It may seem funny that someone so sushi-timid is reviewing another Japanese restaurant, but alas I am re-discovering their appeal in my attempt to make healthier choices when I dine out.  My second stop on the Japanese restaurant tour was Sapporo, located at 230 Commercial Street on Union Wharf in Portland.  

It was noon and we were pleased to escape the March rain and step into a calm, quiet atmosphere for Saturday lunch.  The host greeted us warmly and we got a big smile from the sushi master, carefully slicing radishes behind a dimly-lit sushi bar.  We were seated in the main dining area, bright from natural light and facing Commercial Street.  While admiring the soothing décor – the cream-colored canopies above, the back-lit handmade paper screens and a wall adorned with hanging light blue and lavender ropes, our waiter took our drink order of green tea (complimentary), a large Sapporo beer ($7.00) and juice for the little one.  

With so many choices, Sapporo’s menu is slightly overwhelming to me and the sushi options are especially numerous.  In addition to the specific sushi and sashimi selections, Sapporo has put together six sushi lunch combinations ($9.95-$14.95) plus five party platters that have 38- 48 pieces ($24.95-$59.95).  The Bento Box ($9.95) gives the diner a choice to try a little of everything, therefore guaranteeing my husband to choose it.  This included miso soup, shrimp and vegetable teriyaki, sticky rice, pork dumplings and a choice of rolls.  He picked the spicy tuna for his rolls.  Given the proximity to the ocean, I would say Sapporo was good choice for fresh seafood.  

We all got miso soup, which was very flavorful and had a few cubes of tofu.  (On a side note:  miso’s numerous health benefits such as supporting immune function, energy production and bones and blood vessels has encouraged me to eat it as often as possible.)

I opted for the vegetarian noodle dish – Vegetarian Yakisoba ($7.95)-- and this time I made sure to get the thinner, buckwheat soba noodles as opposed to the thicker white udon noodles that I tried recently.  The vegetables were chopped small inside my large nest of pasta  –  mostly onions, carrots,  and mushrooms.  It was a large portion of noodles, coated in a flavorful, oily sauce and sprinkled with dried seaweed.  I took home the rest of my pasta, to which I added a lot more stir-fried vegetables for another tasty meal.

We would not normally bring our 5-year-old to a Japanese restaurant, but it’s worth noting that Sapporo must see a lot of pint-sized guests.  The fish tank is a crowd-pleaser.  Additionally, Sapporo has a children’s Bento Box ($5.95), which comes in a plastic car and has an array of child-friendly options – fruit with whipped cream, chicken teriyaki, rice, French fries and a small slice of cake.  A cup of miso was also added at my request.  While my child rates pretty high on the picky-eater meter, the presentation of the food plus the challenge and novelty of the chopsticks encouraged her to at least try some of the food.  The bonus was that I got to eat the chicken teriyaki, which was perfectly sweet and salty.  

Our waiter was very attentive and pleasant and we felt comfortable taking our time.  This would be a great place to bring visitors to Portland who want to explore downtown and then get a nice, healthy meal with friendly service in a peaceful restaurant.  I watched all of those small ornate sushi sculptures go by, thinking I may even be bold and try it one day.   I’ll be back soon, Sapporo!    

Sapporo is open seven days/week for lunch and dinner.  There are a six parking places designated for customers to the left of the building (as you face it) or you can try your luck getting an undesignated space behind the building.

Aroma Spices Up a Rainy Friday
A rainy Friday is an opportune time to sneak away from obligations and go out for lunch, and I had been wanting to try Aroma (www.aroma-indiancuisine.com), the new(er) Indian restaurant at 200 Gorham Road in South Portland for a while now.

On Tuesday through Sunday, from 11 am to 3 pm, Aroma has a lunch buffet ($9.95 weekdays, $12.95 weekends), and the full dining room when we visited attested to the popularity of this option.  The room was set up for a buffet, and I will have to return some time and try their full-service dinner options.  The décor included a flat-screen television in the corner playing close-up images of Indian food, or as my husband called it, “food porn” and unfortunately the same carpeting that is in my neighborhood bowling alley, with bright stars and streaks.   They do have pleasing shades of red and yellow on the wall and comfortable, practical seating.  

The buffet included a list of Indian favorites, like Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Curry, and Tandoori Chicken, as well as items I had never heard of before.  There were vegetarian options like Carrot Puriyal and Daal Makhani (lentils cooked in butter with fresh onions, garlic, ginger, and tomatoes, topped with coriander), as well as Navaratan Koorma (nine garden fresh vegetables, gently simmered in a spice-laced cream sauce).  In addition, warm Naan bread and white rice or Coconut rice is available.
Beer is also available, and judging from the large bottles of Taj Mahal on several tables, a popular option.

I started with a small cup of Mulligatawny soup (the other soup option was Sweet Corn soup), and my husband grabbed a handful of Punugulu, which are small fried dumplings or fritters.  Both were warm and well-spiced.

My husband chose the Navaratan Koorma, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Tandoori Chicken.  I had the naan bread, the chicken Tikka Masala and the Curry Chicken with coconut rice.  
The true test of a buffet is, of course, the second round.  My husband eliminated the Navaratan Koorma, but the Chicken Tikka Masala, Tandoori Chicken, and the underdog, Pungulu, all advanced to his second plate.  As for me, I went back for the curry chicken.   I didn’t think I had really eaten that much but I felt stuffed.  The sauces seemed heavy to me and I couldn’t find a vegetable in either one.  But they had a delicious flavor and for me, just the right amount of spice.  

Aroma is a nice addition to the growing number of Indian dining options in greater Portland.  Although I’m not a “buffet person,” the format does allow the diner, especially someone new to Indian food, to try different options.  It would have been nice if they had put explanations of the ingredients next to each dish, because they were unfamiliar to me.  Throughout our meal, the wait staff was friendly and attentive, offering drinks and clearing plates.

Aroma specializes in South Indian cuisine, so in addition to all of their options, they have eleven choices that are specific to the region.  With so many choices – some of which appear completely exotic and fun to try (Chillibajji or rice crepes, anyone?) – I will venture back and order from the menu.

Fuji: An Attempt at Eating Healthier
Along with just about everyone I know, I have made a decision to make better choices about what I eat. So where does that leave me when I want to dine out? It’s a minefield out there. With the suggestion of a macrobiotic chef I met, who coached her class on “how to make better bad choices,” I’ve decided to focus on Japanese restaurants. With so many to choose from in Portland alone, this should be a fun project. First stop in the heart of the Old Port - Fuji.
Fuji is one of the few to hold onto their Exchange Street location, while others are dropping like flies. The atmosphere inside was serene on an early Saturday evening at 5 pm in March. The sushi chefs were busy at work but in a quiet, practiced and deliberate way – creating all sorts of small, colorful, edible works of art. The hostess gracefully led us to our gently lit table by the window facing Milk Street.
Upon opening the menu, I was struck by how many healthy options there were. It is also nice for people with lactose intolerance because there is virtually no milk on the whole menu. For those who don’t dig sushi, Fuji has a wide selection of noodles, salads, seafood and meat entrees. They also have hibachi downstairs.
As I mentioned, I’m trying to eat better. But, that requires some patience. As a child, I ate chicken nuggets and french fries and when my parents took me to nice restaurants I would eat the dinner rolls. That was it. Over the years, I’ve made progress, but right now on the healthy eating spectrum, I’m someplace in the middle between a Big Mac and wheat grass juice.
That said, I thought we would start off with the fried food! Ha. Off the wagon already. The shrimp and vegetable tempura ($5.50), a lightly battered and deep fried medley of vegetables: broccoli, onion, sweet potato, zucchini and two large shrimp, hit the spot. The artistic presentation sent the message that they took time to prepare it and we should take time enjoying it. The vegetables were cooked just right – very bright, still crunchy and hands-down the best way to eat sweet potato. Nobody wants to deep fry stuff at home, might as well enjoy it in a restaurant. That’s my excuse. (Note to self: next time, no sharing.)
Soon after our appetizer was cleared, our entrees arrived. My husband, who could be a spokesperson for the Fuji Bento Box, decided to branch out and get the Sushi Regular ($15.50), which is tuna, whitefish, salmon, mackerel, yellowtail, eel and white tuna. It also came with a California roll and miso soup. Sushi is just so darned beautiful – like a rainbow on your plate. My husband, in sushi mode, didn’t talk much for a while. At the end, chopsticks down, he said, “that was very good.” I, on the other hand, got in a little over my head. I ordered the Yasai Udon ($11.95), noodles and vegetables in vegetable broth. My first surprise was the quantity. I was given a cauldron of soup. This must have been intended for a family. In the end, it was a hearty meal three times.
But, just as described: noodles. broth. vegetables. And some seaweed for good measure. There are lots of bright, white, thick noodles. I am just going to say it – all I could think about was worms. (For the record, this was the very first thing my 5-year-old said when I tried to get her to eat it.)
In spite of the fact that my nose told my brain that this soup smelled of the ocean, I dug in. I love soup for its warmth, its comfort, its color and its health potential. I ate most of the broccoli, carrots, mushrooms and onions and called it a day. My husband didn’t think it had an ocean-y smell and he thought my worm comparison was juvenile. Oh, those virtuous sushi eaters!
I’m not defeated, though. I ate my soup, feeling inspired and relaxed. I will try the teriyaki next time or the hibachi, both favorites of mine. Fuji was beginning to get crowded at 6pm when we left…we reluctantly ended our peaceful meal, headed back out into the cold (and someone may even have been looking around for a place to get some chocolate cake.)

Birthday at Boda
Birthdays come once a year and dates with my husband are nearly as rare, which is why scouring restaurant reviews and choosing wisely become essential.  (Not to mention my habit of getting unforgivably grumpy after a disappointing restaurant meal).  So, after some research, I selected Boda, a trendy “very Thai” restaurant at 671 Congress Street in Portland.  Word on the street was that Boda was worth trying and their website touts it as authentic Thai…the stuff you get on the streets of Thailand, people! ( Wait a minute, what have I been getting?)
We took the date-night challenge of going out to eat at 7pm on a Saturday night with no reservation (they don’t take them anyway).  Thankfully, Boda has ample parking in an adjacent lot.  The hostess graciously ushered us to the bar where she said that the wait would be about 15 minutes.   Sitting at the bar had clear advantages – we got to scope out what everyone else was getting plus we got extra time to research the menu.  More importantly, we had time to try local beers on tap.  We got a Peak Organic Winter Session Ale and an Allagash Tripel – both fantastic.  
Boda consists of two medium-sized dining rooms plus a glass-front kitchen and feels rustic-y, hip and comfortable – salvaged wood tables, modern glass pendant lighting and small white candles.  The bar has about ten seats and only two were taken.  The crowd was pretty lively and young and while the menu may well be authentic, the wait staff looks, um, not Thai.  
Boda’s menu is on a hinged wooden tablet and the offerings are different from what you might expect at a Thai restaurant.  For one, it is not the typical book of options you receive – you know -  the one that is sealed in thick plastic with the metal corners and as volume of choices clicks down on the glass-topped table you mindlessly thumb through and say, “Pad Thai, please.” Instead, I read all the words on Boda’s menu…Sriracha sauce, lime leaves, Thai Basil and pickled ginger.  The menu lists vegetarian options, and gluten-free choices are available plus two choices which feature Wolfe’s Neck Organic Beef.  
Fewer than ten minutes passed at the bar and our romantic table by the window was ready.  I had committed to memory the names of the entrees that were placed in our vicinity and based on that, had made my choices (and my husband’s, for that matter).  We started off with the steamed assorted vegetables with a roasted eggplant relish ($6).  The steamed bok choy, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower and squash were nestled in a small steaming basket on a white oblong plate with the small white dish of relish sprinkled with scallions.  The vegetables were perfectly warm and fresh and the eggplant relish had ample spice and flavor to make my husband forget that he was eating steamed cabbage.
For an entrée I chose the Beef Panaeng ($15) - Wolfe’s Neck Beef in a sweet and salty curry with Thai Basil, lime leaves and peanuts. The red sauce was drizzled with coconut cream and served with a side of jasmine rice.  The arrangement on the plate was artistic and very appetizing and the scent of the curry sealed the deal.  The braised beef was tender and the sauce rich.  
My husband ordered Pad Thai’s trendier cousin, the Woon-Sen Pat Thai with chicken ($12).  Woon Sen initially looked unfamiliar because it was wrapped in a thin Thai omelet.  After the remotely creepy incision was made into the omelet (and I made the requisite inappropriate comments), the stir-fried glass noodles flowed out along with the shallots, tofu, daikon, bean sprouts and Chinese chive.   (Prior to eating there was a brief interlude where I explained to my husband that “daikon” is not a rapper.)  My favorite was the side of lime, chili flakes and ground peanuts.  The portion size and temperature were just right and you have to hand it to the chef for presentation – seriously, wrapping glass noodles in a thin omelet takes some skill.  
Due to the richness of the curry in my dish (and my repeated attacks of my husband’s plate), I was too full to have dessert and I gathered that was kind of the point because Boda had only one nightly dessert option.  So, we got excellent French press coffee and the waiter kindly boxed up the rest of my entree.  It’s worth noting that Boda does not do take-out.  But I fooled them – my leftovers were my take out lunch the next day – and I was looking forward to it all morning.  
The hardest part about going back to Boda will be trying something new, because our choices exceeded expectations.  Next on the agenda - visiting Thailand!
Boda is open Tuesday thru Sunday from 5 pm to 1 am.  A late-night menu kicks in after 9:30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday and 10 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Free parking is available next door.  No take out or reservations.  Check out their website for specials:  http://bodamaine.com/

I’m clearly not the first to report that the Mexican restaurant on the corner of High and York streets, El Rayo Taqueria (http://elrayotaqueria.com), is the best new(ish) thing going.  I discovered El Rayo this summer, when it appeared to have really hit its stride, accommodating a big crowd with the plentiful outdoor seating.
The food is simple, fresh and satisfying.  The people at El Rayo recognize that sometimes all you want is a fish taco and a beer.  In other words, you can actually eat Mexican food without needing a huge nap afterward.  
The casual setting has outdoor picnic tables have been covered with a Hawaiian print oilcloth and inside, patrons sit on stools at the counter or small tables.   The décor is funky, bright and retro.  Being outside at El Rayo on a sunny afternoon puts me in a better mood.   And with the portable heaters outside, El Rayo makes outdoor dining a possibility past Labor Day.  
Both times I have been to El Rayo, I have been very pleased with my choice.  The first time I tried the rice and bean bowl with roasted vegetables ($6.75).  The contrast of the warm rice and beans and veggies with the cool raw tastes of chopped radish and fresh cilantro was very satisfying.  The guacamole ($4.50) is simple and the flavor of the avocado is not compromised by too much lime or salt.  The rice and bean bowl and half of the guacamole was definitely a very satisfying lunch.  My husband had one Pescado taco ($3.95), with grilled achiote seasoned fish fillet, sliced avocado, chipotle sauce, and a crunchy veggie slaw,  and one Carne Asada taco ($3.95), with chargrilled steak with rajas, shredded lettuce, and lime.   Both were outstanding.  
The second time I went there I ordered the El Mercado Salad ($6.95) – spinach, jicama, toasted almonds, orange slices tossed with sweet peppers, marinated onions and ancho chili vinaigrette.  It really did taste as good as it sounds – flavorful but not spicy, fresh and colorful.  My only problem was that I secretly wanted two of them…  This time, my husband tried the Bistec burrito ($7.50), filled with grilled beef with charred onions, peppers, and ranchero sauce.   Paired with a tall Dos Equis, he claimed it took him to higher levels of consciousness.
The service was friendly and attentive and because the restaurant was a little more than half capacity on the late mid-week afternoon we went.  There were lots of children around, and even small tables to accommodate the wee ones.  My four-year-old opted for an order of local organic applesauce($1.50) and an order of rice and beans ($3.75).  Aside from the fact that they don’t traditionally pair well, I was thrilled she finished it and she wasn’t handed a kids menu where the only choices were chicken nuggets or hamburger.  There are a lot of options for small appetites and eating outside is a bonus for kids.  I think she subconsciously allows us an extra ten minutes to enjoy our food when we pick an outdoor place.  
There isn’t a ton of parking and finding a place nearby can get frustrating.  It’s no secret that this place is good.  Unless you don’t mind crowds, I would opt to try El Rayo on an off-time, like mid-afternoon on a Wednesday.  And maybe stay into happy hour, which runs everyday from 4-6.  Who can pass up a $5 margarita made with top shelf liquor?  
El Rayo is open daily from 11am-11pm.

For lunch I prefer a bright and lively place so Peppers Garden and Grill in Winthrop was just the spot.  They offer both a bar area with tables and booths and a large dining room.  My husband and I had decided to eat in the bar area.  It has an open and airy feeling due to the tall windows and skylights.  And the tongue and groove walls and earth-toned paint colors make for a cozy space.

It’s hard to overlook first impressions.  Stepping into the Grill Room at 8 pm on a Friday night and my first impression was – wow, this place is doing well.  Barely room to stand to wait for the hostess to seat us and watching party after party get ushered to their seats, my friend and I noted that it didn’t appear that slower financial times has hindered business here.  They must be doing something right. 

What better way to dull the chill of a relentless Maine winter than to celebrate the first annual Restaurant Week in style?  My friend and I headed out for our first trip to the Back Bay Grill to do just that. 

The Back Bay Grill www.backbaygrill.com is an elegant place – inviting bar, romantic lighting, black tin ceiling and contemporary art. The crowd seems older and smartly dressed.  I envisioned the clientele to be discussing their love of beef tartare and truffles. 

While looking for a sunny place to have late Sunday lunch in Portland, my mom and I were in for a surprise.  All of our favorites were closed at that time!  So, my last hope was a new “bistro” by Borealis Bread on Ocean Avenue, near Cheverus High School.  I knew that Borealis doesn’t mess around when it comes to quality bread but the bistro is new territory. 

The location is convenient to downtown, but is nestled in a pretty neighborhood and stands alone.  The sun pours in the many windows and highlights the yellow interior, creating a very inviting and cheerful feel. 

During a brief time when I lived in Paris, I felt compelled to take visitors to authentic Parisian haunts, such as a crêperie near Saint-Michel that I thought served the best crêpes.  Even those (somewhat like myself) who weren’t French food lovers seemed to always gobble up these crêpes with delight, and rethink their aversion to French cuisine.  In France, these quintessential, informal eateries were everywhere; however, back here in the states – they are pretty hard to find.  Which is why I was pleased to find a crêperie in the Old Port – The Merry Table Crêperie at 43 Wharf Street.