Mainely Wraps has leased the former Moveable Feast/Vieux Port Creole space at 431 Congress Street. This will be a return to Portland for Mainely Wraps which operated a shop on Fore Street from 2013 until November 2016.
Under Construction: Elsmere BBQ
Elsmere BBQ is reported to be in the processing of purchasing Siano’s in Deering Center where they will open a Portland location. From Nextdoor via the Love Deering Center page on Facebook:
Elsmere is closing on the former Siano’s bldg in early October with construction and renovating to be done and a projected opening time frame in January. Went to their location in SoPo for dinner last night and got the inside scoop. Am now very excited for this addition to our neighborhood!
This Week’s Events: Beer Meets Woods, Forkiversary, Zwanze Day, Common Ground Fair
Wednesday – the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.
Thursday – Fork Food Lab is celebrating their 1-year anniversary, Novare Res is holding a Beer Meets Woods pre-party, and The Great Lost Bear is featuring beer from Yes Brewing.
Friday – it’s the opening day of the Common Ground Fair, and The Harraseeket Inn is serving a Maine Harvest Dinner.
Saturday –it’s Cantillon Zwanze Day, the Beer Meets Woods Festival is being held at the Portland Company Complex, and the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market is taking place.
Sunday – it’s the last day of the Common Ground Fair.
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, please provide details as a comment to this post.
Under Construction: Gross Confection Bar
Pastry chef Brant Dadaleares has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the launch of his dessert-only restaurant Gross Confection Bar (instagram) The $35,000 raised by the campaign will be used to pay for the build-out of the restaurant and for refrigeration equipment.
Gross Confection Bar will be a dessert-focused restaurant and bar to be located in the heart of the Old Port district in Portland, Maine. Gross will provide a unique and consistent restaurant experience featuring an ever changing selection of high-quality artfully-plated desserts, cocktails, dessert wines, digestifs, and exceptional service. Gross will also provide a consistent selection of enrobed ganaches, fruit pates, bon-bon, entremets, late night savory snacks and desserts to go. Gross will create a new niche for a “just for dessert” destination experience in Portland.
I’ve been seeking out and happily consuming Dadaleares’ desserts for many years at Fore Street, Eventide/Honey/Paw, Central Provisions/Tipo and at his dessert pop-ups. Portland Food Map is a contributor to the Gross Confection Bar Kickstarter campaign.
Reviews: Eventide, Pai Men, Big Fin Poke
Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Big Fin Poke,
If you go to Big Fin Poke – and you should – feel free to get creative with your bowl. I went a little light on the add-ons this time, but you’re able to get as crazy as you want. Load on the goodies and enjoy your work in creating a masterpiece. That’s half the fun of going. Of course, the food itself is also awesome. Stay tuned for more awesomeness as a new Big Fin comes to South Portland soon too.
As the Lobster Roll has reviewed Eventide, and
And did I mention those miniature steamed buns are stuffed full of lobster which has been skillfully sauteed in the brown butter? I have no idea what else they add to the mixture and honestly, I don’t care… because it’s so decadent and delicious! The price is $15 for one lobster roll (no accoutrements included) and whoever can go there and just eat one is a bigger person than me.
the Press Herald has published a bar review of Pai Men Miyake.
The food is what truly shines at Pai Men Miyake. If you’re a fan of sour flavors or drinks with heavy lime/lemon flavorings, then this is the cocktail list for you. Otherwise, sticking to their beers (a large, exciting selection of both local and Japanese brews), wine or sake is likely the way to go. A loud, casual and hip atmosphere make this a fun place to grab some food and a drink with friends or a date.
David Iovino
The Portland Phoenix has published an article about Blue Spoon chef/owner David Iovino.
Nom Bai Food Truck
A new food truck called Nom Bai (instagram, facebook) launched over the weekend. They serve a menu of “Cambodian and Vietnamese street food”. Sovanna Neang is managing Nom Bai in collaboration with Matthew Glatz from Saltbox Cafe who owns the truck.
Nom Bai plans to be on Spring Street 11-3 today and tomorrow, and on the Eastern Prom on Sunday, 11-3.
Oysters, Apples and Duck
This week’s Food & Dining section in the Press Herald includes:
- For the next installment in the apple series, Sean Turley has written about appreciating late summer early season apples
- An article on the various ways you can develop and feed your enthusiasm for Maine oysters
- A one-dish write-up about the seared duck breast on the menu at Miyake on Fore Street
Hughes Attending Bar-5
Hunt & Alpine Bar Manager Trey Hughes will be attending the Bar-5 certification program. This is a high level training program for people in the bar tending profession taught by Dale DeGroff, David Wondrich and others.
Under Construction: Bob’s Clam Hut
Bob’s Clam Hut (website) in Kittery is opening a second location at 109 Cumberland Ave in Portland.
According to their press release:
Bob’s Clam Hut is actively involved in securing space for a second restaurant location at 109 Cumberland Avenue in Portland, ME. The Portland property will be an extension of the award-winning Kittery-based seafood restaurant that opened its iconic roadside stand over 60 years ago. Sticking to its roots, Bob’s Portland location will continue its emphasis on classic New England seafood, but with a few tweaks to offerings that better align with the Portland dining community and leverage distinct features of the new space.
Bob’s has been in business since 1956.
109 Cumberland was formerly the home of 3 Buoys Seafood Shanty & Grille, which closed earlier this year.