Category: Events

Portland magazine has published a culinary tour of some of the restaurants participating in Maine Restaurant Week with details from restaurant staff on what they have in store for diners this March.

The first thing to know about the fifth annual Maine Restaurant Week is that it isn’t actually a week. It’s a 10-day opportunity to sample irresistible multi-course menus dreamed up by clever chefs who are just as sick of winter as you are. At very attractive prices. At restaurants all over the state. From March 1 through 10, most participating restaurants offer 3-course dinners, your choice of appetizer, main course, and dessert–for $22 or $32. This sort of value can make you believe in spring again.

The magazine also includes an article on the changing face of children’s menus.

For a full list of MRW participating restaurants see the Maine Restaurant Week website.

Tuesday’s Cajun Cookin’ Challenge resulted in a tie for first place between The Great Lost Bear for their Filé Gumbo and Congress Bar & Grill that cooked up a Maine Shrimp Etouffeé. Second place went to Local Sprouts for their Chicken Shrimp & Sausage Creole-style Gumbo.

More than 600 people attended WMPG’s 18th Annual Cajun Cookin’ Challenge and it was their votes that determined the winners.

Joe Ricchio is hosting a party at Nosh this Sunday to celebrate the premiere of episode 2 of the Food Coma Show. Boston chef and restauranteur Barbara Lynch was part of the crew for epsiode 2 will be at Nosh for the launch party. The event starts at 7:30pm and the $10 tickets are available on Nosh’s website.

Rob Evans came in 2nd place to chef Jun Tanaka from London. The Press Herald has details on last night’s dishes,

Tanaka’s Carrot and Ginger Frangipane Pudding with Chantilly and Carrot Sauce edged out Evans’s Cinnamon French Toast with Orange and Carrot Gelee and Almond Foam.

But it was close.

and the Food Network has published a brief post-competition interview with Evans.

Dispatch magazine has published some recommendations for celebrating Fat Tuesday in Southern Maine.

Also be sure to stop by the Cajun Cookin’ Challenge taking place today at USM.

The Golden Dish has published a report on last night’s kick start event for The Chinese Laundry.

The menu is strictly dim sum and from what I sampled last night I would advise not to miss her future pop-ups.

There were only two items served: steamed dumplings filled with pork and scallions and fried dumplings  with sweet potato and leeks.  There were a few sauces on the side including a very sweetly pungent hoison sauce with scallions.  Both were evocative examples of the genre.

Tuesday — Rob Evans (there’s an interview with Evans in today’s Press Herald) will be competing in the finals for Chopped Champions on the Food Network, the WMPG 18th Annual Fat Tuesday Cajun Cookin’ Challenge is taking place.

Wednesday —Bunker Brewing is celebrating their 1-year anniversary at Local 188, and Cloak & Dagger is holding their Killing Me Sweetly dinner.

Valentine’s Day — nearly every restaurant in town will be open for Valentine’s Day. Here are the one’s planning Valentine’s Day menus or events:

• Anthony’s, 5-course dinner and Rat Pack Valentine’s Day show, $39.95
• Bar Lola, 5-course prix fixe, $55 per person.
• El Rayo Cantina, 3-course dinner, $35 per person.
• Five Fifty-Five, 5-course tasting menu, $88 per person with optional wine pairing for $35 or $50.
• Hugo’s, 7-course dinner, $80 per person with optional wine pairing at $55. The dinner is also available on Friday and Saturday.
• Gelato Fiasco will be serving 30+ red, white, pink and chocolate gelati.
• Inn on Peaks Island, 4-course, $65 per person.
• Maria’s, 3-course dinner, $38 per person.
• Nosh is celebrating a Love Affair with Bacon.
• Novare Res is collaborating with Sweet Marguerite’s to serves a set of beer and chocolate pairings.
• Petite Jacqueline, 3-course dinner, $55 per person with optional menu supplements, wine pairing and champagne flights.
• Roost and Modern Vegan are collaborating to offer 5-course series of chocolate and wine pairings, $25 per couple.
• Spread, 4-course dinner, $50 per person.
• The Holy Donut is making a strawberry glazed donut drizzled with 60% dark chocolate.
• The Salt Exchange, 6-course Midnight in Paris menu, $65 per person.
• Twenty Milk Street, 3-course menu.
• Wine Wise has a few spots left for their 2nd annual wine and chocolate pairing class.
• Zapoteca, 4-course dinner “Celebrating the Love of Asian Influenced Mexican Cuisine”, $50 per person.
• Maine Restaurant Week has posted their recommendations for Valentine’s Day parsed by relationship status.
• Looking to do something a little different? Try the vegan soul food cooking demo taking place at USM

Friday —it’s the first day of the Flavors of Freeport.

Saturday — there will be a wine tasting at Browne Trading, it’s the last day of the Flavors of Freeport, and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place.

Sunday — Chefs Nikos Regas from Emilitsa, Pete Sultenfuss from Grace and Mitchell Gerow from East Ender will be competing in Boston at the Lamb Jam, Two Fat Cats is holding a wedding cake tasting, and Petite Jacqueline is screening Ratatouille.

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 a la Carte has posted a report from the Monday night’s Sonnet dinner.

It was the latest pop-up dinner prepared by chef Damian Sansonetti, a newcomer to Portland who plans to open his own place in the city this spring, serving Italian farmhouse cuisine. Sansonetti, 35, worked for years at Daniel Boulud’s restaurants in New York.

Monday —chef Damian Sansonetti is holding a Sonnet pop-up dinner.

Tuesday —chef Rob Evans is appearing on Food Network for an episode of Chopped Champions. El Rayo is kicking off their language exchange program; every Tuesday 3-4 pm El Rayo will host this event to connect English and Spanish native speakers. Participants will have a chance to learn from each other while enjoying half-priced drinks from the bar.

Thursday — the Great Lost Bear is showcasing Bray’s Brewpub.

Friday —in a continuation of their monthly international dinner series Eve’s is featuring Aphrodisiacs from Italy and Greece.

Saturday — Rosemont is holding a wine tasting, and the Winter Farmers Market is taking place.

Sunday — chefs Sam Hayward, Rob Evans and Chad Conley will be cooking at Flatbread to raise money for Share Our Strength, The Chinese Laundry will be serving up tea and dumplings at Speckled Ax, the (sold out) February edition of Pocket Brunch is taking place,  Petite Jacqueline is screening Sabrina, Two Fat Cats is teaching a baking class.

Figa — starting this week Figa is reopening, by reservation only, on Fridays and Saturdays.

Valentine’s Day — restaurants have started posting their plans for Valentine’s Day. The holiday falls on a Thursday this year and nearly every restaurant will be open. Here are the one’s planning Valentine’s Day menus or events:

• Anthony’s, 5-course dinner and Rat Pack Valentine’s Day show, $39.95
• Bar Lola, 5-course prix fixe, $55 per person.
• Five Fifty-Five, 5-course tasting menu, $88 per person with optional wine pairing for $35 or $50.
• Hugo’s, 7-course dinner, $80 per person with optional wine pairing at $55.
• Nosh is celebrating a Love Affair with Bacon.
• Novare Res is collaborating with Sweet Marguerite’s to serves a set of beer and chocolate pairings.
• Petite Jacqueline, 3-course dinner, $55 per person with optional menu supplements, wine pairing and champagne flights.
• Roost and Modern Vegan are collaborating to offer 5-course series of chocolate and wine pairings, $25 per couple.
• The Holy Donut is making a strawberry glazed donut drizzled with 60% dark chocolate.
• The Salt Exchange, 6-course Midnight in Paris menu, $65 per person.
• Twenty Milk Street, 3-course menu.
• Zapoteca, 4-course dinner “Celebrating the Love of Asian Influenced Mexican Cuisine”, $50 per person.
• Maine Restaurant Week has posted their recommendations for Valentine’s Day parsed by relationship status.

Modern Vegan Cooking School — throughout February and March, Modern Vegan is teaching a series a cooking classes on winter soups, cooking for weight loss, cooking with greens, vegan entertaining and more.

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.