Guy and Stella Hernandez of Bar Lola Profiled in Find Eat Drink

| Posted in People, Profiles

Bar Lola and it’s owners Guy and Stella Hernandez are featured in a profile on Find Eat Drink penned by their former sous chef Erik Desjarlais.

In a risky career change, Guy and Stella Hernandez traded their pencils, straightedges and successful lives as architects for sauté pans, pork belly and martini shakers. They own and selflessly operate Bar Lola, a popular dinner spot on Munjoy Hill (or “The Hill” as locals call it) in Portland Maine. They have generated a very loyal following amongst locals and food tourists with Guy’s relentlessly organic and simple approach to straight-up tasty food, and Stella’s keen sense of…well…just basically making you feel welcome.

Evangeline in Alan Richman's Blog

| Posted in General News, Events

The Mitra’s Clabber-Fed Poularde and Poached Maine Lobster Tail dish at Evangeline appeared in a recent post on GQ food writer Alan Richman’s blog Forked & Corked. Richman wrote about his personal exploration of “ethical eating” and lists the “top ten ethical dishes, some from restaurants, some from homes or farms, all enjoyed earlier this year during my ethical-eating travels through America”.
In separate news, Evangeline’s Tastes of France dinner, a benefit for Share Our Strength, that takes place Wednesday night was written up in today’s Portland Daily Sun,

“After participating in Share our Strength Maine’s ‘Taste of the Nation’ benefit for the first time this year and learning about the positive impact the organization is making in our community, I decided I wanted to do more to help,” Desjarlais said in a press release. “… I wanted to share my love of French food and raise money to benefit Share Our Strength. I hope this becomes an annual event at the restaurant.”

Evangeline in Alan Richman’s Blog

| Posted in General News, Events

The Mitra’s Clabber-Fed Poularde and Poached Maine Lobster Tail dish at Evangeline appeared in a recent post on GQ food writer Alan Richman’s blog Forked & Corked. Richman wrote about his personal exploration of “ethical eating” and lists the “top ten ethical dishes, some from restaurants, some from homes or farms, all enjoyed earlier this year during my ethical-eating travels through America”.

In separate news, Evangeline’s Tastes of France dinner, a benefit for Share Our Strength, that takes place Wednesday night was written up in today’s Portland Daily Sun,

“After participating in Share our Strength Maine’s ‘Taste of the Nation’ benefit for the first time this year and learning about the positive impact the organization is making in our community, I decided I wanted to do more to help,” Desjarlais said in a press release. “… I wanted to share my love of French food and raise money to benefit Share Our Strength. I hope this becomes an annual event at the restaurant.”

Under Construction: Canelli's

| Posted in Under Construction

A sign in the window at 7 Exchange Street is announcing a new Italian restaurant called Canelli’s “Fantastic Food at Fantastic Prices!” that’s under construction. If that address sounds familiar it may be because last Spring it was the site a construction site for Wasabi, a sushi restaurant that never launched. A source tells me that Canelli’s is being opened by a Boston area couple who ran a similar restaurant in Massachusetts for many years.
Just up the street from Canelli’s is the construction site for another Italian restaurant, G’Vanni’s which is going in at the old Walter’s space.

Under Construction: Canelli’s

| Posted in Under Construction

A sign in the window at 7 Exchange Street is announcing a new Italian restaurant called Canelli’s “Fantastic Food at Fantastic Prices!” that’s under construction. If that address sounds familiar it may be because last Spring it was the site a construction site for Wasabi, a sushi restaurant that never launched. A source tells me that Canelli’s is being opened by a Boston area couple who ran a similar restaurant in Massachusetts for many years.

Just up the street from Canelli’s is the construction site for another Italian restaurant, G’Vanni’s which is going in at the old Walter’s space.

Under Construction: Mike's Rock 'N Roll Sandwiches

| Posted in Under Construction


There’s been a new restaurant under construction for a few weeks over at 437 Congress Street at the former location of GRO Cafe. Signage is now up and it look’s like it will be a sandwich shop called Mike’s – “We make Rock ‘N Roll Sandwiches”. Info on the Guitar Grave (Mike’s neighbor and owner) website promises “a small menu of fast, inexpensive and delicious items as well as luncheon and drink specials”.

Under Construction: Mike’s Rock ‘N Roll Sandwiches

| Posted in Under Construction

There’s been a new restaurant under construction for a few weeks over at 437 Congress Street at the former location of GRO Cafe. Signage is now up and it look’s like it will be a sandwich shop called Mike’s – “We make Rock ‘N Roll Sandwiches”. Info on the Guitar Grave (Mike’s neighbor and owner) website promises “a small menu of fast, inexpensive and delicious items as well as luncheon and drink specials”.

This Week's Events

| Posted in Events

Monday — the Monday Farmers Market in Monument Square.
Wednesday — the midweek Farmers Market in Monument Square, a Discover the Tastes of France open house and dinner at Evangeline to benefit Share Our Strength, 2 wine tastings at RSVP and Old Port Wine Merchants, a pair of Cultivating Community Farmers Markets, and a Wine Wise class at The Wine Bar.
Thursday — Great Lost Bear is showcasing beer from Run of the Mill, the PortlandTaps.com 3rd Thursday event is taking place at Dock Fore, a Cultivating Community Farmers Market and their are wine tastings at Leavitt & Sons and Kitchen & Cork.
Friday — a wine dinner at Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe, a Cultivating Community Farmers Market, and it’s the first day of the 45th Yarmouth Clam Festival.
Saturday — the weekend Farmers Market at Deering Oaks Park and the Yarmouth Clam Festival continues into its 2nd day.
Sunday — the 20/20 French wine event at Caiola’s, Munjoy Hill is holding their annual MunjFest street festival, and it’s the last day of the  Yarmouth Clam Festival.
A Look Ahead — 11 Portland restaurants and some of Maine’s top author are teaming up with the Maine Writer’s & Publisher’s Alliance to offer the Author! Author! Dinner next month on August 12. It’s an opportunity to have a great meal with one of you favorite authors. Paul Doiron (The Salt Exchange), Richard Russo (Cinque Terre) and Jennifer Finney Boylan (Fore Street) are among those participating.
For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

This Week’s Events

| Posted in Events

Monday — the Monday Farmers Market in Monument Square.

Wednesday — the midweek Farmers Market in Monument Square, a Discover the Tastes of France open house and dinner at Evangeline to benefit Share Our Strength, 2 wine tastings at RSVP and Old Port Wine Merchants, a pair of Cultivating Community Farmers Markets, and a Wine Wise class at The Wine Bar.

Thursday — Great Lost Bear is showcasing beer from Run of the Mill, the PortlandTaps.com 3rd Thursday event is taking place at Dock Fore, a Cultivating Community Farmers Market and their are wine tastings at Leavitt & Sons and Kitchen & Cork.

Friday — a wine dinner at Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe, a Cultivating Community Farmers Market, and it’s the first day of the 45th Yarmouth Clam Festival.

Saturday — the weekend Farmers Market at Deering Oaks Park and the Yarmouth Clam Festival continues into its 2nd day.

Sunday — the 20/20 French wine event at Caiola’s, Munjoy Hill is holding their annual MunjFest street festival, and it’s the last day of the  Yarmouth Clam Festival.

A Look Ahead — 11 Portland restaurants and some of Maine’s top author are teaming up with the Maine Writer’s & Publisher’s Alliance to offer the Author! Author! Dinner next month on August 12. It’s an opportunity to have a great meal with one of you favorite authors. Paul Doiron (The Salt Exchange), Richard Russo (Cinque Terre) and Jennifer Finney Boylan (Fore Street) are among those participating.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.