Under Construction: Tandem West

Sprudge has posted an interview with Tandem about the new coffee shop shop they have under construction in the West End.

What’s your approach to serving the coffee?
We’re going to emphasize high-quality batch brew but we’re still debating our exact setup for that at the moment. Pour-over may or may not happen at the new place. Coffee shots are a possible alternative—though we won’t know for sure until we get the new equipment in to start tasting.

Food Trucks/Carts to be in City Parks

After an RFP process the city awarded 6 food trucks and food carts the access to operate in specific Portland parks:

  • Urban Sugar will be joining Small Axe in Congress Square Park
  • Wicked Good Truck will be in Back Cove
  • Perry’s Sidewalk Café will be at the East End Beach
  • Ana’s Mobile Gourmet will be Deering Oaks
  • Taco Trio will be in Lincoln Park and on the Western Prom

Restaurant Impossible: Uncle Andy’s

The Bangor Daily News has published a report on the Restaurant Impossible makeover of Uncle Andy’s Diner.

The end product was a shocker: Their previously open kitchen is partially sealed off, with a brown window panel separating food prep from customers. But it looks like Dennis Fogg will still be able to make his specialty animal pancakes in front of an audience.

The old booths were replaced with sleek tables and chairs. Muted chartreuse paint and a simple tile frame reading “ANDY’S” replaced the diner’s outdated wall decor.

Roll Call’s Taste of America Contest

Urban Eye reports that the lobster roll has made it to the finals of Congressional Roll Call’s Taste of America contest.

This celebrity sandwich is not only killing it on menus this season, the roll is quashing other state’s edible claims and taking names. Maine’s royal roll made the final round of Congressional Quarterly Roll Call’s Taste of America contest this week and (watch your back cherry cobbler of Utah) has the most votes right now.

To cast your vote visit rollcalltasteofamerica.com/brackets.cfm

Openings, Openings, Openings….

timberbackyardHere are a bevy opening announcements:

Review of East Ender

Eating Portland Alive has published a brief review East Ender.

I finally ended up ordering the special pizza of the evening, with the hope that it would not be overly hearty and I’d have room to tackle some other dishes. The toppings included pork, kimchi, a mornay (cheese sauce) with sriracha, and cheese curds. Awesome robust flavors in every bite. I wouldn’t have called the crust a traditional pizza dough, but it was still delicious