The Maine Sunday Telegram has published a review of Gather.
Surround yourself with warmth, energy, company and very good food at Gather, whose purpose is to offer healthy, locally sourced and deliciously prepared food so that people of all ages and many incomes can partake. The restaurant succeeds admirably. You may not gush, but you’ll certainly enjoy.
The Golden Dish has published a review of Hot Suppa.
Places like Hot Suppa serve the kind of food that I go for in a big way: hearty down-home fare that when it’s done with care and cunning can be a soul-satisfying experience. But when the pageantry of such comfort grub goes awry, the allure is short-lived.
In other words, I’ve had two lackluster meals at Hot Suppa recently when my expectations were set so high.
The Press Herald has published a bar review of Howie’s,
While I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I ventured outside the popular Old Port bar area of Portland, I’m glad I gave Howie’s a shot. It’s a fun little place if you’re looking to venture from the Old Port crowds.
and a review of Pom’s.
On a cold day, one of my favorite comfort foods is any kind of noodle soup, or noodles in broth. So I went for lunch the other day at Pom’s Thai Taste Restaurant & Noodle House in Portland in search of some warm comfort.
I found it, plus a little extra kick.
Today’s paper also includes a report on the sour and wild beer tasting that recently took place at the Bier Cellar.
The Flemish red ale Duchesse de Bourgogne from Brouwerij Verhaeghe is a classic for the style, with almost no carbonation and a rich flavor. It is a blend of 8- and 18-month-old beers, aged in oak casks, with just a bit of sourness. It was one of my favorites of the line-up.
The Portland Phoenix has published a review of The Loft, as well as Five Guys and Elevation.
Dispatch has published a brunch review of Pai Men Miyake.
In case you haven’t picked up what I’m putting down, I’ll spell it out: Brunch at Pai Men is great. You should totally try it. Or, at the very least, get the meatballs.
Dispatch has published their list of the 5 Best Breakfast Sandwiches in Portland.
I love a good sit down brunch with the rest of ‘em. But let’s great real: this is Amurrrica. And in Amurrrica, we can’t always spend three hours slurping down mimosas when there’s a list of important Monday morning things we’ve got to do at the office. You know, like write about the best breakfast sandwiches in Portland. So here are my top five favorite places to pop in on my way to work for a bacon, egg, and cheese on the go.
Personally, I’d add the breakfast sandwiches at Aurora Provisions to their list.
What are your favorite spots for a breakfast sandwich in Portland?
The Golden Dish (newly relocated to the Press Herald from Down East) has published a review of Zen Chinese Bistro.
After many visits over the last several months, Zen has become my de facto dining spot when I have a yen for Chinese food. It’s slightly more expensive than places like Panda Garden along the Brighton Ave. strip. And it’s so much better.
Let me be clear, though, the cooking is not necessarily cutting edge or crafty. There’s no fusion gimmickry or sleight-of-hand flavors in surreptitious guises. Instead it’s good solid renditions of the genre, using quality local ingredients prepared with care.
Taste, Memory by Portland resident David Buchanan has made it on to Amazon’s list of the Top 10 Food Lit books.
Gary Paul Nabhan wrote “Taste, Memory may well be the most beautiful book ever written about food biodiversity and how it has ‘landed’ on earth, in our mouths and in our hearts.”
Today’s Press Herald includes a review of Micucci’s,
I’m already a regular customer of Micucci’s, especially the bakery/cafe part, where Stephen Lanzalotta’s Sicilian slab pizza is doled out to a long line of salivating customers jockeying for position. Lanzalotta’s pizza makes all the pleasure centers in your brain light up like a pinball machine until you want to cry for your mama.
as well as a bar review of Bonobo,
The pizza is the real star of this bar, with a thin crust and creative toppings to satisfy adventurous taste buds. The pies measure about 13 inches and come with a promise that no nitrates, hormones or antibiotics were used in the meats.
Following up on their lunch review from earlier this Fall, Map & Menu has published a brunch review of Petite Jacqueline.
…Meredith ordered a Croque Madam (a gourmet ham and cheese, with ham, gruyere, mornay, and fried egg) to follow – it was fantastic, as I think I stole at least half of it right off her plate. I decided to try the Hachage Agneau (braise lamb hash with two poached eggs, homefries, hollandaise, and toast), and couldn’t have been happier than my selection.
Photo Credit: Map & Menu