In lieu of a restaurant review, in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram restaurant critic Nancy Heiser has decided to “highlight a few things that we’ve found particularly noteworthy around the state.”
The cannelloni at Caiola’s, the fried chicken at the East Ender, the “unfailingly gracious service” at Vignola/Cinque Terre, Back Bay Grill and the Sea Grass Bistro, the buttermilk panna cotta at Bresca, and the Red radishes sauteed in duck fat at Bar Lola were all called out in the article.
The Portland Daily Sun has published a survey of six Portland coffee shops: Hilltop, Crema, Arabica, CBD on Washington, Bard and Aurora Provisions.
Traveling, local or otherwise, is not always sunny. You don’t always want to spend quality time with your family at the beach or at the hotel pool. Sometimes you want a friendly place to read the paper and have a little downtime, alone. Portland coffeehouses meet the criteria for cozy, cool and neighborhoody, and here are six of my all-season favorites within shouting distance of downtown.
Today’s Press Herald includes a bar review of Congress Bar & Grill,
The menus were tucked in between condiments in round tins on the bar. Specialty drinks range from the house-made sangria for $6 to the “JD Rita,” the bar’s spin on a margarita, for $12. There are eight beers on tap for $4 or $5 apiece, and a number offered by the bottle for $2 to $4. There’s also a selection of white, red and pink wines costing $5 to $7.
and a review of Mellen Street Market.
I ordered a steak-and-cheese with green peppers and onions for $6.49, which I thought was a fair price. The bun was chewy, the veggies were freshly grilled, and American cheese embedded underneath the meat melted into a favorable gooey mix.
The steak? Eh. So-so. It was very chewy, which disappointed me. But it was mostly chunky and not cut into strips, so it was easy to eat.
Also in today’s paper is an article about Rock Island Hop Farm in Springvale which raises hops for Sebago Brewing Bunker Brewing, and a detailed explanation from the President of the Maine Restaurant Association on what factors go into the price of a lobster dinner.
Calculating the average lobster cost at $4.25 per pound, a 1.25-pound lobster means a $5.31 raw lobster food cost for a typically served one and a quarter pound lobster. Add drawn butter, side salad or fries and a roll and you arrive at a total food cost of $6.815. This would result in a retail price of $20.63 for the meal, with a 33 percent food cost. All of that retail price except for $1.03 (5 percent profit) goes to pay the business overhead.
Delta’s in-flight magazine Sky has published some dining highlights for Portland and some more verbose commentary in the Portland Dining Guide. 158 Pickett Street Cafe, Becky’s, Boda, Duckfat, Emilitsa, Five Fifty-Five, Fore Street, Hugo’s, Miyake and Trattoria Athena in Brunswick all are included in the Dining Guide.
Food Coma has published a review of the inaugural Pocket Brunch.
It definitely speaks to the quality of an experience when a brunch can be dragged out for three and a half hours, and no one seems to bat an eyelash or miss a beat. It’s also a very impressive feat to pull this off in one’s home, as there are bound to be countless elements that need to be improvised to simulate the feel of an actual restaurant and not simply a dinner party. If I weren’t so afraid that a hat would “f[*`#] up” my hair and I actually wore one, it would be off to the Pocket Brunch crew for a job very, very well done.
This month’s topic for the collaborative food blogging project was Second Chances. Everyone was challenged with revisiting an eatery that hadn’t exactly wowed them the first time around. We all have off days, that’s as true of restaurants as it is people, so it only seemed appropriate to give these restaurants a second chance and ourselves a second chance to like them.
As you’ll read below, the results were a partial success. Edible Obsessions was ably to cheerfully report that Grace has undergone a complete turnaround since it’s current chef took charge in the kitchen, Vrai-lean-uh and I, while not enamored with our repeat visits, could see something that people might enjoy, and unfortunately The Blueberry Files confirmed that, despite it’s popularity, Taco Escobarr is just not the place for her.
Edible Obsessions – Grace
We’ve been back a few times since then, eating and enjoying our way through Chef Sueltenfuss’ menu. For us, it’s no longer an overpriced, monolith of a restaurant whose food wouldn’t even pass in restaurants that charged one third of the price. For us, Grace is a new restaurant, completely different than the one I was disappointed with a few years ago. It’s one that we’re more than happy that we gave a second chance to. … read the full article
The Blueberry Files – Taco Escobar
If you’re in the mood for crunchy Tex Mex Taco Tuesday-esque food, go to Amigo’s, where at least you know what you’re in for. If you want good tacos, with interesting fillings and salsa, head across the bridge into South Portland to Taco Trio. … read the full article
Vrai-lean-uh – Sonny’s
All that said, if you’re just looking for a drink and appetizers, I would recommend Sonny’s. Their drinks are very good, the bar is lovely and very appealing. I just wouldn’t go for dinner.… Read the articles on read the full article
For my part in this month’s Second Chances series, I made a return visit to The Farmer’s Table. I’ve heard from a few friends who’s culinary sensibilities I trust that they had really enjoyed meals there. That hadn’t been my experience during the restaurant’s first year but I was open to find things had changed. Unfortunately, I can’t say that the return visit did much to change my perspective. The outdoor decks overlooking Commercial Street don’t have an equal and I enjoyed my wine quite a bit but the food didn’t live up to the view and with so many other excellent eating options in town it didn’t make it into my regular rotation.
Thanh Thanh 2 received 4 stars from the review in the Maine Sunday Telegram.
Although the building facade is not pretty, Thanh Thanh 2 merits a trip to busy Forest Avenue for its welcoming service and authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Each entree is layered with flavor and served in ample proportion for the price, and pho seekers will not be disappointed. Add a cup of fresh coconut juice ($3) to sip on the drive home, and Thanh Thanh 2 makes for excellent takeout.
Bite into Maine has made it onto the Gourmet Live list of Food Truck Favorites Coast to Coast.
Malcolm Bedell over at From Away has penned a story for Serious Eats entitled “Fast-Food Lobster Rolls: Can They Be Any Good?”
In the 1990s, McDonald’s captured attention with their “McLobster,” a fast-food version of a Maine lobster roll that was only available in select markets in New England and Canada. My recollection of the sandwich was that it wasn’t half bad, and a bargain at just $7.99. But it’s been MIA in recent years in coastal Maine (anyone seen it?).
So which other chains are serving up mass-market lobster rolls? And are they anywhere close to the version served at our favorite roadside Maine seafood shacks?
In addition to the main article and it’s recommendations, see this slide show for detailed commentary for each of the 8 rolls Malcolm considered.
For more on Malcolm and wife Jillian focus on Maine food watch this video on Visit Maine.
The Blueberry Files has published a review of East End Cupcakes,
So I’ve come around and now enjoy stopping into the shop to marvel over the beautiful display of cupcakes, picking out my favorite one (most definitely the vanilla with coconut cream cheese frosting), and having a bite-sized sweet treat to satisfy my small sweet tooth.
Map & Menu has published a brunch review of Blue Spoon,
It’s no secret that the East End’s Blue Spoon restaurant is one of Meredith and my absolute favorites in Portland – I’m pretty sure that it was the first place we covered on Map & Menu – and I don’t try to hide the fact that brunch is probably my favorite meal of the day, so by mixing the two, you’re pretty much guaranteeing a recipe for Map & Menu success.
and Happy Mouth has published a review of J’s Oyster Bar.
I however seem to have developed an aversion to any meat paired with bacon. I love bacon. I love crab. I did not like the flavour combination. I believe though that the fault lies with me. The garlic bread was however, amazing. BEST EVER. A white hot dog bun split, spread with garlic butter and chives, then toasted on the flat top. Chewy, steamy, garlicky. Cheese on garlic bread only complicates things.