Filipino Community & Christmas Foods

Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes an article about Maine’s growing Filipino community and the foods that are part of their Christmas celebration.

There are also traditional star-shaped parol lanterns; nine days of masses; the twinkle and hubbub of elaborate Christmas displays; the church bells; the visiting and gatherings; the caroling and dancing; the presents, for children only; and a countdown to Christmas that begins on Sept. 1. The extended Christmas season is a point of pride and joy. Also chief among Filipino culture and traditions at Christmas – and really any time of year – is the food.

Food-Fueled Biddeford

Eater Boston has published an eating tour of Biddeford entitled, One Perfect Food-Fueled Day in Biddeford, Maine.

In Biddeford, it’s relatively easy for most people to spend a food-fueled day exploring the area on foot due to the robust selection of restaurants and activities all within a mile of downtown. That means there’s no excuse not to visit the little Maine mill town, which is steadily building its own reputation as a national dining destination. After all, this tiny Vacationland spot is as charming as it is tranquil — making it ideal for a mini escape from the big city.

The article is written by former Portland resident Stasia Brewczynski.

Dobra Tea To Move

The owners of Dobra Tea have announced plans to close their Exchange Street shop while looking for a new smaller location. They will continue to sell teas online while their business is in transition.

…We signed the lease to our 1st space on Middle Street in Portland – 12 years ago almost to the day. We’ve had a good long run with so many fond and lovely memories, but change is a constant. We are sad to leave this space we created, this community of tea drinkers, but find it necessary to change our business and will move to online sales on our website www.dobrateame.com as we look for a smaller space. We will wind down on Exchange Street in the next week, will be closed for the holidays Dec 25-Jan 2, and will have a clearance sale in early January.. stay tuned…We leave this space, grateful we’ve been able to inspire this community in tea, and move into the longer days of the solstice with hope, heartfelt love and deep gratitude for all your support over the past years.

Dobra originally opened on Middle Street in April 2011 and relocated to Exchange in 2014.

Solo Pane e Pasticceria in Bath

Mainebiz has published an article about Solo Pane e Pasticceria, the Italian bakery launched in Bath by the owners of Solo Italiano.

Panettone made with candied orange and raisins from Agrimontana, Sicily, served with or dipped in espresso or vin Santo.

Torrone, ricotta and prosciutto crudo on olive bread, speck and stracchino cheese on focaccia.

Those are some of the Italian-inspired breads and pastries being served up by Solo Pane e Pasticceria in downtown Bath.

Artists Tea Towel Subscription

The monthly Eat Drink Lucky Tea Towel subscription service got a shout out in the Ruth Reichel holiday gift guide.

Have you every thought about how useful your tea towels are – or how much they say about you? There they are, sitting in the kitchen, for all the world to see. Mine were pretty dull until I discovered Artist Series Tea Towels: created by women in Maine they are lovely to look at. The perfect present for people unwilling to waste a single opportunity to display art. There’s even a tea-towel-of-the-month club.

Hybrid Restaurant Markets & Sea Salt

The Food & Dining section in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes an article about hybrid restaurant markets, and

Restaurants featuring retail space – or vice-versa – isn’t a new concept. Department stores and clothiers like Macy’s and Tommy Bahama have hosted restaurants for decades in an effort to attract more customers. Eataly, the Italian foods shopping and dining megastores with locations from Boston to Silicon Valley, has become a phenomenon all its own.

But the mashup of restaurant and retail is becoming more common here in Portland, too. From Terlingua and Onggi on Washington Avenue to Friends & Family on Congress Street, Coveside Coffee on Vannah Avenue and The Maker’s Galley on Commercial Street, the combo concept has been gaining traction around town in the last couple of years.

an article about Maine companies sustainably producing sea salt.

China is the world’s leading salt producer, but luckily for us here in Maine we have an increasingly rich local supply of the good stuff. There are three saltern operations based in Maine that produce food-grade salt using nothing but sea water and solar (and a bit of human) energy. Maine-based spice companies blend Maine sea salt with everything from allspice to sea vegetables (a newish term to take the stigma away from seaweed). And grocery stores and specialty retailers are making Maine sea salt in various forms more readily available to shoppers.

The Cellars at Allagash

Allagash Brewing is launching a new tour of the Industrial Way brewery. Named Cellars at Allagash the “immersive and intimate beer-tasting experience” focuses on Allagash’s small-batch beers and includes a guided tasting of their barrel-aged, sour, and wild beers. The Allagash Cellars tours are set to launch on November 26th. Tickets are available online.

Eastern Prom Food Trucks

The City held a meeting earlier this week to review a proposal for where food trucks will be allowed to operate in 2023 on the Eastern Prom. The Press Herald reports,

Portland city councilors on Tuesday heard feedback both for and against proposed changes to the city’s food truck program on the heavily trafficked and popular Eastern Promenade.

The council also heard from staff about their proposed plans for next season, which include reducing the number of spots available to trucks in the Eastern Prom’s Cutter Street middle parking lot from 14 to seven and implementing a new $3,900 fee for trucks to operate in the park on a first-come first-served basis.

The next meeting on the issue is taking place on December 1st and then the acting city manager is expected to make a final decision.

Eastern Prom Food Truck Survey

The Press Herald has published a report on the the City’s ‘pilot program’ which relocated food trucks on the street this summer.

Cameron Gardner, co-owner of Falafel Mafia, said he’s been disappointed with the pilot. “It hasn’t gone well,” Gardner said. “The only reason I’m here today is because I hadn’t booked any events.”

Gardner said his sales are down 30 percent to 40 percent compared to last year. He said business was slightly better over the summer during the height of the tourism season, but that overall the new location doesn’t have the same visibility and accessibility.

The city has fielded a survey to get the public’s feedback on the relocation of the food trucks this past summer.