Palatable Portland
The second annual Harvest on the Harbor celebration is set for Oct. 22-25 in and around Portland. Four days of food, wine and celebration, highlighting Portland’s vibrant, eclectic dining scene and the Maine producers that supply it. The event kicks off Thursday with the gala event at the Ocean Gateway facility on Commercial Street, a “Grand Tasting on the Harbor,” with 20 southern Maine restaurants each serving a signature small dish and with chocolates from Sweet Marguerite and coffee from Wicked Joe. Harvest on the Harbor continues Friday, with the naming of Maine’s Lobster Chef of the Year at 11 a.m., also at the Ocean Gateway facility. On Saturday, the food and wine marketplace will be open from 12 to 4 p.m. at Ocean Gateway, and from 7 to 11 p.m. the Harvest Uncorked party will feature food, wine, spirits and music at The Landing at Pine Point in Scarborough. Throughout the weekend, more than 40 Portland area restaurants will offer special deals, tastings and more. For Maine foodies of any persuasion, it’s a weekend that’s not to be missed. For ticket prices for the whole weekend and for individual events, visit www.harvestontheharbor.com.
Language of food
The Penobscot School in Rockland has, for the last 23 years, taught classes in a multitude of languages to midcoast learners. In addition to linguistic skills, however, it also offers films, lectures and cooking classes. Beginning Saturday, Oct. 24, the Penobscot School staff will offer a two-part class on German cuisine. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, students will learn southern German cooking, concocting spring soup, schnitzel, spaetzle, and the famous Bavarian Black Forest torte. The class continues from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and focuses on Germany’s northern regions, such as Saxony and Westphalia. The menu will consist of vegetable soup, stuffed beef rolls, potato dumplings and apple cake. In December, three more cooking classes will be offered, including a Thai fusion class from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, featuring the James Beard Award nominated talents of Chef Ravin “Bas” Nakjaroen. Nakjaroen recently opened the White Lion Raw Bar & Bistro in Camden, and his class will focus on fresh ingredients and flavor combinations. A holiday baking class featuring German Christmas cookies will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, French chef Nan Cobbey will lead a course in French cooking, making French onion soup, crusty country bread and a dessert. To register for any of the classes, all of which cost $45, visit www.languagelearning.org or call 594-1084.
Vegan Variety
Attention, vegan readers: Do you want some new and exciting ideas to spice up your table? Then plug “Vegan Month of Food” into Google and get an eyeful of some of the delicious vegan treats bloggers from all over the world are cooking for the month of October. Now in its third year, Vegan Month of Food, or Vegan MoFo, brings together vegans who want to keep pushing the envelope and coming up with new treats to try. Some of the bloggers try things like veganizing Grandma’s recipes, or they offer tips for eating in foreign countries and share 31 days of vegan Halloween-themed treats. Bangor-based blogger Mary Lake, purveyor of Mitten Ma-chen (www.mittenmachen.com), is one of the many contributors. For an alphabetized list of bloggers participating in Vegan MoFo, visit http://kitteekake.blogspot.com.