Pig Trip has published a review of Nosh.
Despite its porky aspirations, this burger is more of a vehicle for the toppings. A beef-pork blend should be a bonus extra, but here it just leaves me wanting something extra to give it the promised oomph. It’s not bad or even approaching it—and I’d probably go back. But for me, Nosh is more interesting than good.
The Great Lost Bear has made it onto the Food & Wine list of America’s Best Beer Bars.
A charming, cluttered Portland bar, Great Lost Bear started serving craft microbrews in 1979 when it had just eight taps. As the number of local breweries grew, so did the offerings. Sixty-nine taps now spotlight microbreweries like Marshall Wharf, whose Big Twitch is a sweet, citrusy style of IPA.
the Free Food Boston blog recently paid a visit to Portland and has written up eating notes on visits to Schulte & Herr, The Holy Donut, Red’s Dairy Freeze, Willard Scoops and Two Fat Cats.
The latest issue of Elle Decor magazine includes an article about coastal Maine which touts Portland’s restaurant scene. Fore Street, Duckfat, Five Fifty-Five, Bresca, Miyake and 158 Pickett Street Cafe are all mentioned in the piece.
The article is not yet available online.
Edible Obsessions has published a review of Eventide.
It was absolutely stunning and the plate held the most tender squid I believe I’ve ever tasted. There was no chew, no objectionable texture. Had I closed my eyes and taken a bite of the dish I never would have guessed that it was squid. It was buttery, from the egg yolk, and tender, like soft noodles. The flavor was light and delicate, the cubes of potatoes adding the slightest bit of texture, was topped with a simple smattering of olive oil and smokey paprika. By this time, I believe we were both close to swooning off of our bar stools.
As I had mentioned last weekend the new issue of The Bollard is out. They’ve now put the articles online. The July issue includes a bar review of Scarpa’s,
On my follow-up visit, I tested Maciek’s creative side. Still strapped for selection behind the bar, he whipped up a light mix of Stoli orange and raspberry vodkas with citrus juices. As a summer drink, it hit the spot and was a competent companion to the delicious Chicken Saltimbocca — the broth was so good I ordered a side of bread to clean my plate.
a breakfast review of The Holy Donut,
So what does the future hold? For all I know, upscale doughnuts could go the way of the frozen yogurt shop and disappear within a few years. Or maybe they’re here to stay, and we’ll be seeing Holy Donut franchises opening up across the country. Regardless, they’re here right now, in Portland, and you should go get some today before they’re all gone. This is one upscaled, luxury food you can’t afford to miss.
and an article about the latest wave of craft breweries to open in Maine.
The battle is becoming a rout. No fewer than six homegrown breweries have been established in Maine in the past three years. Portland is home to four: Bunker Brewing, Maine Beer Company, Bull Jagger and Rising Tide. Baxter Brewing Co. is cranking out cans in Lewiston’s Bates Mill. Oxbow crafts Belgian farmhouse beers in a remodeled barn in Newcastle.
Mr. Sandwich & Mrs. Muffin in Bramhall Square went out of business on Saturday.
According to Eater Maine Chicago chef Brandon Baltzley will be putting on a series of pop-up dinners in Portland later this month starting July 28.
Brandon Baltzley, the bad-boy chef and media darling of Chicago, has apparently been holing up in Maine, working on a farm outside of Bangor since March. And now he is bringing CRUX, the pop-up dinner concept he pioneered in Chicago last fall, to Portland, in partnership with Joel Beauchamp of Food Coma TV.
Three businesses are newly added to the Food Map:
Portland Daily Sun columnist Natalie Ladd has published some observations on recent hiring patterns at Portland area restaurants.
So, out we went this past Sunday and I look at these mini-adventures as research/business mixed with pleasure, while my BFF feels like she’s out on furlough. Mindset aside, what really struck me on our three-stop outing is how many brand new faces are working in old familiar haunts. I found this a bit disconcerting and struck up a conversation with a bartender who has landed a killer full time job in a well known, upscale Old Port hot spot that features a great cheese list, accompanied by an overpriced yet well designed and crafted extensive cocktail and wine list.