The Outdoor Dining list continues to grow thanks to the many suggestions I’ve received from Food Map readers. Please keep them coming; you can email suggestions to anestes@portlandfoodmap.com.
Outdoor Drinking & Dining List
The Outdoor Dining list continues to grow thanks to the many suggestions I’ve received from Food Map readers. Please keep them coming; you can email suggestions to anestes@portlandfoodmap.com.
The Salt Exchange
Here’s a look in the window of The Salt Exchange on Commercial Street. The latest word from the owners is that they plan to open on Friday 6-10 pm with “passed canapes and cash bar” but no table service. They currently plan to have their full service opening on Monday.
Grace in Profile
There’s a feature article in today’s Press Herald about Grace—the restaurant located in the historic Chestnut Street Church that is slated to open later this month. Owner Anne Verrill is quoted describing the menu as “It’s going to be affordable food – a little higher-end experience, I think, but really affordable . . . We’re going to offer a lot of appetizers and small plates, and maybe a dessert menu, just to capture that Merrill Auditorium crowd.”
When the massive red doors open, patrons of Grace will be able to choose from a seasonal menu prepared by New York Chef Eric Simeon, a wine list that includes about 20 wines by the glass, and a selection of beers and specialty cocktails. In a nod to the building’s origins, one of the nonalcoholic offerings will be Holy Tea, a specialty infusion from Homegrown Herb and Tea that includes the herb holy basil.
Hugo's Review
Food for Thought has published a review of Hugo’s.
So my meal there the other night was a true revelation. From the get-go, each course was a winner. What’s offered is either a tasting menu of 6 courses or their regular menu, in which it’s recommended that you order at least 3 courses. All courses are basically the same size. I wound up ordering four, plus dessert. That turned out to be too much food for me.
Hugo’s Review
Food for Thought has published a review of Hugo’s.
So my meal there the other night was a true revelation. From the get-go, each course was a winner. What’s offered is either a tasting menu of 6 courses or their regular menu, in which it’s recommended that you order at least 3 courses. All courses are basically the same size. I wound up ordering four, plus dessert. That turned out to be too much food for me.
Room Fodder
Portland Fodder has some updated photos of the construction site for Harding Smith’s new restaurant The Corner Room, and a report that The Grill Room is closed for a few days while some work gets down on the kitchen floor.
Where to Buy Fish
Both Harbor Fish Market and Browne Trading made it on to the short list of authentic Maine seafood markets that appears in the new issue of Down East magazine.
It’s an easy assumption: Maine, a state revered worldwide for its seafood, has an abundance of fabulous and authentic seafood markets. The truth is that authentic fishmongers are a dying breed — even in this seafood-loving state. Nonetheless, plenty of authentic fish markets still exist — you just have to know where to look. So we did the legwork for you. We traveled more than five hundred miles on our quest to find markets that demonstrated three major qualities: selection, freshness, and the more subjective standard of trustworthiness.
Gluten-Free Market
It’s Only Natural . . Gluten-Free is the name of a new Portland area business that plans to serve the expanding market for gluten-free food. I talked last week with one of the organizers, Andrew Pettingill. Pettingill said that as a first step, It’s Only Natural plans to start selling prepared glutten-free meals, and then move on to opening a market/restaurant/juice bar in the city. They are already scouting locations in Portland for the market.
Farmstand@Rosemont
Wealden Farm is teaming up with Rosemont Market to run an urban farmstand once a week at the store on Brighton Ave. Starting tomorrow, Wealden will be at Rosemont on Wednesdays, 2-6 pm.