The longtime neighborhood sandwich shop, Vaughan Street Variety, closed yesterday.
This Week’s Events: Brewing in Maine, Mobsters and Martinis, Herban, Immigrant Kitchens
Monday — visit The Great Lost Bear to meet Tom Major, author Brewing in Maine.
Tuesday — The Corner Room and Crooners & Cocktails are co-hosting Mobsters, Martinis & Meatballs.
Wednesday — Fork Food Lab will be holding an event to promote the Kickstarter campaign at Bayside Bowl, and the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place.
Thursday — there will be a wine and cheese tasting at the Public Market House.
Friday — Tempo Dulu is holding a whiskey tasting in conjunction with the Portland Club.
Saturday — the Herban herb festival and the Deering Oaks Farmers’ Market are taking place.
Sunday — it’s the 2nd day of Herban, the weekly Crofters & Artisan Market is taking place, and Immigrant Kitchens is teaching a Father’s Day cooking class.
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.
2 Reviews of Abilene
Tha Maine Sunday Telegram has reviewed Abilene,
Start off with a shrub cocktail, such as the strawberry basil rum shrub, made with their own homemade fruit vinegar. Next, try the surprisingly decadent crispy kale and the tender sweet potato and asparagus tacos with a luxurious cilantro cream. Skip the dry risotto and head right for any dish that comes with Colgan’s specialty: homemade pasta. The rich, sweet and saucy chicken marsala, served over tagliatelle is an excellent example. As you wrap up your meal in the quiet, homey dining room, don’t be tempted to leave before tasting the strawberry chocolate truffle cake. And if you feel like a nightcap, Abilene has its own homemade limoncello to put you over the edge…or straight into bed.
and so has Drink Up and Get Happy.
While the setting may be relaxed they don’t slouch one the food or drink offerings. The day we visited the $5 appetizers included BBQ pork sliders, veggie nachos, poutine and sweet potato and asparagus tacos. Portions are generous so a great way to experience a few of these is to share with friends. Everything was exemplary!
Blake Orchard Opens Sunday
Blake Orchard (website, instagram, facebook) has passed their final inspections and will be opening Sunday morning at 9 am serving their line of raw juices and nut milks.
They’re located in a newly renovated a 1200 sq ft basement space at 19 Exchange Street just a couple doors away from The Holy Donut.
New Food Truck: Tacos del Seoul
A new food truck called Tacos del Seoul (facebook) launched in Portland over the weekend. As the name suggests, the truck serves Korean/Mexican food: spring rolls, tacos, rice bowls and burritos.
Check their facebook page on where to find them.
OAD Top 100: Hugo’s, Miyake
Hugo’s(#37) and Miyake(#81) were named to the 2016 Opinionated About Dinning list of the 100 best restaurants in the US.
Fork Food Lab Kickstarter
Fork Food Lab (website, facebook, instagram) has launched a $30,000 Kickstarter campaign. The funds will be used to pay for the Lab’s tasting room.
Education is at our core where we’ll develop a variety of programming from tastings to lectures to cooking classes. Our dream is to become a real destination within Portland, Maine. With the Tasting Room, we can support small farmers, drive awareness to our members’ businesses, and celebrate the local food movement.
Under Construction: Tiqa Cafe
Urban Eye reports that Tiqa Cafe will open next week.
Though located 0.7 miles from the flagship, Tiqa Cafe and Bakery is its own entity. A new granite bar anchors the space. Here up to nine people can soon quaff wine and sip beer while noshing on his savory, fresh fare. In the corner, an alcove ensconced in stained glass screams romantic, mid-day repast.
The Chef and the Dishwasher
Today’s Press Herald Food & Dining section includes an article on the 2 decade relationship between Back Bay Grill chef/owner Larry Matthews and the restaurant’s dishwasher William “Franco” Tucker.
Larry Matthews Jr., chef and owner of the elegant Back Bay Grill in Portland, and William “Franco” Tucker, dishwasher at the same, have worked together for about two decades. Longer than many marriages last. Longer, by decades, than dishwashers typically stay at restaurants. Longer than either ever expected, and longer than Matthews has worked with anyone else at his reliably first-rate restaurant.
Under Construction: Fork Food Lab
Mainebiz reports that Fork Food Lab will be launching a $30k Kickstarter campaign Thusrday to fund their tasting room.
“This is part of the Food Lab that will be open to everyone,” Holstein, who is chief operating officer, told Mainebiz. Contributors will get different goods depending on the amount they give. For example, $100 gets them a holiday gift basket, while $25 gets access to a tasting session.
The company also plans to hold an event at Portland’s Bayside Bowl on June 15 to promote the crowdfunding campaign.