Ned Swain

| Posted in People

Maine Icons has published a profile of Ned Swain, owner of Devenish Wines.

Swain discovered his passion for wine in Italy and brought his knowledge back to Maine. He got to work, starting as a clerk, impressing others in the industry and creating relationships that opened new opportunities. Now, he’s the successful owner of two businesses, both of which continue to expand. Swain has worked tirelessly and has never been afraid to take a chance. His determination has paid off, for him, for his business partners, and those they employ.

The 5 Spot Now Open

| Posted in Openings

The 5 Spot (facebook) opened earlier this week at 935 Congress Street in the space that was the longtime home of Sonny’s Variety. The 5 Spot bills  itself as a South Philly “Cheesestake Joint” serving a menu of “REAL Philly Cheesesteaks, Home Made Soups, Hand Carved Grilled Ham and Turkey Sandwiches on Dave’s Killer Bread, Wraps, Gourmet Grilled Cheese, Daily and Surprise Specials AND The Best Breakfast Sandwiches in the City”

Pho Co. & Chau Du

| Posted in People, Profiles

The Press Herald has published a feature article on Pho Co. and its owner Chau Du.

By 9:15 a.m., the broths are all simmering, chicken, beef and vegetarian just barely at a bubble. Chau Du is preparing for what she expects will be an average lunch at Pho Co. in Portland, a prediction based mostly on the weather. It’s not raining, it’s not particularly cold and so she is making merely enormous, rather than gigantic, vats of broth in a trio of approximately 30-quart stockpots. They already smell good, with notes of cinnamon and star anise rising up. In the beef broth, a couple big chunks of ginger root bob at the surface, floating alongside five long bones.

Huff Post: Portland Travel Guide

| Posted in Reviews

The Huffington Post has posted a travel guide to Portland by visiting chef Jenny Dorsey.

NYC: I swear I’m not cheating on you, but I’ve found a second love on the East Coast. I was recently up north in Portland, ME for two weeks through a work-study grant with Browne Trading Co. and the James Beard Foundation. It is the perfect mix of a friendly, New England “small town” feel with all the convenience, culture, and good food & drink as a bigger metropolis.

Featured in the article are: Allagash, Benkay, Boda, Central Provisions, Drifters, Eventide, Holy Donut, Maine Mead Works, Mini Mogadishu, Red Sea, Standard Baking, Tipo, Urban Farm Fermentory, Vena’s

Under Construction: Rose Foods

| Posted in Under Construction

Rose Foods (website, facebook, instagram) will be the name of Chad Conley’s new bagel shop and cafe in Portland, slated to open this summer. As reported back in February, Conley has leased the former Brea Lu space at 428 Forest Ave.

A press release from Rose Foods describes the concept as a,

counter-service bagel shop, neighborhood cafe, and retail store, featuring food from New York Jewish cuisine. Smoked seafood and other specialty products will be featured for retail sale and on bagel sandwiches, alongside deli classics like sour pickles, pastrami sandwiches, matzo ball soup and a variety of salads.

The space will have a dining room for eating in-house and Conley plans to expand to selling bagels wholesale and to offer catering services starting in the winter. His inspiration for Rose Foods dates back a few years to a bagel shop he visited in Toronto. The business is named after his wife Rachel’s great-grandmother.

Conley is the co-owner of Palace Diner.