Winter Market Off to a Good Start

The new indoor Winter market got off to a good start yesterday. Attendance was strong and as you can see from the links below, Portland bloggers were also out in force:

  • Commune Tested, City Approved – reportage on the last minute licensing snafus and photos of the event
  • Portland Daily Photo – photos of the market
  • Food for Thought – “Despite the best efforts of the City of Portland to thwart the Winter Market from happening, stronger forces prevailed and the Portland market began with great gusto.”
  • LocalRootZ Project 2010 – an overview of the market and vendors as well as photos of the event and items purchased.

Reviews of Nosh Kitchen Bar

The Blueberry Files has published a review of Nosh Kitchen Bar,

While I really love the transformation of the space from the old, kinda cold and dark White Heart to a cozy, warm, well-lit space that meshes kitchen, bar, and restaurant well, I don’t see myself frequenting the place unless I hear that my next $10 won’t yield me disappointing results again.

and Cornucopasetic has published a microreview and had this to say about the pork belly reuben.

From those ingredients it should have been a legendary sandwich to tell my grand children about, but it somehow ended up being just okay.

Review of Veranda Noodle Bar

Veranda Noodle Bar received 3½ stars from the Taste & Tell review in today’s Maine Sunday Telegram.

Customers bow over the steam rising from huge china bowls of noodle soup at Veranda Noodle Bar. With patient pleasure, they start swooping up ribbons of thin noodles with chopsticks. Since slurping is entirely essential, dining takes on an aura of play as they poke and prod, diving after wontons and fishing out slivers of duck.

Fictional Food

“What’s this one?” Mummel asked, holding up a brown bottle with a ship on the label.

“That’s a new beer that’s so hip it doesn’t even have a name,” Ethan said. “It’s made privately by a friend of mine in South Portland who’s seceded from the United States so he doesn’t have to pay taxes.”

From this week’s segment of Port City Chronicle, a serialized novel that appears weekly in the Portland Daily Sun.

Donut Review of Frech Press Eatery

Appetite Portland has published a review of the donuts at The French Press Eatery in Westbrook.

Two of my three choices – the Bacon-Maple and Cinnamon Sugar –  even sported mini “hole” versions of themselves tucked into their middle voids. The third, Double Chocolate, was more of a donut sandwich — extra puffy, sliced in half, and coated with a thick chocolate glaze that trickled down the sides and oozed out the middle.

Completely ridiculous. And, deadly, decadently good.

Bar Review of The Salt Exchange

Portland Bar Guide has published a review of The Salt Exchange.

…for a tenured bar wanderer, the place offers a peaceful refuge from the folks pumping their fists somewhere to “Sweet Home Alabama” (not that there’s anything wrong with that). On this removed part of Commercial Street, the Salt Exchange is a drinker’s escape, lush with local culture, perfect for a date, and refreshingly enlightened for the lone wanderer.

James Beard Awards Semifinalists Announced

The James Beard Foundation has announced the semifinalist for this year’s awards competition. Portland has three entries on the list:

  • Sam Hayward from Fore Street for Outstanding Chef
  • Fore Street for Outstanding Restaurant
  • Krista Kern Desjarlais from Bresca for Best Chef in the North East. The Press Herald checked in with Krista for her reaction: “I just went online and looked not even an hour ago, and almost had the baby right there,” she said, still a little breathless with the news. “It’s incredibly cool, and a total surprise.”

Several other Maine chefs are also semifinalist in the Best Chef North East category:

  • Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier from Arrows in Ogunquit
  • Brian Hill from Francine Bistro in Camden
  • Penelle Chase, Phoebe Chase, Megan Chase and Ted Lafage from Chase’s Daily in Belfast

Final nominees for the 2010 awards will be announced March 22nd, and the winners will be announced on May 3, 2010 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City.

Review of Po'Boys & Pickles

Po’Boys & Pickles has received 4½ stars from the Eat and Run review in today’s Press Herald.

Our favorite choice was the Louisiana gumbo, a flavorful mix of chicken, tender Maine shrimp, small slices of Andouille sausage, rice and just enough seasonings to clear your sinuses without being too much. It’s spicy enough for folks who like their gumbo hot, but not so spicy that it should scare away the timid.

Review of Po’Boys & Pickles

Po’Boys & Pickles has received 4½ stars from the Eat and Run review in today’s Press Herald.

Our favorite choice was the Louisiana gumbo, a flavorful mix of chicken, tender Maine shrimp, small slices of Andouille sausage, rice and just enough seasonings to clear your sinuses without being too much. It’s spicy enough for folks who like their gumbo hot, but not so spicy that it should scare away the timid.