Under Construction: CBD in East Bayside

Urban Eye has posted an article about the new CBD in East Bayside.

An experimental lab for everything emergent in coffee science is percolating in East Bayside. When Coffee By Design’s new Portland cafe opens March 4th (mark it down coffee pilgrims) the 20 year-old company will finally live up to its name.

CBD’s new cafe is scheduled to open on March 4th at 6:30 am.

Phoenix Tequila Odyssey

The Portland Phoenix has published a pair of tequila related articles. The first is a tequila pub crawl,

To prove it, I gathered a crew together on a cold, unremarkable Tuesday in February and went on a Tequila Odyssey. I’d never been on an official bar crawl before, but I imagine this was just like that, except with two rules: 1) that the evening’s destinations correspond as closely as possible to the thirteen primary episodes of Odysseus’ journey in the sequel to Homer’s Iliad, and 2) that one full tequila drink must be consumed at each of those thirteen locations.

and the second is about how tequila and about tequila flights at Zapoteca.

To decide which style you like best, head to Zapoteca for a flight of tequila. Zapoteca boasts the largest collection of tequila and mezcals in Maine (close to 80), which are managed by Sergio Ramos, who has completed the “Award T” certification course from the Tequila Regulatory Council of Mexico. A flight of tequila offers the three styles of tequila from one brand, giving you a chance to see how the flavors of the tequila change as it’s aged. The flights range in price from $15 to $80 and come with a palate-cleansing side of sangrita, a spicy slurry of fire-roasted tomatillos traditionally served alongside tequila to complement its acidity.

Pair of New Food Blogs

I recently learned of a pair of new Portland food blogs:

  • Perusing Portland – has been publishing since late November. It’s a multi-author site written by “four friends that have known each other since college”. So far they’ve published their impressions of Local 188, the East Ender, Salvage, and Nosh.
  • Eating Portland Alive – just got started earlier this month. The blogger credits a college course for getting them to stop “looking at food merely as sustenance and more of an experience.”

Review of 158 Pickett Street

Salad-at-158-Pickett-Street-Cafe_sm

Map & Menu has reviewed 158 Pickett Street Cafe.

There are more than enough options at 158 to satisfy any pizza enthusiast’s taste – like the standard cheese and sausage, or more creative flavors like the hot pink sauce, charred jalapenos, and cheese ‘Stinger’ – but regardless of your decision, everything we’ve heard and tasted has been fantastic.

Photo Credit: Map & Menu

2014 JBF Awards Semifinal Nominees

The semifinal list of nominees for this year’s James Beard Awards were released today. 7 Maine chefs and restaurants made the list:

  • Fore Street and Primo for Outstanding Restaurant
  • Rob Tod at Allagash for Outstanding Wine, Spirits, or Beer Professional
  • Cara Stadler at Tao Yuan for Rising Star
  • Brian Hill from Francine Bistro, Ravin Nakjaroen at Long Grain, and Masa Miyake from Miyake for Best Chef Northeast

The final list of nominees will be released March 18th, and the winners will be announced on May 2, 2014 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City.

Review of C-Squared

Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed C-Squared.

Our meal came to about $110 with tip. It was a little pricey, but it was quite good and I was happy with the overall experience. I do think that this is a place that can survive in Portland and will have some success. Their menu offerings are excellent and their execution is solid. I would definitely go back and I suggest you check it out for yourself. C Squared served their food with love and made it a most delicious Valentine’s Day.

Crauxnuts at Little Bigs

The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes an article about the cronut tribute pastries (known as crauxnuts) being sold at Little Bigs.

Denise Rowden drove all the way from Brunswick on a recent Sunday to buy some at Little Bigs, a small bakery on Main Street in South Portland. Pamela Fitzpatrick Plunkett, who owns the bakery with her husband, James, has been making her own version of the New York Cronut since the beginning of January. She sells them only on Sundays, starting at 11 a.m, and they sell out so quickly that, unless customers pre-order, they are all gone in a half hour or so.