Tag Archives: Restaurant

A Preview of Tipo at Central Provisions

The following are photos from our fantastic New Year’s Eve dinner at Central Provisions. The evening’s menu was a preview of owners Chris and Paige Gould’s soon to open second restaurant Tipo, and the supremely talented Chef Mike Smith who will be overseeing its kitchen.

As I plan on visiting Tipo as soon  as humanly possible, I will mostly (but not completely)  let the photos from this brilliant dinner speak for themselves.

From the very first bites, it was clear that this pair of chefs really know how to meld contrasting textures and flavors in ways that build one upon the other, each bite a magical mélange: rapini with Spanish mackerel, mushroom ragu with chicory, dry-aged sirloin with charred traviso.  So synergistically yummy!!

Then there was the pasta. While I generally don’t consider myself a pasta person, the ones pictured below had such wonderful substance, flavor, scents, that I not only found myself devouring them, but I very well may dream of them (at least until Tipo opens). Such simple dishes perfectly executed: corzetti with squash and sausage and tagliatelle with white truffles! So deeply satisfying, especially on on cold winter night!

Stay tuned…

Caviar,Prosecco Mignonette

Marinated Spanish Mackerel Braised Rapini,lemon Vinaigrette, Calabrian Chili

Chef Mike Smith hard at work

Mushroom Ragu fried Polenta, Black Truffle, Cured Egg Yolk, Chicory

Corzetti Al Moto
Roasted Squash,Ricotta Salata,Spicy Pork Sausage

White Truffle Tagliatelle Fresh Alba White Truffles,Brodo, Parmigiana Reggiano

Dry Aged Beef Sirloin
Gorgonzola Marrow Butter,Carmelized Onion Jam,Charred Treviso

Warm Fried Zeppoli With Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato Shortbread and Ricotta Cream!

Honey Paw: Introducing Congee to Portland

While Congee, a delicious, rice-based porridge may be very popular across Asia, there is only one place that I know of in Portland serving this colorful and immensely satisfying dish. Do yourself a favor and head over now to The Honey Paw to try their latest version of this delicious treat!

Congee

Chef Ian Driscoll Popping up at Bao Bao

Get our your calenders, because Ian Driscoll best known as the extraordinary sous-chef from Central Provisions is popping up at Bao Bao on April 25th! Find out more about this Asian inspired event here: Okami: A pop-up of sorts.

I’m looking forward to seeing and tasting the yumminess that this talented chef has come up with!

 

A Wonderful Winter Warm-Up at The Honey Paw

There is nothing like the food from warmer climates to cut through the chill on a winter day in Maine, and there is no other local restaurant with such a wide range of foods inspired by some very hot places as the The Honey Paw.
We started with lemon and ginger hot toddies, a thoroughly delicious way to warm up with just the right bite of ginger and the nice addition of cloves.

Hot Toddies

Hot Toddies

We followed this up with the beautiful and rich lobster tartine, a well-deserved menu standard,and an appetizer special courtesy of the chef of smoked mackerel mousse,egg, and beets on a large hash brown. So very good! The mackerel was salty and smooth- just perfect. Add in the beets and the potato,and it all came together in just the right mélange of crunchy,creamy,tangy that says happy happy to me!

Lobster Tartine

Lobster Tartine

Smoked mackerel mousse w beets,egg,on a hash brown.

Smoked mackerel mousse w beets,egg,on a hash brown.


We followed this up with a Beef Rendang so tender and rich, served with beautiful turmeric pickles and perfectly made rice. You’d be hard pressed to find a dish with more comfort, unless it was the chicken pho with matzah balls. OMG!!! This soup has everything I love about pho and matzah ball soup: tangy, rich,bright full of flavor! Wow!!

I have to eat here again soon, and I definitely can’t wait for Chef Duffly’s upcoming dinner at Flanagan’s Table January 31st!
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Chicken Pho

Chicken Pho