Cockeyed Gull & Outdoor Dining

The Portland Daily Sun has published a profile of Cockeyed Gull on Peaks Island and an article about the risks and rewards of outdoor dining in Portland.

I recently read a blog comment that “you don’t go to Peaks Island for the food.” I would agree with the addition of one word: you don’t go to Peaks Island only for the food. But once you are there, the Cockeyed Gull is among the lovely places for a meal. The back deck offers a view across the harbor at Portland’s skyline unobscured by streetlights, dock detritus or people. Herbs grow in planters atop the railing and while the rest of the food has to be brought in by ferry, it’s no more than the twenty-minute ferry ride older than anything you’d buy on the mainland.

Cockeyed Gull & Outdoor Dining

The Portland Daily Sun has published a profile of Cockeyed Gull on Peaks Island and an article about the risks and rewards of outdoor dining in Portland.

I recently read a blog comment that “you don’t go to Peaks Island for the food.” I would agree with the addition of one word: you don’t go to Peaks Island only for the food. But once you are there, the Cockeyed Gull is among the lovely places for a meal. The back deck offers a view across the harbor at Portland’s skyline unobscured by streetlights, dock detritus or people. Herbs grow in planters atop the railing and while the rest of the food has to be brought in by ferry, it’s no more than the twenty-minute ferry ride older than anything you’d buy on the mainland.

De/Construction & Competition

Today’s Press Herald reports on the demolition and new plans for the 2 spots that had been the Ice House on York and Binga’s in Bramhall Square.

The building has been boarded up since it was damaged by a fire two years ago. Tod Dana, who bought the building, plans to open a…restaurant on the lot, at 231 York St.

There’s also an article about Portland area native, Zac Young who will compete in the Top Chef Just Desserts TV reality show.

While working in the wig department of the Radio City Rockettes, Young decided to take his passion for baking in a more serious direction and enrolled in and graduated from The Institute of Culinary Education in New York.

He later trained in France with Philippe Givre at Valrhona and Philippe Parc at Chocolate Michel Cluizel. His resume includes stints at Bouchon Bakery and Butter Restaurant.

De/Construction & Competition

Today’s Press Herald reports on the demolition and new plans for the 2 spots that had been the Ice House on York and Binga’s in Bramhall Square.

The building has been boarded up since it was damaged by a fire two years ago. Tod Dana, who bought the building, plans to open a…restaurant on the lot, at 231 York St.

There’s also an article about Portland area native, Zac Young who will compete in the Top Chef Just Desserts TV reality show.

While working in the wig department of the Radio City Rockettes, Young decided to take his passion for baking in a more serious direction and enrolled in and graduated from The Institute of Culinary Education in New York.

He later trained in France with Philippe Givre at Valrhona and Philippe Parc at Chocolate Michel Cluizel. His resume includes stints at Bouchon Bakery and Butter Restaurant.

Whoopie Pies & Honey

According to today’s Press Herald, the Clock Tower Cafe at City Hall is rethinking its menu to offer more healthy options.

Despite their popularity, items such as sugar-sweetened drinks and whoopie pies will disappear, Gardner said. Dishes like macaroni and cheese and taco salad may be reinvented using low-fat and whole-grain ingredients and be served in smaller, more appropriate portions. The nutritional values of different foods will be highlighted and healthier options will be featured.

Also in today’s paper is a report on the great season Maine beekeepers are having this year.

Tony Jadczak, the state’s bee inspector, said Maine’s average honeybee hive yields about 32 to 35 pounds of harvestable honey annually. This year, he expects beekeepers could average 100 to 200 pounds, depending on their locations. He said the beekeepers are practically chortling with glee when they give him reports.

Whoopie Pies & Honey

According to today’s Press Herald, the Clock Tower Cafe at City Hall is rethinking its menu to offer more healthy options.

Despite their popularity, items such as sugar-sweetened drinks and whoopie pies will disappear, Gardner said. Dishes like macaroni and cheese and taco salad may be reinvented using low-fat and whole-grain ingredients and be served in smaller, more appropriate portions. The nutritional values of different foods will be highlighted and healthier options will be featured.

Also in today’s paper is a report on the great season Maine beekeepers are having this year.

Tony Jadczak, the state’s bee inspector, said Maine’s average honeybee hive yields about 32 to 35 pounds of harvestable honey annually. This year, he expects beekeepers could average 100 to 200 pounds, depending on their locations. He said the beekeepers are practically chortling with glee when they give him reports.

Breakfast, Menu Creation, Vegan Cooking

Today’s Press Herald includes an article about the business of breakfast,

Breakfast’s flexible pricing is another thing that [Bintliff’s owner Joe] Catoggio thinks makes it successful and “recession-proof.” A full meal could cost only $7 or an extravagant lobster eggs Benedict with a mimosa could cost a lot more. The price range attracts everyone from college students to successful business professionals, he said.

insight into how chefs plan and change their menus,

Some menus change daily. Others change every few weeks or months, following the swell of the seasons or the whims of the kitchen.

Two Maine restaurants, the Salt Exchange in Portland and Natalie’s at the Camden Harbour Inn, recently offered a peek into the process of how they change their menus.

a Natural Foodie article on the upcoming visit to Portland by chef Mark Anthony, a proponent of lowering cholesterol through eating a plant-based diet,

He doesn’t hope you’ll buy the latest food prep gadget. He’s not trying to sign you up for a diet plan with meals shipped straight to your door. He won’t entice you with a shiny stack of cookbooks.

Instead, he’ll let you watch him cook, and then he’ll serve you a full-course meal. For free.

Food & Fundraising

Wines;Tasted! has reported on the success of 2 recent wine & food charitable events: Tastes of France for Share Our Strength and the 3rd 20/20 wine event for Ingraham’s Spiral Arts.

On Sunday the 18 I, along with Tabitha from Crush, Scot from Davine, and Steve from Wicked hosted the third 20/20 charity wine tasting on Caiola’s back patio.  It was gorgeous weather and holding the tasting outside shaded by a big old maple allowed us to really take advantage of it.  We showcased 20 unusual wines from southern France and also managed to raise over $1100 for Ingraham’s Spiral Arts program which focuses on engaging the elderly.