Damariscotta man finalist in Hood Dairy Cook-Off

William Gillard of Damariscotta was one of five finalists in the Fourth Annual Hood New England Dairy Cook-Off held at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence Sunday.

Gillard’s dish, the Ocean Bounty Creamery, was the finalist in the lunch/dinner category and won $500.

The $10,000 grand prize in the annual amateur cooking contest went to Mary Jo Fletcher LaRocco of North Kingstown, R.I., who made Cranberry Limoncello Tarts in a Gingersnap Hazelnut Crust. She has competed in the contest every year since it began.

For more information about the contest, go to hood.com.

BELFAST

Slow Money Maine hosts networking/lunch event

Slow Money Maine, which helps connect investors with food producers, hosts a day-long gathering from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 15.

The event includes an overview of Slow Money Maine activities, informal networking and lunch catered by Local Sprouts Cooperative.

Representatives from Ararat Farms, Pastor Chuck Orchards, Tide Mill Farm, a grain elevator in Aroostook Country, the Genesis Community Load Fund and the MOOMilk Cow Loan Fund will provide information about thier operations.

Dorothy Sprout of The Carrot Project will present a talk titled “How Financing Is Growing Farmer Capacity in the New England Region,” and John Sharood of Slow Money Maine will speak on “Creating an Ag-Focused Credit Union in Maine.”

In the afternoon, attendees will break up into groups to talk about crowdfunding; expanding grain growing in Maine; and getting farmers on our farms; or take a tour of Bahner Farm and Coastal Farms and Food Processing.

Registration costs $15 and tickets to the event are limited. To register or view the full schedule, visit tinyurl.com/8d2gplw.

CAPE ELIZABETH

Food pantry seeking donations to stay open

Judy’s Produce Pantry, which provides fresh produce to people in need, typically closes in the winter. However, this year the food pantry hopes to remain open into the winter months to assist the growing number of customers it serves.

In the summer, the pantry is supplied by Cape Elizabeth farmers and gardeners. In order to stay open after the harvest comes to an end, the food pantry is seeking donations from community members so it can purchase non-perishables to supplement the limited selection of locally-grown fresh produce available in the winter.

To help the effort, contact Nancy Miles at nmiles@maine.rr.com or 767-1031. Or mail a donation to Judy’s Produce Pantry, 243 Bowery Beach Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107.

FALMOUTH

Allagash Brewing founder to give beer talk at library

Allagash Brewing Company founder Rob Tod offers a free talk about spontaneous fermented beers and other varieties 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at

The talk takes place at the Falmouth Memorial Library, 5 Lunt Road. For more information, call 781-2351.

SOUTH PORTLAND

Food historian Oliver to sign at Nonesuch Books

Food historian Sandy Oliver signs copies of her new book “Maine Home Cooking: 300 Recipes from Down East Kitchens” from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Nonesuch Books in Millcreek Plaza.

Published by Down East, the book sells for $29.95. The book includes her own recipes and those contributed to her by readers of her weekly “Taste Buds” column in the Bangor Daily News.

Nonesuch Books is located at 50 Market St. For more information, call 799-2659.

PORTLAND

French movie nights back on Petite Jacqueline menu

Petite Jacqueline, 190 State St., will resume its free Sunday French movie nights on Nov. 4 with a 7:30 p.m. showing of “The Artist.”

Other films scheduled for November are “Babette’s Feast” on the 11th; “Big Night” on the 18th; and “The Triplets of Belleville” on the 25th.

The films are played in the dining room, with the sound on, during regular dinner service. For more information, call 553-7044.

 

Tarot card and wine event at Roost House of Juice

Roost House of Juice offers a tarot card and wine event 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

For $15, attendees can enjoy a glass of wine or fresh squeezed juice and a 10-minute tarot reading by Heather Nichols, owner of Stones & Stuff.

Pre-registration is required to receive a tarot reading. Call 899-4275 to reserve a spot.

Roost House of Juice is located at 11 Free St.

 

Devenish Wines’ Swain to pour at local tastings

Ned Swain of Devenish Wines will be pouring at a couple of local wine tastings this week.

From 4 to 6:30 p.m. today, Swain will partner with wine importer Laurent Bonnois from Maximilen Selections at a French wine tasting at the Rosemont Market at 580 Brighton Ave. Bonnois is from the Bourgueil region of the Loire Valley and has an inside perspective on the natural wine movement.

Swain will be at Aurora Provisions from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, pouring wines that are “Halloweeny.”

Aurora Provisions is located at 64 Pine Street on Portland’s West End.

 

Eve’s at the Garden hosts annual caviar dinner Friday

Eve’s at the Garden, the restaurant at the Portland Harbor Hotel, will hold its annual caviar dinner Friday.

The evening begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a four-course dinner, paired with wines, that features caviars from around the world. A new feature this year will be the Browne Trading Caviar Service table that will allow guests to taste and learn about the evening’s select caviars. Caviar expert Rod Mitchell, owner of Browne Trading, will be on hand during the dinner to talk about the caviars. Erica Archer of Wine Wise will introduce the wines.

Tickets are $120, which includes wine, tax and gratuity, and are available at brownpapertickets.com.

The Portland Harbor Hotel is located at 468 Fore St. For more information, call 775-9090.

 

Dinner, cooking class on tap at Vignola Cinque Terre

Vignola Cinque Terre, 10 Dana St., has two special events happening in the next couple of weeks.

On Friday, the restaurant is hosting a traditional five-course Tuscan dinner with winemaker Lorenzo Gatteschi of Podere Ciona Estate & Vineyards. The evening starts with a reception at 6:30 p.m.

The dinner costs $75. For reservations, call 347-6154.

On Nov. 3, the Tuscan Mammas, Mimma and Franca from Tutti-a-Tavola Cooking School, will be back to teach a cooking class at noon. The class is $100 per person and includes lunch.

UNITY

Pie social to pay tribute to MOFGA’s Russell Libby

In the wake of Russell Libby stepping down from his long-time post as executive director of the Maine Organic Gardeners and Farmers Association, a pie social will be held in his honor from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Common Ground Education Center.

Libby, who has served as executive director for 18 years and has recently been battling cancer, will continue as senior policy advisor.

Heather Spalding, the organization’s current deputy director, will serve as interim executive director when Libby steps down on Nov. 2.

The potluck pie social is open to all. Those who attend are encouraged to, but don’t need to, bring a pie, such as a fruit pie or a savory pie.

At 2 p.m. the social will feature an unveiling of art by Robert Shetterly.

The education center is located at 294 Crosby Brook Road. For more information, call 568-4142.

WELLS

Sundaes closes for season with ice cream giveaway

Sundaes at the Beach, 231 Post Road (Route 1), will be closing for the season on Sunday. To show appreciation to their customers, they will be giving out free cups and cones from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., or until the ice cream runs out.

In lieu of payment, all donations will go to Wells High School’s 2013 Project Graduation.

For more information, call 646-LICK (5425).