Jim Britt's life revolves around food, chef-prepared or from his own kitchen. Beyond the blog, Jim is a partner a gBritt PR in Portland, which specializes in lifestyle public relations.
November 2008
November 26, 2008
Back Bay Grill's Truffled Beef Tartare
Back Bay Grill is celebrating it's 20th anniversary. I can't speak to all 20 years, but at least the last six have been filled with absolutely consistent delicious dinners, served by an expert staff. The team of servers, chefs, and mixologists at the Grill are some of the best in Portland. Maybe even the best. I have enjoyed working with Chef Larry Matthews Jr for many years now. We are intimate with the Grill's inner workings. But you don't have to be close to the Grill to understand and appreciate its excellence.
My latest favorite at Back Bay Grill is a first course dish, the Truffled Beef Tartare -- $9.00.
At Back Bay Grill, tartare is packed into a ring mold and turned out onto a chilled plate. It's finished with white truffle oil. A farm egg yolk is placed gently into a boat shaped Parmesan crisp and set atop the tartare. The dish is beautiful to look at. It's aroma is amazing. The simplicity of the beef when combined with the other flavors on the plate are stunning.
I am no reviewer. I have made it clear in many blog entries before this one that I leave the cooking and reviewing to the pros. But I love Back Bay Grill's beef tartare. I love almost everything on the menu there.
Go to Back Bay Grill -- they're open Monday through Saturday for dinner. Congratulate them on their monumental achievement of 20 years in business in Portland, Maine.
And discover your own favorite dish.
After the election, share your strength
As if on cue America celebrated Tuesday night. Watching the proud Obama family make its way toward the front of that stage in Grant Park is a beautiful moment that will never be forgotten. While watching I wondered if this change of office could actually mean change for America. Is there really hope for an instantly improved future for my kids and kids everywhere. I truly hope so. I wondered if this new president would be the one who leads America to being the first nation that erases childhood hunger. I am committed to this goal. I am one of the many Share Our Strength volunteers in Maine who is committed to eliminating childhood hunger in Maine.
When I arrived at work Wednesday there was an email waiting from Billy Shore, Share Our Strength's founder. It moved me, like many of Billy's messages do. I've shared it with you below. Since organizing Share Our Strength in Maine four years ago with Sean Ryan, owner of Native Maine produce, I have had the good fortune of getting to know Billy Shore. We have met in Maine a few times, in New Orleans after Katrina, and most recently in Washington DC. On each occasion, my conversations with Billy have strengthened my commitment to the cause of feeding hungry kids. As you read Billy's email,. I invite you to consider sharing your strength -- I would love it for you attended an SOS event or if become a volunteer. Cheers - Jim
An email from
Billy Shore,
Share Our Strength:
Although the
election results were widely predicted by polls and pundits, it was
nonetheless striking to watch and absorb America's new reality at the moment
the television networks made it official at 11:00 p.m. last night.
The election not only made history, it set the stage for you and me to make
history too.
A community organizer has become President-elect. For the first time a
President of the United States, whose mom relied on food stamps, will
personally understand the critical value of the work you've done through
Share Our Strength and other nonprofit organizations.
Regardless of one's personal politics it will be hard not to feel a sense of
new beginnings, or get caught up in the excitement of a new president, new
priorities, and new appointments from cabinet and ambassadors to judges and
generals. But what about the rest of us? What about what Harry Truman called
the highest office in the land: that of citizen?
The idealism that inspires us to believe anything is possible will be short
lived if translating it into reality is left to the new president alone. Our
ability to solve some of the most challenging issues we face does not depend
only on a new occupant of the White House. It depends on a new kind of
citizenship too.
Hunger in America is a good example. The President-elect recently announced
that a top priority will be the ending of childhood hunger in America by
2015, the very goal established by Share Our Strength over the last 2 years.
Federal policy matters enormously. But so does its implementation at the
local level. That often depends on active citizens and robust, effective,
well led civic organizations.
Many kids in America who are hungry today are hungry not because of the lack
of food or even the lack of food assistance programs, but rather because
they lack access to food assistance programs that already exist. Sometimes
logistical or bureaucratic barriers prevent their participation.
For a hungry family wondering how to qualify for food stamps or summer
feeding, the most powerful person in the world may not be the Commander in
Chief but the local community organizer who helps them navigate the
bureaucracy. Achieving the right blend of public support and private efforts
is also essential to progress on other issues like nutrition education,
mentoring, after school enrichment, drug and alcohol addiction, energy
conservation, and environmental protection, just to name a few.
With the United States engaged in two protracted wars, constrained by
massive budget deficits, and possibly facing a long recession, it will
require more than our elected officials to right our course. It will take
all of us. The hardest work of a great nation has always fallen to its
citizens, not just its leaders.
In the days ahead the TV, internet, and newspapers will be awash with
analysis and commentary about the strategies that led to electoral victory,
what worked and why, the role of money and media and political organization.
But there is also a deeply personal set of questions that we can only ask of
ourselves: at such a precarious moment in the life of our nation, what can I
be doing to make a difference? In what way might I sacrifice and serve? What
strength can I share to make my country and community better?
The most powerful moments in history are those that invite us to make
history too.
Billy
Bill Shore is Founder and Executive Director of Share Our Strength (more)
Dinner with "The Working Girls"
I met today with a new client in Camden, Raymond Brunyanszki, owner of Camden Harbour Inn. He's a wonderful person. Quite the Innkeeper. He and his partner Oscar have added a personal touch to the Inn over the last couple of years -- it's gorgeous. Also they're adding unique flavors to Camden and to Maine -- via Natalie's, the Inn's fine dining restaurant, and through unique events and entertainment.
We talked today about their latest event -- "The Working Girls". It's worth checking out. They're a major international female impersonator act -- Something Maine doesn't see every day! The event is set for Friday, November 14, at Camden Opera House.
Raymond and Oscar are offering special "Working Girls" escapes to the Inn. One includes the show and dinner at Natalie's at Camden Harbour Inn. There is also a dinner, show and overnight stay package, with admission to an after-show VIP meet and greet with the Working Girls -- and breakfast Saturday morning at the Inn. By the way, if you haven't eaten with Lawrence Klang, Natalie's chef, you might want to check him out. He's another of Maine's rising star chefs.
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