Category: Events

Tuesday – A & C Grocery (website, facebook) is opening for business at 131 Washington Ave at 9 am, Hannah Semler will be giving a lecture on “Triangulating Food Recovery, Food Security and Economic Development”, the MRW Incredible Breakfast Cook-Off is taking place at Sea Dog Brewing.

Wednesday – it’s the first day of Maine Restaurant Week.

Thursday – Evo is holding a preview of the dinner they’ll be serving at the James Beard House on March 6th, and Lone Pine is having a can release for Tessellation, their double IPA.

Friday – the MRW Cocktail Competition is taking place, and there will be a wine tasting at the West End Rosemont.

Saturday – the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday – the MRW Perfect Pairings event 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.

Tuesday – Sea Glass is holding a J. Lohr wine dinner.

Wednesday – there will be an Italian wine tasting at the Old Port Wine Merchants.

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

Saturday – Novare Res will be hosting a Marshall Wharf tap takeover, and the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday – High Roller Lobster will be holding Bali High, a tiki bar takeover at Rhum.

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 semi-final list of nominees for the 2017 James Beard Foundation awards were released today. There are 12 semifinalist nominees from Maine:

• Best New Restaurant – Drifters Wife
• Best Chef: Northeast – Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide; Keiko Suzuki Steinberger, Suzuki’s Sushi Bar; Ravin Nakjaroen, Long Grain; and Brian Hill, Francine Bistro
• Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional – Rob Tod, Allagash Brewing Co.
• Outstanding Restaurant – Fore Street, and Chase’s Daily in Belfast
• Outstanding Bar Program – Portland Hunt and Alpine Club
• Outstanding Baker – Alison Pray, Standard Baking
• Outstanding Pastry Chef – Ilma Lopez, Piccolo
• Rising Star of the Year – Cara Stadler, Tao Yuan

The final list of nominees will be released on March 15th, and the awards ceremony will take place on May 1st in Chicago.

Related information:

• Award and Nomination Process – learn more about the award nominations process.
• James Beard in Portland – James Beard taught several days of cooking classes in Portland in 1964.

Chefs Matt Ginn from Evo and Josh Berry from Union are scheduled to cook dinners at the James Beard House in NYC next month. The menus for both dinners are online and reservations being taken via OpenTable:

• March 6 – Matt Ginn, Savoring Eastern Mediterranean Spring
• March 22 – Josh Berry, Modern Maine

Tuesday – It’s Valentine’s Day, and there will be a lecture on Edible Landscapes at the Maine Historical Society.

Wednesday – the James Beard Foundation is scheduled to release this year’s awards semifinalists, we’ll be posting the full list of nominees as soon as they’re announced; Drifters Wife is celebrating their 1-year anniversary.

Thursday – the Portland Spirits Society is holding a women’s only tasting event at Hardshore Distilling.

Friday — Rosemont is holding a wine tasting at their Munjoy Hill location, and it’s the first day of Flavors of Freeport.

Saturday – the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday – there will be a Haley Henry pop-up at Little Giant.

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 – there will be a screening of Just Eat It at the Maine Historical Society as part of the New England Foodscapes Series.

Wednesday – Stroudwater is hosting an event with food from Nosh and the Marshmallow Cart at their distillery on Thompson’s Point.

Friday – Oxbow is holding a bottle release for Sausuga, there will be a bourbon tasting at Tiqa, a Winter Graze dinner is taking place in Yarmouth, and Rosemont is holding a wine tasting at their store on Brighton.

Saturday – the Winter Farmers’ Market  is taking place, as is a wine tasting at LeRoux Kitchen.

Sunday – The PSO is hosting the next edition of Symphony & Spirits at Sonny’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.

Monday – there will be a press conference about the Portland Food Council at 4pm.

Tuesday – Izakaya Minato is scheduled to open, and Vena’s is teaching a bitters workshop.

Wednesday – Terlingua is holding a Mast Landing beer dinner.

Saturday – a corn tortilla workshop is taking place at SMCC as is the Winter Farmers’ Market and there will be an Allagash tap takeover at Central Provisions.

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 new organization called the Portland Food Council launches on Monday with a press conference at Fork Food Lab, 4-4:30pm, followed by an open house

According to the press release,

The Portland Food Council aims to foster a healthy community by advancing the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of the food system that supports Portland. Evolving from the Mayor’s Initiative for a Healthy and Sustainable Food System started in 2012, the Portland Food Council works to shape food policy that will create resiliency, sustainability, and vibrancy in Portland’s food system. The council brings together community members, Portland government, food producers, and other businesses to collaborate on and shape laws and policies that affect our food system.

Monday – Sticky Sweet is opening for business at 11 am, and Two Fat Cats is celebrating National Pie Day with a pie buffet.

Thursday – The annual Brew Pub Cup is taking place at The Great Lost Bear, and there will be a mead tasting at the Public Market House.

Friday – Solo Italiano is hosting 2 Italian food producers from the Rogers Collection for 4-course pasta tasting menu.

Saturday – the Allagash Wild Beer Roundup is taking place, Zen Chinese Bistro is holding a Year of the Rooster dinner, and the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Sunday – it’s the opening day for Coffee Me Up at 221 Cumberland Ave.

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.

Bakers and pastry chefs from more than 15 restaurants and bakeries are collaborating on bake sale. The list of participating establishments includes Ten Ten Pié, Aurora Provisions, Fore Street, The Purple House, Central Provisions, Caiola’s/Piccolo, Bao Bao and many more.

The $40 boxes of baked goods will be on sale on Friday at Aurora Provisions, Little Giant and East End Cupcakes. The initiative is a fundraiser for Maine Planned Parenthood.