Food Film Series

| Posted in Events

One Longfellow Square in association with Rabelais Books and the Maine Institute of Food and Drink is launching a Food Film series.  The movie series will kick off on March 8 with a showing of Big Night and food provided by Paciarino. There will be a new showing the first Sunday of each month with a theme appropriate restaurant partnering with each one. The upcoming schedule consists of:

March 8 – Big Night with food from Paciarino

April 5 – Diner with food from Miss Portland Diner

May 3 – Tampopo with food from Food Factory Miyake

June 7 – Babette’s Feast with food from Evangeline

Maine Food and Drink Ambassadors

| Posted in General News, People

This week’s edition of The Maine Switch includes an article on the Maine Food and Drink Ambassadors program recently launched by Margo Mallar.

When Margo Mallar volunteered at last fall’s Harvest on the Harbor festival, she realized Maine is filled with enthusiastic food lovers, but few have formal culinary training. So she’s decided to do something about it. The result is a brand new program called the Maine Food and Drink Ambassadors, which kicks off at the beginning of March with a series of classes exploring Maine-made cheeses.

Shay's Review

| Posted in Reviews

The Portland Bar Guide has reviewed Shay’s.

Being a happy hour hot spot, Shays boasts $5 martinis everyday, all day. Choices include cosmos, Bourbon Lemonade Martini and a questionable choice- the Bleu Martini. That’s right folks, it’s a vodka martini with bleu cheese stuffed olives and the waitress told me people love it. (What is wrong with you people?)

Marcy’s Review

| Posted in Reviews

The Boston Globe has reviewed Marcy’s.

Earlier, when Michaelene put a hot triple stack of blueberry buttermilk pancakes in front of my husband, he took a bite, handed me a forkful and announced, “When blueberry pancakes were invented, this is what they had in mind.” My beef stew arrives in a “cup” the size of a big cereal bowl. The stew is rich and meaty. Michaelene insists on grilling my peanut-butter-and-chocolate-chip muffin. More calories? Who cares? Lunch for two is less than $14.

This Week's Events

| Posted in Events

Both Piatto per Tutti and Black Tie Bistro are teaching  cooking classes this week on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.   The biweekly Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place in Monument Square on Wednesday.  Wednesday evening the Portland City Council will debate an ordinance to allow raising domesticated chickens within the city. Also Wednesday night The Great Lost Bear is holding a tasting with Maine Mead Works and Old Port Wine Merchants is co-hosting a Greek wine tasting with Emilitsa.   Leavitt & Sons is holding a  wine tasting on Thursday. On Sunday, the Blue Spoon is offering a Winter Sunday Supper.  For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

Meal Deals

| Posted in Events

A number of Portland restaurants are now offering specials, giving diners stressed by the bad economy another reason to keep eating out. Here’s a list of the ones I’ve heard about so far:

  • Bar Lola – 5-course prix-fixe menu, Wednesday-Saturday, $36.
  • Blue Spoon – 3-course prix fixe menu, Monday-Saturday, $25.
  • Cinque Terre – “A select chef’s tasting menu”, Wedneday-Saturday, $27.50.
  • Emilitsa – “an endless series of metzethes small plates, chef’s choice, served family style.” Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 5-7 pm, $20.
  • Evangeline – 3-course prix fixe menu on Monday nights, $25-30.
  • Hugo’s – 3-course “includes a choice of first course, main course and dessert”, Tuesday-Thursday, $25.
  • Vignola – 4-course prix fixe, Sunday evenings, $25.

And in early March 20+ Portland restaurants are participating in RestaurantWeekME. March 1-10 they’ll all be offering prix fixe menus for $20.09, $30.09 or $40.09.

Brief Reviews

| Posted in Reviews

Type A Diversions has published a brief review of the eats at Brian Boru. Her conclusion?

Go for the Guinness. Skip the food.

Accidental Vegetables has weighed in with a brief review of Loco Pollo.

Otis and I finally made it over to Loco Pollo on Washington Ave yesterday, and we were really glad we did. For $14 we got a filling, flavorful meal for both of us– in a friendly and colorful atmosphere.

Chickens, Pearls, etc

| Posted in Under Construction, General News

The Portland City Council is scheduled to meet Wendnesday night. Urban chickens are on the agenda (link is to a large PDF) as is a liquor license for Pearl, a bar that’s proposed for the former location of Onyx, revisiting the vote on the Cactus Club, as well as liquor licenses for The Farmer’s Table and Typerwriter Tavern. Paperwork submitted to the city confirms that Jeff Landry is behind The Farmer’s Table and includes a draft menu (see page 120 of the agenda).