Type A Diversions

Brunch at Caiola's - Portland, Maine

2009-10-24T19:50:00.003-04:00

On the rare occasion that our little guy sleeps through the night, he is wide awake and ready to start the day at 5 am. When this happens on a Sunday morning, I take the opportunity to head out for an early run to get back in time to go out to breakfast. One of my favorite spots for a leisurely Sunday brunch is Caiola's. It is the quintessential neighborhood restaurant that inspires people from

Miyake - Portland, Maine

2009-10-21T09:16:00.004-04:00

The number one criticism from my readers over the last two years has been my review of Miyake. No matter how many positive comments I receive, it’s always, "I love your blog, but I disagree with the Miyake review." I considered returning last year to give them another try, but with my pregnancy and the requirement to avoid raw fish, I thought it best to wait until my dietary restrictions had been

Veranda Noodle Bar - Portland, Maine

2009-10-11T16:56:00.002-04:00

After a day of clothes shopping for the little guy, we stopped in at the Veranda Noodle Bar (located at 14 Veranda Street in Portland) on the way home. Though they had just opened the previous night, half the dining room was filled with several large parties. The interior space is divided into two dining rooms. The dining area farthest from the door features a small bar, while the other has a

2009 Q3 Update

2009-10-04T10:58:00.022-04:00

The top 10 most read posts July thru September:Best Restaurants in Portland, MaineGrace RestaurantThe Farmer's TableCorner RoomEvangelineEl Rayo TaqueriaBrescaSalt Exchange Portland MaineMiyakeEmilitsaInteresting Facts on the Stats:The blog had a 62% increase in the number of visitors compared to the same quarter last yearThe busiest day in this blog's history was July 8, related to two new

Tower of Eatin'

2009-09-07T17:20:00.001-04:00

We played tourist this weekend, spending Sunday afternoon meandering through the streets of Kennebunkport. When we needed a respite from the crowds and the chilly salt air, we stopped into Hurricane Restaurant. Perched overlooking the water in the heart of The Port (Dock Square), Hurricane has been on my list of places to try for quite some time.I was impressed by Hurricane's extensive

Extended Interview with Andrew Knowlton

2009-09-06T08:57:00.010-04:00

WCSH6 has posted an extended interview with Andrew Knowlton, the Restaurant Editor of Bon Appétit magazine. The magazine recently named Portland Maine as the Foodiest Small Town for 2009. You can read more about Andrew's thoughts on his The BA Foodist blog.

Pimientos De Padron at El Rayo

2009-08-30T18:31:00.016-04:00

Hurry to El Rayo for the the Pimientos De Padron special. My husband and I ordered them earlier today and fought over every last one. This popular Spanish Tapas dish is one I haven't seen in Maine before now. El Rayo's version is flash fried in the perfect amount of oil and dusted with salt. They have a range of flavors -some are sweet while others are hot.Norine Kotts (co-owner) explained that

Paciarino - Portland, Maine

2009-08-26T10:00:00.010-04:00

With a new baby at home I'm adjusting to work - post-maternity leave - and thus doing my fair share of take out these days. One of my favorite "tastes like it's home made - but it's not" dishes is Paciarino's Ricotta & Spinach Ravioli ($8.95). The pasta is made on premise; delicate and not at all starchy (when cooked properly), it is better than the pasta I used to make at home. Five minutes in

Upcoming Foodie Events

2009-08-25T07:02:00.000-04:00

If you would like to win an overnight stay at the Camden Harbour Inn, an opportunity to cook with Sam Hayward (Fore Street) or Jeff Landry (Farmer's Table), and tickets to Maine Fare in Camden, enter your best recipe using Maine ingredients at http://www.mainetoday.com/contests/bestmainemeal.html. The contest ends this Friday.September 12 at Natalie's, perfume expert, author and critic for the NY

Southern Maine Lobster Rolls Revisited

2009-08-18T05:34:00.000-04:00

The best lobster roll I've had this season was at the Falmouth Sea Grill. It's hard to beat the oversized high quality, toasted, buttered bun filled with an abundance of fresh lobster and a view of Casco Bay. I highly recommend the crab cake appetizer as a starter. Their sister restaurant, the Old Port Sea Grill, has the same wonderful lobster roll, minus the view.As a second runner up, the

Top 10 US French Restaurants list recognizes Erik Desjarlais

2009-08-07T04:52:00.016-04:00

Saveur editor in chief James Oseland names his 10 great places to master the art of French eating, including Joel Robuchon, Le Bec-Fin and Portland Maine's own Evangeline:"Chef Erik Desjarlais describes his menu as 'rock and roll French,' and he's spot-on. At Evangeline, nose-to-tail dining meets French technique: Think crispy roasted calf brains and roasted beef shins with warm marrow for

Kon Asian Bistro - Portland, Maine

2009-08-03T20:21:00.002-04:00

After reading Erik Desjarlais' recent rave about Kon Asian Bistro, we felt compelled to check it out for ourselves. Actually, my husband was compelled to check it out and dragged me there pretty much against my will. On a Saturday night no less. We were coming back from a spectacular summer day - a great Beach2Beacon run, bagels at Scratch, burritos at El Rayo and the afternoon with the family

El Rayo Update

2009-08-02T14:51:00.008-04:00

We stop by El Rayo for burritos about once a week - the Pollo for my husband and the Grilled Mushroom for me. I always order a side of guacamole - which is the best I've found in Portland, (though not as tasty as El Camino's version).During our last visit we noticed some enhancements. No more lines out the door - a hostess now seats patrons, and waitstaff takes orders. The self service soda

Congratulations to all the Beach2Beacon runners!

2009-08-01T10:50:00.006-04:00

What a day! Spectators were in abundance along the route cheering on the the runners, and once again, the weather was spectacular. It was another truly memorable Beach2Beacon event.

Evangeline Tasting Menu

2009-07-17T07:09:00.000-04:00

It all started with an innocent email from my husband to Erik Desjarlais last March inquiring whether Erik was offering a special menu to celebrate Evangeline's 1 year anniversary (April 18th). Erik responded that likely they were going to celebrate in May, but suggested we come in for a Tasting Menu as my last meal before having the baby. My husband loved the idea and worked out the details

2009 Yarmouth Clam Festival Update

2009-07-16T06:02:00.006-04:00

WCSH6 reports that the 2009 Yarmouth Clam Festival is still on, despite Red Tide:The Festival runs July 17th to 19th. More information can be found at: www.clamfestival.com

Gnocchi Nirvana

2009-07-15T17:53:00.018-04:00

Run - don't walk - to Bresca and order the Roman Gnocchi! Trust me, you will be glad you did.We shared an appetizer portion last night - but never again! Going forward we each want our own portion - entree sized please - so we don't have to fight over the last bites.Roman Gnocchi is made with semolina, milk and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Krista revealed that the light and fluffy texture is a result of

12 Seats

2009-07-10T17:21:00.030-04:00

Erik Desjarlais, Owner/Executive Chef of Evangeline confirmed rumors and provided details about a new dining experience called "12 Seats." He and his new wife, Krista Desjarlais (formally Kern) - Owner/Executive Chef of Bresca - will prepare a 12 course meal each month for 12 guests. 12 Seats will be housed in the same location as Bresca.Here are the details:The last Sunday of every month they

Grace - Portland, Maine

2009-07-05T18:32:00.001-04:00

Dramatic is the word that best describes the interior of Grace. Whereas at many restaurants the bar is an afterthought - a staging area where diners wait for their table - at Grace, the large, circular bar is the focal point of the restaurant. The effort made to incorporate elements of the historic church is readily apparent (check out Meredith Goad's article for a more extensive description of

The Corner Room - Portland, Maine

2009-07-03T13:43:00.000-04:00

The Corner Room completes Harding Lee Smith's trio of restaurants in Portland, which also includes The Front Room and The Grill Room. Located at the corner of Exchange and Federal Streets, The Corner Room occupies the space that formerly housed the Salt Gallery. The interior has been transformed into a contemporary eatery, complete with tall ceilings, wood floors and whitewashed walls. It was

2009 Q2 Update

2009-07-01T10:09:00.001-04:00

The top 10 most read posts April thru June:El Rayo TaqueriaThe Farmer's TableEvangelineBest Restaurants in Portland MaineSalt Exchange Portland Maine2008 Dining GuideMiyakeJohnny's BistroBrescaEmilitsaInteresting Facts on the Stats:The blog had a 66% increase in the number of visitors compared to the same quarter last yearTwo of busiest days in this blog's history were May 22 and June 11th - the

Yum Yum Dim Sum

2009-06-29T19:18:00.001-04:00

How things have changed!A year ago if I had purchased a book about sushi, it would been something like the "Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art" -- but my last two books were for the little guy. First Book of Sushi and Yum Yum Dim Sum, by Amy Wilson Sanger should prepare him well for the Asian delights that will soon grace his lips. Plus, what could be more fun for Mom and Dad than reading out loud:

The Salt Exchange - Portland, Maine

2009-06-10T19:23:00.006-04:00

The Salt Exchange is now open for lunch and dinner. Located at 245 Commercial Street in Portland's Old Port, the restaurant has a beautiful interior and is more formal than I had expected. The dining room comprises half the restaurant, while the other half is filled with a long curved bar, a few tables in the lounge, and an open kitchen. White linens grace the tables; exposed brick and an

Portland Maine Take-out

2009-06-08T17:50:00.006-04:00

As you might have guessed, dining out after the arrival of the little one came to a screeching halt for the first five weeks of his life. Between the lack of sleep and Swine Flu warnings, we had a record number of dinners at home, with ample opportunity to try various spots for take out. Our favorite "find" was the Nor'Easter Pizza from Portland Pie. Chicken, Buffalo Sauce, Bleu Cheese and Diced

Cheese Goodness

2009-06-07T13:22:00.003-04:00

After readings Erik’s post, my husband and I decided to venture out to Evangeline with the little guy so we could try the Winnemere cheese. Oh, was it worth the visit! We spread the gooey cheese on Erik's homemade bread, dunked it in honey, and washed it down with a glass of Pino Gris.We rounded out the meal with a sampling of items from the newly revised bar menu. My favorite dish was the beet