Food & Wine has come out with their 2018 Best New Chef list. There aren’t any chefs in Maine on the list this year, but the July issue does include a list of all 323 chefs that have been recognized in the last two decades. Four are located in Maine today:
Down East tells the story of Allagash Brewing and Rob Tod. The article is an assemblage of interviews with Tod, former and current employees, customers and leaders in the industry.
Top-secret ingredients and MacGyvered dairy equipment. Old world wisdom and cutting-edge tech. Hollywood celebrity and cult cachet. It’s all part of the long, heady history of the curious beer that put Maine suds on the map.
Industry veteran Liz Koenigsberg and her husband chef Will Lavey are in the process of buying the Blue Spoon from founder David Iovino.
Koenigsberg shared that they were “drawn to the Blue Spoon for its intimate feel and smaller size as a neighborhood restaurant” which they are very familiar with having been regular customers at the Munjoy Hill restaurant for many years.
Their goal is to “preserve the reputation and following that David has built over the past several years but, add some of our own touches and style from years in the business” including Sunday brunch and extended dinner hours with the menu remaining focused on “local farm to table American bistro”.
Iovino opened the Blue Spoon in January 2004. The official transfer of ownership is scheduled to take place in August.
Randall H. Gifford Jr., co-founder of Giffords Ice Cream, passed away last week at the age of 90.
In 1954, Randall and Audrey purchased a dairy (milk business) in Forestville, Conn. Later, it became R.H. Gifford Dairy & Sons. In 1971, the Gifford’s moved to Farmington, where they owned and operated Gifford’s Dairy, Inc., and founded Gifford’s Famous Ice Cream in Skowhegan.
Map & Menu has published a Q&A about Portland Wine Week with Erica Archer from Wine Wise, Stella Hernandez from Lolita and Kelly Nelson from Piccolo.
What are some of the Portland Wine Week events you’re most looking forward to?
Erica: I’m excited about the diversity. I want everyone to feel like there is something for them. I really want the locals to feel that way more than anything. Maybe for them, it’s pick two things – supporting someone you really like and then trying something that’s completely out of their repertoire.
See the current list of events scheduled for Portland Wine Week, online at www.portlandwineweek.me/events. More events are being added to the calendar in the coming weeks. To stay informed sign-up for the PWW email newsletter.
Jim and Gillian Britt, organizers of Maine Restaurant Week, and principals of the gBritt PR agency have bought Gabrielle Garofalo’s 50% share ownership in Harvest on the Harbor.
Austin Miller, chef and co-owner of Mami, will be appearing on an upcoming episode of Chopped, according to a report from Eating Portland Alive.
Episode 8, A Frog Leg Up, is set to air April 17 at 10pm.
Maine Foodie Tours owner, Pamela Laskey won the 2018 Award for Innovation & Creativity at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism.
”With Maine Foodie Tours, Pamela Laskey has created an exceptional visitor experience that promotes Maine’s culinary scene to a niche travel audience, and helps to strengthen an industry sector that is one of Maine primary tourism pillars,” said Steve Lyons, director of the Maine Office of Tourism.
Boston.com has published an interview with Alison Pray from Standard Baking about her Beard Awards nomination for Outstanding Baker.
Pray described herself as “stunned” that her bakery, which specializes in old world-style breads, rolls, and pastries, is still on the Foundation’s radar. Bakeries, Pray said, are places that do “behind-the-scenes work — it’s not as glamorous as the restaurant world.” At Standard Baking Co., she strives to serve the repeat customer, the person who comes in every morning to buy their “daily bread.”
Mainebiz has published an article about Gaetano Ascione, the new chef at Tiqa.
The native of Naples, Italy, has led kitchens in Germany, France, Singapore, and has also prepared meals for Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. He’s now bringing his “good food” approach to the three-year-old Mediterranean-themed restaurant at 327 Commercial St., replacing Bo Byrne, who left in January.