Red Tide & Bartender Bash Reports

| Posted in Events, Distilling & Cocktails, Fisheries

Today’s Press Herald has a report about scientific research on predicting the severity of red tide in the Gulf of Maine this summer.

Sea-floor sampling for the seed-like cysts of Alexandrium fundyense, the organism that causes red tide, shows a 60 percent increase compared with the substantial bloom of 2005, researchers with the Gulf of Maine toxicity project reported Wednesday.

Thursday’s paper also has an article about next week’s Bartender’s Bash, a cocktail competition that’s part of Maine Restaurant Week.

The rules are simple. Each participating mixologist was given two instructions: Use Cold River Vodka and adhere to the theme of ”Celebrating the Spirit of Maine.” Beyond that, the bartenders’ imagination is the only limit.

Red Tide & Bartender Bash Reports

| Posted in Events, Distilling & Cocktails, Fisheries

Today’s Press Herald has a report about scientific research on predicting the severity of red tide in the Gulf of Maine this summer.

Sea-floor sampling for the seed-like cysts of Alexandrium fundyense, the organism that causes red tide, shows a 60 percent increase compared with the substantial bloom of 2005, researchers with the Gulf of Maine toxicity project reported Wednesday.

Thursday’s paper also has an article about next week’s Bartender’s Bash, a cocktail competition that’s part of Maine Restaurant Week.

The rules are simple. Each participating mixologist was given two instructions: Use Cold River Vodka and adhere to the theme of ”Celebrating the Spirit of Maine.” Beyond that, the bartenders’ imagination is the only limit.

Phoenix Review of Po'Boys & Pickles

| Posted in Reviews

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Po’Boys & Pickles.

…the new Po’ Boys & Pickles offers a formula for short-term buzz, and perhaps long-term loyalty: have a clear and distinctive vision and stick to it. In recent weeks, every time I mentioned Po’ Boys someone piped up to say they have been wanting to try that place. And everyone liked it once they got there. Po’ Boys gets the details of a New Orleans sandwich shop right, without an off-putting authenticity obsession.

Phoenix Review of Po’Boys & Pickles

| Posted in Reviews

The Portland Phoenix has published a review of Po’Boys & Pickles.

…the new Po’ Boys & Pickles offers a formula for short-term buzz, and perhaps long-term loyalty: have a clear and distinctive vision and stick to it. In recent weeks, every time I mentioned Po’ Boys someone piped up to say they have been wanting to try that place. And everyone liked it once they got there. Po’ Boys gets the details of a New Orleans sandwich shop right, without an off-putting authenticity obsession.

Maple Syrup, Breakfast Challenge and Vegetarian MRW

| Posted in Events, Farming

Today’s Press Herald includes an article about this year’s maple syrup season,

Warmer-than-normal days and cold nights are combining to create ideal conditions to get maple syrup season off to one of its earliest starts ever, said Keith Harris of Harris Farm in Dayton.

a piece about next week’s Incredible Breakfast Cook-off,

The Porthole’s eggs Florentine, smothered in a smoky bacon cream sauce, will be the chefs’ entry into the Incredible Breakfast Cook-off March 5 at the Sea Dog Brewing Company in South Portland. Their version of the breakfast classic has “always been a hit” with customers, no matter where they worked, Cross said.

and a listing of all the vegetarian options to be found on the Maine Restaurant Week menus.

Donuts at The French Press Eatery

| Posted in Reviews

Edible Obsessions has published a review of the donuts at The French Press Eatery.

Words cannot describe how f’ing good these are. The base of the doughnuts are dense, without being heavy and the outsides are crunchy, yet not greasy. To say that these are the perfect doughnut would not be an exaggeration. Then add on the toppings and you are well into the realm of pure gluttony.

The Boston Globe on Scratch Baking Co.

| Posted in Profiles

The Boston Globe has published a profile of Scratch Baking Co.

So they turned Scratch into a village bakery with Cheers-like camaraderie. Johnson’s got everyone’s name and morning brews down pat. Baskets of daily breads beckon in the front window, alongside a small spread of “things that go with bread,’’ including Silver Moon Creamery cheeses from Westbrook, Maine, salumi, Johnson’s well-chosen wine collection, and really good butter.

Maple Syrup Season

| Posted in Farming

Tuesday’s Portland Daily Sun hus published reports on the early start to the maple syrup season,

“We’re usually getting started to get ready to go tapping this time of year, but normally the sap is not ready to run for another week or so,” said Lyle Merrifield, president of the Maine Maple Producers Association, whose family was out gathering sap Monday at Merrifield Farm. “It seems like the weather changed so quick on us that we’re tapping; things are ready to run right now.”

and on new taps that are gentler to the trees,

In a shift from the traditional spout size of 7/16-inch diameter, producers like Lyle Merrifield of Merrifield Farm in Gorham have advanced to a spout that fits a 5/16-inch hole. The reason is to extend the life of trees.

This year’s Maine Maple Sunday is scheduled to take place March 28.