Tuesday — Chef David Levi is teaching a cooking class. The class will teach how to “create and craft delicious and nourishing dishes using exclusively organic, local, and sometimes wild ingredients.”

Wednesday — Pai Men Miyake and Rosemont are co-hosting a wine dinner featuring Hillinger wines from Austria, and David Levi is holding a second (sold out) session of his cooking class.

Thursday — The Great Lost Bear is featuring Gritty’s at their weekly brewery showcase, and Rosemont is holding a wine tasting.

Friday — Coffee by Design is holding a pair of coffee cuppings, and there will be a wine tasting at the West End Deli.

Saturday — a Bakery Pop-up Shop is taking place at Akari, sales at the pop-up shop will benefit the Good Shepherd Food Bank. There will be a wine tasting LeRoux Kitchen, Wine Wise is leading a Cabernet wine walk in the Old Port, and the Winter Farmers Market is being held.

Sunday — La Vie en Rose is on the schedule for movie night at Petite Jacqueline, and Maine food historian Sandy Oliver will be speaking at the Freeport Historical Society about the history of chocolate in American cooking.

Valentine’s Day — memories of New Year’s Eve are just fading and it’s already time to start making plans for Valentine’s Day. Here are the first few V Day options I’ve heard of. Post a comment with info for others that I should add to the list.

• Bar Lola, $45, 5-course dinner with optional wine pairings
• Bresca, 5-course Paris 2066 Dinner, $65 per person, $100 per person with wine pairings
• Cinque Terre, 5-course on February 13 and 14, $59.95
  
• Peaks Island Gastro Society, $100 6-course prix fixe with wine pairings on Saturday February 11
• Petite Jacqueline, $65 4-course dinner with optional wine pairings
• The Salt Exchange has posted their Valentine’s Day menu
• Vignola, 4-course, $39.95

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

Altadonna

The Bangor Daily News has published a report on Bard’s monthly barista TNT latte art competition.

Once a month or so, they come. Some rookies, some veterans. All seeking the four weeks of bragging rights in the Portland coffee community that come from a Thursday Night Throwdown title.

On the final Thursday of most months, Bard Coffee hosts a raucous playoff style competition to see who can whip up the best art in a head of latte foam.

Bard has also posted a set of photos from the January competition.

Monday — the Portland Pie Council is hosting the 3rd Annual Portland Pie and Art Gala in celebration of National Pie Day. The Pie Council has also just issued the Official Portland Pie Council 2012 Cookbook. Erin Lynch, kitchen manager at Rosemont, and Ned Swain from Devenish Wines will be on Good Day Maine (Chanel 13 WGME) to talk about National Pie Day.

Wednesday — Wine Wise the Chadwick Bed & Breakfast are collaborating on a Pork and Pinot Noir wine dinner.

Thursday — it’s the first night of the Ice Bar at the Portland Harbor Hotel, Bard is hosting the monthly latte art competition, the Urban Farm Fermentory is teaching a Kombucha workshop, there will be wine tastings the Public Market House and at Browne Trading and the 13th Annual Brewpub Cup is taking place at The Great Lost Bear.

Friday — farmers from around the state will be convening in Freeport for the annual Maine Farmers Market Convention, there will be a wine tasting at Rosemont on Brighton, and it’s the second night of the Ice Bar at the Portland Harbor Hotel.

Saturday — the Winter Farmers Market is being held, the Maine Farmers Market Convention continues in Freeport, and it’s the last night of the Ice Bar at the Portland Harbor Hotel

Sunday — Julie and Julia is on the schedule for movie night at Petite Jacqueline and the Urban Farm Fermentory is teaching a kimchi workshop.

Vinland Cooking Classes — Chef David Levi will be offering a pair of classes that focus on “cooking and preparing food as an expression of place and season in Maine”. The classes are taking place January 31 and February 1. More information is available on the Vinland website.

Valentine’s Day — memories of New Year’s Eve are just fading and it’s already time to start making plans for Valentine’s Day. Here are the first few V Day options I’ve heard of. Post a comment with if there re any others I should add to the list.

• Bar Lola, $45, 5-course dinner with optional wine pairings
• Peaks Island Gastro Society, $100 6-course prix fixe with wine pairings on Saturday February 11
• Petite Jacqueline, $65 4-course dinner with optional wine pairings
• The Salt Exchange has posted their Valentine’s Day menu

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

The Official Portland Pie Council 2012 Cookbook is now on sale. The cookbook includes pie recipes, pie poetry, pie history and more. Profits from the cookbook will be donated to the Preble Street Resource Center.

You can also pick up a copy of the cookbook at the 3rd Annual Pie Gala taking place at the Mayo Street Art Center on Monday.

Tuesday — East Ender is holding a 4-course Tuscan wine dinner in conjunction with Devenish Wines.

Wednesday — the City Council is scheduled to take up the issue of allowing the sale of raw milk, hard cider, malt liquor and wine produced by Maine farmers at the Portland Farmers Market. There will be a wine tasting at Old Port Wine Merchants.

Thursday — a few days in advance of National Pie Day on the 23rd there will be a wine and pie tasting at the Aurora Provisions.

Saturday — the Winter Farmers Market is being held, and the January Peaks Island Gastro Society dinner which was rescheduled from last weekend is taking place.

Sunday — Beauty and the Beast is on the schedule for movie night at Petite Jacqueline and the Urban Farm Fermentory is teaching a mushroom growing workshop.

Maine Restaurant Week
Tickets for Maine Restaurant Week’s kick-off cocktail and dessert competition are now on sale.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

A group calling itself the Portland Pie Council is planning an event on January 23rd to celebrate National Pie Day. The gala promises a fun line-up of activities:

• Synchronized Interpretive Pie Dance
• Pie Eating Contest (email portlandpiecouncil@gmail.com if you want to participate)
• Charity Pie Art Auction
• Pietry
• Historic Pie Moments
• Pie Theatre
• A ranked-choice voted competition for both sweet and savory pies

The 3rd Annual Pie and Art Gala is scheduled to take place January 23, 5:30 until “everyone is too sated to continue” at the Mayo Street Art Center. Tickets are $3 per person and attendees are encouraged to bring pies of their own to enter into the competition.

Also as part of the Portland celebration of National Pie Day, Ned Swain at the prompting of the Portland Pie Council is offering to dress all day in a pie costume if the public is willing to make $500 in pledges for the Preble Street Resource Center.

Tuesday — Zapoteca is holding a 5-course tequila dinner.

Wednesday — there will be a wine tasting at RSVP and Grace is holding a 4-course Allagash beer dinner.

Thursday — there will be a wine tasting at the Public Market House, and it’s the first day of the Novare Res 12 Stouts After Christmas.

Friday — Dobra Tea is hosting a Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration.

Saturday — the Winter Farmers Market is taking place.

Sunday — Chocolat is on the schedule for movie night at Petite Jacqueline.

Beekeeping Classes
The Honey Exchange is offering a series of Beginner Beekeeping Classes this Spring. The first set of classes starts this week. Call (207) 773-9333 to sign up.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

Monday — start of the Maine Shrimp season.

Tuesday — four Portland restaurants will be offering a select item on their menu for the price of their calorie count.

Thursday — the first day of a the moving sale at Rabelais.

Friday — there will be a wine tasting at the West End Deli and a Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration at Dobra Tea. It’s also the second day of a the moving sale at Rabelais.

Saturday — Wine Wise is holding a pair of events in the Old Port, there will be a wine tasting at LeRoux Kitchen, and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place, and  it’s the last day of a the moving sale at Rabelais.

January 14
Later this month the Peaks Island Gastro Society will be holding its 2nd dinner. It will be a 6-course meal of starters plus Lemon Sole, Fettucini Carbonara w/Truffles, Poached Atlantic Salmon Stuffed Squid, Venison Osso Bucco w/Truffles, Roast Garlic Spinach Martini, and Bacon Wrapped Sabayon Souffle.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

Both Edible Obsessions and Mister Meatball have posted reports of their Christmas Day feasts.

There is a serious holiday hangover happening in our house right now. For nearly 36 hours straight, we were absolute holiday gluttons. We feasted, opened presents and watched ‘A Christmas Story’ at least 1.5 times. It was a wonderful past few days with The Missus, but we probably could have done without a helping of thirds of the Vinegretas.

Wednesday — Wine Wise is teaching a class on sparkling wines. Both Sonny’s and The Foreside Tavern are hosting viewing parties for the Portland episode of Drinking Made Easy. Several local restaurants and bars are collaborating in a cocktail competition named after a slip of the tongue made by UFF owner Eli Cayer when he was being interviewed for the show.

Thursday — there will be a wine tasting at the Public Market House.

Saturday — the Winter Farmers Market is taking place.

Sunday — Sonny’s is celebrating the New Year with an all you can eat Paella Fest.

New Year’s Eve
Here’s a list of restaurants that will be open on New Year’s Eve. Many in the list are planning special prix fixe dinners and a few will be open with their standard menu. If you know of any other options, post a comment with the details and I’ll add them to the list.

Everyone and their cousin wants to go out on New Year’s Eve so reservations are essential. I’d recommend you call soon before all the good spots get booked up.

• Back Bay Grill, $85 4-course dinner
• Bar Lola, $55 7-course dinner
• Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe, $45 3-course dinner, there are 5-6 options to choose from for each course
• Bresca, $85 5-course traditional Hong Kong New Years menu on both December 30th and 31st
• Caiola’s will be serving their standard menu augmented with some special New Year’s Eve items
• David’s, will be open and serving the regular menu plus some specials
• David’s 388, your choice of 2 different prix fixe options
• East Ender, will be open with their standard menu
• Figa, $85 4-course dinner with complimentary glass of champagne
• Five Fifty-Five, $60 3-course dinner in the bar, $90 5-course dinner in the restaurant (see menus)
• Grace, $70 4-course menu
• Havana South, $55 dinner with optional wine pairings
• Hot Suppa will be serving their usual dinner menu augmented with some New Year’s Eve specials
• Hugo’s, $95 5-course prix fixe dinner
• Local 188, prix fixe dinner, call for details
• Local Sprouts is holding a New Year’s Eve Bash serving their standard menu
• Old Port Sea Grill will be open serving their usual menu
• Paciarino, will be open
• Pai Men Miyake, $35 3-course dinner with your choice of appetizer, ramen and dessert
• Petite Jacqueline, $65 4-course dinner
• Ribollita will be open offering there standard menu plus some specials
• Sea Glass, $65 4-course menu
• Sea Grass Bistro, $65 4-course dinner
• Season’s Grille, $20 cover charge for the band and $18.95 for the buffet
• Sebago Brewing is open serving a special menu for New Year’s Eve
• Sonny’s, prix fixe dinner, call for details
• The Farmer’s Table will be open with a special New Year’s Eve menu
• The Frog and Turtle, $35 for 3 courses,$75 for 5 courses
• The Good Table, will be serving a special New Year’s Eve menu
• The Salt Exchange, $65 4-course dinner with glass of sparkling wine or cider
• Twenty Milk Street, is open serving a special New Year’s Eve menu
• Vignola will be open serving their standard menu
• Zackery’s, has a New Year’s Eve menu and is also offering a room and dinner package for anyone who wants to spend the night at the Fireside Inn
• Zapoteca, $60 5-course dinner with optional wine pairings

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

Monday — Otto Pizza is giving out free slices this afternoon at their location in the Arts District.

Tuesday — a local foods networking breakfast at Local Sprouts.

Wednesday — a wine tasting is taking place at Downeast Beverage.

Thursday — The Great Lost Bear will be featuring 12 Christmas beers, and there will be wine tasting sat Aurora Provisions and at the Public Market House.

Friday — there will be wine tastings at Rosemont on Brighton.

Saturday — Cinque Terre is holding a traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes Christmas Eve dinner, and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place.

Sunday — Christmas Day.

New Year’s Eve
Here’s a list of restaurants that will be open on New Year’s Eve. Many in the list are planning special prix fixe dinners and a few will be open with their standard menu. If you know of any other options, post a comment with the details and I’ll add them to the list.

Everyone and their cousin wants to go out on New Year’s Eve so reservations are essential. I’d recommend you call soon before all the good spots get booked up.

• Back Bay Grill, $85 4-course dinner
• Bar Lola, $55 7-course dinner
• Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe, $45 3-course dinner, there are 5-6 options to choose from for each course
• Bresca, $85 5-course traditional Hong Kong New Years menu on both December 30th and 31st
• Caiola’s will be serving their standard menu augmented with some special New Year’s Eve items
• David’s, will be open and serving the regular menu plus some specials
• David’s 388, your choice of 2 different prix fixe options
• East Ender, will be open with their standard menu
• Figa, $85 4-course dinner with complimentary glass of champagne
• Five Fifty-Five, $60 3-course dinner in the bar, $90 5-course dinner in the restaurant (see menus)
• Grace, $70 4-course menu
• Havana South, $55 dinner with optional wine pairings
• Hugo’s, $95 5-course prix fixe dinner
• Local 188, prix fixe dinner, call for details
• Local Sprouts is holding a New Year’s Eve Bash serving their standard menu
• Old Port Sea Grill will be open serving their usual menu
• Paciarino, will be open
• Pai Men Miyake, $35 3-course dinner with your choice of appetizer, ramen and dessert
• Petite Jacqueline, $65 4-course dinner
• Ribollita will be open offering there standard menu plus some specials
• Sea Glass, $65 4-course menu
• Sea Grass Bistro, $65 4-course dinner
• Season’s Grille, $20 cover charge for the band and $18.95 for the buffet
• Sonny’s, prix fixe dinner, call for details
• The Farmer’s Table will be open with a special New Year’s Eve menu
• The Frog and Turtle, $35 for 3 courses,$75 for 5 courses
• The Salt Exchange, $65 4-course dinner with glass of sparkling wine or cider
• Twenty Milk Street, is open serving a special New Year’s Eve menu
• Vignola will be open serving their standard menu
• Zackery’s, has a New Year’s Eve menu and is also offering a room and dinner package for anyone who wants to spend the night at the Fireside Inn
• Zapoteca, $60 5-course dinner with optional wine pairings

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

The LiveWork Portland blog has posted a report on the Portland winter farmers market.

This week, your correspondent saw an array of celeriac, Manchego cheese, duck eggs, fingerling potatoes, rabbit pot pie, bunches of winterberries, Anadama bread, cider, sunchokes, bagels, honey, feta marinade, and a colorful bounty of carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, squash, garlic and more. Over on the stage, a fiddler and guitar duo serenaded the crowd with old-timey music. Kids ran around, parents mulled purchases, old friends reconnected, and pretty soon bags were stuffed with the makings of many delectable dinners to come.

Wednesday — a wine tasting is taking place at RSVP.

Thursday — Havana South is holding their monthly wine night event, and there will be a wine tasting at Browne Trading.

Friday — there will be wine tastings at Rosemont on Brighton and at Aurora Provisions.

Saturday — the Winter Farmers Market is taking place.

New Year’s Eve — restaurants have started announcing their plans for New Year’s Eve. Here are the ones I’ve heard about so far. Oh and by the way, everyone and their cousin wants to go out on New Year’s Eve. Early reservations are ESSENTIAL.

• Back Bay Grill, $85 4-course dinner
• Bar Lola, $55 7-course dinner
• Bibo’s Madd Apple Cafe, $45 3-course dinner, there are 5-6 options to choose from for each course
• Bresca, $85 5-course traditional Hong Kong New Years menu on both December 30th and 31st
• David’s, will be open and serving the regular menu plus some specials
• David’s 388, your choice of 2 different prix fixe options
• Figa, $85 4-course dinner with complimentary glass of champagne
• Five Fifty-Five, $60 3-course dinner in the bar, $90 5-course dinner in the restaurant
• Grace, $70 5-course menu
• Havana South, $55 dinner with optional wine pairings
• Local 188, prix fixe dinner, call for details
• Local Sprouts is holding a New Year’s Eve Bash serving their standard menu
• Old Port Sea Grill will be open serving their usual menu
• Pai Men Miyake, $35 3-course dinner with your choice of appetizer, ramen and dessert
• Petite Jacqueline, $65 4-course dinner
• Ribollita will be open offering there standard menu plus some specials
• Sea Glass, $65 4-course menu
• Sea Grass Bistro, $65 4-course dinner
• Sonny’s, prix fixe dinner, call for details
• The Salt Exchange, $65 4-course dinner with glass of sparkling wine or cider
• Zapoteca, $60 5-course dinner with optional wine pairings
• Last year these restaurants also had New Year’s Eve dinners. I haven’t seen an announcement from them yet but it’s a fairly safe bet that they will have a NYE dinner options this year too so give them a call: Bull Feeney’s, Cinque Terre, DiMillo’s, El Rayo, Events on Broadway, Fore Street, Frog & Turtle, Paciarino, Season’s Grille, The Farmer’s Table, The Grill Room, Vignola, Walter’s and Zackery’s.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

Tuesday — award winning sommelier Scott Tyree and Bar Lola are collaborating on a Sparkling Wine Dinner, and the Urban Farm Fermentory is running a mushroom growing workshop.

Wednesday — a wine tasting is taking place at Old Port Wine Merchants.

Thursday — the Urban Farm Fermentory is teaching a kombucha brewing class, the Great Lost Bear weekly showcase is featuring beer from Bray’s Brew Pub, and there will be a wine and cheese tasting at the Public Market House.

Friday — a wine tasting is taking place Rosemont on Brighton.

Saturday — a second wine tasting is taking place at Rosemont Market and it’s the first Winter Farmers Market of the season.

Sunday — the maiden voyage of The Corner Room’s new Sunday Brunch service.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.

Wednesday — a hard cider workshop will be held at the Urban Farm Fermentory.

Thursday — an mead workshop will be held at the Urban Farm Fermentory, and The Great Lost Bear is showcasing Smuttynose Brewing.

Friday — there will be a wine tasting at the West End Deli.

Saturday — the 2nd Annual Viva Lebowski festival is taking place at Bayside Bowl.

Sunday — Rabelais is holding their 4th Annual Cookie Swap, Nate Brimmer from the Giant’s Belly Farm is teaching a pig butchering workshop at Local Sprouts, and the 20/20 wine charity event is scheduled to take place at Five Fifty-Five.

Beekeeping Classes — The Honey Exchange will be teaching a set of beekeeping classes January, February and March of next year. Visit thehoneyexchange.com for more details.

For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

If you are holding a food event this week that’s not listed above, publicize it by adding it as a comment to this post.