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…
Pumpkinhead Festival Weekend in Eliot October 29-30Fundraiser for the Maine Cancer FoundationELIOT, Maine – Pumpkinhead Festival Weekend October 29-30, held at the Regatta Banquet &…
Sixth Annual Caviar Dinner at Portland Harbor Hotel Featuring Caviars from Around WorldPORTLAND, Maine – Caviar, considered to be one of the world’s luxury delicacies,…
Camden Harbour Inn and Natalie’s Welcome New York Top Chef Geoffroy Deconinck as Executive ChefCAMDEN, Maine – New York City top chef Geoffroy Deconinck has…
Fall Maine Restaurant Week Scheduled for October 24-31, 2010All Maine Restaurants Encouraged to ParticipatePORTLAND, Maine — Following upon the success of Maine Restaurant Week in…
Come Celebrate Fall’s Bounty all September LongAs summer comes to an end and the chill air of fall fast approaches, Evangeline's new, quintessentially French Menu…
MAINE DISTILLERIES, LLC ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF NEW GIN: INTRODUCING COLD RIVER GIN – THE ONLY GROUND-TO-GLASS GIN IN THE WORLD Freeport, Maine – Partners at…
Satisfying and Popular – Grill 233 is a Good Choice for Date Night Why am I a sucker for white Christmas lights, awnings and wood signs? Who knows? But the exterior of Grill 233 at 233 US Route 1 in Yarmouth sports all of these, so they scored extra points before we were even in the door. Inside, the rich burgundy and yellow walls, white tea lights, and dark wood gave the dining area warmth and class.
Kon Asian Bistro - Portland Maine In the same strip of Portland’s Brighton Avenue with seedy hotels and forgotten gas pumps, sits a diamond in the rough – Kon Asian Bistro. “Exotic dancers?” I questioned as I passed in my car when I first spotted it. Some positive feedback from friends gave me the courage to try out Kon – a bistro/sushi bar/ hibachi restaurant that also has a hip and sizeable bar. My motivation (in addition to the obvious hope of good food) was two-fold: entertainment and value. Who can beat flying utensils and vegetables for half price on…
GQ magazine food correspondent, Alan Richman, recently traveled the country talking with chefs and farmers about the meaning of ethical eating for his July feature…
It’s about time I wrote about some of my favorite Portland food: Haggarty’s Brit-Indi. Brit-Indi is Indian food that has a more western appeal, and, like the name suggests – very popular in Britain. Haggarty’s is located at 684 Forest Avenue in Portland and is predominantly geared towards take-out (which we did on this occasion), but there are a few tables if you prefer to eat there.
Portland, ME – In recent good news for health-conscious consumers, Health magazine has named Wild Blueberries high on its list of “America’s Healthiest Superfoods for…
The Farmer’s Table, located at 205 Commercial Street (formerly Mim’s Restaurant), was the spot my husband and I chose to have our anniversary dinner. The restaurant was nearly at capacity by 6 pm on a Saturday. The bar was lively and the flickering tea lights and big windows were very welcoming after being out in the rain. I was pleased that we were seated right next to a window looking out on Commercial Street.
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…
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…
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.
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.
For those of us who bid adieu to the blur of flowing beer, long lines and loud music of fraternity parties, the Maine Brewers Festival was a chance to relive those days. After paying the $30 ticket fee to get in on Saturday’s Happy Hour, I was handed a small glass and a handful of beer tickets. I entered the Portland Expo Center and was greeted by 2,100 other people who thought bright lights and long lines for beer and bathrooms sounded like a good idea.
