The Blueberry Files has published a report on last weekend’s Lemonade Day Recipe Contest. Kate served as one of the judges for the competition.
And in the end, we were all won over by Haley and Emma’s “Lemon Love” pink lemonade. These cute sophomores from Bowdoin and Topsham created the best tasting recipe, with fresh raspberries and slices of lemon. Absolutely delicious, and perfect for the almost hot day we had last Saturday.
The June issue of Maine magazine (not yet available online) includes a Joe Ricchio article on Maine’s small independent wine distributors,
With small distributors, someone is doing the dirty work for you. They are your advocates and personal tasters. They are willing to take chances on wineries that might not have the best packaging, but deliver a product they truly believe in. And since they’re are fewer people involved in the buying decisions, the portfolios have more character and focus.
and an article about Taste of the Nation, an annual benefit that raises money to address hunger in Maine,
Rob Evans agrees. “The issue hits everyone,” says the renowned chef. “We can all empathize . . . people are going hungry, and we’re surrounded by so much.” Once Evans got involved, he saw how much more could be done. As a board member of Share Our Strength in Maine, he teaches cooking classes for another one of the non-profit’s programs—Cooking Matters—and he is in the process of developing a restaurant dining series that will raise even more funding to support the cause.
This year’s Taste of the Nation dinner is taking place June 26 on the SMCC campus. Tickets are available online.
Monday — Elizabeth Fraser from Girl Gone Raw will be teaching a raw cooking class.
Tuesday — Blue is holding their monthly wine and cheese event.
Wednesday — Rosemont is hosting winemaker Lilly LoCascio and cheese expert Alberto Aurill for a wine and cheese tasting, the Urban Farm Fermentory is teaching saurkraut workshop, The Salt Exchange is holding a tequila tasting, and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.
Thursday — Chef Frank Giglio will be teaching the next class of the Maine RealFood Project. Otter Creek will be featured at The Great Lost Bear for the bar’s weekly brewery showcase.
Friday — Sebago Brewing is opening their new brew pub on Fore Street.
Saturday — Wine Wise is teaching a class at The Wine Bar, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.
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.
Today’s Press Herald reports on last night’s cooking demonstration at the Portland Expo.
He good-naturedly skewered some people while poking fun at himself. In an interview before the show, Ashton emphasized how important humor and fun are to cooking.
“Food is a conduit to making people happy,” he said.
Monday — the last day of the Annual Spring Book Sale at Rabelais.
Tuesday — Sebago Brewing is throwing an End of the Era Party to mark the close of their time at 164 Middle Street. Sebago will soon be moving their Portland brew pub to the new hotel under construction on Fore Street.
Wednesday — Havana South is holding their monthly wine club, there will be a beer tasting at RSVP, and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.
Thursday — Dave Geary will be at The Great Lost Bear for the bar’s weekly brewery showcase, David’s is holding a wine dinner featuring Maine’s Cellardoor Winery, and the Relish Cooking Show is taking place at the Portland Expo. Chef Frank Giglio will be teaching the first class of the Maine RealFood Project.
Friday — a tasting featuring wines from Weygandt-Metzler is taking place at Rosemont on Brighton. Peter Weygandt will be attending the event.
Saturday — cheesemaker Barb Skalpa from Echo Ridge Organic Cheese in Mt. Vernon, Maine will be at Rosemont for a tasting, the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.
Sunday — Chefs Rob Evans and Sam Hayward will be preparing a multi-course dinner at Hugo’s to benefit Share Our Strength. Dobra is teaching an Intro to Tea class and there will be a mushroom growing workshop at the Urban Farm Fermentory.
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.
Staff from 7 Portland restaurants gathered at 158 Pickett Street Cafe for the third edition of the Smackdown competition: 158 Pickett St Cafe, East Ender, Hot Suppa, Hugo’s, Nosh, The Cheese Iron, and The Great Lost Bear. The key this month was chicken, chicken banh mi, fried chicken, chicken pate, etc.
Hugo’s won the competition, East Ender was in 2nd place and Nosh (my personal favorite this month) took third. With the busy tourist season soon to start the Smackdown is on vacation until September when it will be hosted at Hugo’s. The topic for the September competition is TBD.
If you love food and books be sure to swing by 86 Middle Street today for the Annual Rabelais Spring Book Sale. There will be bargain books priced at $1, $3 and $5, and everything else in the store except for their rare books will be on sale for 40% off. The sale runs Saturday through Monday.
Monday — The James Beard Awards ceremony is taking place at Lincoln Center. Krista Kern Desjarlais is a nominee for Best Chef: Northeast.
Tuesday — Bar Lola is holding a Loire Wine Dinner.
Wednesday — Both Old Port Wine Merchants and RSVP are holding wine tastings, Black Tie Bistro is teaching a cooking class, and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.
Thursday — LerRoux will host a Banana Split Trifle baking demonstration, there will be a wine and cheese tasting at the Public Market House, and The Great Lost Bear is featuring beer from Harpoon Brewery.
Saturday — the first day of the Rabelais book sale ($1, $3, $5 or 40% off, exclusive of their rare book inventory), Dobra Tea is participating in the National Daddy Daughter Tea Day, Wine Wise is teaching a class on Cabernets from Napa, the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.
Sunday — the book sale at Rabelais continues.
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.
Scratch Baking is having a launch event on Sunday at 2-4 pm for Baker’s Notes their new “bi-annual journal offering recipes, stories, images and illustrations about the Scratch Baking Co. experience”.
Tuesday — Bresca is holding a 5-course Austrian Wine Dinner.
Wednesday — the Farmers Market is taking place in Monument. Grace is holding their monthly wine club event.
Thursday — authors T. Colin Campbell and Meg Wolff will be at Whole Foods for a book signing.
Friday — the first day of the Falmouth Kitchen Tour. There will be wine tastings at Rosemont and the West End Deli, and Rosemont is running a Austrian Wine Showcase ($45/person) in the evening. Friday is also First Friday Art Walk and restaurants will be very busy so make your reservations early.
Saturday — the Farmers Market is taking place in Deering Oaks Park, the second day of the Falmouth Kitchen Tour, LeRoux is holding a wine tasting, Sebago Brewing is offering a chance for you to work with their brewers on a special batch that will raise funds for their Trek Across Maine cycling team.
Sunday — Mother’s Day, one of the busiest restaurant days of the year, so be prepared to wait a little longer to get in at your favorite Sunday brunch spot. Wine Wise is teaching a special Mother’s Day wine class.
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.