Sure, the food is pretty . . . → Read More: Music Fans Need Food Too: Exchange St. Cafe]]> Portland has a new late night food option. Offering “Just good Italian food” and some of the most enthusiastic service I’ve seen after 1am, the Exchange Street Cafe is open until 2AM Thursday-Saturday, making it a new option for post-rock show snacking (yes, they’re open other times too).

Sure, the food is pretty straightforward Italian grub (rice balls, meatball sandwiches, salads, etc) but at a time of night when you don’t have too many options, it’s good to have another choice for tasty (and relatively affordable) late-night eats. The night we went, some complimentary pork chops even convinced a vegetarian friend (joining the staff in the photo above) to eat meat. But maybe that was just a side effect of MODNIGHT. Photos after the jump.

Opening almost two months ago was the Skinny Cart BBQ at 202 Washington Ave. While . . . → Read More: Portland Food Update April 2010]]> The past few months have seen some changes in the Portland food scene (I’m talking the one I’m interested in – pizza, bbq, hot dogs, bacon-dusted fries, etc., not that fancy or healthy stuff!). Here’s a quick update:

Opening almost two months ago was the Skinny Cart BBQ at 202 Washington Ave. While I was off in Austin consuming as much BBQ as I could possibly find, Portland was getting its own fill of some delicious new smoked, grilled, and messy meats. Ron Gan opened the cart in the bright green shack next to his house and plans to add more mobile carts to his arsenal before too long.

From one friend who hadn’t yet tried the food, it “looked legit.” I knew what he meant before even laying eyes on it – as many foods go, especially of the barbecue variety – the more dilapidated the restaurant/cart/truck looks, the more delicious the food is. As it turns out, this theory holds true with Skinny Cart.

The menu is very limited – to just two items, in fact. Their names seem to change, but basically you can either get a beef or pork sandwich. On this trip I had the pork – listed that day as “pulled pork” though what ended up on the bun was less the stringy stuff and more full chunks of shoulder pork, which is fine by me! I was surprised on my first bite (through some tangy peppers and onions on top) when I felt the crunch of – yes, here it comes, folks – bacon! Full, tasty, crispy strips of bacon inside the pork sandwich. Perfect!

While there’s no proper seating to rest while you enjoy your meal (I recommend stopping by on a bike trip, it’ll make you justify the meaty goodness if you’re one of those calorie-conscious people – I’m not) though there are some concrete blocks by the driveway which provide a partial view of the city. Hours are 11am-3pm (I think…) most days.

In other food news, my favorite pizza joint in town, Otto, is growing up a bit. The owners have opened Enzo next door. The beer-and-wine bar has table where you can order drinks and full pies from next door, which are passed through a pizza-sized window in the wall.

Finally, in what will certainly be even more of a bummer in the summer, when cheap hot dogs and onion rings are what you want at 2 am, Papaya King on Dana Street is long gone. Oh well, it was good while it lasted.

I noticed that the new Figa Restaurant on Congress Street has a sign up and it looks like the interior is coming along nicely, with chairs and other furniture in place… but when is the opening? If you know, please share!

In other food news, the Phoenix recently featured my favorite pizza joint, . . . → Read More: Figa?]]>

I noticed that the new Figa Restaurant on Congress Street has a sign up and it looks like the interior is coming along nicely, with chairs and other furniture in place… but when is the opening? If you know, please share!

In other food news, the Phoenix recently featured my favorite pizza joint, Otto (who appear to have a fancy new website!).

Big Sky Bakery Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Walnut Cookie (I purchased mine from the Public Market, but it’s available at the Woodfords location as well) (My apologies, I forgot the price. Again! It was reasonable, though, I remember that. Good cookies are so distracting.) Now . . . → Read More: Portland Cookie Review: Big Sky Bakery]]> review by Biscuit Wakefield – please read “Biscuit On Cookies“

Big Sky Bakery
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Walnut Cookie
(I purchased mine from the Public Market, but it’s available at the Woodfords location as well)
(My apologies, I forgot the price. Again! It was reasonable, though, I remember that. Good cookies are so distracting.)

Now that the air has cooled I find myself turning to that old breakfast standby: oatmeal. Such simple food, yet so nourishing, so satisfying. Amazing how a few cents’ worth of oats will tide you over until lunch, even if you have a busy morning and lots of leaves to rake.

However, in my mind, there is a clear distinction between a chocolate-chip cookie and an oatmeal chocolate-chip cookie. Oats lend sturdiness, texture, and yes – flavor. Oats in a CCC aren’t an ‘add-in.’ They’re a revision (OCCC). Mind you, it can be a tasty revision, as this OCCC from Big Sky proves.

Butter fans, take note! Real creamery taste shines in this cookie, and there’s just enough salt to cut the rich sweetness. Big Sky is, of course, known for its breads – the Honey Whole Wheat is a staple of the Wakefield household – and while it seems odd to say this, it’s possible to detect the quality flour in Big Sky’s cookie. It’s oaty, yes, but wheaty too; I’d be curious to taste a version of this cookie sans oats, just for comparison’s sake.

Walnut fans, also take note! I do not, for the record, prefer walnuts in my cookies. But these are fresh and flavorful, lacking the bitter tang that plagues cheap (or aged) nuts. As for the chocolate, it’s dark and assertive enough to mingle with all these other flavors, though I wish there’d been more of it. I say that, though. What really grabbed me about this cookie, and what I’m remembering now as I write about it, is the phenomenal, comforting, homey taste and mouthfeel of the grains surrounding said chocolate.

I guess this is the only cookie that’s ever made me crave a bowl of oatmeal. I mean this as a great compliment.

Eaters of Portland!

I realize that Bryan, Hilly Town’s owner, asked me to review chocolate-chip cookies for this fine web site. I am sorry that my CCC reviews have slowed of late — the summer was busy, my garden was suffering, and other obligations interfered. I promise I will . . . → Read More: Luke’s Lobster In NYC]]> review by Biscuit Wakefield

Eaters of Portland!

I realize that Bryan, Hilly Town’s owner, asked me to review chocolate-chip cookies for this fine web site. I am sorry that my CCC reviews have slowed of late — the summer was busy, my garden was suffering, and other obligations interfered. I promise I will have more cookies to discuss with you soon but first, a brief detour into the world of the savory.

As I have mentioned previously, Mr. Wakefield’s boat business takes him occasionally to New York City. I accompanied him on a recent trip and while we were there we decided to visit Luke’s Lobster, a new spot run by a man whose family is from Cape Elizabeth. According to the New Yorkers, this place guaranteed a “real” Maine lobster roll at a reasonable price. I hear this is something of a rarity in New York, those poor souls! But is this “real” lobster roll really real, and is the price reasonably reasonable? Only one way to find out. Below the jump, you will see the results of my investigation.

(Luckily for all of us, Bryan Hilly Town arrived in New York for a music festival the week after I left. So he was able to drop by Luke’s with his camera and recreate my order. I confess, my little camera does not take very good pictures.)

It is remarkable how tiny Luke’s Lobster is. They say everything is bigger in New York but clearly this does not apply to real estate. I once read about a woman who lived in a 175 square foot apartment — I have seen SUVs larger than that! Anyway, unlike a good coastal lobster shack with benches and picnic tables, Luke’s is crammed into a small space just large enough for a few stools and a counter. Chips and the delicious Maine Root soda are available. The employees we met were very friendly. I think by now we all know the stereotype of rude New Yorkers is just that, a stereotype.

Decor included netting and a fisherman’s outfit fastened to the wall. We would call this touristy here in Portland but it was fun to see in the midst of Manhattan.

Mr. Wakefield and I shared a ginger soda and the “large” lobster roll, which was priced at $14. I do not know if they normally serve these cut in half, or if the friendly counter people were being considerate because they overheard us agreeing to share. The roll came in a plastic basket, lined with foil. The frilly white paper cups the halves were nestled in almost reminded me of the “cuffs” my mother used to put on lamb chops at Easter, does anyone else remember those?

Now, the part you are all waiting for. The lobster roll. I was pleased to see that the bun was a proper top-split hot dog bun, Country Kitchen brand (in my family we always buy Nissen, but close enough). It was lightly grilled and brushed with butter. The lobster meat itself was fresh and sweet, if a tad overcooked. The roll contained a restrained amount of mayonnaise. I for one am not overly fond of mayonnaise so this was a welcome feature. However, I must take issue with the seasoning. I believe a lobster roll needs nothing more than good lobster, a proper bun and a restrained amount of mayonnaise. At Luke’s they add several shakes of celery salt [EDIT! And oregano, and thyme! Good Lord, that's what I thought when I was eating it, but I couldn't believe anyone -- let alone a Maine native -- would do that to a lobster roll!]. To me this adds an unwelcome vegetal flavor, and speaking of my mother, she would never have put celery salt [or oregano! or thyme!] on the lobster rolls she served us. I know some “traditional” lobster rolls include seasoning so perhaps it is just a matter of personal preference and family tradition. But be warned if you, like me, fall in the anti-seasoning, anti-celery salt [and oregano! and thyme! on lobster rolls!] camp.

As for the price, is it reasonable? Well, according to the menu our roll contained 4 oz. of meat, so at $14 it cost $3.50 per ounce. Last I checked that’s about the price per pound at the fish market on the pier. On the other hand, you have the costs of transportation and storage to consider.

Bottom line, Luke’s makes a tasty sandwich (despite the celery salt), and the owners are to be commended for their efforts to support the Maine lobster industry and offer New Yorkers an alternative to the highfalutin’ lobster rolls elsewhere in the city. But is this “real Maine”? Of course not. It is real East Seventh Street. It occurs to me that searching for a “real Maine lobster roll experience” in New York City is as fruitless a quest as searching for a “real New York bagel experience” in Winter Harbor. Is it not a comfort, though, that in this age of cultural homogenization there are still some reasons to embrace the differences between places?

The Udder Place Chocolate Chip Cookie My apologies. I forgot the price.

Two years ago I joined my husband on a trip to New York City, where he was attending a boat sales show, and there I encountered a chocolate chip cookie unlike any I’d ever eaten. It was . . . → Read More: Portland Cookie Review: The Udder Place]]> review by Biscuit Wakefield

The Udder Place
Chocolate Chip Cookie
My apologies. I forgot the price.

Two years ago I joined my husband on a trip to New York City, where he was attending a boat sales show, and there I encountered a chocolate chip cookie unlike any I’d ever eaten. It was at the Levain Bakery, which my daughter Kathy tells me is “famous” from mentions on the Food TV Network. The place was recommended to me by someone at the conference, who said I “absolutely had to try” the Levain cookie, even though it meant riding the subway alone and getting lost. As I wandered around in circles I found myself envying the pigeons, what with their homing brains. Finally I homed in on the bakery and a “famous” “must-try” chocolate chip cookie was mine – and just as everything in New York seemed overly large and hard to digest, this cookie was a whopper. I could only eat half, but oh, what a half it was: massively thick, underbaked in the center, with sturdy outsides and a heady rush of sugar. I have since dreamt of this cookie, which Mr. Wakefield liked also when I shared a piece back at the hotel.

The reason for this preface is that The Udder Place’s chocolate chip cookie was reminiscent of Levain’s, if a lot smaller and less intense. When I broke it in half the thick bottom crust bent, it didn’t snap;the insides were soft and doughy. This is my preferred CCC texture but I realize it may not be yours. As at Levain, there was no pronounced vanilla flavor – cheap extracts have ruined many a fine cookie. Instead, the experience was one of light caramel, almost like eating a blondie. The chocolate involved was quality semi-sweet, but in my opinion the chip-to-dough ratio was a mite low. The cookie itself was also greasier than it should have been, leaving visible oily stains on the napkin. A little less fat and a little more chocolate and this would have been a contender for the top chocolate chip cookie in Portland.

Best of all I did not have to ride a bus or the subway in order to get it, although it does require a short drive from the peninsula, which I did not mind because I had some spare time that morning.

Hilltop Coffee Shop Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip $0.50 (baked the day before) + tax

Fellow gardeners know, all too well, the expression “The bloom is off the rose.” Comes a day when the air chills, the sky darkens, and your hard-tended beds let faded petals fall to the ground. . . . → Read More: Portland Cookie Review: Hilltop Coffee Shop]]> review by Biscuit Wakefield

Hilltop Coffee Shop
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
$0.50 (baked the day before) + tax

Fellow gardeners know, all too well, the expression “The bloom is off the rose.” Comes a day when the air chills, the sky darkens, and your hard-tended beds let faded petals fall to the ground. Is it sad? Yes, a little. But we know this is Mother Nature taking her course. Beauty will spring again in the spring, which is why we call it spring.

Chocolate-chip cookies are another matter. Their life cycle is short and pronounced: one day past their prime and they may be downright inedible, which is nothing but a tragedy of poor planning. You should have gotten to them sooner. I thought about this rule when the young man at Hilltop informed me that the cookie I was about to consume was “day old,” even though he assured me it was “still pretty great.” He seemed trustworthy and I wanted to believe him.

This specimen was small, about two inches across, and closely resembled the cookies I make in my own kitchen. It was, I realized upon first bite, a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie. My assignment with this project was to review chocolate chip cookies, but purists – like chocolate chip cookies – are best dunked in a cold glass of milk.
Onward! Hilltop’s PBCCC contained a goodly amount of salt, which suits my personal taste, and despite its age the insides were wonderfully soft and chewy. However, the bottom was greasy and the edges ever so slightly sandy, two minor design flaws that I will blame on the peanut butter. And peanut butter, as you know, is delicious, as long as you are not one of those poor people who is allergic.

It was a good cookie. It was a good peanut butter cookie. Sadly, the chocolate chips were overwhelmed by the PB flavor. I found myself thinking about all that awful business with the salmonella in Georgia, not that Hilltop’s cookies have anything to do with that, but clearly the thing foremost in my mind was peanut butter… not chocolate
chips. I do feel this cookie would have been exceptional if it had contained a slightly higher chip-to-dough ratio. Or perhaps it would have been exceptional if I had gotten to it sooner. But the day previously I had been busy in my garden, with no time to purchase cookies, so there you have it.

North Star Music Cafe Chocolate-Chip Walnut (not vegan) $1.75 + tax

This hefty cookie is no lightweight snack: measuring just over four inches across, it stands up to dunking in cold milk, hot coffee, or both. The thick, chewy interior is pleasant, though the edges wobble on the line . . . → Read More: Portland Cookie Review: North Star Cafe]]> review by Biscuit Wakefield

North Star Music Cafe
Chocolate-Chip Walnut (not vegan)
$1.75 + tax

This hefty cookie is no lightweight snack: measuring just over four inches across, it stands up to dunking in cold milk, hot coffee, or both. The thick, chewy interior is pleasant, though the edges wobble on the line between crisp and dry. Flavorwise it falls flat, with one-dimensional sweetness that cries out for salt or brown sugar or both. The chip-to-dough ratio is perfect, but the chocolate itself is unremarkable and has a vaguely chalky finish. Nut haters take note: the walnut pieces are assertive (and a bit bitter), but they’re large and easily pried out, if you feel like doing a little cookie surgery. (For the record, several of North Star’s other cookie offerings – particularly the apple crisp, vegan thumbprint, and molasses-ginger variations – get higher marks in all departments. But for our purposes, we’re focusing on the CCC.)

The North Star is located at 225 Congress Street in Portland.

Look for the next cookie review here next week!