Out Going has published a report on this past weekend’s Wine Flight 5k.
The race kicked off a wee after 9:30 am, after some delays at the registration counter. Runners and walkers followed a one-mile loop around the base of Munjoy Hill, then returned to the Pier for a fill up. Then a second loop and a second table o’ edibles. After the third jaunt along the East End Trail, participants came back to the Pier for a tented Wine Tasting.
This week’s calendar is packed with food events, starting with today’s anticipated release of Vagabound Ale by Allagash as well as the restaurant worker art show tonight at One Longfellow and closing out on Sunday with a book signing/Goastravaganza at Rabelais Books for Margaret Hathaway and her new work Living with Goats. The weekly Piatto per Tutti cooking class and the Foodie Trivia Contest are taking place this evening. On Wednesday, there will be a macrobiotic/raw vegan potluck at GRO Cafe, Black Tie is teaching a class on the basics of making sushi, and The Salt Exchange is running their weekly wine and canapes event. The 2009 Harvest on the Harbor is taking place Thursday through Sunday. The Great Lost Bear is showcasing beer from Andrews Brewing Co and Sheepscot Valley Brewing on Thursday. Eve’s at the Garden is hosting the 5th Annual Caviar Dinner Friday evening. Also on Friday, a NERAX cask ale event is taking place at Novare Res, and O’Naturals in Falmouth is screening the movie Food Inc. Rabelais Books is holding back-to-back book signings on Saturday with Peter Berley and Lucinda Scala Quinn. Portland’s weekly Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
The Portland Daily Sun has published a report on the art show taking place next Monday at One Longfellow Square. The show will feature creative work produced by Portland area restaurant workers.
Local waitstaff, bartenders, chefs, cooks, bussers, dishwashers, prep cooks, hostesses and hosts will present their photography, sculpture, ceramics, paintings, drawings, sketches, films, music and more. The gallery segment of the event will start at 6:30PM and feature over a dozen visual artists from the southern Maine restaurants. At 8 p.m., various documentary presentations, performance art and musical performances will begin featuring local favorites Brenda and Over a Cardboard Sea.
Today’s Food & Dining section in the Press Herald includes an overview of Harvest on the Harbor, a food festival taking place next week in Portland. Visit HarvestontheHarbor.com for more information on the schedule.
Edible Obsessions has posted a report on yesterday’s Open Creamery Day.
Too many makers are quick to get their products to market, creating a more mild cheddar, but Jim [at Winter Hill] ages his wheels at least 8 months before offering it up to their customers–you can find their raw milk, yogurt and cheese at Rosemont in Portland or, better yet, become a regular customer and pick up directly from them–and you can tell the difference. Not only is it raw, the color is absolutely striking in it’s deep golden yellow paste.
The next Food Film Series meal is taking place tonight at One Longfellow Square, Larry Mathews from Back Bay Grill is preparing a meal to complement a showing of Sideways. The weekly Piatto per Tutti cooking class and the Foodie Trivia Contest are also taking place Monday evening. The last Wine Flight 5k Training Run is scheduled for Tuesday night with the final event taking place on Saturday. On Wednesday The Salt Exchange is running their weekly wine and canapes event and on Thursday there will be a wine tasting at Leavitt & Sons. Portland’s weekly Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. On Sunday there’s a pumpkin carving event taking place at the Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, and the Maine Ambassadors are running a Tower of Chocolate ascent at Portland Observatory to benefit the East End Holiday Light Project. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
The Grand Opening for Binga’s Stadium is scheduled for this Thursday; the venue is holding soft openings on both Tuesday and Wednesday to ramp up the operation. I’ve heard that Veranda Noodle Bar is also planning to open this week but there’s no word yet on specifically what day of the week.
On Monday, Five Fifty-Five is holding an event to relaunch their Point Five Lounge. Both the weekly Piatto per Tutti cooking class and the Foodie Trivia Contest are also taking place Monday evening. The next Wine Flight 5k Training Run is scheduled for Tuesday night. On Wednesday The Salt Exchange is running their weekly wine and canapes event, and on Thursday Rob Todd will be at The Great Lost Bear for an Allagash Beer Showcase. A class on raising rabbits for meat is scheduled for Saturday. Portland’s weekly Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. Sunday is Maine Open Creamery Day.
The Forecaster has published an article about this weekend’s 20-Mile Meal. Chefs will be sourcing “more than 80 percent of the meal…from within a 20-mile radius” of Portland.
Some of the local chefs include Lisa Kostopolous of the Good Table in Cape Elizabeth, James Tranchemontagne of the Frog & Turtle in Westbrook, Cheryl Lewis of El Rayo Taqueria in Portland, Guy Hernandez of Bar Lola in Portland and Timothy Cole, a guest chef from the Southern Maine Community College culinary arts program in South Portland. In addition, there will be culinary creations by chefs from the Back Bay Grill, Bresca, Flat Bread, Blue Spoon, Cinque Terre, Rosemont Market & Bakery, Evangeline and Aurura Provisions, as well as farm tours, cider making, live music and family activities.
There are three events on Monday: Portland Schooner is offering a sail to and lobster bake on Cow Island during the day, and tonight Stephen Lanzalotta’s weekly Piatto per Tutti cooking class and the weekly Food and Drink Trivia Contest is taking place at Bull Feeney’s. On Tuesday, the next Wine Flight 5k Training Run is taking place, the destination is Cinque Terre. A class on freezing and drying food preservation is scheduled for Wednesday and on Thursday Alison LePage is teaching a class on vegetable fermentation. There’s a wine tasting scheduled on Friday at the West End Grocery for Devenish Wines. The Salt Exchange is running their weekly wine and canapes event on Wednesday. Portland’s weekly Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. Last but not least on Sunday Cultivating Community is holding their annual locavore dining event—the 20 Mile Meal. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.
Portland Food Heads has posted a report on Wednesday’s industry event at Grace to to introduce Backyard Farms’ new product, the Cocktail Tomato.
The staff of Grace prepared a four course meal with each course using the cocktail tomato as the central element. The starter was described as a “tomato cocktail.” The blanched and peeled tomato quarter was pickled in Grey Goose and Bloody Mary spices. Served on a spoon with a garnish of parsley, it was a nice teaser for the palate. The taste of the vodka came through just as the sweetness of the tomato worked to keep it at bay. It was a tasteful start to a light meal and I have to admit I’m interested by the vodka pickling concept. Might even try it out myself.