Review of Bite into Maine

| Posted in Reviews

Living, Eating and Aging has published a review of Bite into Maine.

Finally, if I’m in the mood for a great lobster roll, maybe something different from the basic mayo on a grilled roll, complete with a second-to-none view and a very reasonable price, I head over to the Bite-Into-Maine lobster roll food truck located at Fort Williams Park…

Under Construction: New Spanish Restaurant

| Posted in Under Construction

Maine a la Carte reports that the owners of Zapoteca, Tom and Shannon Bard, are planning to open a Spanish restaurant in Portland next year.

Tom Bard confirmed today that he is working on a location and hoping to open in early summer, 2014. Depending on the space, he said the atmosphere could either be quite casual (he mentioned Boston’s super-hot Toro as a reference), or somewhat more upscale than Zapoteca, the Bards successful Mexican restaurant in Portland.

Urban Sugar & B.Good

| Posted in Reviews

Today’s installment of The Golden Dish pays a visit to Urban Sugar Mobile Cafe and B.Good.

I tried the Southern Sugar. Here the donuts are covered in a maple-bourbon drizzle, filled with a maple pastry cream and topped with candied pecans. I had a double box, which I brought to a dinner party I was attending afterwards. As soon as I arrived everyone saw what I had in my hands and made a mad dash for these fabulous looking pastries. They were gone in a flash before we even had dinner.

This Week’s Events: Evans at Flanagan’s, Beer & Coffee Tasting, John Bunker, Mead Workshop, Donut Showdown

| Posted in Events

Monday — Rob Evans is the featured chef for a farm dinner at Flanagan’s Table in Buxton.

Tuesday — GMRI is hosting a lecture on commercial trawl fishing.

Wednesday — Freeport Coffee Roasting and the Bier Cellar are collaborating on a coffee and beer tasting, Black Tie is catering a farm dinner in New Gloucester, and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place in the morning.

Thursday — there will be a wine tasting at the Rosemont on Brighton.

Friday — apple expert John Bunker will be at Rosemont Produce for a book signing and apple tasting.

Saturday — The Honey Exchange is hosting a mead making workshop, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.

Sunday — it’s the Maine state Open Creamery Day, and the Holy Donut episode of Donut Showdown will be airing on the Cooking Chanel.

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 North Point & Piccolo

| Posted in Reviews

Eat Maine has published a review of The North Point, and

As Noah Talmatch points out, there are a lot of fantastic places to eat in Portland, but those aren’t necessarily the spots you go to kick back and socialize. And while we have some great neighborhood bars, even the best pub grub can feel heavy after a few too many UFOs (unidentified fried objects). It was with this observation that The North Point, a casual yet decidedly Parisian flavored restaurant, was born.

Maine a la Carte blogger Meredith Goad has written about the cheese selection at Piccolo.

They’ve only been open about three weeks or so, and this was my first visit. I decided to indulge in the cheeseboard, and these cheeses, imported from Abruzzi by Bob Marcelli of Marcelli Fromaggio, were so outstanding I thought I would share them with the other cheese lovers out there so you can go try them if you want.

Under Construction: Vinland

| Posted in Under Construction

Chef/owner David Levi has submitted his liquor license application for his restaurant Vinland (website, facebook, twitter) to the Portland City Council. A sample menu includes some interesting choices like the “potato risotto with daylily pollen and black trumpet mushrooms” and “grilled aged beef with roasted marrow, seared cauliflower, currant and yarrow” entrees.

According to the cover letter (page 221) Levi plans to open sometime in November. The restaurant is currently under construction at 593 Congress Street immediately adjacent to Congress Square Park.

vinland_menu

Review of Phoever Maine

| Posted in Reviews

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Phoever Maine.

None of which would matter if the food were not good, but it is. The pho #4, for example, was a good one. The broth had an almost floral fragrance, and was rich but not too heavy, with an oniony sharpness. Big slices of thin brisket had a great char flavor, while slices of rarer beef were more tender and sweet. With a squeeze of citrus, another of sriracha, and a dash of crunch sprouts and basil, it was a great bowl.