AppetitePortland

Celebrating the culinary wonders of Maine's foodie hub

Archive for August, 2011

A Very Pleasing “Pig”

Aug 26

Posted by dawn in Informal Dining, Snacks & Street Food, Stores & Purveyors | 3 Comments

After the anger subsided, I believe I openly wept – right there in the grocery store – when the stock boy confirmed what I’d feared.

Gotta love the sign at The Thirsty Pig in Portland!

Classico no longer offered “Italian Sausage with Fennel.”

Further research revealed the pasta sauce’s fate. The company had callously yanked it from the shelves – replacing it with the far more pedestrian “Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions.

A sad, sad development in my book. This was years ago – before Adam and I steered toward homemade – and it still stings.

Why am I telling you this?

To establish just how serious I am about the marriage of fennel and pork. Truly one of life’s great twosomes – like Bogie and Bacall, or, dare I say, Will and Jada.

When I find this divine coupling I celebrate like Princess Beatrice with a new hat.

I chair danced like a fool at The Thirsty Pig.

The Exchange street purveyor of tasty pig parts slings a Sweet Italian that fairly bursts with fennel flavor. Slapped into a hot-pressed Italian roll and piled high with caramelized red peppers – it truly doesn’t get much better than this juicy, herbed-up sausage. A side of cole slaw also satisfies. Crisp strings of carrot and cabbage float in a light mayo puddle – a gaggle of poppy seeds swimming freely.

Adam tends toward the Lithuanian Kielbasa drenched with a tart sauerkraut. Although my local Lithuanian connection arches her eyebrow at the moniker Kielbasa (“for the Lithuanians, sausage is sausage…it’s what you do with the left-over pork”), the fat frank is winning none-the-less.

A tasty Greek Chicken sausage offers a slightly lighter option to the the pork links.

Slightly smoky from its steam bath in Shipyard Export, the kielbasa boasts hints of mustard seed and a hefty dose of garlic.

When I can be wooed away from the Sweet Italian, the Greek Chicken fits the bill with its veggie overtones of spinach and tomato. Topped with a healthy sprinkle of feta and pickled onions, it’s a great lighter option.  But the fowl is a bit drier than the swine, so I rarely diverge.

Links are hand made right here in the Forest City – soon to be made onsite. Menu items include a Veggie Dog, Classic Dog, Apple Chicken, BBQ Banger, and a handful of seafood selections (including a promising looking clam chowder).

While the beer list doesn’t (to my taste) represent the absolute BEST of the Pine State’s brews (why not Marshal Wharf?), it is good.  And, nothing beats sipping one on The Thirsty Pig’s back deck while sucking in a breath of fresh autumnal air as Maine summer slips into Fall.

Here’s hoping this affable, affordable – and very, VERY welcome – bar/bovine cafe stays put in Portland.

The Thirsty Pig on Urbanspoon

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Rolling in the Lobstah’

Aug 8

Posted by dawn in Informal Dining, Outside Portland, Snacks & Street Food, Stores & Purveyors | 8 Comments

Not being a native Mainer, I’d never truly cottoned to the appeal of the lobster roll. Just seemed like a waste of crustacean on a glorified hot dog bun.

The awesome roll at the Brunswick Diner in Brunswick

Then, about a year ago, I watched Adam choke down a far-from-perfect specimen in a place whose name claimed the opposite.

That didn’t help.

So, I stuffed the idea of this state-sanctioned sandwich onto the far reaches of my mental shelf. And there it sat – until a group blogger assignment dusted it off.

When A. requested that we pick a place – I stalled. Prejudice breeds lethargy in me and I didn’t call “dibs” fast enough. By the time I rallied, the Portland area “biggies” had been snagged. Perennial Phoenix “best of” winner Portland Lobster Company, as well as Cape Elizabeth’s Lobster Shack and the venerable Old Port Sea Grill had slipped through my net.

Stories of stomach upset kept me from sampling another local institution. I did try the lobster sandwich at the Porthole, but, in a last-minute flurry of confusion and missed opportunities, I grudgingly (hey – it was already written!) ceded the review to Kate. I did include my photos of the Porthole below, though, and tend to agree with her review’s sentiments.

So – what was a blogger to do?

I got outta town.

Brunswick Diner - $13 (without sides)

Set on the busy intersection where Route 1 bends north from its journey east from Highway 95, the Brunswick Diner itself is an intersection – of cute and crusty. Opened in 1946, it ain’t no retro throwback. It’s the real deal with naugahyde stools, a classic jukebox and locals milling about.

Once featured on the Today Show for its roll, the diner’s been riding the wave ever since. I’d seen the boastful banner (see photo) on treks to the Midcoast, and, being a skeptical soul, decided to put it to the test.

Billy's large lobster roll and sides.

It truly was a revelation. Adam (who demurred from purchasing his own roll due to “a lack of hunger” – always a dubious claim)  practically arm-wrestled me for it in the end. Heavy on fresh lobster (with a healthy amount of the succulent claw) and light on the mayo, it featured a crisp lettuce leaf and a generously buttered, split-top roll toasted to perfection. A seriously awesome sandwich. Simple. A credit to it’s genre. A roll that tempered my biases and made me hanker for more.

So, we tried another at –

Billy’s Chowder House, Wells – $19 (with sides)

Feeling mighty peckish after a photo shoot in York, we sojourned to Billy’s Chowder House in Wells on the way home. I’d spied the joint on Ricchio’s Maine mag list and determined to “go for two.”  It didn’t hurt that Joe had also lauded the cocktails.

Rolling up to the valet (yes – really – the valet) at 5:30, we were shocked at the crowd of cars – until we strolled into the bar. Just about every hair was blue. Ignoring Adam’s snarky comment about our compatriots “getting liquored up before Dancing with the Stars,” I settled onto a stool and was soon sipping a cold one and enjoying a view of the marsh.

Lobster sandwich at the Porthole.

A communal vibe and a lobster roll as big as my forearm (you can opt for a $13 “junior roll” – but why?) made the evening sing. While I missed the lettuce of the Brunswick version and wasn’t quite as enthralled with the bun, the lobster on Billy’s roll was just as perfectly cooked (no rubber here!) – the mayo as lovingly balanced. A crunchy side of slaw (I swapped out the fries) and a pickle elevated the experience.

And, I admit, it probably didn’t hurt that Billy’s early-evening patrons made me feel quite young for a gal in her mid-forties.

Portland Lobster Roll Search

Now a firm fan, I tried one last time today to sample a lobster roll in Portland. Hearing tell of the sandwich at the new food cart, Lindy’s Lunch, I took a sweaty slog the breadth of Commercial Street just now – narrowly missing a downpour. While I spied Eric’s Pizza Express and Jen’s Hot Dog’s, there was no sign of Lindy’s Lunch (at least on a Monday).  I even popped by Monument Square to no avail. Ah well, another time. . .

Blogger’s note: Visit Portland Food Map for a round-up and links to other blogger reviews of local lobster rolls.

Billy's Chowder House on Urbanspoon

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Cupcake Coterie: Take 2

Aug 1

Posted by dawn in Snacks & Street Food, Stores & Purveyors | 1 Comment

Last time it was all about rediscovery and wonder. This time, my hopes and expectations ran high.

Bam Bam bakery's gluten-free, dairy free cupcakes

Unfortunately, my hopes were dashed on the craggy shores of my expectations.

The second Portland Cupcake Throwdown featured another batch of our fair city’s bakers and cupcake purveyors (seven to be exact) – and twice as many bloggers. Joining Kate, Uke and I were Jillian, Rebecca and Vrylena.

In the mix were Scratch Baking Co. (last round’s winner) East End Cupcakes, European Bakery, Aurora Provisions, Sugar Hill and Bam Bam.

Promising entries from Y-Limes Gourmet were ditched due to a tragic meltdown. We held this event a few weeks ago  – when temps crept up into the 90’s – and the heat caused an awful buttercream explosion. By the time we rescued the bakery’s Pink Lemonade cupcake from it’s box, it resembled a vat of boiling Pepto Bismol. Quite a shame. Uke captured the result in her post. For an accurate visual of what the cupcake SHOULD look like, visit Y-Limes’ website.

Overall: While I enjoyed a frosting here and a cake consistency there, I left the event rather saddened. Perhaps it was the humidity. Perhaps the nostalgia had worn off after the first throwdown last November. Or, perhaps I simply expected too much. Whatever the cause, a scan through my notes revealed the phrases  “simply flavorless,” “pasty, plastic film,” and “like a stale devil dog.”

Not a great experience.

East End's bright pink box and spiffy logo.

Sticking with grandma’s old adage about saying nice things, I’m focusing here on the glimmers of positive. For more complete reviews read the other blogger’s posts by clicking on the links above.

Visual Appeal: Both entries from East End were lovely to gaze upon. A thick hat of coconut shavings topped a lime cake and a sexy swirl of milk chocolate capped the vanilla. Presented in a bright pink box with thoughtful cardboard separators, East End wins hands-down for packaging and prettiness.

Cake Appeal: Although the frosting was a tad weak -flavored, European Bakery’s Carrot Cake offered the moistest crumb – with chunks of pure carrot, walnuts and an even grain. Pump the cream-cheesiness up a few notches and this petite pastry would be stellar.

Frosting Appeal: Creamy and buttery – with a dark chocolate wallop and a pistachio whisper – the frosting on Scratch’s entry was a sensual dream. While the cake lacked the sheer perfection of the bakery’s entries last round  (Black Forest Chocolate and Banana Cream Pie), the frosting alone secured Scratch’s spot in my personal Bakery Hall of Fame.

Dietary Restriction Appeal: The gluten-free, dairy-free entries from Bam Bam – while not as fragrant and intense as the offerings from Cakeface last round – were quite pleasant.  We sampled three chocolate cakes with varied frosting – vanilla, chocolate and peanut butter – and I felt all three were solid. While I still struggle with the texture of these cakes, I’m glad a few talented bakers (Bevin at Bam Bam and Jenn at Cakeface ) are providing Portland with vegan choices.

Full Disclosure: The cupcakes from East End were donated.