PORTLAND

Rabelais sessions to cover culture of immigrant food

Rabelais will host a talk and book signing Saturday with two authors who write about the immigrant food experience.

Jane Ziegelman, author of “97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement” (HarperCollins, $25.99) and Andrew Coe, author of “Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese Food in the United States” (Oxford University Press, $24.95) will be at The Quimby Colony, 769 Congress St., from 3 to 5 p.m.

The afternoon discussion about the culture of immigrant food will include Lindsay Sterling, founder of the local Immigrant Kitchens project, and Hooria, an immigrant from Afghanistan who now lives in southern Maine. Sterling and Hooria will prepare some Afghan food.

There will be a $15 cover charge, and seating is limited. For reservations, call Rabelais at 774-1044, or e-mail info@RabelaisBooks.com

 

Owner closing Evangeline to become full-time father

Chef Erik Desjarlais says he is “bittersweetly pleased” to resign from Evangeline and close the French-inspired restaurant in Portland’s Longfellow Square in order to become a full-time dad to his infant daughter.

“The intensity of my role at Evangeline drew me away from spending any time with my daughter whatsoever, and with two restaurant chef/owners under one roof, time is a valuable asset,” Desjarlais wrote in an announcement he e-mailed to news media Sunday.

Desjarlais is married to Krista Kern Desjarlais, chef/owner of Bresca at 111 Middle St. Their daughter, Cortland, is almost 6 months old.

“Moderating my time spent at Evangeline would have an adverse effect on the business,” Desjarlais said, “so I have decided to move my role as full-time nurturer from the restaurant to our daughter, which I’m sure any parent would understand.

“And while I will sincerely miss firing up the ranges every day and making the food I love, I’m excited to be immersed in diapers, teething, baby-babble and all of Cortland’s ‘firsts.’ “

 

The Salt Exchange offering Scotch samples at tasting

The Salt Exchange, 245 Commercial St., will host a Scotch tasting from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 24.

For $12, participants will get four tastes of Scotch.

For more information, call 347-5687.

 

City restaurants squaring off at Siano’s first Chowderfest

Siano’s first Chowderfest will be held Sunday under a heated tent in the parking lot of the restaurant’s Old Port location.

More than a dozen restaurants will be making chowder to sample, and the public will be able to vote on their favorite. There will also be music, raffles and beer.

Restaurants that will be participating include Cinque Terre, J’s Oyster, RiRa, Kamasouptra, Vignola and DiMillo’s.

Admission is $5. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Preble Street soup kitchen.

 

 

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