Lack of Love for Valentine’s Day?

Mainebiz reports data that shows Valentine’s Day is the 130th busiest day of the year for Maine restaurants.

If you do go out, the Womply’s breakdown of the stats for Maine restaurants shows there’s a 1% decrease in transaction volume on Valentine’s Day but a 12% lift in revenue compared to an average day. In other words, while fewer people eat out that night, they’re spending more money in the name of love.

Booze Traveler and Chopped

Maine food folks will be appearing on two upcoming TV shows:

  • Linda Kate Lobster will be featured in episode 14 of the Travel Channel show Booze Traveler. The episode will air February 26 at 11pm.
  • Dandelion Catering chef/owner Christian Hayes will be competing on an upcoming episode of Chopped which is set to air March 20 at 10pm. The episode is entitled Pork on the Brain. The Press Herald has posted an brief interview with Hayes.

Two Maine Beard House Dinners

Two more Maine dinners at the James Beard House in NYC have been scheduled:

  • April 3 – Maine Power Couples
    Chris and Paige Gould from Central Provisions and Tipo, Damian Sansonetti and Ilma Lopez from Piccolo and Chaval, Danielle and Justin Walker from Walkers Maine
  • April 5 – Maine Escape
    Andrew Chadwick from the Sea Glass at Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth

Chef Emil Rivera is already on the Beard House calendar for a dinner taking place on March 24th.

This Week’s Events: American Unagi, Drifters Wife, Proper Cup, Kombucha Workshop, Pasta with Paolo

Tuesday – the Other Side Deli on Veranda Street is holding a wine tasting focusing on budget wines, 5-7pm.

Thursday – American Unagi founder Sara Rademaker will be giving a lecture at GMRI, and The Great Lost Bear is showcasing Good Fire Brewing.

Friday – It’s the opening night for the new Drifters Wife (online reservations) at 59 Washington Ave, there will be a beer and cheese tasting at Foundation Brewing and a Jack’s Abby tap takeover at Slab.

Saturday – It’s the opening day for The Proper Cup (website, facebook, instagram) coffee shop at 500 Forest Ave, Higher Grounds is teaching a kombucha workshop, LeRoux is holding a wine tasting, and the 2nd dinner of the Oakleaf series is taking place.

Pasta with Paolo – Solo Italiano chef Paolo Laboa is kicking off a monthly pasta making class starting February 26th. The class will “teach the ins and outs of making a various styles of pasta, as well as its history, before you create two portions of one style yourself. At 5pm, the first portion, plated and served by Paolo himself, will be enjoyed alongside a uniquely paired glass of wine in the shared company of your classmates. The second portion will be yours to take home for your own attempt at re-creation or experimentation.”

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.

Public Market House

The number and diversity of vendors operating in the Public Market House has expanded significantly since they opened. It’s now home to Ameera Bread, Big Sky, Bow Street, Crepe Cafe, Daily Greens, Kamasouptra, Maiz, Pho Co, Sticky Sweet.

The mix and layout is set to change again. Bow Street is soon to move out to their new building at 495 Forest Ave and Cafe Crepe is making room downstairs for Maine Squeeze to move from the second floor. Those changes will free up two spots in the Market for new vendors.