Chaval

Well, I made it to the end of my culinary tour of Portland, Maine! I was stuffed! Well, after this last meal at Chaval, I was stuffed. Chaval came recommended from some friendly barkeeps at The Press Hotel as well as several a blog. I was happy to try something new, that wasn’t on every…

Sagamore Hill

On my last night in Portland, I hit the art museum for their free, late hours and then found THE coolest bar for a pre-dinner tipple. It was a Roosevelt themed bar called Sagamore Hill.  Forget any other mixo bars in Portland. If you are going to one, make this it. (Trust me. I tried…

Eventide Oyster Co.

Eventide is touted as one of those Portland “must-eats” by everything you read and anyone you may speak with, near or far. After some time in Copenhagen this summer where acclaimed restaurants failed to deliver on repeat. Maybe it was just the pricing, but the Danish experience made me a tad skeptical of major magazine…

Hunt + Alpine Club

After a lengthy (one hour plus!) conversation with the gentlemen at Portland Trading Company, I took my free, unsolicited over to the Hunt + Alpine Club. Mama needed a drawnk after that. So, I headed around the corner for a tipple and to digest everything that just came my way. The menu was a very…

Central Provisions

Eating my way around Fore Street over the course of a weekend was becoming my full-time job. My girlfriend who travels to Portland often for work insisted that I hit up her personal favorite, Central Provisions. She is small, but bossy so I had to listen and found myself there for an early lunch on…

Vena’s Fizz House

A real gem of a bar (and great place to wait for your table at Fore Street) is Vena’s Fizz House. Fabo name, to boot, non? Vena’s started as fizzy soda shop and just a few years ago decided to spike it up. Their mocktail menu is quite extensive if that is your thing. Or add…

Fore Street

Fore Street was hands down my favorite Portland dining experience. It comes with a pedigree of James Beard accolades and was once a top 50 best restos in the US by Gourmet magazine. Most importantly, Fore Street introduced me to Standard Bakery so how could it not be the creme de la creme? It’s hard…

Portland Baking

By the time I returned home from Maine, my stomach HURT. Like I’m getting to old to consume calories like this/pop me with a pin. I felt terrible and started Whole 30 the following Monday. This was AFTER my bakery sampling rampage in Portland. But, I don’t work out on vacation just like I wouldn’t…