Sunday, October 31, 2010

Restaurant Week /Friday... Clementine/Boda

I always try to move away from Portland at least once during restaurant week and Friday I planned on going to Brunswick to visit Clementine figuring I would actually eat something later at in Portland.
Going up the ramp and turning right onto Main Street, Clementine is the second door down. It's a cozy place, 14 tables tops and 2/4 seats at the bar. The kitchens isn't tiny and functions well, but it's not large either.



House cured Gravlox

Country Pork Pate

Lobster Tortellini

The soup of the day/ Pumpkin

Provencal Seafood Stew


Sauteed Sea Scallops

Lock Duart Salmon

Tenderloin Tips
Ta Dah! The Desserts!
Buttermilk-Mint Panna Cotta, for some reason no one had ordered this delight, so the made one up for me to shoot and best of all I got to eat it as well! Lovely, light and oh so delicious.

Coconut Macaroon, unfortunately I didn't get to taste this, but an excuse to return.

Chocolate Marquise,
You don't have to wait for a special occasion to try Clementine,
they feature a 25$ prix fixe option on the menu all the time!



Clementine
44 Maine Street
Brunswick
207-721-9800


***

The later would turn out to be Boda! 
Toby and I had eaten there not to long ago 
and enjoyed it very much, sitting next to Richard & Christine Suydam, of Gryffon Ridge, makers of all manner of spices.






I think the layout and feel of Boda is very nice. It is dim inside and bright outside in Longfellow Square with lots of energy and must be especially so at Christmas when the lights are hung in the trees.

I found a seat at the upper bar
and ordered a
soup and curry a la carte having had a salad and dessert earlier.



Boda
671 Congress street
207-347-7557






Friday, October 29, 2010

Restaurant Week/Tuesday...Thursday/ SeaDog Brewing... The Farmer's Table

Restaurant Week 
isn't a solely Portland event and it isn't about just one type of restaurant or food.  So I try to get around both geographically and food wise. This past winter I went to Kennebunk for lunch at Academe Brasserie and dinner in Yarmouth at the Sea Grass Bistro and Friday night I'll be shooting  food at Clementine in Brunswick.  I'd love to get to Camden /Rockland to Natalie's & Lily Bistro.


So Tuesday I visited the kitchen at SeaDog Brewing Co. in So. Portland. Pub food and flat screen TV's, not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Restaurant Week, but a perfect fit for the opening of the NBA season with the Celtics taking on the Miami Heat with Dawyne, Lebron and Chris Bosh.
As you might expect, lots of appetizers, salads, burgers, and plenty of Sea Dog beers.
Pub Steak w/ Sweet Potato fries* Restaurant Week Menu item






Potato encrusted Haddock*
Tuesdays from 4 to 7 you can get 3 of these bad boys for $20!!! They were running about a pound and a half in size.
Sea Dog Brewing Co. has three locations in South Portland, Topsham and Bangor.


Then we have a restaurant like the Farmers Table in Portland's Old Port area.
Chef Jeff Landry writing on the website says... "commitment to sourcing local ingredients...  our goal is to prepare all of these fine locally-grown products, as simply as possible, to let them speak for themselves. 











Farmers Table
205 Commercial Street
Portland, ME
207-347-7479

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Restaurant Week/ Wednesday / David's 388

It was a dark and stormy night! but inside it was dry and inviting, cozy with jazz floating above the aromas of warm food.  I was at "David's 388" Cottage Road in So. Portland.



Crispy vegetable potstickers w/ roasted duck breast, apricots and Peking Duck sauce.

Mushroom dusted haddock w/ ragout of leeks, mushrooms, roasted tomato in wine  & clam broth.

Exotic mushroom ravioli w/ wilted arugula, oven-dried tomato, goat cheese, Parmesan reggiano and white truffle oil.

Pepper & herb crusted filet of beef w/ creamed Madeira jus.


Roasted beet salad w/ danish blue cheese & spiced pecans.
Roasted butternut squash & grilled apple bisque w/ crispy truffled bacon.


Sophia, from Philadelphia, enjoys the lamb seen above.

Pecan & white chocolate tartlette w/ warm Kentucky bourbon sauce and fresh whipped cream.



It was a dark and stormy night! but that was alright because it was Restaurant Week!

David's 388
388 Cottage Road
South Portland
207-347-7388