PORTLAND

Taste of Italy planned at Mayo Street Arts

Get a taste of Italy when Slow Food Portland offers an update from the most recent Terra Madre conference in Torino, Italy. The chapter’s three delegates will talk about their experiences at this international gathering from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Mayo Street Arts.

The delegates are Heather Chandler, publisher of the Sunrise Guide; Sarah Bostik of Cultivating Community and Holli Cederholm of Proud Peasant Farm.

The event includes a potluck dinner. Mayo Street Arts is located at 10 Mayo St.

Haitian cuisine, art at African Culture Museum

The Museum of African Culture offers a three-course Haitian dinner at 6 p.m. Jan. 25 in conjunction with its Haitian art exhibition currently on display.

Limited seats are available for this dinner taking place in the gallery. Tickets cost $50 and include wine pairings plus a film and discussion session.

The museum is located at 13 Brown St. Call 871-7188 to reserve a seat.

Wellness Forum opening on Jan. 29 in Portland

The national Wellness Forum will soon have a presence in Maine. The dietary education organization has selected Chris McClay to lead its four-week Wellness 101 series at locations in Portland. The Wellness Forum, based is Columbus, Ohio, is headed by Dr. Pam Popper, a naturopath who is the author of “Solving America’s Healthcare Crisis” and serves on a steering committee for the Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine.

McClay, who is known for her Modern Vegan personal chef services, opens the Wellness Forum of Maine for business on Jan. 29. It will kick off with a free, four-course lasagna dinner from 6 to 7:30 that evening. To reserve a seat, call 409-7778.

In addition to the Wellness Forum course, McClay will offer cooking classes, dinners and other food-related events. Upcoming classes include cooking for weight loss, Feb. 6; greens five ways, Feb. 21; and winter soups, Feb. 27.

For more information about the Wellness Forum of Maine and McClay’s cooking classes, visit portland.wellnessforumrep.com. Classes will take place at locations throughout Greater Portland.

Free wine tastings at the Rosemont markets

Rosemont Markets will have three free wine tastings this month, one at the Yarmouth store and two at the Brighton Avenue store in Portland.

The tasting at the Yarmouth store, located at 96 Main St., will be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday.

From 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, the Rosemont Market at 580 Brighton Ave. will host Mollie Lewis of Indigenous Selections, an importer of small-scale Italian wines.

From 4 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25, Bob Hill from RP Imports will present a selection of both European and Europhile wines.

For more information on the Brighton store tastings, call 774-8129. The Yarmouth store can be reached at 846-1234.

Allagash beer dinner at Vignola Cinque Terre

Vignola Cinque Terre will hold its annual Allagash Beer Dinner from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

The event will feature a reception, dinner and cheese buffet, along with seven different types of Allagash beer. Rob Todd, the owner of Allagash, and brew master Jason Perkins will be there. The dinner costs $35 per person, not including tax and gratuity.

During the beer dinner, the restaurant will give away four tickets to its sixth annual Beer & Cheese Tasting on Saturday. The tasting will be held from noon to 5 p.m. and feature 30 beers and 30 cheeses for $30.

Reservations are required. Call 772-1330.

— Compiled by Meredith Goad and Avery Yale Kamila, Staff Writers