Category: Events

The Press Herald has published a set of articles about the 2014 Maine Maple Sunday taking place this weekend at sugar houses across the state.

When Mark Cooper first started participating in Maine Maple Sunday 26 years ago, he had a little over 300 taps in his sugarbush, and about 300 people stopped by that day to tour his operation and buy some maple syrup.

By the time this springtime Maine tradition rolled around last year, Coopers Maple Products in Windham had grown to 1,800 taps, and “easily” 3,000 people dropped by to walk Cooper’s farm, watch syrup-making demonstrations and buy maple cotton candy and other maple products. About two dozen relatives and friends show up to help with the logistics of putting on the day.

For additional coverage see this article about Merryfield Farm by Press Herald blog The Root.

For a complete list of participating syrup makers see this list from the Maine Maple Producers Association.

The City Council’s Public Safety, Health and Human Services committee will be meeting Tuesday night (5:30 pm, room 209) to consider some adjustments to the ordinance that regulate food trucks in Portland. The specific changes under consideration are:

• Open a variety of city parks to use by a limited number of food trucks based on a RFP process.
• Allow food trucks to operate in Monument Square on some specific days of the week
• Create designated parking spaces for food trucks similar to the Uhaul rental spaces that already exist
• Allow food trucks to park in metered spots anywhere in the city after 6pm

Update: the Press Herald published an article on Tuesday about the requests before the subcommittee.

Monday — the City Council will be deciding whether to renew Sangillo’s liquor license, they’ll also be considering liquor license applications from Slab and The Jewel Box.

Tuesday — the Local Foods Networking Breakfast is taking place at Local Sprouts, Tandem and Rosemont are holding another Bar Night event, the James Beard Foundation will be announcing the final nominees for the 2014 JBF awards, and Novare Res will be pouring Jolly Woodsman, a collaboration between Speckled Ax and Banded Horn Brewing.

Wednesday — there will be a screening of Food for Change at Space Gallery.

Thursday — The Great Lost Bear will be featuring beer from Sebago Brewing.

Friday — Bibo’s is holding a wine dinner.

Saturday — there will be a wine tasting at Browne Trading and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place at the Urban Farm Fermentory on Anderson Street. Tickets go on sale this Thursday.

Sunday — it’s Maine Maple Sunday, and Pete Sultenfuss from Grace will be the featured chef at this month’s dinner at Flanagan’s Table.

American Sommelier Classes – the Maine chapter of American Sommelier is offering several wine education programs this year: monthly seminars on a wide range of topics, a 6-week foundation series on major grape varietals, and a 10-week series on viticulture.

Outstanding Winterpoint — Hugo’s/Eventide will be collaborating with Winterpoint Oysters on an Outstanding in the Field event August 24th. Tickets go on sale this Thursday.

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 — it’s the last day of the 2014 Maine Restaurant Week.

Wednesday — Black Tie is teaching a cooking class.

Thursday — Vinland is hosting a Þorrablót (wikipedia) Beer Dinner in collaboration with Rising Tide, there will be wine and cheese tasting at the Public Market House, a book signing at Longfellow Books with Warren Bobrow author of Apothecary Cocktails, and The Great Lost Bear will be featuring beer from Banded Horn.

Saturday — there will be a wine tasting at Browne Trading and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place at the Urban Farm Fermentory on Anderson Street.

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 Blueberry Files has published a report on the Rosemont/Allagash dinner that took place earlier this week.

Next, in the wild beer room, we enjoyed a curried goat stew paired with a ginger wit (a “ramped up” version of the White with loads of ginger added) and smoked beef ribs over a potato pancake and sauteed spinach with a Curieux reduction. The Curieux was also the pairing for this course.

Shel Doyle was also on site for the dinner and has published a set of photos from the event, as has Allagash Brewing (shown in viewer above).

All Week — Maine Restaurant Week continues.

Tuesday — it’s opening day at CBD’s new coffee shop in East Bayside, Gary Libby will be giving a talk about the history of the history of Chinese restaurants in Portland, the 19th Annual WMPG Fat Tuesday Cajun Cookin’ Challenge is taking place, Vinland is hosting a natural wine dinner with importer Zev Rovine, and Maine Restaurant Week is holding a pancake flipping race.

Wednesday — Allagash and Rosemont are collaborating on a beer dinner which will feature unusual beers from Allagash and behind the scenes tour.

Thursday — Food historian Sandy Oliver will be giving a talk at the Maine Historical Society.

Friday — the opening night reception for From Chop Suey to Washington Pie: Maine Menus is taking place.

Saturday — Vena’s Fizz House is teaching a bitters workshop, there will be a wine tasting at Browne Trading and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place at the Urban Farm Fermentory on Anderson Street.

Sunday — The MRW Cocktail and Dessert  Competition 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.

Chefs Niko Regas from Emilitsa and Jack Smith from East Ender along with Rising Tide Brewing will be participating in the 2014 Lamb Jam.

This year’s Lamb Jam is scheduled for Sunday April 13 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Boston.

Monday — Oscar’s New American is holding a Portuguese Wine Dinner.

Wednesday — The Maine Brew Bus has organized a progressive beer dinner featuring Rising Tide Brewing, and Black Tie is teaching a cooking class.

Thursday — The Great Lost Bear will be featuring beer from the Maine Beer Company.

Friday — Maine Restaurant Week’s series of special events kick-off with the Incredible Breakfast Cook-off.

Saturday — It’s the first official day of Maine Restaurant Week, there will be a wine tasting at LeRoux Kitchen and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place at the Urban Farm Fermentory on Anderson Street.

Sunday — The MRW Bowl Big Tournament 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.

The semifinalists for the 2014 JBF Awards will be announced on Wednesday by the James Beard Foundation.

What Maine chefs and restaurants would you like to see on the list?

For reference take a look at the semifinals lists from 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Tuesday — the local foods networking breakfast is taking place at Local Sprouts.

Wednesday — Piccolo is holding an Allagash beer dinner; Bunker Brewing, Tandem, and Rising Tide and Speckled Ax are joining the Hunt & Alpine Club to celebrate their inclusion in Imbibe magazine list of the top 75 “people, places and flavors that will shape the way you drink in 2014″.

Saturday — author Ben Keene will be at Rising Tide to sign copies of his book The Great Northeast Brewery Tour, Vena’s Fizz House is teaching a bitters workshop, and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place at the Urban Farm Fermentory on Anderson Street.

Sunday — Chef Thomas Pisha-Duffly will be serving a Indonesian dinner (tickets) as part of the Family Feast series.

Coffee by Design — Coffee by Design has announced plans to open their new cafe in East Bayside on March 4.

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.