This Week's Events

The weekly Food and Drink Trivia Contest is at Bull Feeney’s tonight, and on Tuesday the next Wine Flight 5k Training run is taking place. The next Twilight Dinner is scheduled on Thursday at Cultivating Community’s farm in Cape Elizabeth. There are wine tastings scheduled on Wednesday at RSVP, on Thursday at the Old Port Wine Merchants, and on  Saturday at Scarborough Wine Outlet. Wine events are taking place at both The Salt Exchange and Jones Landing Wednesday evening. On Thursday there’s a Redhook Ale Brewery showcase at The Great Lost Bear. Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday.  For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

This Week’s Events

The weekly Food and Drink Trivia Contest is at Bull Feeney’s tonight, and on Tuesday the next Wine Flight 5k Training run is taking place. The next Twilight Dinner is scheduled on Thursday at Cultivating Community’s farm in Cape Elizabeth. There are wine tastings scheduled on Wednesday at RSVP, on Thursday at the Old Port Wine Merchants, and on  Saturday at Scarborough Wine Outlet. Wine events are taking place at both The Salt Exchange and Jones Landing Wednesday evening. On Thursday there’s a Redhook Ale Brewery showcase at The Great Lost Bear. Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday.  For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

El Rayo Review

Soooo..You Really Like Cats has reviewed El Rayo.

Their bright colors and fun, upbeat atmosphere pairs well with the light and savory food they serve. I can’t wait to head over to El Rayo when it’s below zero, snowy, and miserable outside because the restaurant is guaranteed to immediately warm my soul.

Grace Reviews Start to Roll In

Just a couple days after it opened, the reviews for Grace are starting to roll in.  Both The Blueberry Files,

I am excited to welcome a great new restaurant in a beautiful space to Portland, especially because of it’s close proximity to my house! Between the two bars, there is plenty of bar space, ensuring that even as Grace grows in popularity, there will be a spot for my elbows and me to stop by and have a drink.

and About Town from the Portland Phoenix have published today.

Starters were really strong – even the lettuce in the salad seemed special, and the scallops tartare and fried clams (from the bar menu) were like none we had ever tried. The mains were also really great – the duck with quinoa, fingerling potatoes, and hibiscus-ginger jelly was among the best duck I’ve ever eaten. (And the only one I can think of that I’d class better had crispier skin and different sides.)

CSAs on an Upswing

There’s a front page story in today’s Press Herald on the increasing popularity of CSAs in Maine.

The number of CSAs in Maine has roughly doubled to 140 in the past three years, said Melissa White Pillsbury, organic marketing coordinator for the Maine Organic Gardeners and Farmers Association. The public’s increased familiarity with CSAs and the growing number of farms in Maine are some of the reasons cited for the trend.

The CSA approach is also being applied to business beyond the farm.

Others involved in food production are also adopting the concept and tailoring it to meet their needs. In Maine, apple orchards, sheep farms, fishermen and bakeries are among those using the CSA model.

The Bollard's Sausage Showdown II

The Bollard has published the result from its 2nd Smokin’ Sausage Showdown in the new issue.
Fresh Approach won in the sweet Italian category, “…herby and flavorful Sweet Italian. Sporting plenty of fat content, this sausage was juicy and delicious.”
Moran’s Market won in the hot Italian category, “…instantly juicy, peppery burst, but without the blistering heat we expected from that first bite.”
and Pat’s Meat Market won in the wild card category for their Lithuanian sausage which has a “nice, unique flavor, with the herbs and mustard seed cutting through“.