Italian Ramen & Restaurant Vegan Options

The Food & Dining section in today’s Press Herald includes an article about Papa’s Juicy Noodles, a packaged noodle dish prepared by the family that opened the first Italian restaurant in Portland,

Enter Papa’s Juicy Noodles, which may never be able to compete with those high-end restaurant selections but will satisfy a nostalgic craving for instant ramen without all the sodium and other bad stuff. Papa’s, produced right here in Maine, can’t be called ramen, actually. Think of it as an Italian version of ramen noodles.

and advice on dining out and eating a plant-based diet.

Yet savvy diners like Woodman know this doesn’t mean a vegan meal is out of the question. As Woodman said, you should always call, “because in my experience they want to bring you in and please you, especially if you are coming with several other people. Chefs can really showcase their skills when preparing a superb vegan dish. It’s one thing to make an excellent meat or seafood dish, but quite another to prepare an excellent vegan entrée.”

Maine’s Food Entrepreneurs

The Bangor Daily News has a report on Maine’s food entrepreneurs.

“Food is Maine’s brand,” said Tanya Swain, project co-director of The Maine Food Strategy, who spoke on a panel with entrepreneurs Joel Alex, founder of Blue Ox Malthouse, and Aaron Anker of Grandy Oats. “People are recognizing there is an opportunity to develop food businesses in Maine.”

There are several barriers, such as infrastructure needs and distribution, but the determination of the earnest ravioli maker and chocolatier who asked questions from the floor shone through.

Emilitsa’s Summer Menu

emilitsaBoth Maine a la Carte and Urban Eye have posted reports on Monday’s press preview of Emilitsa’s new summer menu.

Juicy duck that melts in your mouth. Nutty, flaky baklava infused with clove and honey. A medley of asparagus, toasted walnuts and farm chèvre tossed in mint tarragon dressing. Artisan mushrooms served with pan-fried eggplant on a bed of wilted kale and farro, the entire mess drizzled in top-shelf olive oil — what’s not to like?

Getting a Summer Restaurant Job

Forecaster columnist Natalie Ladd has put together advice on how to land a summer restaurant job.

During an interview, dress as if you already have the job. Personal appearance and hygiene are key, but that’s not all. In urban-chic Portland, piercings, tattooed arm sleeves and purple hair are all part of our foodie-by-the-sea charm. The bummer is, mature people, regardless of how experienced, have been known to lose out to trendy buff guys and sweet young things with half the professional competence.

Competitive Pressure

This week’s Portland Phoenix explores the question Can Portland sustain the opening of another restaurant?

“The truth is, cream rises to the top — the best restaurants will stay open and the not-so-good restaurants will close,” says Jason Loring, co-owner and chef of Nosh and Slab, who recently shared his thoughts about the number of restaurants in Portland. “Competition is a good thing, it forces us to put our best food forward.”

For an historical perspective check out this report from 1977.

Underrated Food Cities?

Thrillist has put Portland on their list of Most Underrated American Food Cities.

When people think of America’s culinary capitals they usually look to the coasts: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans all regularly top the lists of the best American food cities. But hiding in the “flyover states” and in “harbors-that-not-many-people-live-in” is a cache of culinary talent that’s just as worthy of sinking your teeth into.

4 Wine-centered Restaurant Ideas

In his wine column in today’s Press Herald, Joe Appel presents four models for restaurants he’d like to see open in Portland.

Yes, I enjoy the pleasures that a nice – or even excellent – glass of wine alongside a nice – or even excellent – plate of food can bring. But allow me, in the paragraphs that follow, to imagine the sort of transportive experience that is so much rarer. Allow me to describe a few restaurants, with suggested names sure to be improved upon, that teach us while they treat us.