If you’re looking for a place to watch the Super Bowl, 1:00 a.m. Curfew has a list of local bars planning to air the big game. And if you’re looking for eats to pick-up for home viewing, Rosemont Market on Brighton will be grilling up wings to go on the front porch and promises “all the other party supplies you may want (except for foam finger-pointer thingies and beer helmets).”
Fisherman Trades in Boat for Business Degree
There’s an article in today’s paper about a fisherman, Craig Pendleton a 3rd generation fisherman, and his decision to get out of fishing entirely.
Pendleton, 48, is trying to sell his boat, and last month started taking classes toward a business degree at Husson University in South Portland. For the third-generation fisherman, it is more than a career change. It’s the end of a way of life and a family heritage.
“I’m the last Pendleton to fish out of Camp Ellis,” he said. “I held out for as long as I could.”
Miss Portland Diner
The Miss Portland Diner received 3½ stars from this week’s Taste & Tell column in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.
Simple, and straightforward, Miss Portland Diner’s classic informal meals show off fresh ingredients and a light touch, especially appetizing with their low prices.
New Ideas for Lobstermen
Lobstermen hit hard by low prices are looking for new business models to help make themselves profitable, according to an article in this week’s edition of The Forecaster.
Chebeague Island, a handful of men in thick flannel shirts joked: “How many lobstermen does it take to change a light bulb? … Change?” But that’s exactly what they were setting out to do.
Loco Pollo
The Portland Phoenix has reviewed Loco Pollo.
Loco Pollo gets the tamale right in many ways. They respect tradition without becoming mired in it. They use enough lard to impart some richness without making the dough heavy. They steam them long enough to keep them moist but not wet. They use several wrappings, cornhusk in the Mexican style and banana leaf like the Central Americans, which impart different subtle flavors to the meal. And they fill them with meats, cheeses, and chilis fresh and ample enough that the soggy aroma fills your head.
Community Supported Fisheries
CSFs are front and center in this article in the Food & Health section of today’s Press Herald. According to the article, a number of community supported fisheries will be on hand at the CSA Fairs taking place across the state on February 8.
As of last week, organizers were expecting lobster and mussel shares to be offered in Portland, lobster and shrimp in Brunswick, and mussels in Newcastle. Seafood shares were also expected to be available in Belfast, Orono and maybe Saco and Ellsworth.
Brunch at Local 188
New2Maine.com has reviewed the brunch at Local 188.
The check took a while coming, but it was nice to not feel hurried toward the door so that the next party could take our table. Overall we were pleased with, but not blown away by, our visit. We’d go again (I’ve heard the dinner is great), but probably not for brunch if we had lots to do in the afternoon.
Freaky Bean
The Bollard has a report on some ongoing changes at The Freaky Bean Coffee Co. including the spin-off of the Yarmouth and Falmouth locations back to the original owners of Maine Roasters Coffee and the opening of a new location in Scarborough. According to the article, last September when Freaky Bean was “in every town around Portland, it seemed just a matter of time before the company would enter Portland proper and challenge local favorite Coffee By Design on its home turf. But in the months since that article appeared, the cup has gone cold.”
Blueberry Files/Bresca
A new food blog, The Blueberry Files, has published a review of Bresca.
I had a great time, and really liked the attention to detail… like the fois gras slices on parmesan crips that came out at the beginning of our meal from the chef (who is a woman, hell yeah!). And I love going to a place where the menu catches me slightly off guard by using ingredients I’ve either never had or never heard of.
Food $
An article in today’s Press Herald examines how the recession is changing the way Mainers spend their food budget.
People are eating out less often, and when they do go out, they order cheaper items and skip extras, such as dessert and alcohol, according to owners of local restaurants.