Type Perfection

Congratulations Portland Food Map!

Last night the Portland Phoenix announced Portland Food Map the voters' choice for 2009 Best Food Blog in Portland.

I cannot think of a harder-working person covering the Portland food scene than Anestes Fotiades. He not only keeps diners informed of the latest in food news, but has given us a local database of all things food related in Portland.

By providing a central repository of links to a wide spectrum of opinions, PFM elevates the overall food landscape in Portland.

Sapporo - Portland, Maine

Sapporo was our unintended destination for lunch on a recent Saturday afternoon. We had planned to dine at Benkay, but as it turns out, they are closed for lunch on the weekends. Since I was in the mood for sushi, we decided to give Sapporo a try.

I used to frequent Sapporo almost weekly when my office was nearby - it was simply a matter of convenience rather than preference. While Sapporo's main dining room has the nicest indoor atmosphere of all the Portland-area sushi restaurants, I have found the fish quality to be inconsistent. I also prefer the specials that both Yosaku and Benkay feature, particularly when Amberjack and Thai Snapper are on the list.

Inside, Sapporo is divided into two sections. The original restaurant, housing the sushi bar and a handful of tables, features dark wood and dim lighting. The newest part of the restaurant is a light, airy and contemporary dining room. During the summer months, seating options are expanded to include the outside patio overlooking bustling Commercial Street.

To curb our appetite as we perused the menu, we ordered both the steamed and fried shumai ($4.75). The fried shumai looked similar to a potato puff. Piping hot, crisp and flavorful, these dumplings were scrumptious; I would definitely order them again. Unfortunately, the steamed shumai was served lukewarm. The dumplings should have been served in covered bamboo steam basket - as they are at Yosaku - to retain the heat. And while the flavor of the steamed dumplings was excellent and the wrapper delicate and thin, the shumai at Benkay and Miyake are substantially better, filled with significantly more sweet shrimp.

When I wasn't pregnant, I often selected the "sushi lunch" at Sapporo. A bargain at $8.95, it features shrimp, tuna, yellowtail, salmon, a California roll, tuna roll and Miso soup. Given my current state, I am forced to stick to cooked low mercury fish. Instead, for our main courses, my husband and I each opted for the "two roll lunch" which surprisingly does not include miso soup.

Less flexible than other area sushi restaurants, Sapporo does not allow substitutions on their sushi and roll lunches. So while I was hoping for salmon, it wasn't on the list of roll choices. Instead I selected shrimp and eel rolls ($7.00), while my husband opted for the tuna and gourd ($5.50). An Alligator roll ($11.95) featuring eel, avocado and shrimp tempura, rounded out our order.

I have been spoiled by the Kagayaki (short grain, highly polished) rice that is used at Benkay and missed its flavor and texture in the rolls at Sapporo. But, the fish was fresh, the gourd subtly sweet, and the rolls tightly wrapped. And while there was an excessively long lag time between our appetizers and main courses (nearly half-an-hour) the service was friendly. All-in-all, we had a perfectly adequate sushi lunch at Sapporo, in line with my expectation. I have yet to be "wowed" by Sapporo on any of my visits.

Bottom line: If you're in Portland and in the mood for sushi, there are better sushi options than Sapporo.


Note: For more information about the adult beverages served, check out the Portland Bar Guide post on the drinks at Sapporo.

What's in Your Easter Basket?

The Easter Bunny delivered something exotic this year, Vosges Haut Chocolate Bunnies.

The Red Fire Bunny is made with 55% cacao, Mexican ancho and chipolte chillies, and cinnamon. The Barcelona Bunny - my favorite - contains 41% cacao, hickory smoked almonds and grey sea salt. While I was concerned that the chillies and smokey almonds would be overpowering, that wasn't the case. The ingredients added only a subtle flavor to the fine quality chocolate.

Made in Chicago, Vosges is best known for their spice and flower infused premium chocolates, though they have recently added bacon to their list of unusual chocolate-pairing ingredients. I'm not sure if I'm quite ready for the Flying Chocolate Pig. ... but the bunnies were a nice deviation from the chocolate truffles that normally fill my basket.

The Easter Bunny told me that the chocolates can be found locally at Black Cherry Provisions in Falmouth.

Happy Easter!

Bruce's Burritos - Yarmouth, Maine

I had a sudden craving for Mexican fare while grocery shopping the other day. Luckily, it was lunchtime and Bruce's Burritos was just down the street.

We arrived shortly before noon - and thankfully, in advance of the lunch rush. By the time we had finished placing our order, there was a line of people behind us, and a steady stream of customers during the remainder of our visit.

As quick as fast food, our order was ready in minutes - and at a reasonable price. We ordered chips & guacamole, three tacos, a burrito, and shared a Nantucket Nectars lemonade - all for $20.

The chips & guacamole that served as our appetizer did little to wow me. Yellow corn chips were not house made, and the guacamole was bland -- it desperately needed more salt, lime juice and cilantro.

The tacos and burrito could be ordered with a choice of chicken, pork, tofu, sweet potato or beef - we chose the chicken for both. The tacos lacked substance; they were sparsely filled with the chicken, sharp cheddar cheese and an abundance of shredded iceberg lettuce. The burrito was much more substantial, filled with the tender chicken, rice, cheese, salsa, sour cream, black and pinto beans.

Unfortunately, the salsa that accompanied both the taco and the burrito suffered the same fate as the guacamole - it was bland and tasted more like a sweet ketchup than salsa. Thankfully, I found bottles of hot sauce on the counter and doused each bite of the burrito to satisfy my quest for flavor. My husband shared my disappointment with the guacamole and salsa, so he created his own sauce on the fly. He mixed equal portions of sour cream and hot sauce, making a tasty dip for the chips and the remainder of the burrito.

My craving for chocolate is relentless, so we indulged in one of Erin's (Bruce's wife) "famous" brownies. The woman at the counter told us that Erin had been working to perfect the brownie recipe since she was 10 years old, so I was really expecting something spectacular. The brownies lacked the intense chocolate taste and fudgy quality that I prefer; I wish I had ventured across the street to Clayton's for a chocolate macaroon instead.

Based on the foot traffic inside Bruce's, clearly they have a loyal following and do a steady business. And though I expected more intense flavors, I found that the food was fresh, the service quick, and the prices reasonable. Burrito! (in Westbrook) serves better Mexican standards, but Bruce's Burritos is a convenient lunch spot when in the Yarmouth area.

Call for Espresso Maker Suggestions

After 9 years of daily use, our Starbucks Espresso Maker needs to be retired. I've been researching a new one and have the Breville BES820XL on my short list. Unfortunately I cannot find any reviews because it was just introduced last fall.

Does anyone have feedback on this model, or recommendations for an Espresso maker for home use?

The Dogfish Cafe - Portland, Maine

We stopped in for lunch at the Dogfish Cafe while running errands earlier this week. Across the street from my favorite Portland hardware store - Maine Hardware - The Dogfish Cafe is located at 953 Congress Street.

It had been years since I had dined at The Dogfish Cafe. With a number of fast food establishments in the neighborhood, this colorful building stands out from it's St. John Street neighbors. The interior decor reminds me of the old Cafe Uffa -- a mix of warn hardwood floors, bright colored walls, and an eclectic mix of painted table tops and decorations. Half the restaurant is a bar, but at lunch most patrons choose the tables and booths.

I asked the waitress what her favorite appetizer was and without hesitation, she recommended the Quesadilla ($9.99). Abandon your preconceived notions of what a quesadilla should look and taste like when you order this appetizer. Served open-faced like a pizza, the light, crisp shell was topped with grilled chicken, tomatoes, scallions, black beans, cheddar cheese, diced mango and a drizzle of sour cream. Light and fresh, with oh-so-subtle flavors, the quesadilla reminded me of something we would eat in the Caribbean. I would definitely order it again.

Though I was leaning towards the Portabella Mushroom Sandwich, I decided to up my Omega 3 intake for the day and ordered the Grilled Salmon Salad instead ($8.99). A bed of mixed greens was topped with a piping hot grilled salmon filet, thinly sliced red onion rings, cucumbers, tomatoes, and served with a creamy tomato ranch dressing. All of the ingredients were fresh; several slices of soft baguette were served with the light, yet satisfying entree.

My husband declared his BBQ Chicken Sandwich ($9.99) "the best BBQ chicken sandwich in Portland." A soft kaiser roll was topped with grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onion, cheddar cheese and house made BBQ sauce that was neither too tangy nor too sweet. The BBQ sauce is what made the sandwich so delicious. For a $1.00 surcharge, he "upgraded" the chips to a side of Sweet Potato Fries. Though they would have been better if they were served hot, the flavor of these fries was fantastic. I particularly liked that they weren't laden with grease.

Though we stuck to iced tea and Pellegrino, I did take a peek at their wine and beer selections. They had a decent selection of moderately priced "everyday" wines like Blackstone, Sterling, Four Vines and Steele - priced in the low-to-mid $20s. Draft beers included Allagash, Geary's and Shipyard.

The cuisine at the Dogfish Cafe was simple, fresh, delicious and moderately priced; the service was friendly and relaxed. While it's not a place I would choose to dine for dinner, I would stop into the Dogfish Cafe again for lunch. Given it's proximity to Maine Medical Center, it's also made the list of places my husband will be sent to pick up take out when I'm cooped up at the hospital later this month!

2009 Q1 Update

The top 10 most read posts January thru March:

1. Evangeline
2. Emilitsa
3. Grill Room
4. The Farmer's Table
5. Johnny's Bistro
6. Miyake
7. Restaurant Week Maine
8. Bresca
9. Dining Guide
10. Chef et al

Interesting Facts on the Stats:

• Three times the number of visitors viewed the blog compared to the same quarter last year
• March 9th was the busiest day that blog has ever seen -- it must of been people looking for recommendations for last two days of Restaurant Week

Looking Back:
I've been frequenting Terra Cotta Pasta Company in South Portland for lunch lately for their chicken salad wraps (made with grapes and lemon). At only $3.50, this pre-made delight is quite a bargain! Add a cup of squash bisque or the pesto pasta salad and you have a delicious and hearty lunch.

The Cheese Iron in Scarborough now has indoor seating (a picnic table) for those who want to enjoy their sandwiches on-premise. When the weather turns warmer, they will add outside seating, as well. I'm particularly fond of their tomato, mozzarella and basil sandwich made with Standard foccacia bread. Be sure to try one of Jill's cookies for dessert- made with dark chocolate chunks and sea salt.

Speaking of lunch spots, Clayton's in Yarmouth is still turning out fabulous sandwiches and salads. It has quickly become one of my favorite spots for lunch. I love the hearty Borealis Sourdough Bread they use to make their sandwiches, especially when it is grilled. They have also reduced the size of their chocolate dipped macaroons and sell them three-to-a-package. They are even moister in the smaller size!

Upcoming:
I'll be on maternity leave for a few months and would welcome suggestions as to where I can bring a newborn. I'm especially interested in a spot for Mother's Day brunch. Cafe Uffa was our spot for years until they closed and we're seeking a new location for our annual family get-together. I welcome your suggestions.

In case you haven't heard, Pink Martini is coming to Merrill Auditorium on June 15th. I saw their show last year when they were in Portland and it is not to be missed!

Of course, I'll be spending many hours outside with the baby jogger getting ready for the Beach2Beacon. I can't wait to hit the road once again - and to get my flat belly back!

Happy Spring!