Monday – The 2022 Beard Foundation Awards gala is taking place in Chicago. Five Maine chefs and restaurants are contenders for this year’s awards. Leeward is a nominee in the Best New Restaurant category, Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery is a nominee in the Outstanding Bakery category, and three Portland chefs are nominees in the Best Chef Northeast category: Vien Dobui from Công Tử Bột,Courtney Loreg from Woodford Food & Beverage, and Damian Sansonetti from Chaval. Portland Food Map is also in Chicago to attend the awards. We’ll report out here and on Instagram if our home town favorites win an award.
Monday to Sunday – the 5th Annual Portland Wine Week will be taking place—see their website for the full program of events.
Saturday – the grand opening of the Absolem Cider tasting room in Winthrop, Maine.
June 29 – Gulf of Maine Research Institute CEO Don Perkins will sitting for a live interview with the Press Herald.
July 1 – it’s the opening day of Fake Restaurant #2 at the Washington Baths. The month long pop-up will be “slinging traditional ((and not-so-traditional)) versions of Greek cuisine” Saturday’s during the month of July.
July 21 – Magnus on Water chef Ben Jackson will participating in the Outstanding in the Field series with a dinner at Glidden Point Oyster Farm in Edgecomb.
July 23 – Chaval chefs Ilma Lopez and Damian Sansonetti will participating in the Outstanding in the Field series with a dinner at Dandelion Spring Farm in Bowdoinham. The Wavy Days Beer Fest is taking place.
July 25 – 30 – the Kneading Conference is taking place.
September 3 – Tender Table is holding their 2nd Annual Food & Art Fair in Congress Square Park.
September 19 – 25 – Maine Lobster Week is taking place in Skowhegan.
September 23 – 25 – the Common Ground Fair is taking place in Unity.
October 9 – the Maine Cheese Guild is holding Maine Open Creamery Day.