Category: Events

This morning the James Beard Foundation announced the final list of nominees for this year’s awards competition.
It is a disappointing run for Portland this year. While Portland had 3 semifinalists (Sam Hayward from Fore Street for Outstanding Chef, Fore Street for Outstanding Restaurant, and Krista Kern Desjarlais for Best Chef Northeast) none were included in the final list of nominees.
Congratulations to Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier from Arrows in Ogunquit who were nominated in the Best Chef Northeast category.
The award winners will be announced on May 3, 2010 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City.

Monday — the James Beard Foundation will announce the finalists for this year’s awards, check back later this morning for all the details; Stephen Lanzalotta is teaching a Piatto per Tutti cooking class.

Wednesday — Black Tie Bistro is teaching a cooking class.

Thursday — Browne Trading and Black Cherry Provisions are both holding wine tastings, The Cheese Iron is teaching a charcuterie class, Kitchen & Cook is teaching a Japanese cooking class, the Sea Glass Restaurant is holding a beer dinner and Bard Coffee is running a latte art competition.

Friday — the 6th Annual Celesoiree is scheduled to take place.

Saturday — the indoor Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place, Scarborough Wine Outlet is holding a wine tasting and SMCC is running their 6th Annual International Food Festival.

Sunday — maple syrup producers across the state will be open for Maine Maple Sunday. Visit the Get Real Get Maine site for all the details.

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.

Portland Taps has put together a list of Portland establishments that have Saint Patrick’s Day specials planned for tomorrow which includes an Irish beer dinner tonight a t Gritty’s and early morning breakfast at Brian Boru, Ri-Ra and Bull Feeney’s tomorrow morning.

Portland Taps has put together a list of Portland establishments that have Saint Patrick’s Day specials planned for tomorrow which includes an Irish beer dinner tonight a t Gritty’s and early morning breakfast at Brian Boru, Ri-Ra and Bull Feeney’s tomorrow morning.

Monday — Stephen Lanzalotta is teaching a Piatto per Tutti cooking class.

Wednesday — Brian Boru is holding their annual St Patrick’s Day breakfast starting at 6 am.

Thursday — Kitchen & Cork and Leavitt & Sons are both holding wine tastings, the 3rd Annual Whole Hog Dinner is taking place at Vignola, and The Great Lost Bear will be featuring the beers of the Pugsley Signature Series.

Saturday — the indoor Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place and Port Clyde Fresh Catch is dropping off deliveries for their Maine shrimp CSF.

Sunday — five wine distributors are teaming up with Old Port Wine Merchants for a Spanish wine tasting at The Salt Exchange.

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.

Slow Food Portland co-founder David Buchanan will give a talk at 3 pm on Sunday at the Portland Flower Show on “Slow Food USA’s Ark of Taste Biodiversity Committee, which identifies and protects endangered regional foods”.

Tonight’s episode of Maine Watch on MPBN TV will examine the growing impact of the food scene on Maine tourism. The show airs at 8:30 pm.

This week on Maine Watch, Maine has become a big destination for a fast-growing category of traveler – the culinary tourist. How Maine’s foodie scene happened, what it means for the economy at large and where it’s headed. We’ll talk with James Beard, award-winning chef Sam Hayward and food writer Meredith Goad.

I Love Portland Maine has a nice round-up of the St. Patrick’s Day events taking place this weekend and early next week: corned beef and cabbage dinners, parades, early morning breakfast at Brian Boru, etc.

Believe me, once you’ve had rashers and black pudding in the morning, you will never look at a Grand Slam the same way. Throughout the morning, people of all ages gather for this once-a-year Irish celebration. It is truly one spectacle not to be missed. Besides, what other time of the year can you justify a full pint of Guinness with breakfast?

The organizers of Maine Restaurant Week have published a full set of drink recipes from the Bartender’s Bash. The recipe for the winning cocktail, Camden Hike by Tom Laslavic, is on page 5.
Figa’s menu for this week’s Slow Food Portland Writers Night is now available online.

PortlandTown continues his MRW photo marathon with a  set of pictures taken at DiMillo’s including this one of their French Onion Soup.

Photo Credit: Michael Barriault

Monday — the 10 days of Maine Restaurant Week continues Monday through Wednesday. Also on Monday, Stephen Lanzalotta is teaching a Piatto per Tutti cooking class.

Tuesday — legendary editor Judith Jones will deliver the 2010 Bernard A. Osher Lecture at the Museum of Art.

Wednesday — Winemaker Lucio Mastroberardino will be at Old Port Wine Merchants for a tasting of Terradora wines (see Chow Maine for more on Mastroberardino and his visit to Portland), RSVP is holding a wine tasting, and Slow Food Portland is holding the annual Slow Food Writers Night with readings by prominent food writers and food by chef Lee Farrington of Figa.

Thursday — there’s a Terradora wine dinner taking place at the Sea Glass Restaurant, and chef Sam Hayward is giving a talk on sustainable seafood as part of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s Sea State 5.0 lecture series.

Saturday — the indoor Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place, and there will be a Terradora wine tasting at Rosemont Market on Brighton.

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.

Bard Coffee barista Justin McEdward will be in Boston later this month to compete in the North East Regional Barista Competition (NERBC) against other coffee professionals from across New York and New England.
According to Bard co-owner (and World Barista Championship judge) Bob  Garver, competitors need to produce an espresso shot, a cappuccino and a specialty drink of their own design for each of the four sensory judges in a 15 minute time frame. In addition to being judged on quality of their drinks, the competitors will be evaluated on efficiency and other technical issues with which they are produced. (See the official rules for more details)
Winning at the NERBC will entitle McEdward to represent the North East at the national competition later this year. Justin tells me that his motivation in entering the competition is not just to represent himself and Bard Coffee, but to bring attention to Portland’s growing coffee culture.
NERBC is taking place March 19-21 in Somerville, MA.