Type A Diversions

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

2009-07-10T17:21:00.029-04:00

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

Espresso Machine Update

2009-06-05T19:05:00.009-04:00

With help from my readers, I narrowed down my search for a new Espresso Machine to the Rancilio Silvia and the Breville 800ESXL.My criteria was to get the best machine under $500. I already have a decent KitchenAid Burr Grinder -- so I don't need a built in grinder. I'm not a fan of automatic machines, and I'm a bit of a control freak in the kitchen, so I wanted a Semi Automatic Espresso

Best Restaurants in Portland, Maine

2009-06-02T09:39:00.037-04:00

Last year's Dining Guide was one of my more popular posts, so I've reviewed and updated my suggestions. Here are my picks for this year... For Dinner: Best New American Cuisine: Five-Fifty-Five Best Italian: Bresca Best French: Evangeline Best Fusion/Eclectic: Hugo’s Best Greek: Emilitsa Best Local Sourced: Fore Street Best Classic Sushi: Benkay (see note below) Best Place for Seafood: Street

El Rayo Taqueria - Portland, Maine

2009-05-22T16:03:00.024-04:00

El Rayo, Portland's newest restaurant, is now open for business. We stopped in for lunch earlier today and as is the case with most restaurant openings in Portland, the place was packed. Every seat was filled and there was a line out the door the entire time we were there. Housed in a former gas station located at 101 York Street, the restaurant is painted - inside and out - in vibrant colors.

Hugo's Rob Evans Wins Best Chef Northeast

2009-05-05T17:33:00.015-04:00

Congratulations to Rob Evans of Hugo's for well-deserved recognition by the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef Northeast!We've enjoyed many amazing meals at Hugo's. During our most recent visit, we sat at the bar and enjoyed Truffle Asiago Cheese Puffs while Joe poured "virgin Mojitos." The puffs were light as air, but packed with wonderfully pungent flavor.For more details on Hugo's dining,

Type Perfection

2009-04-17T21:36:00.003-04:00

Congratulations Portland Food Map!

2009-04-16T06:17:00.019-04:00

Last night the Portland Phoenix announced Portland Food Map the voters' choice for 2009 Best Food Blog in Portland.I cannot think of a harder-working person covering the Portland food scene than Anestes Fotiades. He not only keeps diners informed of the latest in food news, but has given us a local database of all things food related in Portland.By providing a central repository of links to a

Sapporo - Portland, Maine

2009-04-15T15:26:00.003-04:00

Sapporo was our unintended destination for lunch on a recent Saturday afternoon. We had planned to dine at Benkay, but as it turns out, they are closed for lunch on the weekends. Since I was in the mood for sushi, we decided to give Sapporo a try. I used to frequent Sapporo almost weekly when my office was nearby - it was simply a matter of convenience rather than preference. While Sapporo's

What's in Your Easter Basket?

2009-04-12T10:19:00.014-04:00

The Easter Bunny delivered something exotic this year, Vosges Haut Chocolate Bunnies.The Red Fire Bunny is made with 55% cacao, Mexican ancho and chipolte chillies, and cinnamon. The Barcelona Bunny - my favorite - contains 41% cacao, hickory smoked almonds and grey sea salt. While I was concerned that the chillies and smokey almonds would be overpowering, that wasn't the case. The ingredients

Bruce's Burritos - Yarmouth, Maine

2009-04-10T09:13:00.015-04:00

I had a sudden craving for Mexican fare while grocery shopping the other day. Luckily, it was lunchtime and Bruce's Burritos was just down the street. We arrived shortly before noon - and thankfully, in advance of the lunch rush. By the time we had finished placing our order, there was a line of people behind us, and a steady stream of customers during the remainder of our visit. As quick as

Call for Espresso Maker Suggestions

2009-04-07T08:15:00.007-04:00

After 9 years of daily use, our Starbucks Espresso Maker needs to be retired. I've been researching a new one and have the Breville BES820XL on my short list. Unfortunately I cannot find any reviews because it was just introduced last fall.Does anyone have feedback on this model, or recommendations for an Espresso maker for home use?

The Dogfish Cafe - Portland, Maine

2009-04-03T14:15:00.001-04:00

We stopped in for lunch at the Dogfish Cafe while running errands earlier this week. Across the street from my favorite Portland hardware store - Maine Hardware - The Dogfish Cafe is located at 953 Congress Street. It had been years since I had dined at The Dogfish Cafe. With a number of fast food establishments in the neighborhood, this colorful building stands out from it's St. John Street

2009 Q1 Update

2009-04-01T17:35:00.008-04:00

The top 10 most read posts January thru March:EvangelineEmilitsaGrill RoomThe Farmer's TableJohnny's BistroMiyakeRestaurant Week Maine BrescaDining GuideChef et alInteresting Facts on the Stats:Three times the number of visitors viewed the blog compared to the same quarter last year March 9th was the busiest day that blog has ever seen -- it must of been people looking for recommendations for

Ready for Baby

2009-03-29T18:09:00.021-04:00

Colluding with my husband, friends and business colleagues were able to surprise me with a baby shower on Saturday. Under the guise of needing to satisfy his craving for Blueberry Guinness Cheesecake, my husband dragged me to Walter's after our morning of running errands. Before I realized what was happening, people were yelling, "surprise!"I should have suspected, as Walter's is my "go to" place

Flatbread - Portland, Maine

2009-03-25T10:00:00.001-04:00

Whenever anyone asks me where my favorite pizza place is in Portland, I always say Flatbread. Some don't count Flatbread's wood-fired, clay oven, all-natural pizza as "real pizza" because it's not dripping with grease - but that's exactly what I like about their pies. Sure their pizza is unconventional. Pizza dough is spread thin and topped with an ever-changing assortment of organic veggies,