This Week’s Events

Monday — the James Beard Foundation will announce the finalists for this year’s awards, check back later this morning for all the details; Stephen Lanzalotta is teaching a Piatto per Tutti cooking class.

Wednesday Black Tie Bistro is teaching a cooking class.

Thursday — Browne Trading and Black Cherry Provisions are both holding wine tastings, The Cheese Iron is teaching a charcuterie class, Kitchen & Cook is teaching a Japanese cooking class, the Sea Glass Restaurant is holding a beer dinner and Bard Coffee is running a latte art competition.

Friday — the 6th Annual Celesoiree is scheduled to take place.

Saturday — the indoor Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place, Scarborough Wine Outlet is holding a wine tasting and SMCC is running their 6th Annual International Food Festival.

Sunday — maple syrup producers across the state will be open for Maine Maple Sunday. Visit the Get Real Get Maine site for all the 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.

This Week’s Events

Monday — Stephen Lanzalotta is teaching a Piatto per Tutti cooking class.

Wednesday — Brian Boru is holding their annual St Patrick’s Day breakfast starting at 6 am.

Thursday — Kitchen & Cork and Leavitt & Sons are both holding wine tastings, the 3rd Annual Whole Hog Dinner is taking place at Vignola, and The Great Lost Bear will be featuring the beers of the Pugsley Signature Series.

Saturday — the indoor Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place and Port Clyde Fresh Catch is dropping off deliveries for their Maine shrimp CSF.

Sunday — five wine distributors are teaming up with Old Port Wine Merchants for a Spanish wine tasting at The Salt Exchange.

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.

Additional Events: Ark of Taste, Culinary Tourism and St Patrick’s Day

Slow Food Portland co-founder David Buchanan will give a talk at 3 pm on Sunday at the Portland Flower Show on “Slow Food USA’s Ark of Taste Biodiversity Committee, which identifies and protects endangered regional foods”.

Tonight’s episode of Maine Watch on MPBN TV will examine the growing impact of the food scene on Maine tourism. The show airs at 8:30 pm.

This week on Maine Watch, Maine has become a big destination for a fast-growing category of traveler – the culinary tourist. How Maine’s foodie scene happened, what it means for the economy at large and where it’s headed. We’ll talk with James Beard, award-winning chef Sam Hayward and food writer Meredith Goad.

I Love Portland Maine has a nice round-up of the St. Patrick’s Day events taking place this weekend and early next week: corned beef and cabbage dinners, parades, early morning breakfast at Brian Boru, etc.

Believe me, once you’ve had rashers and black pudding in the morning, you will never look at a Grand Slam the same way. Throughout the morning, people of all ages gather for this once-a-year Irish celebration. It is truly one spectacle not to be missed. Besides, what other time of the year can you justify a full pint of Guinness with breakfast?

This Week’s Events

Monday — the 10 days of Maine Restaurant Week continues Monday through Wednesday. Also on Monday, Stephen Lanzalotta is teaching a Piatto per Tutti cooking class.

Tuesday — legendary editor Judith Jones will deliver the 2010 Bernard A. Osher Lecture at the Museum of Art.

Wednesday Winemaker Lucio Mastroberardino will be at Old Port Wine Merchants for a tasting of Terradora wines (see Chow Maine for more on Mastroberardino and his visit to Portland), RSVP is holding a wine tasting, and Slow Food Portland is holding the annual Slow Food Writers Night with readings by prominent food writers and food by chef Lee Farrington of Figa.

Thursday — there’s a Terradora wine dinner taking place at the Sea Glass Restaurant, and chef Sam Hayward is giving a talk on sustainable seafood as part of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s Sea State 5.0 lecture series.

Saturday — the indoor Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place, and there will be a Terradora wine tasting at Rosemont Market on Brighton.

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.

Portland Barista to Compete at NERBC

Bard Coffee barista Justin McEdward will be in Boston later this month to compete in the North East Regional Barista Competition (NERBC) against other coffee professionals from across New York and New England.
According to Bard co-owner (and World Barista Championship judge) Bob  Garver, competitors need to produce an espresso shot, a cappuccino and a specialty drink of their own design for each of the four sensory judges in a 15 minute time frame. In addition to being judged on quality of their drinks, the competitors will be evaluated on efficiency and other technical issues with which they are produced. (See the official rules for more details)
Winning at the NERBC will entitle McEdward to represent the North East at the national competition later this year. Justin tells me that his motivation in entering the competition is not just to represent himself and Bard Coffee, but to bring attention to Portland’s growing coffee culture.
NERBC is taking place March 19-21 in Somerville, MA.

Incredible Breakfast Cook-off

The Good Table in Cape Elizabeth was the winner of yesterday’s Incredible Breakfast Cook-off competition held yesterday at Sea Dog Brewing. The winning dish was a Creme Brulee French Toast. Here’s a description from Mignardise,

A hearty French bread, soaked over night with eggs, heavy cream, brown sugar, Grand Marnier and other diet-busting ingredients, then baked to form that signature brulee crust. With fruit on top, just to make you feel like you might be eating something healthy. Amaaaaazing.

For additional reporting check out the article in today’s Press Herald and video of the competition from WCSH.