The El Rayo Cantina, a companion eatery and watering hole to El Rayo Taqueria, opened tonight. For tonight, tomorrow and Monday they’ll be open 5-9 pm, they’ll expand hours to 9 pm – 1 am starting Tuesday.
Month: January 2012
Review of Duckfat
Eat Here. Go There. has published a review of Duckfat.
Overall, I think this is great high brow pub grub in Portland. Its ever-so-slightly off the beaten path location only adds to the charm of it. The laid back vibe of both the staff and the patrons is contagious, and no one seems to be in a hurry for anything here (though I will say food comes out fast and hot). The exposed brick walls are lined with magnet boards to come up with your own magnetic poem or phrase to just while away the hours drinking and eating great food.
Review of Artemisia
Edible Obsessions has published a review of Artemisia Cafe.
So, when you’re looking for a spot to pop out to brunch this weekend, consider forgoing the usual haunts and take a trip to my neighborhood and stop in to Artemesia Cafe and, for the love of God, someone try the Sausage and Biscuits.
Review of Borealis & Honey-Based Beers
Today’s Press Herald includes a Eat & Run review of Borealis Bistro,
The panini comes on your choice of bread, and you’ll have a large variety of choices, because all the bread is made right on the premises. The sandwich we tried consisted of a couple of slices of rosemary bread filled with real scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese (your choice of cheese) and sausage links (meat costs extra) that had been sliced in half and grilled. The sandwich stayed piping hot all the way to the office, and was large enough to share.
and a What Ales You column about the honey-based beers for sale at The Honey Exchange.
The favorite honey beer among my tasters — and they varied over the past month from a crowd of seven to just me — was Brooklyn Local 2, a strong, dark Belgian ale with 9 percent alcohol that cost about $8.50 for a 750-milliliter bottle.
The honey was just a background in this fruity, spicy and complex beer with a wonderfully thick body. The Belgian dark candy sugar combines with the wildflower honey. Seven people tasted this one, and they all loved it.
Under Construction: Matt’s Wood Roasted, Rosemont, Otto Pizza
Word surfaced today of several new businesses under construction:
- Matt’s Wood Roasted Coffee is planning to open a coffee shop in Portland at 567 Congress Street
- Rosemont Market is opening a new location at 9 Commercial Street. According to a report from the Press Herald, “The 1,500-square-foot, no-frills market will cater to Portland restaurants as well as the public, Naylor said. To help keep prices down, there will be no fancy displays or grocery bags. Customers must bring their own bags, just as they would at a farmers’ market.”
- According to the Munjoy Hill News, Otto Pizza has opened a fourth location at the corner of Cumberland and Washington Ave to run their new delivery service.
Neighborhood Bars
The Bollard has published a survey of neighborhood bars.
Let’s start out at Mama’s Crowbar (189 Congress St.), a little hole in the wall about a block above Washington Ave. It’s a mother-and-daughter-run joint that specializes in American craft beers. Common tap selections include stouts and ales from the likes of Allagash, Dogfish Head, and Oxbow, the brewery in Newcastle established last year. You won’t find liquor at Mama’s, but you will find nearly three dozen bottled and canned beer options priced between $3 and $7. PBR is not among them, because Mama doesn’t approve of their high fructose corn syrup.
Immigrant Kitchens: Russian Ravioli
In the latest entry on Immigrant Kitchens Lindsay Sterling learns how to make Russian ravioli from Yulia Converse (read the recipe and see the photos).
My friend’s family only eats meat that he hunts: duck, venison, and moose. Because prime cuts on these animals are so few, ground meat is usually what the family has to work with. I guess I was feeling sorry for them. What’s for dinner? Chili. What’s for dinner? Sausage. What’s for dinner? Chili. What’s for dinner? Sausage. After my latest cooking lesson in an immigrant’s kitchen, I wanted to bust down that family’s door and rescue them, crying, “How about some Russian ravioli?”
MRA Chef of the Year
The Maine Restaurant Association has named David Turin their Chef of the Year.
Phone/Pad Food Apps
The Press Herald polled “local chefs, restaurateurs, food writers, food bloggers [including yours truly] and all sorts of people obsessed with food and dining” on their favorite food related apps and have published the results in today’s paper. As the author Meredith Goad points out, the responses “ranged from popular apps such as Urbanspoon and OpenTable to some that you’ve probably never heard of before.”
Review of Bakery on the Hill
Instant Portland has published a review of Bakery on the Hill.
I was going through shops in the East End, and at ever single one, I had the same conversation. “Have you checked out Bakery on the Hill yet? It’s amazing.”
When your neighbors consistently talk you up so highly, what can a poor blogger do but follow their advice.