Category: Events

Tuesday – March 12 – Maine Restaurant Week.

Friday – a new food cart called Slide Street Co. is holding a pop-up at Fork Food Lab, and it will be the grand opening of Dila’s (menu) at the Public Market House.

Saturday – the launch party for Absolem Cider is taking place at Anoche on Washington Ave, and Belleville is re-opening their North Street shop, 8 am to 2 pm.

March 7 – a 5-course Bissell Brothers beer dinner.

March 10 – the Roma Cafe is holding a 4-course Tuscan wine dinner.

March 13 – Judy Gibson and Lorne Wine are teaming up on a 4-course wine dinner.

March 29 – Maine’s newest cidery the Absolem Cider and Oxbow Brewing will collaborating on a beer/cider dinner at the Oxbow Beer Garden in Oxford.

April 9 – the Beer With(out) Beards festival will be taking place.

April 22 – May 1 – 4th Maine Seaweed Week.

June 13 – 19 – the 5th Annual Portland Wine Week will be taking place.

Maine Restaurant Week kicks off this Tuesday and runs through March 12th. 40 restaurants and bars in the Portland area are taking part.

This year’s program also includes Spirit Quest, a “self-guided cocktail and paired bites walking tour that takes participants to Old Port and Congress Street Arts District restaurants and bars.”

Tuesday – a Codex pop-up dinner is taking place at Petite Jacqueline.

Thursday – Judy Gibson is holding a Portuguese wine dinner, and there will be a 5-course Spainish/Portuguese wine diner at Evo.

Sunday – Allagash’s annual Drink It Now virtual event is taking place. Drink It Now that encourages beer enthusiast to pull those special bottles they’ve been holding on to out of storage and #DrinkItNow.

March 1 – 12 – Maine Restaurant Week.

March 4 – a new food cart called Slide Street Co. is holding a pop-up at Fork Food Lab.

March 5 – the launch party for Absolem Cider is taking place at Anoche on Washington Ave.

March 7 – a 5-course Bissell Brothers beer dinner.

March 29 – Maine’s newest cidery the Absolem Cider and Oxbow Brewing will collaborating on a beer/cider dinner at the Oxbow Beer Garden in Oxford.

April 9 – the Beer With(out) Beards festival will be taking place.

April 22 – May 1 – 4th Maine Seaweed Week.

June 13 – 19 – the 5th Annual Portland Wine Week will be taking place.

The family that ran DiPietro’s on Cumberland Ave is holding a one-day pop-up event at the Gold Room on Warren Ave this coming Saturday, 1 – 7 pm. The event is raising funds for a heart and lung transplant operation that David Grondin, a family member, needs.

For sale will be the classic DiPietro’s large ham Italian ($7), Team David t-shirts, and raffle tickets.

The DiPietro family operated their sandwich shop and market at 171 Cumberland Ave for 69 years before closing in 2013. The building is now occupied by Banh Appetit.

Monday/Valentine’s Day

• Apres – raw bar operated by the Lady Shuckers and live music.
• Black Tie – a Valentine’s take-out menu for two; order by February 8th.
• BlueFin – is serving a menu of “featured Valentine’s Day cocktails”.
• Blue Spoon – will have some Valentine’s Day specials along with their regular menu.
• Bravo Maine – is holding a French Bistro cooking class.
• Brickyard Hollow – 4-couse menu with complimentary prosecco toast during dessert.
• Broken Arrow – a 4-course tasting menu with optional pairings.
• Butter and Kale – 4-course meals for 2; both vegan ($185) and omnivore ($195) options are available.
• Cellardoor Winery – “Valentine’s Flight features six wines for $25 a person; every two flights purchased includes a sharable charcuterie board.”
• Chaval – will be serving a special Valentine’s Day menu, details are still TBD.
• Elda – Valentine’s Day tasting menu; $125 per person.
• Evo Kitchen + Bar – a 6-course dinner for $120 per person, also available for takeout.
• Fish & Whistle/Lorne – a Valentes pop-up by Fish & Whistle at Lorne Wine in Biddeford.
• Fork Food Lab – a Valentine’s Day collaboration between Lady Shuckers and Galactic Hobo Sauce featuring Maine-grown oysters from two women-owned farms.
• Gelato Fiasco – take-home sundae kits for Valentine’s Day which include two hand-packed pints, two brownies and the choice of Valentine-themed toppings and Valentine’s sprinkles.
• Isa Bistro – 3-course dinner for $75 per person.
• Izakaya Minato – Valentines omikase, $55 per person.
• Knotted Apron – 4-course prix fixe dinner; $79 per person.
• Lake & Co – “romantic ready to reheat dinner and dessert for pick up or delivery” on Saturday the 12th; order deadline on the 8th.
• Maria’s – Valantines themed dinner.
• Rosemont – has a Valentine’s Day pre-order menu.
• Ruby’s West End – 3-course dinner with vegan and non-vegan options, and optional wine pairings.
• Stroudwater Distilling – 3-course meal and “comedy line up features Mike Gray, with Ray Harrington headlining, and Ian MacDonald hosting”.
• The Grill Room – serving a special Valentines menu.
• The Maker’s Galley – 4-course prix fixe dinner.
• Tiny Feats Confections – Chocolate Raspberry Tortes available for pre-order.
• Vena’s Fizz House – a Valentine’s Day mixology class.
• Verbena’s – will be serving a Valentine’s weekend menu featuring the flavors of Southeast Asia.
• Wine Wise – a Black Truffle Wine Dinner for two in collaboration with Chaval; $250, delivery included.
• Yardie Ting – will be serving a surf and turf dinner for two at the Public Market House; $80 for a couple.
• Yosaku – 4-course dinner for 2 for $125.
• Other Restaurants – some restaurants may also be open serving their usual menu, check in with your favorite spots to find out if they are open Monday the 14th.
• Chocolate shops and bakeries – check in with your favorite chocolate shops and bakeries to find what Valentine’s Day special candies and baked goods they may have available.

Thursday – The Porthole is holding a wine dinner.

February 24 – Judy Gibson is holding a Portuguese wine dinner., and there will be a 5-course Spainish/Portuguese wine diner at Evo.

February 25 – a new food cart called Slide Street Co. is holding a pop-up at Fork Food Lab.

April 22 – May 1 – 4th Maine Seaweed Week.

March 1 – 12 – Maine Restaurant Week.

March 5 – the launch party for Absolem Cider from Winthrop Maine is taking place at Anoche on Washington Ave.

March 7 – a 5-course Bissell Brothers beer dinner.

March 29 – Maine’s newest cidery the Absolem Cider Company and Oxbow Brewing will collaborating on a beer/cider dinner at the Oxbow Beer Garden in Oxford.

April 9 – the Beer With(out) Beards festival will be taking place.

June 13 – 19 – the 5th Annual Portland Wine Week will be taking place.

Mainebiz has a report on the Beer With(out) Beards festival taking place in Portland this April.

The craft beer industry is heavily hirsute, but a female-focused festival coming to Portland in April is looking to change that.

The Beer With(out) Beards Festival will celebrate the achievements of women in craft beer, and will showcase over 35 breweries nationwide that are owned or led by women and femme-identifying people, organizers recently announced.

Tickets are now on sale, for more information see this page on www.hopculture.com.

February – Visit Freeport is holding their annual Flavors of Freeport this month including their Freeport Foodie Lotto challenge.

Thursday – The Maker’s Galley is teaching a mushroom-focused cooking class, The Yard is hold a pre-Valentine’s Day Dueling Pianos event, Evo is holding a dinner in support of the Dempsey Center with seatings at 5:30 or 7:45, and there will be a gluten-free tasting event at Apres.

Sunday – Great Wave Sushi is teaching a sushi cooking class.

Valentine’s Day – this list continues to grow as restaurants announce their plans.

• Apres – raw bar operated by the Lady Shuckers and live music.
• Black Tie – a Valentine’s take-out menu for two; order by February 8th.
• BlueFin – is serving a menu of “featured Valentine’s Day cocktails”.
• Blue Spoon – will have some Valentine’s Day specials along with their regular menu.
• Bravo Maine – is holding a French Bistro cooking class.
• Brickyard Hollow – 4-couse menu with complimentary prosecco toast during dessert.
• Broken Arrow – a 4-course tasting menu with optional pairings.
• Butter and Kale – 4-course meals for 2; both vegan ($185) and omnivore ($195) options are available.
• Cellardoor Winery – “Valentine’s Flight features six wines for $25 a person; every two flights purchased includes a sharable charcuterie board.”
• Chaval – will be serving a special Valentine’s Day menu, details are still TBD.
• Elda – Valentine’s Day tasting menu; $125 per person.
• Evo Kitchen + Bar – a 6-course dinner for $120 per person, also available for takeout.
• Fork Food Lab – a Valentine’s Day collaboration between Lady Shuckers and Galatic Hobo Sauce featuring Maine-grown oysters from two women-owned farms.
• Gelato Fiasco – take-home sundae kits for Valentine’s Day which include two hand-packed pints, two brownies and the choice of Valentine-themed toppings and Valentine’s sprinkles.
• Isa Bistro – 3-course dinner for $75 per person.
• Knotted Apron – 4-course prix fixe dinner; $79 per person.
• Lake & Co – “romantic ready to reheat dinner and dessert for pick up or delivery” on Saturday the 12th; order deadline on the 8th.
• Maria’s – pre-order takeout dinner for pick-up on the 12th or 13th, and open on the 14th.
• Rosemont – has a Valentine’s Day pre-order menu.
• Ruby’s West End – 3-course dinner with vegan and non-vegan options, and optional wine pairings; available February 11 – 14.
• Stroudwater Distilling – 3-course meal and “comedy line up features Mike Gray, with Ray Harrington headlining, and Ian MacDonald hosting”.
• The Maker’s Galley – 4-course prix fixe dinner.
• Tiny Feats Confections – Chocolate Raspberry Tortes available for pre-order.
• Top of the East – a 3-course take-out dinner; order by February 11th.
• Vena’s Fizz House – a Valentine’s Day mixology class.
• Verbena’s – will be serving a Valentine’s weekend menu featuring the flavors of Southeast Asia.
• Wine Wise – a Black Truffle Wine Dinner for two in collaboration with Chaval; $250, delivery included.
• Yardie Ting – will be serving a surf and turf dinner for two at the Public Market House; $80 for a couple.
• Other Restaurants – some restaurants may also be open serving their usual menu, check in with your favorite spots to find out if they are open Monday the 14th.
• Chocolate shops and bakeries – check in with your favorite chocolate shops and bakeries to find what Valentine’s Day special candies and baked goods they may have available.

February 17 – The Porthole is holding a wine dinner.

February 24 – Judy Gibson is holding a Portuguese wine dinner.

March 1 – 12 – Maine Restaurant Week.

March 5 – the launch party for Absolem Cider from Winthrop Maine is taking place at Anoche on Washington Ave.

March 29 – Maine’s newest cidery the Absolem Cider Company and Oxbow Brewing will collaborating on a beer/cider dinner at the Oxbow Beer Garden in Oxford.

April 9 – the Beard With(out) Bears festival will be taking place.

June 13 – 19 – the 5th Annual Portland Wine Week will be taking place.

Fish and Whistle, the new restaurant under construction in Biddeford, will be working with Lorne Wine to hold a pop-up event on Valentine’s Day. The pop-up is taking place February 14th, 4 – 9 pm.

Here’s a look at the food menu for the event. Lorne will have wine and beer specials all night.

Fish Sandwich – $14
Battered and fried fish, milk bread bun, tartar, lettuce, pickles on side

Fish Chowder – $9
Cream, clam and fish stock, saltines

Fries – $5
Hand cut fries, salt, malt vinegar, mayo

Oysters – 6/$15 12/$30
Mignonette, lemon

Mango Tart – $5
Mango curd, whipped cream cheese, honey

Chef Krista Kern Desjarlais from The Purple House/Bresca & the Honey Bee and Allagash Brewing Company have joined forces to produce a special Valentine’s beer and ice cream event.

The collaboration features two Allagash beers and the frozen treats that Desjarlais has produced with them:

• My One And Only paired a beer-infused custard ice cream made with wood roasted plums, raspberry and cherries.
• Heart of Hearts paired with a vegan darkest chocolate ice cream made with beer-infused dark chocolate and raspberry truffles.

The event is taking place on Saturday February 12 (noon – 4) at the Allagash tasting room on Industrial Way.

Tuesday – Dila’s Kitchen (instagram) is scheduled to open at 11 am at the Public Market House. The Grateful Cup (website, facebook, instagram)  is scheduled to open at 7 am on Veranda Street. Regards (website, instagram) is also opening on Tuesday at 5 pm…having shifted out their opening day due to Saturday’s storm.

Thursday – there will be a webinar on the Changing Foodservice Landscape in Maine with panelists Jack Barber, Maeve McInnis and Daron Goldstein. Emily Leighton from Rosemont will be leading a bread tasting and education event. Friends & Family is holding a free tasting (5 – 7 pm) featuring wines by women winemakers and cheeses made by Maine women cheesemakers.

February 10 – The Yard is hold a pre-Valentine’s Day Dueling Pianos event, Evo is holding a dinner in support of the Dempsey Center with seatings at 5:30 or 7:45, and there will be a gluten-free tasting event at Apres.

Valentine’s Day – this list continues to grow as restaurants announce their plans.

• Apres – raw bar operated by the Lady Shuckers and live music.
• Black Tie – a Valentine’s take-out menu for two; order by February 8th.
• BlueFin – is serving a menu of “featured Valentine’s Day cocktails”.
• Blue Spoon – with have some Valentine’s Day specials along with their regular menu.
• Bravo Maine – is holding a French Bistro cooking class.
• Brickyard Hollow – 4-couse menu.
• Butter and Kale – 4-course meals for 2; vegan ($185) and omnivore ($195) option both available.
• Cellardoor Winery – “Valentine’s Flight features six wines for $25 a person; every two flights purchased includes a sharable charcuterie board.”
• Chaval – will be serving a special Valentine’s Day menu, details are still TBD.
• Elda – Valentine’s Day tasting menu; $125 per person.
• Evo Kitchen + Bar – a 6-course dinner for $120 per person, also available for takeout.
• Fork Food Lab – a Valentine’s Day collaboration between Lady Shuckers and Galatic Hobo Sauce featuring Maine-grown oysters from two women-owned farms.
• Isa Bistro – 3-course dinner for $75 per person.
• Knotted Apron – 4-course prix fixe dinner; $79 per person.
• Lake & Co – “romantic ready to reheat dinner and dessert for pick up or delivery” on Saturday the 12th; order deadline on the 8th.
• Maria’s – pre-order takeout dinner for pick-up on the 12th or 13th, and open on the 14th.
• Rosemont – has a Valentine’s Day pre-order menu.
• Ruby’s West End – 3-course dinner with vegan and non-vegan options, and optional wine pairings; available February 11 – 14.
• Stroudwater Distilling – 3-course meal and “comedy line up features Mike Gray, with Ray Harrington headlining, and Ian MacDonald hosting”.
• The Maker’s Galley – 4-course prix fixe dinner.
• Tiny Feats Confections – Chocolate Raspberry Tortes available for pre-order.
• Top of the East – a 3-course take-out dinner; order by February 11th.
• Vena’s Fizz House – a Valentine’s Day mixology class.
• Verbena’s – will be serving a Valentine’s weekend menu featuring the flavors of Southeast Asia.
• Wine Wise – a Black Truffle Wine Dinner for two in collaboration with Chaval; $250, delivery included.
• Yardie Ting – will be serving a surf and turf dinner for two at the Public Market House; $80 for a couple.
• Other Restaurants – some restaurants may also be open serving their usual menu, check in with your favorite spots to find out if they are open Monday the 14th.
• Chocolate shops and bakeries – check in with your favorite chocolate shops and bakeries to find what Valentine’s Day special candies and baked goods they may have available.

February 17 – The Porthole is holding a wine dinner.

February 24 – Judy Gibson is holding a Portuguese wine dinner.

March 1 – 12 – Maine Restaurant Week.

March 29 – Maine’s newest cidery the Absolem Cider Company and Oxbow Brewing will collaborating on a beer/cider dinner at the Oxbow Beer Garden in Oxford.

June 13 – 19 – the 5th Annual Portland Wine Week will be taking place.