Category: Events

The Institute for American Art has announced a set of 5 dinners that will take place in Portland this autumn. Participating chefs/restaurants include Chad Conley from Gather, the Cong Tu Bot noodle pop-up and Joel Beauchamp who was one of the Pocket Brunch organizers. For tickets and more information visit instituteforamericanart.eventbrite.com.

Wednesday — The Well and Devenish Wines are holding a natural wine dinner, there will be a wine tasting at Rosemont, Black Tie is holding a farm dinner in New Gloucester, the Makers Market is taking place at the Urban Farm Fermentory in the afternoon and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place in the morning.

Thursday — it’s the grand opening of Empire Chinese Kitchen (photos) doors open at 11:30am, there will be a blind IPA tasting at the Bier Cellar, and The Great Lost Bear will be showcasing beer from Sebago Brewing.

Friday — it’s opening day at Piccolo, there will be a wine tasting at Rosemont.

Saturday — Novare Res is one of only 2 dozen locations in the US participating in the 2013 Cantilloon Zwanze Day, LeRoux Kitchen is having a grand opening for their store in Scarborough, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market is taking place.

Sunday — Wine Wise is holding their 4th Annual Fall Wine Cruise, the 6th Annual Eco Appetito is taking place, and Rosemont is holding a farm dinner in Freeport, Kitchen & Cork in conjunction with King Arthur Flour is running a cupcake/pie baking contest.

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 — the crew from Cooking Chanel TV show Eat Street will be filming Bite into Maine, noon – 3pm in Fort Williams Park.

Tuesday — it’s the opening day at Omi’s Coffee Shop.

Wednesday — author John Holl will be at Gritty’s to sign a copy of his book The American Craft Beer Cookbook, the Makers Market is taking place at the Urban Farm Fermentory in the afternoon and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place in the morning.

Thursday — the grand opening of the Portland Hunt & Alpine Club is taking place, online TV show Tastemade will be in town filming a show (Bite into Maine, Eventide and perhaps Portland Lobster Co) about lobster rolls in Portland, Mitch Gerow from East Ender is the featured chef for the weekly Twilight Dinner at Turkey Hill Farm, there will be an Allagash tasting at the Public Market House,  and The Great Lost Bear will be showcasing beer from Notch Brewing.

Friday — Chef David Levi will be serving a Vinland Preview Dinner at Four Seasons Farm in Harborside, Maine, there will be a wine tasting at West End Deli. It’s also the September First Friday Art Walk and a group of food trucks and food carts will be assembling at the Portland Flea For All for the monthly Flea Bites mobile food street festival.

Saturday — there will be wine tastings at Browne Trading and LeRoux Kitchen, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market 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.

Megan Bedford, author of Megansmark, has written a post about the Portland Food Swap for Livework Portland.

Recently, one of my favorite food community events was the Portland Food Swap, a locally organized shindig that welcomes anyone to come swap homemade, homegrown, or foraged foods. Food swaps are growing in popularity throughout the U.S., and have a strong foothold in the Pacific Northwest (particularly in the other Portland) where they are known for high standards of creativity in both content and design.

For more information on the Portland Food Swap visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/portlandfoodswap

Online TV show Tastemade will be in town next week to film episode about Portland lobster rolls. They’ll be at Bite into Maine on Thursday (11:30 – 1). They also plan to visit Eventide and perhaps Portland Lobster Company.

Hank Shaw, author and the 2013 Jame Beard award-winner for Best Food Blog (Hunter Angler Gardener Cook), will be at Beale Street Barbeque in Bath on October 30. Shaw and Beale Street chef Michael Quigg will be cooking a “duck & goose with an emphasis on versatility and an eye to the October hunting and harvest seasonal food Maine has to offer.”

The Cooking Channel show Eat Street (website, facebook) will be in Portland this weekend. On Sunday they’ll be filming with Mainely Burgers. You can get in on the action by visiting Mainely Burgers at “108 St. John St in Portland from 11:30-2”.

And on Monday from 12-3 they’ll be in Fort Williams Park filming with Bite into Maine.

Wednesday — the Old Port Wine Merchants is holding a Vermouth tasting to “demystify this timeless beverage”, the Makers Market is taking place at the Urban Farm Fermentory, and the Monument Square Farmers Market is taking place.

Thursday — Chris McClay from Modern Vegan Cooking School is the featured chef for the weekly Twilight Dinner at Turkey Hill Farm, and The Great Lost Bear will be showcasing beer from Shipyard Brewing.

Friday — it’s the start of the 3rd Annual Portland Brew Festival and there will be a wine tasting at Rosemont.

Saturday — the Portland Brew Festival continues, there will be another wine tasting at Rosemont, and the Deering Oaks Farmers Market 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.

Maine Today has published a report on the first Makers Market that took place this week at the Urban Farm Fermentory.

There were herbal tinctures, handmade soap, vegan and gluten-free energy bars, wild mushroom-growing kits and a brand new bottled tea. A jeweler and potter displayed their wares alongside various art objects, while a few steps away, a table held fresh vegetables and cheeses.

A pair of local establishments are celebrating their anniversaries this week:

• Tandem Coffee opened 1 year ago today. To celebrate they’ll be serving free Holy Donut donuts and all coffee drinks are priced at $2.
• To celebrate their 2nd anniversary, this Saturday The Honey Exchange will be having “sweet and savory tastes, soft drinks, prizes and raffles, birthday cake, and a pinata”.