This Week's Events

The weekly Piatto per Tutti cooking class and the Foodie Trivia Contest are taking place this evening. Bar Lola is holding a wine dinner on Tuesday featuring Cotes du Rhone. On Wednesday, The Salt Exchange is running their weekly wine and canapes event. Halloween parties are on the calendar at both Frog & Turtle and Grace. Portland’s weekly Farmers’ Markets are being held in Monument Square on Wednesday and at Deering Oaks Park on Saturday. Hood’s New England Dairy Cook-off is taking place on Sunday. For more information on these and other upcoming food happenings in the area, visit the event calendar.

Lobster Chef of the Year: Mackenzie Arrington

The Press Herald has a report on yesterday’s Lobster Chef of the Year competition at Harvest on the Harbor.

“I think the right person won,” said Thomas, a fisherman who has been a regular at the competition over the years. “That was the best use of lobster I’ve seen in a long time.”

Arrington, who is 22 and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America last week, won the title and $1,000 by serving up roasted Maine lobster tail on braised cabbage with corn bread. He is the son of last year’s winner, Margaret McLellan.

Review of Grace

Portland Magazine has published a review of Grace.

If Chestnut Street Church had attracted crowds like this, it would still be a church. Transformed by a million-dollar restoration, Grace the restaurant accommodates nearly 200 diners on its ground floor and balconies and still finds room for a gigantic central circular bar.

Zack Bowen, The Essay

Portland Food Heads has published a new installment of the site’s essay series. Photographer Zack Bowen is the author of this essay which speaks to his personal experience/history with food.

everyone — the chefs in Portland and my family back at home — adhered to the same core thought: food was meant to be communal and enjoyed and nourishing to more than just your belly. it is a social bond — our cells remember a time when we would gather around the campfire after a day of killing mammoth to share stories and compliment the chef on the tenderness of the mastodon shank. it transcends cultures and economic status.

Type A Re-Review of Miyake

Type A Diversions has published an updated review of Miyake.

What Miyake does best is creative sushi. Think O Ya Boston, not neighborhood sushi joint. I’ve updated my best restaurants in Portland list to include Miyake as the most creative sushi in Portland. I’m pleased with the improvements in ambiance and quality of food, and will definitely be a repeat visitor going forward.

Review of The Farmer's Table

Portland Food Heads has published a review of The Farmer’s Table.

I ordered the cider-braised pork sandwich, which was described as “locally raised pork braised in apple cider, pulled and tossed in our sweet & spicy bbq served with hand cut fries and house slaw.”…And it was pretty good, but that’s about it. In fact, I would’ve been totally satisfied if it didn’t happen to cost $12, which is an absurd amount of money for french fries, coleslaw and pulled-pork on a bun.

Wine Flight 5k

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.