Maine restaurants are providing free meals to people in need this Christmas:
Taj will have meals available for pick-up on Christmas at their South Portland restaurant. Email tajholidaymeals@gmail.com to request a meal and for more information.
Crispy Gai in collaboration with Car Hop, The Honey Paw, Regards, Chaval, Mr Tuna, and Bar Futo are delivering meals in the Portland area on Christmas Eve. Fill out this form by 9am on December 22nd to request a meal.
Monday – Bissell Brothers will be holding a (sold out) Feast of the Seven Fishes.
Tuesday – Camp Pennant is serving a 4-course porchetta dinner.
Wednesday – The Maine Real Estate & Development Association is hosting a panel discussion to discuss the recent restaurant closings and the challenges facing the hospitality industry. Josh Miranda (Blyth & Borroughs, Via Vecchia, etc), Jay Villani (Local 188, Salvage, Black Cow) and Richard Pfeffer (Gritty’s) will be members of the panel moderated by Josh Soley. Sacred Profane will be holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes at their location in Biddeford. The Causeway in Spruce Head is holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner.
Friday – Chaval is holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner.
December 24 – Via Vecchia is holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner. Regards is holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner.
December 28 – Browne Trading is holding their annual free champagne and caviar tasting.
December 31 – We’ll be building a list of NYE special dinners and food/drink events. Send us a message if you know of one we may have missed.
January 11 – Good Medicine Collective is hosting a dinner in collaboration with chef Felicia Dumont.
January 30 – Community Plate will be holding a potluck dinner at Maine Mechanics Hall.
February 1 – Portland on Tap is taking place.
February 2 – Rafael Zimmerman from Magnus on Water will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
February 8 – Adrian Arvizu from Big Tree Hospitality will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
February 13 – Devin Finigan from Aragosta will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
March 2 – Sara Jenkins, Dustin Martin, and Lauren Radel from Nina June will be the guest chefs at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
May 17 – The Maine Wild Wine Fest is taking place in Freeport.
 Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene.25-packs of the Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now available on our online store. |
Wednesday – Fork Food Lab is holding a food and craft fair at their headquarters in South Portland.
Thursday – BiddoBanh and Round Turn Distilling are collaborating on a Pho pop-up in Biddeford. Both pork-based and vegetable-based soups will be available.
Friday – Sisters Sophia Normantas and Marie Grasser have announced they’ll be opening their new Biddeford cocktail bar Apero (website, instagram). Apero is located at 20 Alfred Street and will be open 4 – 11 pm on Friday. Hanukkah Mexicana is taking place in Bath. The event will include food inspired by the Mexican Jewish cookbook, Sabor Judio, and a talk by authors Ilan Stavans and Margaret Boyle.
Saturday – Natalie’s at the Camden Harbor Inn will be holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner in collaboration with Browne Trading Company and Barton Seaver. Lambs in South Portland is holding a sake seminar.
Sunday – A gingerbread house decoration event is taking place at the Hilton Garden Inn. The event is a fundraiser for Portland Firefighters Children’s Burn Foundation.
December 16 – Bissell Brothers will be holding a (sold out) Feast of the Seven Fishes.
December 17 – Camp Pennant is serving a 4-course porchetta dinner.
December 18 – The Maine Real Estate & Development Association is hosting a panel discussion to discuss the recent restaurant closings and the challenges facing the hospitality industry. Josh Miranda (Blyth & Borroughs, Via Vecchia, etc), Jay Villani (Local 188, Salvage, Black Cow) and Richard Pfeffer (Gritty’s) will be members of the panel moderated by Josh Soley. Sacred Profane will be holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes at their location in Biddeford.
December 18 – The Causeway in Spruce Head is holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner.
December 20 – Chaval is holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner.
December 24 – Via Vecchia is holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner. Regards is holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner.
December 31 – We’ll be building a list of NYE special dinners and food/drink events. Send us a message if you know of one we may have missed.
January 11 – Good Medicine Collective is hosting a dinner in collaboration with chef Felicia Dumont.
January 30 – Community Plate will be holding a potluck dinner at Maine Mechanics Hall.
February 1 – Portland on Tap is taking place.
February 2 – Rafael Zimmerman from Magnus on Water will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
February 8 – Adrian Arvizu from Big Tree Hospitality will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
February 13 – Devin Finigan from Aragosta will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
March 2 – Sara Jenkins, Dustin Martin, and Lauren Radel from Nina June will be the guest chefs at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
May 17 – The Maine Wild Wine Fest is taking place in Freeport.
| Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene. 25-packs of the Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now available on our online store. |
Maine chef Joseph Robbins has been invited to cook at the 2024 White House Tribal Nations Summit taking place on December 9th. He’s planning to prepare what he refers to “indigenous sushi” for the summit’s welcome event. Robbins’ dish will make use of rice from the Red Lake Nations in Minnesota, smoked salmon from Cowlitz Indian Tribe in Washington State, and a reduction sauce of apple juice and maple syrup flavored with chili peppers.
Robbins is Penobscot and is one of a growing number of chefs across the country raising the visibility of Indigenous American cuisine. He was a 2024 Beard Awards semifinalist in the Emerging Chef category.
Monday – Friends & Family is holding a Thanksgiving wine tasting with a 10% discount off bottles that are part of the event. A pop-up featuring the former and current bar staff from Round Turn will be taking place at Pacifico. Chef Adrian Lipscomb, founder of the 40 Acres Project, will be collaborating Crispy Gai on a pop-up dinner.
Wednesday – It’s the last day of the outdoor Portland Farmers’ Market for the 2024 season. The market will operate indoors starting on December 7th, see below for details.
Thanksgiving – See our 2024 Maine Thanksgiving List for a list of dinners, community resources and take-out options as well as turkeys, baked goods and side dishes for your meal at home.
Friday – is the deadline to submit recommendations for the 2025 Beard Awards.
December 1 – Sean Turley will be delivering a presentation on cider & pomology at Lambs in South Portland.
December 7 – It’s the first day of the indoor Portland Farmers’ Market. It will be once again located at 631 Stevens Ave, and will run from Dec 7th through Apr 12, 2025.
December 13 – Hanukkah Mexicana is taking place in Bath. The event will include food inspired by the Mexican Jewish cookbook, Sabor Judio, and a talk by authors Ilan Stavans and Margaret Boyle.
December 14 – Natalie’s at the Camden Harbor Inn will be holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner in collaboration with Browne Trading Company and Barton Seaver.
December 15 – A gingerbread house decoration event is taking place at the Hilton Garden Inn. The event is a fundraiser for Portland Firefighters Children’s Burn Foundation.
December 16 – Bissell Brothers will be holding a (sold out) Feast of the Seven Fishes.
December 18 – Sacred Profane will be holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes at their location in Biddeford.
December 24 – Via Vecchia is holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner.
December 31 – Elk’s Lodge 188 is holding a Vegas-themed New Year’s Eve party; $80 per person.
February 2 – Rafael Zimmerman from Magnus on Water will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
February 8 – Adrian Arvizu from Big Tree Hospitality will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
February 13 – Devin Finigan from Aragosta will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
March 2 – Sara Jenkins, Dustin Martin, and Lauren Radel from Nina June will be the guest chefs at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
| Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene. 25-packs of the Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now available on our online store. |
Tuesday – Bar Futo will be hosting Pickerel from Providence, Rhode Island for a pop-up. Beard Award-winning chef David Standridge from The Shipwright’s Daughter in Connecticut will be collaborating on a dinner with Regards chef Neil Zabriskie.
Wednesday – GMRI is holding an event to discuss Climate Resilience Potential in Gulf of Maine Fisheries. Vagabundo will be serving pork tamales and vegan bean+mushroom tamales at a pop-up at Lambs in South Portland.
Thursday – Nina June in Rockport is serving a dinner featuring the new pressing of olive oil from chef/owner Sara Jenkin’s family farm in Italy.
Friday-Sunday – Goodfire Brewing in Freeport will be serving Wabanaki-inspired dishes in collaboration with Penobscot chef Joe Robbins. The three day event is being organized in collaboration with the Wabanaki Alliance. Robbins was a 2024 Beard Awards semifinalist in the Emerging Chef category and was the chef at the now closed Bissell Brothers location in Milo, Maine.
November 25 – Friends & Family is holding a Thanksgiving wine tasting with a 10% discount off bottles that are part of the event. A pop-up featuring the former and current bar staff from Round Turn will be taking place at Pacifico.
November 27 – It’s the last day of the outdoor Portland Farmers’ Market for the 2024 season. The market will operate indoors starting on December 7th, see below for details.
Thanksgiving – See our 2024 Maine Thanksgiving List for a fast growing list of dinners, community resources and take-out options as well as turkeys, baked goods and side dishes for your meal at home. New listings are being added every day.
November 29 – The deadline to submit recommendations for the 2025 Beard Awards.
December 1 – Sean Turley will be delivering a presentation on cider & pomology at Lambs in South Portland.
December 7 – It’s the first day of the indoor Portland Farmers’ Market. It will be once again located at 631 Stevens Ave, and will run from Dec 7th through Apr 12, 2025.
December 13 – Hanukkah Mexicana is taking place in Bath. The event will include food inspired by the Mexican Jewish cookbook, Sabor Judio, and a talk by authors Ilan Stavans and Margaret Boyle.
December 15 – A gingerbread house decoration event is taking place at the Hilton Garden Inn. The event is a fundraiser for Portland Firefighters Children’s Burn Foundation.
December 18 – Sacred Profane will be holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes at their location in Biddeford.
December 24 – Via Vecchia is holding a Feast of the Seven Fishes dinner.
December 31 – Elk’s Lodge 188 is holding a Vegas-themed New Year’s Eve party; $80 per person.
February 2 – Rafael Zimmerman from Magnus on Water will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
February 8 – Adrian Arvizu from Big Tree Hospitality will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
February 13 – Devin Finigan from Aragosta will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
March 2 – Sara Jenkins, Dustin Martin, and Lauren Radel from Nina June will be the guest chefs at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
| Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene. 25-packs of the Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now available on our online store. |
Thanksgiving is now less than two weeks away. Do you have your holiday meal plans squared away yet?
To help you out with that we’ve put together the 2024 Maine Thanksgiving List. It gathers in one place a list of community meals, restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner, and businesses taking orders for sides, pies, turkey and even full thanksgiving dinners for you to serve at home.
There are nearly 100 entries on the list with more being added everyday, and it includes businesses from the Portland area and all over the state. Drop us a line if you know of any restaurants, food businesses or community meals that should get added to the list.
Monday – Chef Amadeus Florendo will be holding his next Filipino Pulutan pop-up at the Hunt and Alpine Club.
All Week – Brunswick Wine Week is taking place—here’s a link to their full calendar of events.
Tuesday – Table Bar in Gardiner is teaching a Thanksgiving wine class.
Thursday – Angoor Wine Bar and Taj are collaborating to hold a Friendsgiving Feast with a 3-course meal from Taj paired with a set of wine pairings. Chaval is holding a dinner featuring wine from Finca El Molar in Spain.
Saturday – Primo is celebrating their 25th anniversary with a dinner in collaboration with 6 guest chefs along with chef/owner Melissa Kelly: Nancy Silverton, Ilma Lopez, Jody Adams, Emily Luchetti, Kathleen Blake, and Larry Forgione. SaltWater Fields in Thomaston is hosting their 1st Annual Cider Gala featuring cider from Orchard Girls Cider, Ayuh Cider, Freedom’s Edge Cider, Apres Cider and Absolem Cider.
Sunday – Community Plate is holding a Story Sharing Potluck FUNdraising Supper at the Freeport Grange.
November 20 – GMRI is holding an event to discuss Climate Resilience Potential in Gulf of Maine Fisheries.
November 21 – Nina June in Rockport is serving a dinner featuring the new pressing of olive oil from chef/owner Sara Jenkin’s family farm in Italy.
November 25 – Friends & Family is holding a Thanksgiving wine tasting with a 10% discount off bottles that are part of the event. A pop-up featuring the former and current bar staff from Round Turn will be taking place at Pacifico.
November 27 – It’s the last day of the outdoor Portland Farmers’ Market for the 2024 season. The market will operate indoors starting on December 7th, see below for details.
Thanksgiving – See our 2024 Maine Thanksgiving List for a fast growing list of dinners, community resources and take-out options as well as turkeys, baked goods and side dishes for your meal at home. We’re adding new info every day.
November 29 – The deadline to submit recommendations for the 2025 Beard Awards.
December 1 – Sean Turley will be delivering a presentation on cider & pomology at Lambs in South Portland.
December 7 – It’s the first day of the indoor Portland Farmers’ Market. It will be once again located at 631 Stevens Ave, and will run from Dec 7th through Apr 12, 2025.
December 15 – A gingerbread house decoration event is taking place at the Hilton Garden Inn. The event is a fundraiser for Portland Firefighters Children’s Burn Foundation.
December 31 – Elk’s Lodge 188 is holding a Vegas-themed New Year’s Eve party; $80 per person.
February 2 – Rafael Zimmerman from Magnus on Water will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
February 8 – Adrian Arvizu from Big Tree Hospitality will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
February 13 – Devin Finigan from Aragosta will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
March 2 – Sara Jenkins, Dustin Martin, and Lauren Radel from Nina June will be the guest chefs at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
| Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene. 25-packs of the Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now available on our online store. |
Monday – Peer Workforce Navigator is holding two sessions to help recently unemployed restaurant workers understand the process to apply for unemployment. Anyone interested in attending can register online.
All Week – 207 Beer Week is taking place. You can see the full schedule of events on the Maine Brewers Guild website.
Tuesday – Gross Confection Bar is holding a (sold out) pastry baking class.
Friday-Sunday – The Downeast Cider and Cheese Festival is taking place in Ellsworth.
Saturday – Chef Jeremiah Langhorne from The Dabney in DC will be at the White Barn Inn for a 5-course collaboration dinner. Onggi is holding the 4th Annual Kimjang kimchi-making class. Two Fat Cats is holding a Grand Opening for their new location in the West End.
Sunday – Coals will be holding a pop-up at the Leisure Time Cocktail Company serving their wings and “and other delicious creations.”
November 11 – Chef Amadeus Florendo will be holding his next Filipino Pulutan pop-up at the Hunt and Alpine Club.
November 11-17 – Brunswick Wine Week is taking place—here’s a link to their full calendar of events.
November 12 – Table Bar in Gardiner is teaching a Thanksgiving wine class.
November 14 – Angoor Wine Bar and Taj are collaborating to hold a Friendsgiving Feast with a 3-course meal from Taj paired with a set of wine pairings.
November 16 – Primo is celebrating their 25th anniversary with a dinner in collaboration with 6 guest chefs along with chef/owner Melissa Kelly: Nancy Silverton, Ilma Lopez, Jody Adams, Emily Luchetti, Kathleen Blake, and Larry Forgione. SaltWater Fields in Thomaston is hosting their 1st Annual Cider Gala featuring cider from Orchard Girls Cider, Ayuh Cider, Freedom’s Edge Cider, Apres Cider and Absolem Cider.
November 17 – Wander at Long Woods is holding a 6-course harvest wine dinner.
November 20 – GMRI is holding an event to discuss Climate Resilience Potential in Gulf of Maine Fisheries.
November 21 – Nina June in Rockport is serving a dinner featuring the new pressing of olive oil from chef/owner Sara Jenkin’s family farm in Italy.
November 25 – Friends & Family is holding a Thanksgiving wine tasting with a 10% discount off bottles that are part of the event.
November 27 – It’s the last day of the outdoor Portland Farmers’ Market for the 2024 season. The market will operate indoors starting on December 7th, see below for details.
Thanksgiving – See our 2024 Maine Thanksgiving List for a fast growing list of dinners, community resources and take-out options as well as turkeys, baked goods and side dishes for your meal at home. We’re adding new info every day.
November 29 – The deadline to submit recommendations for the 2025 Beard Awards.
December 1 – Sean Turley will be delivering a presentation on cider & pomology at Lambs in South Portland.
December 7 – It’s the first day of the indoor Portland Farmers’ Market. It will be once again located at 631 Stevens Ave, and will run from Dec 7th through Apr 12, 2025.
December 15 – A gingerbread house decoration event is taking place at the Hilton Garden Inn. The event is a fundraiser for Portland Firefighters Children’s Burn Foundation.
December 31 – Elk’s Lodge 188 is holding a Vegas-themed New Year’s Eve party; $80 per person.
February 2 – Rafael Zimmerman from Magnus on Water will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
February 8 – Adrian Arvizu from Big Tree Hospitality will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
February 13 – Devin Finigan from Aragosta will be the guest chef at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
March 2 – Sara Jenkins, Dustin Martin, and Lauren Radel from Nina June will be the guest chefs at a 2025 Flanagan’s Farm Supper Club dinner.
| Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene. 25-packs of the Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now available on our online store. |
Tuesday – The annual HospitalityMaine summit is taking place at Sugarloaf. Maine & Loire is holding a wine tasting with wine maker Simona Balzic from Vina Balzic.
Wednesday – Old port Wine Merchants is holding a Croatian wine tasting. Simona Balzic from Vina Balzic will be at Lambs for a special mushroom pizza dinner featuring their wine.
Thursday – Peekeytoe Provisions in Bar Harbor is holding an event to celebrate the relaunch of their business at their new location.
Saturday – Altrusa is holding their 16th Annual Empty Bowl Meal as a fundraiser for Project FEED.
November 4 – Peer Workforce Navigator is holding two sessions to help recently unemployed restaurant workers understand the process to apply for unemployment. Anyone interested in attending can register online.
November 4-10 – 207 Beer Week is taking place. You can see the full schedule of events on the Maine Brewers Guild website.
November 5 – Gross Confection Bar is holding a (sold out) pastry baking class.
November 9 – Chef Jeremiah Langhorne from The Dabney in DC will be at the White Barn Inn for a 5-course collaboration dinner.
November 11-17 – Brunswick Wine Week is taking place—here’s a link to their full calendar of events.
November 12 – Table Bar in Gardiner is teaching a Thanksgiving wine class.
November 14 – Angoor Wine Bar and Taj are collaborating to hold a Friendsgiving Feast with a 3-course meal from Taj paired with a set of wine pairings.
November 16 – SaltWater Fields in Thomaston is hosting their 1st Annual Cider Gala featuring cider from Orchard Girls Cider, Ayuh Cider, Freedom’s Edge Cider, Apres Cider and Absolem Cider.
November 20 – GMRI is holding an event to discuss Climate Resilience Potential in Gulf of Maine Fisheries.
November 21 – Nina June in Rockport is serving a dinner featuring the new pressing of olive oil from chef/owner Sara Jenkin’s family farm in Italy.
November 25 – Friends & Family is holding a Thanksgiving wine tasting with a 10% discount off bottles that are part of the event.
November 27 – It’s the last day of the outdoor Portland Farmers’ Market for the 2024 season. The market will operate indoors starting on December 7th, see below for details.
Thanksgiving – Restaurants, bakeries, markets and other businesses have already begun sharing their plans. See our 2024 Thanksgiving Resource Guide for a fast growing list of dinners, community resources and take-out options as well as turkeys, baked goods and side dishes for your meal at home. We’re adding new offerings every day and information becomes available.
November 29 – The deadline to submit recommendations for the 2025 Beard Awards.
December 1 – Sean Turley will be delivering a presentation on cider & pomology at Lambs in South Portland.
December 7 – It’s the first day of the indoor Portland Farmers’ Market. It will be once again located at 631 Stevens Ave, and will run from Dec 7th through Apr 12, 2025.
December 31 – Elk’s Lodge 188 is holding a Vegas-themed New Year’s Eve party; $80 per person.
| Planning a wedding, holding a business event, or hosting visitors from away? Our printed guides are a great resource to help your guests explore the Maine restaurant scene. 25-packs of the Portland and Midcoast pocket guides are now available on our online store. |