Reviews: Tuscan Table, Maiz, Pearl

Peter Peter Portland Eater has reviewed Tuscan Table, and

In addition to the service, the meat and cheese plate – which I felt was both really delicious and a very fair value needs a couple of – I’ll call them logistical – improvements. And my haddock was good, but not the great, flavorful piece of art I’d look for in a perfect world. Still, Tuscan Table is off to a good start in their first weeks. In fact, good enough that my wife went back with a friend the very next night. I think it’s reasonable that you check it out at least once and see what you think.

the Press Herald has reviewed Maiz.

What I am saying is I’m glad none of you witnessed my consumption of this arepa. This delicious arepa, with its crispy (gluten free!) exterior and its messy interior. It comes with an optional sauce that varies from day to day. I chose chimichurri. Something made the arepa the tiniest bit greasy, and I think the chimichurri might have been the source. But it wasn’t enough to stop me from enjoying every single last bite.

Also, the Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Pearl in Kennebunk,

Some dishes, like golden shoestring fries, an overstuffed bouillabaisse and a meaty, lightly dressed lobster roll ($24) are twins of dishes she serves at Pearl Oyster Bar in Manhattan. Others, like a warm-spiced apple crisp and a crunchy, schnitzel-like pan-fried chicken breast served with creamy celery remoulade, demonstrate that Charles – who, unlike many famous chefs, frequently cooks on the line in her own kitchen – knows a whole lot more than oysters. You won’t be able to score a table here once the tourists arrive, so take advantage of the off-season and get here while you can.

NYC→PWM

Today’s Press Herald reports on some of the former New Yorkers making a new life and a living in Portland, and helping develop the restaurant scene in the process.

Restaurateurs who have moved here from New York say the customers are different, too. Sansonetti says that Mainers, curiously, appear to be more adventurous eaters than New Yorkers. When he worked at Bar Boulud, Sansonetti put Mediterranean sardines and Maine herring on the menu, but they were tough sells. When he opened Piccolo, he served sardines “and we couldn’t keep them on the menu.”

Under Construction: 185 Cottage Road

White Cap Coffee (website, facebook, instagram) had planned to locate a cold brew tasting room on Washington Ave in the former Sahara Club building. Now 3 months later, they’ve evolved their business, and after a merger with Rwanda Bean Co. and in collaboration with Cape Whoopies they are leasing 185 Cottage Road in South Portland.

The space will be used for to “manufacture whoopie pies and support coffee cold brew manufacturing, roasting coffee and retailing both products”. It will be a place where customers will be able to “see the manufacturing operations and then enjoy the products there in a retail setting”.

White Cap/Rwanda/Cape Whoopies hope to take over the space in February with plans to open in late Spring.

MCD Fifty Stone

The Whisky Advocate. has published a brief write-up on Maine Craft Distilling’s Fifty Stone.

Along with Westland in Seattle, Maine Craft Distilling is one of the few American distilleries using locally sourced peat to make single malt whiskey. Peat is an abundant resource in many parts of the world, reflective of the local plant life and terroir. We look forward to more distilleries experimenting with local peat—the taste profiles should all be quite unique.

This Week’s Events: Ag Show, Farmers’ Market Convention, Park Challenge, Sashimi Grading

Tuesday – it’s the first day of the 77th Annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show in Augusta.

Thursday – the 10th annual Maine Farmers’ Market Convention is taking place in Augusta and the Industrial Park Challenge at The Great Lost Bear, and Mika Higurashi will be giving a talk at GMRI entitled “Making the Grade: Leading the Way for Sashimi-Grade Seafood“.

Friday – there will be a wine tasting at the East End Rosemont.

Saturday – the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place and there will be a wine tasting at LeRoux Kitchen.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

Reviews: Esidore’s Bistro, Lazzari, Nonesuch River Brewing

The Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Esidore’s Bistro,

His eclectic, world-aware style of cooking borrows elements from several disparate cuisines – Mexican, Vietnamese, Japanese, just to name a few – while keeping everything he prepares gluten-free.

The Bollard has reviewed Lazzari, and

For a few hours each weekend, this new Congress Street eatery offers a short menu of outstanding wood-fired pies whose carefully chosen toppings bring “breakfast” and “pizza” together in sweet harmony.

the Press Herald has reviewed Nonesuch River Brewing.

I loved my burger, which was deceivingly simple. The bacon was charred to a crisp, as I like it, and the burger was cooked medium, as I requested. But what made it stand out was the sear that the chef achieved. The outer skin of the burger was slightly hard and charred, but the burger itself was pink and juicy. Those juices were full of smoky flavors, and they mingled with all the other elements to create a variety of flavors in each bite. The bun was grilled (or toasted) ever so slightly.

Under Construction: The Proper Cup

A new coffee shop called The Proper Cup (website, facebook, instagram) is under construction at 500 Forest Ave in the space formerly occupied by Express Nail Supply. Proper Cup is located on Forest in between Rose Foods and Little Woodfords on the corner of Noyes Street.

Owners Rachel Kreie and Zachary Figoli are planning to open their “Quirky, professional and industrial themed cafe that sells high quality espresso drinks, drip coffee and tasty pastries from local vendors” in late January or early February.

Kreie and Figoli have both worked as baristas. They have a combined passion for creating a community oriented coffee shop for the people living and working the neighborhood.

Update: The Proper Cup will be serving coffee from Flight Coffee Company.