Month: December 2021

Mimi Weissenborn at Sur Lie

| Posted in People

Mimi Weissenborn (instagram) has joined the Sur Lie team as their new executive chef. According to the press release,

A native Maryland crab, Shef studied at L’Academie de Cuisine and promptly decided to pursue a culinary career in New York City as a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Working her way up the line she finally chose to settle with Vinateria, the beloved Spanish and Italian influenced Harlem eatery, as their Creative Director and later on Executive Chef. There she received a Michelin recommendation, participated in multiple chef collaborations such as New York City Food & Wine Festival, Harlem Eat Up and a gamut of James Beard Foundation dinners headlining and selling out one of her very own; most recently collaborating on an International Women’s Day Dinner. Energized by her new found sense of community she was inspired to honor her own by hosting a female collaboration dinner series highlighting a local cast of Harlem hitters!

With the addition of Weissenborn to the Sur Lie team, the restaurant has led by an all-female management team.

Ada’s Portland Closing

| Posted in Closings

Ada’s has announced they’re closing their Portland location.

Portland community and friends: thank you for all of your support and patronage of Ada’s Portland. Going forward, our Congress Street location will be closed as we consolidate our handmade pasta production and activities in the Midcoast with our sister establishments @adas.kitchen & @mainstreetmarkets.

Special thanks to our staff who helped create something special. We will continue to serve retail and wholesale customers out of our Rockland location, with new and exciting things planned for 2022. Stay tuned, be well, and have a safe and healthy new year. 💛

Anyone interested in leasing the space at 642 Congress St should email hello@adaspasta.com.

Proof of Vaccination Petition (Updated)

| Posted in General News

The Press Herald reports that a petition is circulating among Portland restaurants asking the City Council to implement a proof of vaccination requirement.

[Kate] Klibansky’s request worked. The restaurant group Eventide, owned by Big Tree Hospitality, has now launched a petition drive with other restaurants asking the Portland City Council to consider a vaccine mandate for certain indoor spaces including, but not limited to, restaurants.

The City Council will be considering that policy at Monday’s meeting.

Currently, a limited number of Portland establishments have independently implemented a proof of vaccination policy.

Updated

Upcoming Events: Buzz Coffee, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, KitNA

| Posted in Events

Wednesday – the new Buzz Coffee shop is opening for business.

New Year’s Eve – Here’s a growing list of options for your New Year’s Eve celebrations–more will be added as restaurants announce their plans—send us a message if you see some place missing from the list.

  • Batson River – entertainment and “passed appetizers, food stations, late night snacks, and a sparkling toast at midnight”; $70 per person.
  • Blue Spoon – will be open; menu TBD.
  • Broken Arrow – 5-course dinner ($95 per person) at 6 pm, and 7-course dinner ($145 per person) at 9 pm, both with optional pairings.
  • Crispy Gai –fried chicken and caviar.
  • Dizzy Bird – has preorder takeout.
  • Evo Kitchen + Bar – 6-course dinner with optional wine pairings; $150 per person.
  • Free Street
  • Friends & Family – a Tour d’Alps tasting menu; $48 per person.
  • Gather – available on site or to go.
  • Gross Confection Bar – will be open on New Year’s Eve.
  • Isa Bistro – 3-course tasting menu; $75 per person.
  • Judy Gibson – a 6-course tasting menu plus snacks; $100 per person with optional beverage pairing for $45 per person.
  • Knotted Apron – 4-course dinner with champagne toast; $79 per person.
  • Luna – entertainment, appetizers and sparkling wine toast; $100 per person.
  • Magnus on Water – extensive NYE champagne list
  • Mr. Tuna – a range of sushi options for 2 – 10 people.
  • Old Port Sea Grill – 5-course dinner; $65 per person.
  • Petite Jacqueline – 4-course dinner and champagne toast.
  • Roll Call at Austin Street
  • Roma – is offering a special menu.
  • Smalls – will be open serving “wine, beer and bubbles” starting at 5pm. They’re a new market/cafe located at 28 Brackett Street.
  • Top of the East
  • Verbena’s – 4-course takeout dinner; $52 per person.

New Year’s Day – a few restaurants have announced special brunch and brinner options.

  • Broken Arrow – serving Brinner, their “favorite brunch meets dinner items”
  • Crispy Gai – is serving New Year’s Day brunch.
  • Ghee – will be serving brunch, noon to 8 pm.
  • Little Tap House – is serving New Year’s Day brunch.
  • Other Side Diner – will be serving brunch 8 – 2 with  specials like roast duck hash and beef tenderloin and eggs.
  • The Pink Waffle – is teaming up with Fork Food Lab to offer take home waffle kits and a New Year’s Day brunch option.

January 2 – KitNA (instagram) will be releasing their first beer On Your Mark American Blonde at a variety of beer retail locations.

January 14 – The Good Food Foundation will be announcing the winners of the 2022 awards program; 10 Maine food producers are finalists this year, and Black Tie is kicking-off a spring cooking class series.

Buzz Coffee Opening on Wednesday

| Posted in Openings

Buzz Coffee (website, instagram) will be launching their new coffee shop on Wednesday. Buzz is located at 19 Exchange Street in the underground space formerly occupied by Blake Orchard.

Buzz Coffee will be serving coffee brewed with beans from Little Wolf with an expanded menu that includes drip coffee, cold brew, teas and the full range of espresso-based drinks.

The cafe will be open 8 am to 2 pm.

Buzz launched this past May as a coffee cart. The coffee cart will be back on the streets this spring.