Month: November 2009

Maine Brewer's Festival

| Posted in Events

The Maine Brewer’s Festival is taking place today at the Portland Expo. 16 Maine brewers are taking part including small-scale Portland newcomer Maine Beer Co. The Portland Daily Sun published a piece earlier this week on the Festival:

Brothers David and Daniel Kleban’s tiny brewery is one of four new additions to this year’s event, and they have generated some buzz despite their size — or maybe because of it. They run a one-barrel system, borrow equipment when it comes time to unload supplies and occupy a space slightly beyond homebrewing on the route to the big time.

“I don’t know how much smaller you could possibly get,” said David Kleban. “We don’t even have a forklift, we just borrow one from the folks down the way.”

Review of The Picnic Basket

| Posted in Reviews

The Picnic Basket received 3 stars from this week’s Eat & Run review in the Press Herald.

We tried the roast beef special, which consisted of roast beef, horseradish sauce, lettuce and tomato on a fresh sourdough roll. Everything seemed really fresh, and the horseradish sauce was terrific. It’s the kind that will clear your sinuses.

If your pockets are really light, there are hot dogs for just $1.60 and chili dogs for $2.

Coffee Trio

| Posted in Reviews

The Portland Phoenix has published a trio of reviewlettes for Bard, Morning in Paris and Maine Bean Cafe.

In Portland’s Old Port the turnover this year has been notable. JavaNet closed recently, the last café in town to welcome animals. The old Breaking New Grounds was reborn as Morning in Paris Café. Bard Coffee Roasters opened across the street from Starbucks, and on Commercial Street, Maine Bean Café replaced the Portland Coffee Roasters.

Review of Ruski’s

| Posted in Reviews

Where is Jenner’s Mind has published a review of Ruski’s.

tonight after voting, seth and i went to celebrate democracy with a pint of beer and some fried food. and what better place for such a celebration than ruski’s (212 danforth street)? ruski’s really is a go to place for seth and i for many reasons. number 1: its awesome. number 2: two blocks from our house. number 3: real dive bar. number 4: good food. number 5: unpretentious.

Review of Ruski's

| Posted in Reviews

Where is Jenner’s Mind has published a review of Ruski’s.

tonight after voting, seth and i went to celebrate democracy with a pint of beer and some fried food. and what better place for such a celebration than ruski’s (212 danforth street)? ruski’s really is a go to place for seth and i for many reasons. number 1: its awesome. number 2: two blocks from our house. number 3: real dive bar. number 4: good food. number 5: unpretentious.

USDA & Maine Food

| Posted in Farming

Yesterday’s Portland Daily Sun published a feature article on the federal government’s pilot efforts to promote organic food.

[U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary] Merrigan was in Portland to promote more than $19 million in USDA grants that have been awarded to universities to be applied toward organic agriculture research and education. More than $1.3 million of this appropriation was granted to University of Maine and the University of Vermont for an initiative called the “Northern New England Local Bread Wheat Project.”

This project features Portland’s Borealis Breads as one of its partners, with the goal of increasing the supply of locally grown organic wheat.

USDA & Maine Food

| Posted in Farming

Yesterday’s Portland Daily Sun published a feature article on the federal government’s pilot efforts to promote organic food.

[U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary] Merrigan was in Portland to promote more than $19 million in USDA grants that have been awarded to universities to be applied toward organic agriculture research and education. More than $1.3 million of this appropriation was granted to University of Maine and the University of Vermont for an initiative called the “Northern New England Local Bread Wheat Project.”

This project features Portland’s Borealis Breads as one of its partners, with the goal of increasing the supply of locally grown organic wheat.

Coffee Service

| Posted in General News, Reviews

The USM Free Press has published a review comparing and contrasting the coffee at StarEast and Big Sky.

Both the Star East Cafe and Big Sky Bread Company have other things going for them than what they offer for coffee and breakfast. However, first impressions are first impressions, and Star East didn’t cut it by a long shot. It might be a good place if you are interested in trying falafel or okra stew, but it’s no coffee shop. Big Sky Bread Company takes the cake.

While an unrelated article in the Portland Daily Sun commented on the politics of where you get your java in a independent store friendly food town.

Review of Norm’s East End Grill

| Posted in Reviews

Portland Bar Guide has published a review of Norm’s East End Grill.

The bar though, is like the really quiet, interesting guy standing behind the loud, drunk popular guy at a party. You know how some bars are stocked like they’re prepping for Prohibition? Norm’s has one of each of all the bottles you could want, but not two. They make feisty creative drinks with their own names, like the East End Margarita ($7), and pour Maine beers out of subtle, central taps at the elbow of the corner bar. The highlight of the whole scene? The tunes.

Review of Norm's East End Grill

| Posted in Reviews

Portland Bar Guide has published a review of Norm’s East End Grill.

The bar though, is like the really quiet, interesting guy standing behind the loud, drunk popular guy at a party. You know how some bars are stocked like they’re prepping for Prohibition? Norm’s has one of each of all the bottles you could want, but not two. They make feisty creative drinks with their own names, like the East End Margarita ($7), and pour Maine beers out of subtle, central taps at the elbow of the corner bar. The highlight of the whole scene? The tunes.