Public radio is on a roll when it comes to food reporting. In addition to the piece mentioned in the prior post there’s also a pair of audio articles that were aired today on disputes among lobstermen and on the confusing new wine tasting law.
Sam Hayward: Haddock and Beans
Portland Psst! uncovered this interesting NPR interview with Chef Sam Hayward from Fore Street.
Because of the recession, top restaurants across the country are trying to cut costs without compromising quality…But in Portland, Maine, Chef Sam Hayward, a winner of the James Beard award in 2004, says one way he’s keeping business up is by offering lower-priced entrees that still feel special.
The piece includes Fore Street’s recipes for Haddock Cakes as well as their Beans with Caramelized Onions.
Best Lobster Roll
Type A Diversions endorses the lobster roll from the Falmouth Sea Grill as her favorite this summer, for comparison you can find her 2008 thoughts here.
The best lobster roll I’ve had this season was at the Falmouth Sea Grill. It’s hard to beat the oversized high quality, toasted, buttered bun filled with an abundance of fresh lobster and a view of Casco Bay.
This Week's Events
Browne Trading are Portland Schooner are running a wine and cheese sailing trip this evening. Also on Monday the the weekly Food and Drink Trivia Contest is taking place at Bull Feeney’s. The next Wine Flight 5k Training is scheduled for Tuesday. Both Jones Landing and The Salt Exchange are holding a wine event Wednesday evening. The Great Lost Bear is showcasing the beer from Sea Dog Brewing on Thursday. Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe is holding a wine dinner featuring wines from the Tobin James Winery Saturday night. Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
This Week’s Events
Browne Trading are Portland Schooner are running a wine and cheese sailing trip this evening. Also on Monday the the weekly Food and Drink Trivia Contest is taking place at Bull Feeney’s. The next Wine Flight 5k Training is scheduled for Tuesday. Both Jones Landing and The Salt Exchange are holding a wine event Wednesday evening. The Great Lost Bear is showcasing the beer from Sea Dog Brewing on Thursday. Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe is holding a wine dinner featuring wines from the Tobin James Winery Saturday night. Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
Blue Spoon Review
Portland Food Heads has published a review of Blue Spoon.
In summation, I’d like to give a formal apology to the chef, cooks and staff of Blue Spoon: I don’t know why I haven’t patronized you for dinner as of yet, and feel that I may be missing out on something wonderful. I vow to stop by in the near future for a casual dinner, during which I will likely eat more than I can stomach, drink more than I can afford to and hopefully not pass out on your bathroom floor.
X-Rated Wine Tastings
Chow Maine has taken a look at one of the more unusual provisions of Maine’s new wine tasting law. While the law provides shop owners with more flexibility on what can be part of tasting or how frequently they can occur, it also specifies that they must “be conducted in a manner that precludes the possibility of observation by children.”
The changes made by the new legislation won’t go into effect until September, so it’s unclear how the “no children” aspect of the law will affect specific shops. However, an overly strict interpretation of this provision might make it impractical, or even impossible, for some shops to continue to conduct wine tastings.
The Family that Lobsters Together . . .
The Press Herald has published an interview with Allison Romeo for today’s ShopTalk column. Romeo works with her father, Richard Merrill, to run The Lobsterman’s Catch on Widgery Wharf which is owned by her grandfather, Leland Merrill.
Q: How old are your dad and grandfather?
A: My dad is 54. My grandfather is 85. He finally stopped lobstering, which he’d been doing since he was a child, three years ago. My dad has owned his own traps since he was 13. His grandfather, Stanley Cushing, was a lobsterman as well, from Cliff Island.
Are You Going Vegan?
William Lee advocates a more vegetarian/vegan diet for all in this Maine Voices opinion article that was published in today’s Press Herald.
Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and East Asian food as well have an inexhaustible supply of delicious vegan dishes. I am learning more about the glorious cuisines of Africa. For anyone ready to embark on the vegan adventure, the world’s plenty awaits in all its splendor.
Rachel's Big Move
The Portland Phoenix has published an interview with Rachels L’Osteria about their move in 2003 out of the Old Port and to Woodford Street.
“People thought we were crazy,” says Bob Butler, co-owner and front-of-the-house manager at Rachels L’Osteria. But moving out of the Old Port and into their current space at 496 Woodford Street was more of a dream come true for the couple. “This is what we’ve always thought of as our restaurant,” says Laura Butler. “It’s more personal for us and for our customers.”
The owners of Uffa made a similar move when they left Longfellow Square and moved to Westbrook and became The Frog and Turtle. Are there other examples out of restaurants that moved away from the peninsula?