Best of The Phoenix / Dessert

Of all the Phoenix Best of categories, this seems the most broadly interpreted with Silly's and Deans Sweets mixed in with three higher end restaurants, Bar Lola, Grace and Salt. Wether it's little kids or the most grown up adults, chocolate lovers to architectural buffs, liquid or solid it covers the bases.

Caramelized Banana Napoleon with Pastry Cream and Chocolate Sauce

Salted Caramel Tart

Dean's Sweets sits on Middle street east of Franklin Arterial and for those lucky enough to walk by it on their way to & from work, it must seem the work of the devil, what with the temptation it presents for a daily pop in  to the  tasting counter, where a dozen or more little bites await the unsuspecting.

For those of you who haven't found this lovely spot, it's in the Old Chestnut Street Church near City Hall and might be the most stunning restaurant in the city. It is also a great place for a wedding or other event.

Like a lot of fine restaurants, The Salt Exchange changes it dessert menu weekly if not daily, rotating the tried and true with newer offerings, mixing seasonal ingredients with lasting favorites, the simple, but never plain with surprisingly architectural delights.

What can you say about Silly's, it's been around for 20 plus years and it still does a great business. The desserts run to big cakes, homemade cookies, ice cream concoctions.  Just the place to go with the kids or the kid in you, it's silly but what would you expect.

Bar Lola
100 Congress Street
Portland, ME
tel. 207-775-5652
www.BarLola.net

Dean's Sweets
82 Middle street
Portland, ME
tel. 207-899-3664
www.deanssweets.com

Grace
15 Chestnut Street
Portland, ME
tel. 207-828-4422
www.restaurantgrace.com

the Salt Exchange
245 Commercial Street
Portland, ME
tel. 207-347-5687
www.thesaltexchange.net

Silly's
40 Washington Ave
Portland, ME
tel. 207-772-0360
www.sillys.com

Bresca / Good Things Come In Small Packages!

The 2010 Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in the U. S. Survey came out last week with Portland placing 5 of the top 15 in the New England region. Friday night I was happily snapping away at # 9 on that list Krista Kern Desjarlais' bresca, ( Catalonian for honeycomb). The small, make that tiny two person kitchen, is the stage for a two act play. I caught the first act (seating) and left by 8:30 before the second act started.  The handful of tables is serviced by two wait staff.  French cafe music was playing over the kitchen stereo.

bresca

111 Middle Street

Portland, Maine

tel. 207-772-1004

www.bresca.org

Po'Boys & Pickles

Po'Boys & Pickles continues with it's "soft opening" as it gradually expands it's hours trying to iron out the wrinkles before having a Grand Opening in a few weeks. Business has been brisk during the lunch hour so much so that some menu items had been running low or in a few instances out entirely. On tuesday when it took these images most of the tables were full and a steady stream of take out customers came thru the doors the entire time I was there.

Many of the traditional foods served in Louisiana can be found on the menu, including Fried Oyster, Pulled Pork, Cajan Fish and of course Po' Boys sandwiches as well as Gumbo and Sweet Potato fries. If you want you can wash it all down with a beer, drive safely.

Fittingly this new New Orleans Styled restaurant, named after a poor mans lunch, is next door to the Good Will store and brings the number of places for lunch within 300 feet of the Morril's Corner light to eight. Pictures from several more of those will be appearing on this blog in the coming weeks.

Po'Boys & Pickles

1124 Forest Ave

Portland, ME 04103

(207) 518-9735

Taste Of The Nation #2

Remember that the great auction is here...http://www.cmarket.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?vhost=strengthportlandme

also more images here:   http://www.flickr.com/photos/doda_foto/

Taste of the Nation

Thursday night Taste of the Nation, Southern Maine Chapter held their gastronomic fund raiser under five tent overlooking Casco Bay on the campus of Soutern Maine Community College, in South Portland.  The benefit of all this over eating and drinking will be several non profits that help reduce hunger in kids across the southern Maine area.  As part of the festivities and STILL GOING ON!!! is an online auction.  Fancy a Thomas Moser chair, a limo ride to see a Red Sox Yankee game or how about a 5 day /4 night getaway to Ecuador!  You have until June 30 to bid on these and about 20 more items.  Times a wasting!   You can see lots more at :   http://www.flickr.com/photos/doda_foto/