Mike Smith, Robyn Luongo at New CP Restaurant

| Posted in Under Construction, People

Chef Mike Smith and wife Robyn Luongo Smith are leaving their positions at Scales and The Honey Paw to lead the kitchen and front of house staff at the new off-peninsula restaurant Central Provisions has under construction in the Back Cove neighborhood.

Chris and Paige Gould, founders of Central Provisions, have purchased the former Borealis Bistro at 182 Ocean Ave where they plan to open a wood-fired Italian restaurant. The as-yet unnamed restaurant will seat 48 including a 9-seat bar and will serve Neapolitan-style pizza as well as pasta, salads and crudo and is slated to open in December or January.

For more information see this article in the Press Herald. It includes an interview with Smith.

Update: Chefs Fred Eliot and Travis Olson will co-leading the kitchen Scales. Eliot is the former chef de cuisine at Petite Jacqueline and Olson is the pastry chef at Scales.

This Week’s Events: Drifters Cook-out, CN Shawarma Pop-up, Maker’s Mix, Evo Lobster Dinner

| Posted in Events

Tuesday — there are two different Middle Eastern food events taking place, extra credit for anyone who makes it to both: Drifters Wife is holding a Middle-Eastern Chicken Cook-out at Oxbow and CN Shawarma is serving a pop-up dinner at Bao Bao.

Wednesday — the Monument Square Farmers’ Market is taking place, and the Maine Charitable Mechanics Association is hosting a Makers’ Mix to bring together “Artists, Artisans, Smiths, Wrights, Tailors, Cooks, masters & Amateurs, Inventors & Dubbers” for “an evening of conversation and camaraderie”.

Thursday — Evo is serving a 5-course lobster dinner.

Friday — BiBo’s Madd Apple Cafe is holding a wine dinner.

Saturday — the Saturday Farmers’ Market will take place.

Sunday — the weekly Crofters & Artisan Market is taking place.

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.

 

Central Provisions Opening New Restaurant (Updated)

| Posted in Under Construction

cp182oceanave_final

Chris and Paige Gould, founders of Central Provisions, have purchased the former Borealis Bistro at 182 Ocean Ave where they plan to open a wood-fired Italian restaurant. The as-yet unnamed restaurant will seat 48 including a 9-seat bar and will serve Neapolitan-style pizza as well as pasta, salads and crudo.

The Goulds are making minimal changes to the existing interior which will allow  for a speedy refit of the space—quite a different situation than the intensive and lengthy construction involved in launching Central Provisions in 2014. They hope to open this Back Cove neighborhood restaurant in December or January, serving dinner Wednesday through Sunday with plans to eventually open for weekend brunch.

The property has onsite parking, one space of which  will be reserved for people picking up takeout orders.

Updated: MaineBiz has published an article on the real estate transaction and the Gould’s new restaurant.

Mainely Burgers, Toroso, Stadler Bakery

| Posted in Under Construction

Eater Boston reports that Mainely Burgers is planning  to open their first brick and mortar location in Cambridge on Massachusetts Ave.

Urban Eye reports that Toroso, the new Kennebunk restaurant from the owners of Zapoteca, is set to open next week.

The Forecaster reports that Bao Bao chef/owner Cara Stadler plans to open a bakery/cafe/greenhouse in Brunswick.

Food & Wine: The Maine Event

| Posted in Reviews

The August issue of Food & Wine includes an article about Portland.

Portland’s reputation as the foodiest, friendliest small town in America is undeniable, but the restaurant scene is now officially in overdrive. From noodle bars to natural wines, fried chicken to cocktails, we’ve got 14 reasons to visit Maine this month.

The article highlights: Drifters Wife, Figgy’s, Rhum, Rossobianco, Roustabout, Scales, Solo Italiano, Tandem Coffee and Bakery, Terlingua, The Honey Paw, The Press Hotel, and Thompson’s Point as well as Custom Deluxe and The Velveteen Habit.

The article isn’t online yet.

Beer Advocate Profile of Bissell Brothers

| Posted in Beer, Profiles

Beer Advocate magazine has published a profile of Bissell Brothers authored by Adam Callaghan.

In two and a half years, the Bissells have positioned themselves as pioneers pushing limits: their own, their customers’, the beer world’s. Their company’s design and mentality seem to appeal to fans as much as the actual product does. Theirs is a lifestyle brand, selling a signature triangular logo and the image of the carefree cool crowd, which happens to drink dank, hoppy beers that are hazy as hell.

Under Construction: Rossobianco

| Posted in Under Construction

imageRossobianco held a pop-up dinner Tuesday night to preview chef Scott London the Bramhall Square natural wine bar/Italian restaurant. The 4-course dinner comprised of

  • Fried bluefish paired with a prosecco spritz
  • Peas and risotto paired with a rose from Trentino
  • Roast pork loin paired with a Nebbiolo
  • Hazelnut cake paired with a Glera-based sparkling wine

Rossobianco is planning to open in early August, perhaps as early as Friday August 5th.

Changes to the SMCC Culinary Program

| Posted in General News

Today’s Press Herald includes a report on big changes to the Culinary Arts program at SMCC to address falling enrollment and other issues.

Culinary students entering Southern Maine Community College this fall will choose from a different menu of coursework and lecturers as the school’s culinary arts and hospitality management departments undergo major restructuring. Those changes include a new and unusual arrangement in which the college will share resources with the University of Southern Maine’s tourism and hospitality program.

Nonesuch Oyster Tour

| Posted in General News, Fisheries

The Blueberry Files has published a report on the Nonesuch Oyster Tour.

Last month a friend of mine came to visit Maine, and we used that as an excuse to check out the Nonesuch Oyster aquaculture tours that owner Abigail Carroll has started offering. Carroll’s farm is located in the Nonesuch River off of scenic Pine Point in Scarborough. Her oysters can be found occasionally on Portland raw bar menus and at Harbor Fish Market. They’re characterized by their green shells and grassy flavors, which we learned all about why that is on our afternoon tour.

You can sign-up for a Nonesuch touch on Eventbrite.