All Authors >
brian duff
Latest Articles
Lift a stein and down a sausage at the Thirsty Pig, or Novare Res
The traditional remedies for the burdens of life, at least in the Anglo-Saxon and Germanic traditions that dominate American culture, have been beer and sausage — cheap ways to blot the pain with a light buzz and a stomach full of rich food.
The family-run place you're hoping for
It's often claimed that there is no good Chinese food in Portland. But when four Maine Chinese buffet restaurants were raided by federal agents for deplorable working conditions, money laundering, and other alleged crimes a few months back, it put things in perspective.
Korean cooking mixes three powerhouse tastes
You hear a lot about the rise of China, but in truth it is Korea that is headed toward world domination.
Fortune's return
It was four years ago — the beginning of 2008 — that Portland prepared to get its moment at the center of the nation's food consciousness.
Don't miss out
With the vogue in ever-changing menus, there are probably hundreds of great dishes that come and go every year in Portland that nearly everyone misses. You can't think about it: that way madness lies.
Tastes of Africa
On one wall of Fez restaurant is a portrait of the African continent.
Sending Mexican upscale — with a brick oven
Thanksgiving invites us to reflect on the Anglo-American model of indigenous relations: play nice for a bit, even share a feast, then murder everyone.
Want comfort? Go German
The most famous quality of Germans is their knack for accomplishing even difficult tasks with a clean efficiency.
Getting the tone of a cocktail bar just right
As the recent Ken Burns documentary Prohibition revealed, the woman-led movement to eliminate alcoholic drinks was fueled by a desire to eliminate a certain kind of masculine behavior — loud, abusive, irresponsible loutishness.
Sampling the artistic institution's take on food
In the long transition by which medieval mysticism gave way to modern rationality and bureaucratic efficiency, the placement of clocks on church steeples was a profound milestone.
District is hard to classify, but hard to go wrong
With the fall television season beginning, it is worth remembering the best TV show of the last decade: NBC's Las Vegas . Man, that show was good.
Sauce your heart out
Vietnamese cuisine very friendly to saucy experimentation.
In search of Mexillence
The surest formula for greatness is to turn your weakness into a strength.
The Well dispenses with snobbery, focuses on food
Foodie snobbery and "locavore" sanctimony have become so egregious that the New York Times Magazine recently made a cover story of one writer's description of participating in a two-day backyard feast in the Napa Valley.
Tasting the fruit of the spore
Being a chef is a risky business.
French treasures
On a crowded night at Petite Jacqueline it is hard to hear your companion over the din.
Korean tacos arrive in Portland at last
If you are looking for a prototypical American restaurant in this week that started with Independence Day, you could do worse than Gogi.
Two beachside meals, compared
Crescent Beach in Cape Elizabeth offers a chance to experience two varieties of summer dining.
Coastal magnificence
Some days Maine is so nice it seems like a theme park version of a state. Last week offered such a day, especially if you drove to Camden to hike the big hill, see the famous view, and stop afterwards for dinner at the remarkable bistro Francine.
Scent-sational Indian
Driving into the South Portland complex at 200 Gorham Road the other night we had to slow to a crawl to avoid hitting all the kids dressed up for a pre-prom dinner.
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2012 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group
