Can't Get That Up Here

I did not cook this, nor would I attempt to. That being said, over the weekend I went with some friends to a place located "down south" or as we in the Bangor region call it, the other Maine, Portland. My friends took me to Pai Men Miyake, a restaurant apparently known for their Ramen. Located away from the touristy Old Port section of town, yet nestled in between other eateries, this is a cool place. I'm a big fan of the pig, an animal heavily reflected on their menu. They have their own farm where they raise these marvelously giving animals. Farm to table is everywhere nowadays.
We got a little bit of this and a little bit of that off the small plate menu (brussel sprouts, pork buns & hamayaki, which by the way is food crack) finishing off with ramen bowls (paitan). Words are fleeting when the complete satisfaction of a meal still resonates with you days later. Yeah, this place is that good. It's also got a full bar, so it became an instant hit with me. In what I saw as a bit of a hipster move, they played strictly 80's alternative music and that was ok by me. It was the first time I can remember being in a eatery and hearing Morissey, the Cure, the Smiths, Depeche Mode and all the other bands that never got good radio play when I was a kid, but I loved anyway. I would recommend this place to anyone and will definitely be back, because you can't get that up here.

pork buns, yummy, yummy pork buns

hamayaki served in the scallop shell

paitan, perfection in a bowl