The West End News Food & Travel section. Local reviewer James Fereira visits your favorite local eateries and shares all the good with a little snark. And West End independent travel agent Nancy Dorrans takes readers around the world in search of adventure.
Exploring the Val d’Orcia on Foot By Nancy Dorrans Outside is forever where I’d rather be. A hiking adventure in the Val d’Orcia region of Italy is sure to always provide beautif... Read more
By Layne V. Witherell There have been three dramatic changes over the past year in the world of wine. The first, of course, is the disappearance of your favorite local restaurant. Bummer. Th... Read more
Layne’s Wine Gig CELEBRITY WINES By Layne V. Witherell MASSTIGE: Mass produced, relatively inexpensive goods that are marketed as luxurious or prestigious. There are several reasons wh... Read more
Layne’s Wine Gig WEN AT 20: Thoughts on food and wine By Layne V. Witherell The tourist is led; the traveler seeks. -Todd Kliman, food critic We have lived in the West End long enough to try... Read more
Layne’s Wine Gig Presents NEW FARM TO TABLE By Layne V. Witherell Just stepping inside the new Batson River Brewing and Distilling on 82 Hanover Street in Portland is a total revelation in w... Read more
By Nancy Dorrans As a travel counselor, I strive to navigate my clients on authentic experiences, safely out of their comfort zone and into an appreciation of other cultures, landscapes, tra... Read more
LAYNE’S WINE GIG FLYING UNDER THE RADAR By Layne V. Witherell Our oddest Sunday brunch experience ever (and we go out almost weekly) occurred a few years ago when we decided at the las... Read more
The Portland Palate Farewell to Food By James Fereira Goodbyes and transitions are never easy. Sometimes they are by choice, sometimes by circumstance, perhaps sometimes a combination of bot... Read more
The Portland Palate Review and Photos by James Fereira When I was asked to write about options this year for procuring a local Thanksgiving meal, I incorrectly assumed that the mission would... Read more
The Portland Palate Dining Al Fresco in a New World By James Fereira As a food writer, it’s been hard to know what and how to write about eating out during a pandemic. We try all the angles... Read more