BRUNSWICK

Restaurants to strut their stuff in Taste of Brunswick on June 19

More than 20 restaurants will be showcased at the second annual Taste of Brunswick from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 19 on the mall in downtown Brunswick.

The restaurants will serve tastes of their food, while local waiters demonstrate their agility and compete for a tip in a waiter’s race. Sea Dog Brewery will provide a beer and wine pavilion.

Tickets are $6 in advance or $8 at the door. Children 12 and under get in free. Food tickets cost $1 each, with each taste costing between one and five tickets.

A portion of the proceeds from Taste of Brunswick will be donated to the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.tasteofbrunswick.com.

BATH

Marnee’s Cookies fires up the ovens for ‘Cookie Drop’ and wants your help

Memorial Day is coming up, so Marnee’s Cookies is rallying the troops for “Operation Cookie Drop.”

The bakery wants to send a flotilla of cookies to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it’s asking for the public’s help.

People who would like to bake their own cookies for the troops can hand-carry or ship their homemade treats to Marnee’s Cookie Bistro, 23 Elm St., from May 27 through June 2 for packing and shipping.

Not so good in the kitchen? Then show up on those same days between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to help pack cookies. The goodies will be shipped the first week in June.

Marnee’s will also ship cookies direct to your favorite soldier at a 20 percent discount when you order from the website and use the promo code CD2010.

Donations toward “Operation Cookie Drop” are welcome.

For more information, call (207) 443-3401.

PORTLAND

Pop the cork Sunday at Cinque Terre   to benefit Cultivating Community

Twenty wines for $20?

It’s a fun, affordable wine-tasting event that will do some good for others while exposing you to new wines.

Representatives from five local wine wholesalers are hosting a wine tasting on Sunday to support Cultivating Community, sponsor of youth and community development programs that teach organic, sustainable agricultural practices.

The event will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. at Cinque Terre, 36 Wharf St. The wholesalers who will be there are SOPO Wine Co., Easterly Wines, Devenish Wines, Davine Wine Co. and Crush Distributors.

Wine experts at the event will highlight 20 of Italy’s most popular wine selections, according to chef Lee Skawinski.

Skawinski will be serving a variety of appetizers to complement the wines.

Reservations are recommended. Call (207) 347-6154.

SOUTH PORTLAND

Artisanal chocolatier is finalist for top specialty food honors

Sweet Marguerites, an artisanal chocolate company, has won two Silver 2010 sofi  Awards from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade.

The award’s name, sofi, stands for Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation. It is the highest honor in the specialty food industry.

This year more than 1,500 products were submitted in more than 30 categories. Sweet Marguerites won for its 12-piece assorted chocolates in the “Chocolate” category and for its 12-piece fleur de sel caramels in the “Food Gift” category.

Sweet Marguerites is a finalist for Gold Awards in both categories, which will be announced at the Fancy Food Show in June.