Food & Wine included the corn ice cream with tree tomato jam at Crown Jewel and the twin lobster mountain at Ladyfish in their Best Dishes We Ate in July article.
The Other Side Diner Reopening
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The Other Side Diner (facebook, instagram) is holding their grand reopening Saturday, August 1st. The diner is under the new ownership of Danielle Dubois and Dan Washington. Dubois has been a member of the Other Side kitchen staff for the last year, and Washington has several years experience cooking in the Portland area.
The layout of the room remains the same, and Washington and Dubois are taking a very similar approach with the menu (see below) continuing to serve dishes like the lamb gyro, Monte Cristo sandwich, falafel eggs benedict and pancakes. Other Side offers coffee, tea and other soft drinks as well as a selection of local beers, cider, kombucha and brunch drinks like mimosas. Dubois and Washington hope to eventually open the diner for dinner. Shown above are the turkey club sandwich and a side of Greek donuts.
The diner is located at 500 Washington Avenue and will be open Monday through Friday 8 am – 2 pm, and Saturday/Sunday 8 am – 3 pm.
Founders Peter and Jessica Sueltenfuss sold the business to Washington and Dubois in June. They initially opened it in April 2019.
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CN Traveler: 20 Best Bars
Conde Nast Traveler has published their list of the 20 Best Bars in Portland, Maine.
Something’s come over Portland, Maine, lately. The city’s bar life has become a mirror to its exploding complexity, and the only reasonable way to respond is to sip your way through it.
The list features: Benny’s, Blyth & Burrows, Bramhall, Bubba’s, Central Provisions, Chaval, Downtown Lounge, East Ender, Elizabeth, Five of Clubs, Lazzari, Lucky Cheetah, Maps, Novare Res, Oxbow, Papi, The Jewel Box, The Marquis, Top of the East, Via Vecchia
Zaitun to Open Saturday
A Somali restaurant called Zaitun (instagram) is under construction on Forest Ave in the building formerly occupied by Loco Taco. Owner Abdulrahman Idow plans to launch Zaitun this Saturday, August 1st at noon.
Idow hopes Zaitun can “be a place where people can experience authentic Somali cuisine, whether they’re reconnecting with the flavors of home or trying them for the very first time. We look forward to bringing our community together and introducing more of Maine to the rich culture of Somalia.”
The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner (see menus below) with options like Hummus Oodkac (hummus topped with Somali spiced beef jerky), injera-based dishes prepared with chicken, lamb or vegetables, Channa Masala (chickpeas simmered in tomato and onion gravy with ginger, garlic, cumin and coriander), shwarma wraps, sambusas, and desserts.
Zaitun is located at 849 Forest Avenue and will be open Monday through Thursday, 9 am – 9 pm, and Friday/Saturday, 9 am – 11 pm.
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Sweetfern Geometer Opens Today
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Sweetfern Geometer (instagram) is set to open Wednesday, July 29th. Owner William Justice has completely renovated the former Bake Maine Pottery Cafe space at 122 Washington Ave. It now features a 20-seat bar and overall seating capacity for 50 guests. Sweettfern will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 5 – 9 pm.
Justice is initially launching Sweetfern with counter service and an abreviated bar menu (see below) that includes Scallop Crudo plated with kielbasa, cucumber, scallion mayo, green oil and red currant, Spelt Demi-Boule served with radish and marigold butter, and the option of Marinated Chicken or Tofu served with charred heirloom tomato, basil, Irish moss, trumpet mushorooms, Szechuan pepper and masa. The beverage program will initially include, beer and wine with plans to add a cocktail with the launch of the full menu.
When the full menu and table service comes on line, Sweetfern will serve some a la carte options with the central offering of family-style meals utilizing seasonal ingredients and guided by dinner guest preferences (vegetarian, seafood, etc).
Justice began his career in hospitality running an underground catering operation in California as an offshoot of his work in the publishing industry. The side venture to provide food for book events eventually became center stage in his career. He went on to launch a farm-to-table restaurant and bookstore/coffee shop in Kansas, before moving to NYC where he was the chef and co-owner Tannat Wine & Cheese. Earlier this year he opened a bakery/cafe in an adjacent space called Mourning Cloak (instagram).
Ilma Lopez Runs for City Council
Chef Ilma Lopez, co-owner of Chaval and Ugly Duckling, is running for the District 5 seat on the Portland City Council. A statement on her campaign website reads,
I believe Portland should be a city where families, working people, and seniors can afford to live, where neighborhoods are safe and welcoming, where local businesses can grow, and where every child has access to a strong education. My approach is practical: listen to residents, spend taxpayer dollars responsibly, and focus on solutions that strengthen District 5 and all of Portland.
The other candidates for District 5 are Michael Todd Chretien, Jakobi Delgado, and Kevin Gardella. You can read about the full set of 10 candidates running for spots on the City Council in this article from the Press Herald.
Royal Ice, The Hut, Strada Social Club, and Sputnik Cafe
Here are four new business that have recently launched or are soon to do so:
The Hut by Twin Tide Kitchen (website, facebook, instagram) recently opened on Commercial Street. They’re located in the small building (above) across from Brickyard Hollow Brewing. The Hut is serving sandwiches, salads, baked goods, ice cream and drinks.
A new food truck called Royal Ice (instagram) recently launched on Forest Ave. They’re located in the parking lot next to Mandy & Matt’s Cafe at the corner of Stevens Ave. Royal Ice is serving Cold Fusion gelato, ice cream from Gifford’s and fresh squeezed lemonade. They plan to be open daily (weather permitting).
Strada Social Club (website, facebook, instagram) launched last Tuesday on Thompson’s Point. The menu features Italian pasta dishes like cuzzetiello and rigatoni. Owner Alana Reali also owns Sauce and Destroy and uses S&D marinara in the dishes served by Strada. Watch for Strada to be popping up at breweries and special events. Strada is also available for catering.
Milly Taylor plans to launch Sputnik Cafe (website, instagram) this fall. Taylor describes Sputnik as a “community oriented cafe-on-wheels driven to serve up some tasty drinks and sandwiches and to put a smile on your face.” She shared that her goal is “to create a fun and loving customer base that strives to make Portland and surrounding areas a more joyful place.” Taylor expects to operate in the Greater Portland area with stops at hospitals, work sites, festivals, and will also offer private event cocktail service catering as well. Taylor has worked in the industry for 16 years. She shared that launching her own business is something she’s dreamed of since she was a teenager.