Feast
Five-O 2.0
FEAST-Five-O 2.0- May 2010
by Smith Galtney
Photography François Gagné
With a new chef and a new attitude, Five-O gears up for summer in Ogunquit
It’s an unseasonably glorious mid-March afternoon in Ogunquit, one of those premature spring afternoons that makes you want to pull a Ferris Bueller and bask in the sunlight. But Jeff Porter and Gary Pucciarelli—two of the men behind Five-O, one of the area’s few restaurants that stays open year-round—don’t need to call in sick. Both are on mid-winter break, technically, with Five-O’s doors not scheduled to reopen until the end of March. Yet here they are, tucked inside the bistro’s upstairs offices, talking shop and thinking ahead.
Fresh from the Farm
FEAST-Chase’s Daily- April 2010
by Rebecca Falzano
Photography Irvin Serrano
At Chase’s Daily in Belfast, farm-to-plate with a side of art
Same Name, New Energy
FEAST-Walters- March 2010
by Rebecca Falzano
Photography Darren Setlow
An old Portland favorite with a new location
Tuscan Tribute
FEAST-Grissini Italian Bistro- Jan/Feb 2010
by Rebecca Falzano
Photography Irvin Serrano
Kennebunk’s Grissini carries on the vision of late owner and popular local Laurie Bongiorno
From the street, Grissini is relatively nondescript: a gray-shingled box with two white-trimmed windows facing Route 9 in Kennebunk’s Lower Village. Unlike the restaurants in the Kennebunkport area that entice with water views or storefronts overlooking the bustling sidewalks of Dock Square, Grissini relies on reputation and that time-honored advertising vehicle: the word-of-mouth recommendation. It has the reserved confidence that only a highly successful, well-established eatery open every night of the week, both in season and out, can enjoy. And once inside, one finds the atmosphere is anything but unremarkable.
Cafe Crossroads
FEAST-Frontier Cafe, Cinema & Gallery- Nov/Dec 2009
by Rebecca Falzano
Photography François Gagné
Sharing stories and food from around the world
Michael Gilroy is not your average cafe owner. But then again, Frontier is not your average cafe. The Brunswick business lives and breathes its motto: “Go Beyond.” The combination eatery, cinema, gallery, and meeting place was designed to be a traveler’s crossroads—a cultural intersection of stories and ideas inspired by Gilroy’s own world travels. This philosophy finds good company in the Fort Andross Mill on the Androscoggin River, a building that’s buzzing with diverse creative energies and a collective entrepreneurial spirit.
Recipe for Success
FEAST-Robinhood Free meetinghouse- October 2009
by Rebecca Falzano
Photography François Gagné
A journey to find the perfect biscuit
Little Italy
FEAST-September 2009
by Rebecca Falzano
Photography François Gagné
European-style dining thrives off Portland’s beaten path
Three Tiers on the Pier
FEAST-August 2009
by Rebecca Falzano
Photography François Gagné
If restaurants could talk, Pier 77 on Cape Porpoise Harbor would have some tales to tell. For more than seventy years, the site overlooking a working pier has been a local landmark. It was once home to Tilly’s Shanty, a favorite lobster shack of President George H. W. Bush, and more recently, a restaurant named Seascapes. While owners and names have changed throughout the decades, one thing has remained constant: at this spot, all eyes are on the view.
Bistro Beat
FEAST-July 2009
by Rebecca Falzano
Photography Irvin Serrano
At Francine Bistro, there is an undeniable rhythm in the air—an upbeat tempo that crescendos on summer nights when the candles are lit and the twinkle lights on the patio arbor cast their seductive glow. The chatter of diners and the clatter of plates enliven an otherwise quiet tree-lined street just a few blocks from the bustle of Main Street. And then there is the buzz of the kitchen run by chef-owner Brian Hill, a man uniquely familiar with the pulse of nightly performance. Prior to his life as a chef, the Maine native was a guitarist in the Boston-based alternative-rock band Heretix in the early 1990s. Having lived the life of an aspiring rock star, Hill has perfected the rhythm of nightly routine—his trick is to make it anything but routine.
Casual on the Cove
FEAST-June 2009
by Rebecca Falzano
Photography François Gagné
It is nearly impossible to talk about MC Perkins Cove without first talking about Arrows; it is just as difficult to discuss the two Ogunquit eateries without likening them to sisters. The two restaurants share similar DNA but have otherwise distinct personalities—like two sisters of the same blood who couldn’t be more different. If Arrows is the more established and refined sister, then MC is the younger, more playful one. If Arrows is where you would make reservations on a special occasion, then MC is the place you would visit regularly for a casual night out. Despite their differences, the two share a common pedigree: the decades-old, garden-to-table philosophy pioneered by award-winning chef-owners Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier.
A Natural Secret
FEAST-May 2009
by Rebecca Falzano
Photography François Gagné
Inside Kennebunkport’s Bandaloop, the key to eternal life awaits
Walking for the first time through the bright red doors of Bandaloop in Kennebunkport’s Dock Square, one cannot help but feel as though they are stepping into the unknown, about to encounter an exquisite secret. The restaurant is shrouded in mystery; it is located a bit off the beaten path, and its ambiguous name offers no clues to its setting or cuisine. Once inside, the eclectic decor is not easily categorized, nor is the menu, which is as vegetarian and vegan friendly as it is a meat-lover’s delight. For husband-and-wife team chef W. Scott and Bridget Lee, this enigmatic experience is entirely intentional. “We don’t want people to have any preconceived ideas before they come in,” says Scott, who explains that the name came from Jitterbug Perfume, a novel by Tom Robbins, the couple’s favorite author. In the book, Bandaloop is the name of a fictional tribe that knew the secret to eternal life. While true immortality might forever remain unattainable, Scott and Bridget believe that fine food and wine must have something to do with it. To enrich their own lives and those of their customers, the couple has built a menu founded on healthy and fresh ingredients—most of which are organic, all-natural, and purchased from local suppliers such as Wolfe’s Neck Farm.
Where Gallery Meets Galley
FEAST-April 2009
by Rebecca Falzano
Photography Irvin Serrano
A Main Street bistro blooms within the Rockland art community
Two tiny hands and a giggling “hi” emerge from thick drapery at the entrance to Lily Bistro in Rockland. Into full view comes 18-month-old Shawn, a miniature maitre d’ in training, who welcomes us inside. His parents, owners and chefs Lynette Mosher and Robert Krajewski, laugh in the background. “That’s his job,” jokes Lynette.
Greek Revival
FEAST-March 2009
by Candace Karu
Photography Irvin Serrano
Two brothers bring the traditional tastes of the Mediterranean to Portland’s Emilitsa
In the quiet morning hours, sun pouring through the front windows, Emilitsa slowly comes to life. In other restaurants, sunlight serves only to highlight small imperfections; these are places better seen at night, illuminated by the soft glow of candles or dimmed lamps. But Emilitsa, one of the newest additions to Portland’s flourishing culinary scene, basks in the unforgiving brightness like a beautiful teenager—flawless, unconsciously confident, and gazing upon a future of boundless potential.
Rooms at the Top
FEAST-JAN/FEB 2009
A Portland restaurateur redefines the meaning of comfort food at The Front Room and The Grill Room
Chef and restaurateur Harding Lee Smith is on a mission: he’s determined to give comfort food a new image. “I’ve always been interested in high-end food that’s casual and affordable,” says the Maine native. “You should be able to go out for great food without having to worry about your credit-card balance.” Smith, who went to Deering High School and graduated from Boston University, made the conscious decision to experiment with his personal food memories when he opened the Front Room, his hugely successful Munjoy Hill restaurant in December of 2005.
Backyard Gourmets
FEAST - NOV/DEC 2008
by Joshua Bodwell and Candace Karu
Photography Irvin Serrano
Portland’s best young chefs vie for supremacy in Deathmatch
Sun warms the last Sunday in August. Labor Day has arrived early and the balmy afternoon begs for some sort of celebration.
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