ROCKLAND

Greg Marley is a finalist in IACP cookbook competition

Greg Marley, author of “Chanterelle Dreams, Amania Nightmares” (Chelsea Green Publishing, $17.95), has been named a finalist in the prestigious International Association of Culinary Professionals awards.

Marley’s book is nominated for an IACP Cookbook Award in the Culinary History category. The other two finalists in that category are William Woys Weaver for “Culinary Ephemera: An Illustrated History” (Univer- sity of California Press, $39.95) and Jane Ziegelman for “97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement” (Smithsonian/Harper Collins, $25.99).

Winners will be announced June 2.

 

Local restaurants to sponsor fundraiser for Youthlinks

Rockland restaurants are joining together to put on a fundraising event for local youth.

The “I Pity the Fool Fundraiser” will be held on April 1 – April Fools’ Day – and benefit Youthlinks, a local organization.

Participating restaurants include Cafe Miranda, In Good Company, Lily Bistro, Park Street Grille, Rustica, and Sweets and Meats. A portion of the proceeds from dinners sold that night will go to Youthlinks.

After dinner, head over to the Lincoln Street Center for an ’80s dance from 7 to 10 p.m. This 21-plus event is sponsored in part by Cafe Miranda and will feature live music by the Nikki Hunt Band. There will be giveaways and raffle prizes awarded throughout the evening.

Dance tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. To purchase tickets, go to www.youthlinksonline.org.

BRUNSWICK

Gelato Fiasco offers ‘flavor alert system’ via email

Gelato Fiasco now has more than 650 flavors. How do you know when they’re making your favorite?

Sign up for the company’s new “flavor alert system” and get an email in your inbox, that’s how.

The service is free. Sign up at http://alerts.gelatofiasco.com

Gelato Fiasco is located at 74 Maine St.

 

Johsua’s to host cookie social with live music

Joshua’s Restaurant & Tavern, 123 Maine St., is hosting a cookie social Thursday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. All ages are welcome.

Cookies will be provided by 13th Cookie, which makes cookies that are gluten-free, vegan, soy-free and organic.

Music will be provided by blues entertainer Samuel James.

For more information, email 13thcookie@gmail.com

 

No. 10 Water to offer Spring Fusion Wine Dinner on April 7

No. 10 Water Restaurant at the Captain Daniel Stone Inn will celebrate spring with a Spring Fusion Wine Dinner April 7 at 6 p.m.

The five-course dinner costs $50 per person, excluding tax and gratuity, and will be accompanied by wine selections from Italy, Chile and California.

Courses include sea scallops with baby potato risotto and asparagus tempura, and roasted rack of lamb with pickled cherry relish with edamame and pea puree.

Reservations can be made by calling 373-9299.

PORTLAND

Italia 150 Portland will honor Italian influences

Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy March 31 with dinner and Italian-inspired art installations and fashion.

Italia 150 Portland will honor Italian tradition and the influence modern Italy has in Maine and the rest of the country through farm-to-table food, drink, art, fashion and design.

Chef Lee Skawinski of Cinque Terre and Vignola will be preparing the dinner for the event, which will be held at The Portland Company at 58 Fore St. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. and includes prosecco, wine and five courses.

Part of the dessert course will be provided by Gorgeous Gelato, the new gelato shop on Fore Street.

There are two types of tickets available for the event. “Dinner and More” starts at 6 p.m. and costs $55. “More only” costs $15 per person and includes a glass of prosecco.

Doors open at 8 p.m. for the “and more” portion of the evening. It will include art installations, a fashion and design show, Italian beer and wine, signature cocktails, and dancing with DJ Todd the Rocket.

To purchase tickets, go to: italia150portland.com

 

Bartenders Bash event raises $2,600 for nutrition program

Maine Distilleries’ second annual Cold River Bartenders Bash, held Feb. 28, raised $2,600 for Cooking Matters to Maine.

Cooking Matters is a nutrition education program developed by Share Our Strength that teaches Maine families how to cook more healthful meals at home and stretch their grocery budget at the same time.

For more information on how to sign up for the program, contact Kristen Miale at (207) 423-5166 or e-mail her at kmiale@gsfb.org.

 

Wine-tasting to feature reds from France, California

The monthly wine club at Grace, 15 Chestnut St., will feature red wines from the Rhone Valley in France and New World reds of Paso Robles in California.

The tasting begins at 6 p.m. and is open to anyone. The cost is $10 per person.

For more information, contact Melanie Bolduc at (207) 408-5364, or email her at melanie_bolduc@hotmail.com

SCARBOROUGH

Texas Roadhouse to hold benefit for ITNPortland

Texas Roadhouse, 600 Gallery Blvd., will hold a benefit night for ITNPortland on March 29.

Have dinner at the restaurant from 4 to 10 p.m. and present a coupon downloaded from www.itnportland.org/content/TexasRoadhouse.html, and Texas Roadhouse will donate 10 percent of the bill to ITNPortland.

ITNPortland is a nonprofit group that provides affordable rides for seniors.

FREEPORT

Petrillo’s pizza is a winner at Pizza Madness contest

Petrillo’s pizza with chicken sausage, goat cheese and cranberries took top honors at the “Pizza Madness” contest at Freeport High School Saturday.

Petrillo’s Italian Cafe, 15 Depot St., was the People’s Choice champion at the benefit, which raised money for the 2011 prom and Project Graduation, a program that provides alternative, drug-and-alcohol-free celebrations leading up to commencement.

Second place, a tie, went to Derosier’s, 120 Main St., and the Durham Get & Go, 697 Royalsborough Road.

The Final Four in the contest were chosen by five judges. Best Specialty Pizza went to Desrosier’s for its Reuben pizza. Best Pizza Sauce went to Sam’s Italian Foods, 7 Main St.; Domino’s garlic herb crust won Best Crust; and Amato’s took home the prize for Best Cheese Pizza.

BELFAST

Local food potluck coming March 30 at Unitarian church

The 8th Local Food Potluck & Variety Show will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. March 30 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast.

The event marks the end of the Belfast Co-op’s March Eat Local Challenge. It will include music and storytelling as well as the potluck.

Admission is an optional donation of $3 per adult or $5 per couple. Children get in free. The donations will be given to the Troy Howard Middle School Garden Project.

The church is located at 37 Miller St., behind the Belfast Free Library.

For more information, contact Kate Harris, education and publicity coordinator for the Belfast Co-op, at 338-2532, or email her at kate@belfast.coop.