The Press Herald has published an article about a Kentucky man who’s traveling the country handing out $500 tips in memory of his brother.
An organization was founded, Aaron’s Last Wish, and about $50,000 was raised to keep the tips flowing. Collins said his goal is to leave at least one $500 tip in every state in the country by the end of January, and he still has about 10 Eastern states to go.
Update: Also see this article from the Bangor Daily News.
Both Instant Portland and The Golden Dish have published reports from Saturday’s winter farmers market. The market kicked off this past weekend at a new location, the Urban Farm Fermentory in East Bayside.
The new space is big improvement. Large windows bring in the winter light, and the combination of the existing businesses and the temporary visitors make for a good mix. The space was bustling, but hardly ever seemed really crowded, even though it was clear there were a LOT of people there.
Tuesday — Piccolo and Devenish Wines are collaborating on a dinner.
Friday — a Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Tourism Workshop will teach aquaculture operators and fishermen how to diversify their operations by adding tourism.
Saturday — Piccolo and Dandelion Spring Farms are collaborating on a Farm to City craft fair; Piccolo will be serving pastries and hot chocolate. A champagne and caviar tasting is taking place at Browne Trading, and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place at the Urban Farm Fermenntory on Anderson Street.
New Year’s Eve
Restaurants are beginning to announce their plans for New Year’s Eve. Here’s a list of ones I have details for so far. I’ll be expanding the list as more information becomes public. For reference, here’s a link to the list from 2012. (Restaurant owners: please send details to anestes@portlandfoodmap.com or post a comment below.)
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 Old Pine Tree has published a review of Caiola’s.
It’s dangerous in this town to make a sweeping statement about something or some place being the best. It’s a sure fire way to create an uproar. But whatever. I’m going to take that risk.
Coffee by Design recently moved their roasting operation to a spacious new facility in East Bayside. A new cafe will be opening in the neihborhood in early January. These photos were taken during a party held last night to celebrate the expansion of the business.
Update: Maine a la Carte has published a report and photos from Sunday night’s CBD party.
Thrillist named Eventide in their list of the Best New Restaurants in America.
USA Today include Standard Baking in their list of America’s Best Bakeries.
Cinque Terre/Vignola is on the Appetite for Life list of Great Farm-to-Table Restaurants.
The Portsmouth Herald has published an interview with chef Shannon Bard.
Bard grew up in Oklahoma on the Texas border. She and her family sat together and enjoyed large meals prepared by her grandmother and mother. She joined them in the kitchen and spent hours making vibrantly flavored meals prepared from scratch. Meanwhile, her father and grandfather, both small farmers, imparted lessons on seasonal produce and the hard work and dedication farmers put into each and every crop.
“My grandmother had a Mexican restaurant before I was even born and I met my husband in San Diego, where there was a lot of Mexican food. It was my passion,” Bard says.
Maine Sunday Telegram restaurant critic John Golden has reviewed Empire Chinese Kitchen.
In a thoroughly lively venue for authentic Cantonese cooking (many dishes are old family recipes of the dim-sum and stir-fry chefs), don’t miss the pastrami egg rolls, Peking duck buns, steamed pork buns, honey-walnut shrimp and a menu of eight to 10 dim-sum preparations. Standout large plates include lobster longevity noodles, Spicy wok-fried jalapeno shrimp, sizzling teriyaki chicken, marinated fish fillet and nightly specials. Service is first-rate, and the wait staff is fluent in everything the kitchen produces.
A Falmouth couple, Susan Tremblay and Donald Miller, has written a letter to the editor in defense of Oscar’s New American (scroll to bottom of page) after the restaurant received 3 stars from the MST last week.
Today’s paper includes a Q&A with Nancy Jo Polito on the book she recently published about her father Armand Polito.
Armando Polito sailed to the United States in 1920, when he was 10 years old, with his mother and siblings. His father, Giovanni Polito, had been in America for eight years, successfully running the Napoli restaurants in Maine.
Drink Up and Get Happy has reviewed Sangillo’s,
When you’re looking for a small, no frills, down and dirty bar, Sangillo’s is your place. Billed as “Portland’s Friendliest Neighborhood Bar” Sangillo’s is a place for locals and others to meet and share a drink and a tune on the jukebox.
and The Golden Dish has put together an omnibus review of Hunt & Alpine, the Downtown Lounge and Gingko Blue.
The crawdaddy puffs were a delicious blend of crawfish, chile and cheddar stuffed into flour tortillas and fried. Served with a relish of avocado, corn and bacon, this was a winning dish.
Gingko Blue recently invited me to stop by and try out their New Orleans menu and I agree with TGD, the crawfish rolls are a real standout dish.