20-Mile Meal

| Posted in Events

The Forecaster has published an article about this weekend’s 20-Mile Meal. Chefs will be sourcing “more than 80 percent of the meal…from within a 20-mile radius” of Portland.

Some of the local chefs include Lisa Kostopolous of the Good Table in Cape Elizabeth, James Tranchemontagne of the Frog & Turtle in Westbrook, Cheryl Lewis of El Rayo Taqueria in Portland, Guy Hernandez of Bar Lola in Portland and Timothy Cole, a guest chef from the Southern Maine Community College culinary arts program in South Portland. In addition, there will be culinary creations by chefs from the Back Bay Grill, Bresca, Flat Bread, Blue Spoon, Cinque Terre, Rosemont Market & Bakery, Evangeline and Aurura Provisions, as well as farm tours, cider making, live music and family activities.

Urban Chickens: The Big Drop

| Posted in Farming

A Portland urban chickenist, Melissa Falcon, has written an article for this week’s Portland Phoenix on raising her set of 6 citified chickens (Eudora, Clara, Katherine, Flannery, Bird and Coco Chanel) and the highly anticipated start of egg laying later this month.

Already collecting recipes for custards and frittatas, I am having trouble curbing my enthusiasm. With the support of other chicken fanatics awaiting their own first eggs, we are counting the days, passing the time blogging on MyPetChicken.com site and tuning in to backyard Webcasts from an urban coop near Boston (on hencam.com). But nothing can prepare us, really, for the moment, that collective squawk, that will announce “The Big Egg Drop.”

Review of The Corner Room

| Posted in Reviews

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of The Corner Room.

While the warm antipasti draw the eye, we had the best experience with the cold ones. Octopus and potato, for example, had more round slices of tender seafood than potato. It was dressed lightly with oil, lemon, cilantro, and crunchy red onion. In the eggplant caponata, often served as a mushy dip, the chunks of eggplant maintained a bit of chew. With the sugar and cocoa in the sauce it took on a figgy flavor and the aroma of clove.

Hilltop Coffee Update

| Posted in General News

The Munjoy Hill News has published an update on the sale of the Hilltop Coffee Shop.

“There are 3 or 4 local people seriously  interested in buying the property and the business,” said [owner Luke] MacFadyen late this afternoon at the Shop.  Several are in the restaurant business already and several are not,” he added.  But so far no one has made an offer on the property which is listed at $450,00 with Jim Landry.

Launch of Vagabond Ale

| Posted in Beer

A Blog About Beer has a report on the anticipated October 19th launch of Allagash’s Vagabond Ale.

Now the exciting part. Just like with Garamel, Allagash is releasing Vagabond on a VERY limited basis. The beer — of which there are only 500 bottles — will be available ONLY at the Brewery (on Industrial Way in Portland) and ONLY from 9am to 6pm on Monday, October 19th. There is a 2 bottles per person limit and each bottle will cost $10.

Blue and White in the Sun

| Posted in Profiles, Closings

Today’s Portland Daily Sun has published an update on the closing of the White Heart: the bar is for sale but it hasn’t changed hands yet. The paper quotes owner Tony Hodge saying, “We have two or three interested parties”.
Today’s Sun also has a brief profile on Blue Mango Foods. Blue Mango produces a very popular veggie burger that’s available at Hannaford, Whole Foods and is on the menu at several area restaurants. According to the article, they have “a couple of new products in development, including a gluten-free burger”.