An analysis by Commercial Confidential blogger Christian Milneil looks at whether the increasing number of Portland restaurant has had a positive impact on the wages paid restaurant staff.

In short, though Portland’s diners might feel a lot happier than they did a decade ago, the people serving us don’t feel much difference in their wallets.

A new book about the Portland food scene, Portland Food: The Culinary Capital of Maine is due out next month.

Portland, Maine’s culinary cache belies its size. The vibrant food scene boasts more than three hundred restaurants, as well as specialty food businesses, farmers’ markets, pop-up dinners and food trucks. Since back-to-the-landers began to arrive in the 1970s, Maine’s abundant natural resources have been feeding local dreams of sustainability and resilience. Portland is uniquely primed for chefs and restaurateurs to draw on local agricultural and marine resources. Gulf of Maine fisheries and the working waterfront bring the freshest seafood to Portland’s palate, while Maine’s rural landscape is fertile ground for local farming.

Portland Food is by Kate McCarty, author of The Blueberry Files blog, and food writer for the Portland Phoenix.

The book ($19.99, 160 pages) is available for pre-order via the publisher on The History Press website.

The Press Herald reports that chef Shannon Bard from Zapoteca didn’t make it to round 2 on last night’s episode of Beat Bobby Flay.

Shannon Bard cooks Mexican fare at Zapoteca every day, so it’s a bit ironic that it was a poblano pepper and chipotle pepper spice that brought her down on “Beat Bobby Flay” on the Food Network Thursday night.