New2Maine.com

Amber and I met Moses Sabina, the chef and co-owner of Hot Suppa, at a holiday party recently. Mo and I had a lengthy discussion on the Portland food scene, and I promised Amber and I would stop in for lunch during the holidays since we both had almost two weeks off. With our last day off upon us, Amber and I headed to Congress Street today after hitting the gym. We arrived just after 1:30 PM and missed most of the lunch crowd. The small dining room is cheery, with red  and gold accents and local scenes painted on clam shells on display. I did not ask who the artist was, but they were pretty cool.

We looked over the menu and were torn on what to order (well, Amber was…I selected the Cubano sandwich quite quickly). On the recommendation of the waitress, Amber got the fried green tomato BLT and a side of the day’s soup, butternut curry. I selected the homemade mac & cheese for my side. Some of the other menu highlights were a roast duck sandwich (a special of the day), eggs benedict with fried green tomatoes (breakfast is served all day), and a French-style tuna sandwich whose name escapes me. Both of our lunches were fabulous. The Cubano melted in my mouth, and Amber’s BLT was excellent. I’ll have to ply Moses with some good beer (he’s a big fan of Novare Res, so it shouldn’t be hard) and see if I can wrest the breading recipe from him. It was that good. The soup was great, and the mac and cheese was good too, though I’m not sure it was the right decision to pair with the Cubano. 

The waitress was cheery and attentive (especially considering we were the last table of the day and they were closing up and doing sidework), Moses came out to chat, and we’ll most assuredly be going back. The check was a touch high for a regular lunch spot (~$24, including a soda and a hot chocolate and tax, but not the tip), but I would not be surprised if Amber and I end up there a couple or three times a month. This is a soul food cafe with a soul, and some damn good fried green tomatoes. They’re open every day, with the exception of some holidays, from 7:00 AM (7:30 on Sundays) to 2:00 PM at 703 Congress St., between the Rite Aid and Local 188. Check them out; you’ll be glad you did.

The new Borealis Breads bakery and bistro on the corner of Ocean Ave. and Walton St. opens today. Living just down the street and having watched as they renovated this building, Amber and I are pretty excited to go sample the fare. Governor Baldacci was the guest of honor at a 10:00 AM ribbon cutting ceremony, but the show stealer today may have been Mother Nature. We’ve seen a bit over an inch of snow so far, and it’s still coming down lightly right now. 

Borealis Bakery and Bistro

The website doesn’t have a menu listed, but I plan to take a walk down there (maybe for lunch?) and see what’s what. I’ll post an update here this afternoon. I’m also crossing my fingers for free wifi, as this could become a new “office” for me when I get tired of looking at my desk…

I was saddened to read on Chow Maine that Mim’s Brasserie, our favorite spot in Portland for Sunday brunch, closed last weekend. Dinner there has been hit or miss, but we’ve never failed to find a wonderful brunch in its cozy dining room or, when the weather is amenable, its deck with a view of the waterfront. Its frites were usually the highlight, but the various sandwiches and omelettes were always worth the trip as well. Adieu, Mim’s. Our quest for an after-church haunt will begin again in the spring I suppose…

After hearing my positive comments on Chef et al., Amber said she’d like to try dinner there. I readily agreed, and we walked down (it’s only a bit over a mile) after calling to check availability a few Saturday evenings ago. We arrived a few minutes late (it’s not that short a walk), but the place had only a few tables taken, so we were seated immediately. The same gentleman with his guitar was there entertaining diners, again to positive comments. The dinner menu was somewhat lengthier than the brunch menu, and included several seafood and fowl choices in addition to a couple of vegetarian dishes.

The always helpful wait staff had our orders taken and drinks served quickly. Our apps (soup for me, and salad for her) took a little while arriving at the table but were good. The entrees, however, were well worth the wait. We ordered the fillet of beef tenderloin and the pan-seared scallops special. The tenderloin was fabulous, with a delicious hollandaise sauce. I ordered it accompanied by the fingerling potatoes and asparagus for a thoroughly satisfying meal that had Amber trying to share as much as possible. Her scallops were expertly cooked and delicious with their honey truffle frites accompaniment. The creamed spinach was a little too rich, but overall both meals were excellent. At $126, including a pretty generous tip, this was one of the better meals we’ve had in a while, and a little cheaper than some of the others. We’ll definitely be trying them again, though I think Amber might be getting the tenderloin for herself next time.

We are on the Vignola/Cinque Terre email list and have gotten a few notices about their upcoming dinner/wine presentation in NYC. Vignola is hosting a preview event next Tuesday for those of us up here in Maine unwilling or unable to pony up the $200 a ticket (plus a hotel stay and transportation, I’m sure). From the announcement,

Join us this coming Tuesday, September 9, for a special night at Vignola, when we host the complete six-course dinner and wine pairings we’ll present at New York’s James Beard Foundation on September 17.

The theme for the dinner is “From Maine to Veneto,” and the evening showcases many of the things we enjoy about living in Maine: farm-grown vegetables, fruits and herbs from Vignola’s Grand View Farm; lobster from Maine’s cold ocean waters; local lamb from nearby Stone Heart Farm; and locally made small-batch artisan cheeses.

The crew at Vignola has been working overtime – tweaking recipes, finding perfect wines to pair with each course – to make this event a standout success. We hope to see you Tuesday! To make your reservation, contact Vignola at (207) 772-1330.

Visit their Web site to see the menu >>

Details
Date: Tuesday, September 9
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Vignola (10 Dana Street, Portland)
Cost: $80 per person; includes tax and gratuity
Space is limited and reservations are required: (207) 772-1330