A Maine legislative committee has decided against a 10¢ tax on plastic bags at grocery stores. A working group has been set-up to study the issue.
Plastic bags are under assault from environmentalists as an example of waste, and many Mainers are already switching to reusable bags. Opponents argued that the fee would create administrative problems, inconvenience customers and simply increase sales of plastic trash bags.
Today’s edition of the Portland Daily Sun includes an article on the kosher seder being held at Shaarey Tphiloh.
At 8 p.m. tonight, the synagogue will open its doors and provide the Passover meal. About 55 meals are expected to be readied, Herzfeld estimated, noting that 45 people have signed up and anyone else who calls and expresses interest will be welcome.
Grassroots Organic, aka GRO, plans on opening for business this morning at 8 am. The menu is a mix of salads, sandwiches, juices and soups; most items are raw or lightly cooked.
Dean’s Sweets is running a special promotion. They’re “offering a free truffle to anyone that comes into their store between now and Tax Day”. You just need to mention the Tax Day truffle offer and you can select from one of Dean’s 18 flavors.
Bard Coffee Roasters is scheduled to open this morning at 7 am. Bard is located in the Old Port near the intersection of Middle and Exchange Streets. The interior looks really nice. I’ve heard that they’ll have free wi-fi and (relatively) late night hours on the weekend.
This year’s Food+Farm is taking place May 8-10. It looks like a really good program.
Tickets for the Ted Ames, Bryant Terry and Food Inc. are on now sale.
Micucci’s Stephen Lanzalotta is holding another of his Piatto per Tutti cooking classes on Monday. The first of a two-part MF&WA’s class on beer, wine, mead and spirits is taking place on Tuesday night at the Bar of Chocolate Cafe. There’s a wine tasting at RSVP on Wednesday and a mead tasting at the Public Market House on Thursday. Also on Thursday The Great Lost Bear is showcasing beers from Shipyard Brewing. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
Silly’s received 3 stars from the Taste & Tell column in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.
Much more fun to eat was the lamb dish called Mythos ($13.95), with a generous heap – and every plate is generously heaped – of browned lamb on top of tender couscous and not-so-tender chunks of zucchini, red and green peppers, and broccoli. Thick dill yogurt sauce provided its traditional cool presence beside the savory meat.
Mitten Machen has reviewed the vegan fare at Flatbread Company.
On the chickpea scale of vegan-friendliness, I’m giving Flatbread Company two and a half chickpeas…It’s an excellent restaurant, and I eat there whenever I get a chance, but if I lived in Portland I’d get tired of the limited vegan choices. Because they advertise as earth and community-friendly, I’m holding them to a higher standard than I would your typical pizza joint.
Type A Diversions has reviewed lunch at the Dogfish Cafe.
The cuisine at the Dogfish Cafe was simple, fresh, delicious and moderately priced; the service was friendly and relaxed. While it’s not a place I would choose to dine for dinner, I would stop into the Dogfish Cafe again for lunch.
Photo Credit: Type A Diversions