All Authors >

BRIAN DUFF

Latest Articles

Review: Bayside Bowl

Fueling up for turkeys
Medical experts believe that modern Americans' tendency to constantly clean and disinfect our environment is hurting our immune systems.

By: BRIAN DUFF | January 26, 2011

Review: Upstairs at the Public Market House

Gustatory altitude
Everybody likes a scrappy tale of redemption. So when a scrappy redemption actually succeeds, it is especially gratifying. Perhaps that explains why it is so pleasant to sit upstairs at the Public Market House.

By: BRIAN DUFF | January 19, 2011

Political fodder

Will the GOP save the restaurant industry?
Despite some notable successes described here last week, 2010 was a sobering year for the restaurant business.

By: BRIAN DUFF | December 29, 2010

Portland broadens its cuisines in 2010

International taste
Portland's year in food in 2010 was marked by new ventures on the part of established players on the food scene.

By: BRIAN DUFF | December 22, 2010

Searching Trader's shelves

In which we sample Joe's cheap wines
What should we make of the craze for cheap Trader Joe's wines that has overtaken Portland?

By: BRIAN DUFF | December 01, 2010

Review: Mike's

Rock music as soul food
Mike's, downtown on Congress, bills itself as "home of the rock n roll sandwich." This deli doubles as a shrine to local music — sandwiches are named after local bands, and show posters cover the walls in the back room — and to the idea of rock music in general.

By: BRIAN DUFF | November 24, 2010

Refueling stops on western Congress Street

Indy shops for coworkers
In Ouvriers et Capital Mario Tronti explains how corporations are able to turn worker demands to the boss's advantage: "There are no decisive battles in the war of the classes, defeats are victories and victories are defeats."

By: BRIAN DUFF | November 03, 2010

Saigon has a lovely Vietnamese mix of influences

Melting pot
For those who move to Maine from more diverse parts of the country, going out for an Asian meal requires some adjustments.

By: BRIAN DUFF | October 27, 2010

Review: Whaddapita

Whaddapita sends fast Mediterranean fare upscale
Whaddapita is an indicator of our bright lunch-future. It brings to Mediterranean food the trend of giving upscale-fast-food treatment to regional cuisines, sort of like the BajaFresh chain did with Mexican.

By: BRIAN DUFF | September 29, 2010

Review: Local Sprouts Cafe

Collective win
The responsibilities of individualism are hard to bear. We must compete in a system in which we can sense the rules are fixed — succeeding or failing alone, moving up the ladder or onto unemployment.

By: BRIAN DUFF | September 08, 2010

Review: Scallops and lamb soar at Havana South

Hitting the high points
If you visit the Web site of Havana South, a new restaurant in the Old Port, you will find a photo of Barack and Michelle Obama looking handsome and happy.

By: BRIAN DUFF | September 01, 2010

The kids are all-write

Telling Room young authors take on Portland's food scene
Recently I spoke to a group of aspiring food writers attending the Young Authors camp at the Telling Room. I don't know about them, but I learned some things.

By: BRIAN DUFF | August 11, 2010

The sweet taste of regression

Explaining and exploring Maine's ice-cream cravings
What explains the current craze for ice cream in Maine, which has resulted in several new businesses and recently overcame the nation's President? Sure, it's one of the hottest summers on record, and yes, ice cream is an affordable indulgence in a tough economy.

By: BRIAN DUFF | August 04, 2010

Silver platter

Finding a comfy spot to eat Otto's pizza
People seem eager to call Otto's the best pizza in Portland.

By: BRIAN DUFF | July 14, 2010

A true Jewel

Biddo's best Indian expands to South Portland
People from Biddeford will happily tell you, in a tone meant to convince someone not likely to believe it, "we actually have really good Indian food here." I checked and it's true: the Biddo's got good Indian, at the Jewel of India — a family-run place in a little spot downtown.

By: BRIAN DUFF | July 07, 2010