The Press Herald has reviewed MJ’s Wine Bar.
Portland’s only wine bar, MJ’s offers a diverse selection of wine and a solid list of craft beer. Snacks such as cheese, olives and nuts are offered, but there is not a kitchen. Romantic and cozy, MJ’s is great for happy hour, a glass of wine before a show or an event or a private event.
Rosemont and Piccolo are collaborating on a set of cooking classes called Just a Little Bit Off.
Piccolo chef Damian Sansonetti, along with special guests from Portland’s food and wine world, will demonstrate techniques and recipes that any interested home cooks can use to dramatically expand their range.
In groups of no more than a dozen, we will explore the glories of less familiar vegetables, “off” cuts of meat (which are usually the tastiest kinds!), unfamiliar (but simple to execute) preparations, and small-production wines from out-of-the-way and often unfamiliar regions.
Visit Brown Paper Tickets for details on the first five classes and to register.
The Common Ground Fair kicks off today in Unity Maine. You can see the full schedule of activities on the MOFGA website.
Travel+Leisure has included Eventide in their list of the Best Oyster Bars in America.
Turquoise walls make a fitting backdrop for this overflowing oyster bar, where stakes in the ice categorize the bivalves as “from Maine” or “away.” The Old Port area restaurant does New England classics like lobster rolls and chowder along with creative offerings like Kim Chee Ice or cucumber ginger. Eventide’s Chinese-style steamed bun, filled with crispy fried oysters, tomato, and tart pickled daikon, red onion, and jalapeño, is a standout.
Urban Eye has posted an update on Bramhall, the casual food and drink destination now under construction in the old Bramhall Pub in the West End.
“New places are super food-focused and the food scene is awesome,” he said, but amid all the James Beard nods, something was amiss.
“It can be a challenge to grab a meal for two, even lunch, for less than $80 in Portland,” said Fraser. “I want people to be able to come in and have a few drinks and have a good time.”…Meals at the new Bramhall gastropub will be priced from $8 to $10. In the kitchen is Chris [Beaulieu], former sou chef at Duck Fat and chef at Sebago Brewery in Portland.
Owner Mike Fraser hopes to open Bramhall next month.
Hugo’s and Primo in Rockland are both on the 2014 Open Table Fit for Foodies list.
The list is based on “the combined opinions of more than 5 million restaurant reviews submitted by verified OpenTable diners for more than 20,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia”.
Eater Maine has published a 3-part interview with chef Fred Eliot (part 1, part 2, part 3) from Petite Jacqueline.
Fred Eliot didn’t intend to cook for a living. Growing up in France, he learned plenty of useful kitchen skills from his grandmother and mother, but his English Literature studies led him away from food. A move to Iowa and then Ohio with his first wife took him even further from food culture, surrounding him with fast food chains. The shock this caused was enough to get him “cooking more” at home again, which ultimately convinced Eliot he needed to stand in front of stove rather than sit in front of a computer.
The Hunt & Alpine Club has been selected by Food & Wine magazine as a contender in their People’s Best New Bars readership poll.
In a city that’s only starting to show off its cocktail chops, PHAC features original craft cocktails such as White Noise, made with Cocchi Americano, elderflower liqueur and grapefruit zest, from bartender Andrew Volk.
Visit the F&W website to cast your vote Hunt & Alpine.
Haven’s Candies has a new owner. According to reports from MaineBiz, the Bangor Daily News and the Press Herald, Freeport businesswoman Erin Collins has bought the company from Andy Charles who has run the company since 2001.
Haven’s was founded in 1915 by Herbert Haven. The first store was located at 500 Forest Ave.
USA Today has had their “panel of beer experts picked 20 of the nation’s best cities for beer-centric travel” for their Best Beer Town readership survey.
Portland made the list and you can help Portland ride high in the polls by casting your vote for our city. The rules allow for one voter per day until the winners are chosen on October 13.