AppetitePortland

Celebrating the culinary wonders of Maine's foodie hub

Archive for category Snacks & Street Food

A $100 Day of Love in Portland

Feb 6

Posted by dawn in Bar Scene, Informal Dining, Snacks & Street Food, Stores & Purveyors | 2 Comments

Stretching the Valentine dollar into a full day eating and hanging out in Portland, Maine.

The Hallmark-sanctioned day of romance is right around the corner and food bloggers around town are writing about love stinking and where to go to avoid the love-dovey among us. As one of the lovey-dovey, I’ve decided to diverge. Read on (if you dare) as I blather on about stretching the Valentine dollar into an all-day date.

Sure I could (and certainly have been known to) throw down a wad (say $200) for a marvelous prixe fixe dinner with pre-meal cocktails, pricey wine and tip in Portland.  But if you, like me, are both watching your nickels and wishing for more together time you’ll need to be more creative this year. So what’s a happily hitched couple to do? Well, Adam and I have set aside half that aforementioned dinner wad to spend for a full day of fun, gifts and noshing. Here’s our agenda:

1. First, we’ve postponed the celebration until March 2. Sharp-eyed folks will immediately note that is the next First Friday. We’re taking the day off.

2. After sleeping in (what would that be like?), we’ll stroll over to Bard ’round 10:00 to kick-start our day with caffeine and sugar. I’ll have an large Ethiopian drip and he’ll have a large latte. We’ll each have a Holy Donut and canoodle on the leather couch. Cost: $9.50

3. After sipping slowly and marveling at the pure heaven that is Holy Donut’s chocolate glazed, we’ll head over to Find at 11:00-ish to, well, find Adam a “new” tee-shirt. This cool vintage consignment store often features gently worn Rouges Gallery tees for between $10-$20. Projected cost: $12

4. We’ll trip back across the street to the Nickelodeon and catch a matinee. Perhaps an arty-farty flick that recently won an Oscar (remember, this is March 2). Cost: $12

5. Peckish after a movie without popcorn, we’ll amble off to the Portland Public Market and up the stairs to Kamasouptra. If it’s on the menu that day, I’ll choose the “creamy with a kick” Red Pepper Gouda. Adam the Clam Chowder. Other sublime choices: Cream of Broccoli and Veggie Chili.  Cost: $11

6. Once we’ve slurped our soups, people watched and read the Phoenix from cover to cover, we’ll continue up Congress to Material Objects. My turn for something “new to me.” As spring is around the corner, I’ll opt for a flirty skirt. Projected cost: $10

7. First Friday will be beginning to bustle as we pop out the door at 5:00. We’ll check out Rose Contemporary, Space, MECA and more before heading to Portland Museum of Art, where we’ll take our time perusing Edgar Degas: The Private Impressionist, the museum’s first major Degas exhibit (February 23 – May 28). Cost: Free

8. Nearing 8:00, we’ll attempt to wedge ourselves into the bar at Enzo and order two slices of Otto and a beer each. I’ve developed a weird affinity for the ever-present Mashed Potato, Bacon and Scallion. Cost: $26

9. We’ll split a bottle of Lunch (Maine Beer Company’s herby, awesome IPA) and end the evening listening to a folk, jazz or blues artist (looks like it will be Roving Soul on March 2), and First Friday favs, Okbari at Blue. Total with tips (bartender and artists): $20

Blogger’s Note: For more Valentine suggestions, check out the round-up on Portland Food Map.

Portland Breakfast on the “Go”

Sep 12

Posted by dawn in Breakfast & Brunch, Informal Dining, Snacks & Street Food, Stores & Purveyors | 2 Comments

The item varies. It depends on the precise hour. Some things are best (or only available) at a certain tick of the morning clock. But the place is always the same. When someone says “breakfast on the go” in Portland – I can only picture myself strolling out of one glass door – fresh pastry in hand.

Standard Baking Company's absolutely perfect almond crossiant

It’s not original, but it is classic: Standard Baking Co.

7:00 breakfast: Morning bun with nuts. Always my choice if I’m there when the door creaks open. Sticky, oozy warm. Nuts still crunchy and pert. A perfect counterpoint to the SBC dark coffee – roasted special by CBD.

8:00 breakfast: Gingerbread. Though available from minute one, the gingerbread (for my money) is best an hour in. Icing top has had time to harden and form a crackly hat, and the moist, dense cake has cooled just enough to let the ginger flavor shine past the sweet. Lovely.

9:15 breakfast: Almond croissant. Don’t even think you’re gonna get one any earlier than this. I’ve learned that hard lesson. My favorite item by a nose, the almond croissant fits best for me as a “sleep-in day” ritual. Sundays more often than not. Arrive a tad past 9:00 and you’ll catch them coming out of the oven – the marzipan center melty from steam. Mass of almonds on top toasty crisp. One bite and you can sense loads of butter charging toward your arteries. But you frankly don’t give a damn.

10:00 breakfast: Chocolate cork. As an early riser, this falls more into the category of “breakfast dessert” or “sweet brunch” for me. Intense chocolate explodes oily rich, yet somehow light on the tongue – miraculously avoiding gumming up in your mouth like so many lesser brownie-ish things. Adam loves the cork and could write odes. If I come back from a stroll to Standard (no matter what the hour) without one, I get a steely stare full of hurt (and a touch of malice).

11:00 breakfast: Cheddar cheese scone. When the time pushes closer to noon, this cheesy, chivey option fits the bill. Not a scone fan by nature, I can’t get enough of Standard’s savory, flaky version. Not always available, I make sure and snag it when I see it.  Back home, perched on my kitchen stool, it’s awesome with a glass of cold milk.

Blogger’s note: Visit Portland Food Map for a round-up and links to other blogger reviews of favorite “Breakfast on the Go” places.

Standard Baking Co on Urbanspoon

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

Tags: , , ,

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

Tags: , , ,

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.

Fearless Flavor

Jun 13

Posted by dawn in Snacks & Street Food, Stores & Purveyors | 2 Comments

A cone of Mexican Chocolate and Salt Caramel obscures MDI's "Fearless Flavor" tagline on the sign.

Being in the branding biz myself, I am a tad wary of taglines. Too often they grossly overstate – or prove mismatched to the product. So when I first gazed at the sign bedecked with a fierce, spoon-clutching fist and read the claim, “Fearless Flavor” – I raised an eyebrow and muttered “we’ll see.” But Mt Desert Island Ice Cream (51 Exchange Street) didn’t – and continues to not – disappoint.

Many flavors are flat-out fierce (Thai chili, anyone? Chocolate wasabi, maybe?) and some are fearlessly funky.  And I mean that in a good way – not in a “what’s that funky smell” kinda way.

Case in point – The Dude. How often do you find a White Russian-flavored mound of creamy goodness named after cinema’s most famous aging slacker?

Others bring out the fierce in brave combinations of earthy sweet and herb (try the stellar Blueberry Basil sorbet) or simply elegant (the maple and corn meal heartiness of Indian Pudding).

To a scoop, MDI ice cream’s best feature is that it’s not overly saccharine. Sweet yes, but not sugary. The company creates new flavors often – I hear tell of a Danish Blue Cheese Blackberry about to hit town – and avoids the “throw in the kitchen sink” fadiness of that mass-marketed chain from Vermont.

Some flavors celebrate childhood (Nutella), and others rejoice in the pleasures of growing up (Stout with Fudge, Jack Daniels).

My favorite MDI flavors even push boundaries closer to all-out savory. Salt Caramel for instance blends the tang of sea salt with a long-lasting umami richness of a dense cream caramel. I can’t get enough of it.

Much has been made about President Obama’s visit to MDI’s flagship in Bar Harbor last summer, but his choice of scoop (Coconut) is where MDI – for me – misses the mark. It’s pleasant, but lacks a certain lushness and flavor punch.

For the perfect Coconut, stroll around the corner onto Fore Street and enter Gorgeous Gelato.

Blogger’s Note: Visit Portland Food Map for a round-up and links to other reviews of ice cream and gelato joints from bloggers around town.

Portland’s Winter Culinary Wonders

Jan 28

Posted by dawn in Breakfast & Brunch, Informal Dining, Snacks & Street Food | 5 Comments

Coming from a decade in San Francisco and a few years in the mid-South (where three inches of snow meant TOTAL shut-down), I’m enthralled by living in hearty Maine.

Little Seoul's hearty and delicious Udon soup.

Bar banter abounds with tales of snow boarding and ice fishing. Portland Harbor Hotel’s ice bar sells out in mere hours. Winter is not just embraced – it’s celebrated.

I know, I know – we’re still in the honeymoon phase with months to go. Luckily, our fair city provides loads of culinary wonders to comfort us through the cold.

Below are some of my favorites. What are yours – and why?

The Seafood Udon Soup at Little Seoul. Out-of-this-world kelp broth steams my pores as I plunge the depths of a great big bowl for hearty chucks of salmon, scallops, Maine shrimp, fresh veggies and thick, meaty noodles. This newish Korean restaurant is doing MANY things right (I’ll publish a full review soon), but this stellar Udon deserves a separate spotlight.

Karmasouptra’s Borscht. Lunch-time lines snake through the Public Market this time of year, but the little soup purveyor’s frothy bowls are well worth it. I’m partial to the tangy, beety Borscht – crowned with a dollop of sour cream. Karmasouptra’s vegetarian version isn’t shy with the cabbage, which adds a bitter bite that’s right down my alley.

A Vietnamese Coffee at Bard. When the temp drops, I set aside my usual French press – and even my large latte – and go straight for the calorie-laden condensed milk and dark espresso of Bard’s Vietnamese. Creamy, sweet, rich and hot. ‘Nuff said.

Sitting Fireside at Flatbread. While I’m usually more of an Otto gal, I find myself drawn to Flatbread’s wood-fired ovens this time of year. Nothing beats sitting near the arched earthen doors watching flames crisp up a disc of milled wheat laden with homemade maple fennel sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized onions, mushrooms, cheese and herbs. Yum. (That’s right – I said yum).

Ginger Manhattan at Havana South. Ginger-infused whiskey brings a flush to my cheeks as warming waves envelope my body. Sweet vermouth adds a touch of lightness and enables a second round. Heartier souls than I might enjoy The Scorned Woman. Its chile-enflamed (“infused” is too tame a title) vodka will set your hair on fire.

Baked Beans and Brown Bread at the Front Room. Something about the thick and crusty dark bread and hot, hearty beans just seems, well – right – for wintertime brunch. Topped with an oozing, basted egg, the dish delivers solace when the winds howl off Casco Bay.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Portland Burgers Round 1: Diners and Sandwich Shops

Jan 17

Posted by dawn in Informal Dining, Snacks & Street Food | 5 Comments

Miss Portland Diner is one of those classic places that serves up exactly what you’d expect – nostalgia and comfort food.

Burger from Miss Portland Diner

In spades.

When I crave meatloaf and gravy, an Irish benedict, or a slice of pie, I mosey over to the historic Worcester Lunch Car on Marginal Way.   I’ve always enjoyed my hearty, homemade meals at Miss Portland – to the point of developing a soft spot for the peculiar, open-faced haddock reuben (huge hunk of lightly breaded fish, classic thousand island dressing, a craven covering of melted cheese).

The food isn’t great. But it is good – and plentiful.

So, I felt I was on solid footing choosing Miss Portland as my “diner destination” in round one of a food blogger series on burgers (click here for details and links to other reviews).

Unfortunately, the burgers seem to be the least homemade thing on the Miss Portland menu. Here are my impressions:

The Meat:
Billed as sirloin, the meat patty was high quality if a tad overcooked for my medium-rare order. Forgoing cheese (in order to really taste the cow), I found there just wasn’t much to taste. Simply seasoned with salt and pepper, it offered nothing to either complain or rave about. I doubt it was hand-rolled in the kitchen with bread crumbs and spices.

The Fixins:
One fridge-flavored, color-sapped tomato and two leaves of romaine added nothing, so I soon pulled them off.

The Bun:
A standard burger bun, it was a step above most grocery store fare, but essentially boring white bread. Full of air and, again, kinda tasteless.  When I ditched it and snagged one of my meatloaf munching companion’s fresh, warm dinner rolls – it was as if night had turned into day. A slightly larger version of the dinner roll would elevate this burger into “pretty good” territory.

The Sides:
Miss Portland’s 1/3 pound sirloin burgers cost $6.50 and come with a pickle and a choice of chips or cole slaw. An upgrade to French fries costs $.75. After a quick glance at the recently frozen crinkle-cut numbers a table over – I stuck with the chips.

The Bottom Line: Go to Miss Portland – get that haddock reuben, the chicken pie, a hot turkey dinner – or whatever is on special. If you need a hunk of beef, I can highly recommend the meatloaf. Just don’t bother with the burgers.

Miss Portland Diner on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , ,

Go Get Gorgeous

Dec 31

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

Sure it’s Maine in (almost) January, but my iPhone tells me the temps are topping 40 today and 50 tomorrow. It’s a regular heat wave!

The logo alone tells you its great!

My advice? Get thee to the newly opened Gorgeous Gelato (434 Fore Street) and celebrate this balmy bliss with a creamy cold mound of sheer joy. I stopped in yesterday and tasted my way through half a dozen flavors (the proprietor will happily hand you mini spoonfuls to try) and each one was better than the next.

Wicked, wicked good. Or, more appropriately, “Molto, molto buona.” With recipes hauled from their homeland, the husband and wife team are crafting the real deal here. 

I nibbled a lush Panna Cotta, a nutty Pistachio and a few Italian favorites (A chocolate chip-ish Stracciatella and a fruitcake-like Bosco) before narrowing my choices. A rich, eggy Almond tempted me with it’s marzapan-like vigor, but I settled on the sensational Cinnamon.

Not too sweet or potent — but certainly not subtle — the flavor was far from the “red hot” style of so many American ice creams. Instead, it was pure spice.

My only mistake was pairing it with the classic Chocolate. Wonderfully dark and fierce, the intense cocoa strangled the softer tones of the cinnamon. I should have known better!

Made daily on site, Gorgeous’ gelato is whip-soft, fresh and concentrated.

If you question it’s old-world authenticity, simply chat with the owner awhile.  His charming accent (and firm opinions on espresso) will remove any doubt.


Gorgeous Gelato on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , ,

Cupcake Coterie

Nov 24

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

Cupcakes were neatly tucked into the “childhood” section of my memory – wedged between fingerpainting and falling off the monkey bars.  I hadn’t eaten one – by choice at least – in 35 years.

Then Uke called. Cupcake throwdown. Her house.

Cupcakes await our taste testing.

Baffled by a national “gourmet cupcake” craze (as well as Portland’s own, growing mini-psychosis), I accepted her invitation out of curiosity and the desire to reacquaint myself with the tiny, seductive pastries.

Cupcakes are spreading into America’s urban areas – and waistlines – at an alarming rate. Google “cupcake craze” and you’ll see what I mean. Portland is no exception. From the “farm to table” cupcakes of Tulips Cupcakery to the vegan offerings of Cakeface – cupcakes have arrived in Maine.

Big time.

So. . . there we were last Saturday night. Kate (from The Blueberry Files) and I huddled with Uke in her kitchen. Cupcakes covered one entire counter.

Here’s what happened:

The Mission: Try 12 cupcakes from 7 local bakeries. In one hour. Can you say “sugar rush”?

Approach: We devoured cupcakes from both established and newly sprouted bakeries  – from classically baked to vegan/gluten free.

Contestants: Scratch, Rosemont, Tulips Cupcakery, Cakeface, Katie Made Bakery, Two Fat Cats, and One Fifty Ate.

Method: To achieve parity, we grouped them into four taste categories: Vanilla, Chocolate, Spiced Fruit and Vegan/Gluten-Free

Vanilla Grouping – Tulips’ Madagasgar Vanilla Bean vs. Katie Made’s Vanilla.
This one wasn’t even close. Tulips’ cake was moist and pliant. Frosting rich and creamy with an intense vanilla wallop. Delightful. Katie Made’s was dry and borderline stale. Topped with a pasty, plastic frosting reminiscent of playdough, I had trouble choking it down. Don’t mean to be harsh, but it was bad. I have to think it wasn’t exactly fresh. At least I hope not. It did look pretty though – lots of sprinkles on top. And, my cohorts swore it tasted better with coffee. But, let’s be honest – what doesn’t?

Aftermath of the cupcake coterie.

Chocolate Grouping – Two Fat Cats’ Chocolate vs. Rosemont’s Guinness Chocolate vs. Scratch’s Black Forest Chocolate.
Two Fat Cats’ cupcake – chocolate with white icing – was the embodiment of that childhood memory. Super-sweet frosting – more sugar than fat. Cake full of air like a Ho Ho. Not bad. But, alas, not my style and (lightbulb!) probably the reason cupcakes haven’t crossed my lips in decades. Rosemont’s was the flip side. Not like a cupcake at all. Compressed. Heavy. Slightly bitter from the beer and dark chocolate bits. Frosting more a thick glaze. Good, but nothing to rave about.

Scratch’s on the other hand – OMG. Fluffy, rich, dense, moist. Melt-in-your-mouth buttercream frosting in perfect proportion to the cake. Fruit filling tasted of cherry – not sugar. A masterpiece.

Spiced Fruit Grouping – Tulips’ Pumpkin vs. Scratch’s Banana Cream Pie vs. One Fifty-Ate’s Apple Spice with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting.
Tulips’ pumpkin was – again – solid. Flavorful, not too sweet. An even grain to the cake  – not too many “air holes.” Maybe a tad undercooked. Methinks the baker’s fresh, Maine ingredients – cage-free eggs, natural butters, local dairy, unbleached flour – showed through. Quite a treat.

One Fifty Ate’s spiced apple surprised me. Flat, with a mere schmear of frosting – I wasn’t expecting much. Instead, I got a lovely mouthful of apple bread with cream cheese. It just barely qualified as a cupcake, though. Too subtle. Too spongy.

Scratch’s (ahem) took the cake for the second time, however. Pure velvety banana essence. Light cream flavor in the frosting. Wonderful.

Vegan/Gluten-Free Grouping  (all from Cakeface) – Mocha Chip Mocha vs. Spiced Chocolate. Hazelnut Maple vs. Hazelnut Mocha.
Okay, yes, we segregated these. It was a texture issue. Can you blame us? We also wanted to be fair. Made from ingredients such as white rice, quinoa, buckwheat, xanthan gum, soy milk, fake butter and ground flax (subbing for eggs) we were dealing with apples and oranges, people.

To my astonishment, I really liked two of these – Hazelnut Maple and Spiced Chocolate. The maple one was intense – the most fragrant cupcake of the night, by far. It’s aroma filled the room the moment Uke pulled it from the bag. Spiced chocolate offered shaved chocolate overtones and a wave of cinnamon with each bite. The two mocha ones just didn’t work for me, though. Somehow the cakes were too flaky, the frosting too sandy. Strange.

All-in-all, the evening succeeded in re-opening my eyes to the world of cupcakes. And reinforcing why Scratch simply kicks ass.

Blogger’s Note: I titled this post “coterie” ‘cuz I just adore one of its definitions (“a group of prairie dogs occupying a communal burrow”), which soooo describes how it felt in Uke’s warm kitchen shoveling cupcakes into my piehole.

Scratch Bakery on Urbanspoon
Rosemont Market on Urbanspoon
Two Fat Cats on Urbanspoon
158 Pickett Street Cafe on Urbanspoon

Tags: , , , , , , ,