PORTLAND — Monday night served up two swanky parties featuring food and drink competitions.

The Signature Event, the kick-off party to Maine Restaurant Week, allowed more than 400 guests to vote for the best cocktail and dessert from a field of more than a dozen bartenders and pastry chefs.

The people’s choice award for best cocktail went to Academe at The Kennebunk Inn for its Sage Against the Machine drink. In the dessert category, the people’s choice winner was Walter’s Kit Katt bar with sea salted caramel.

In addition to the people’s choice awards, the party featured a juried dessert competition judged by “Top Chef Just Desserts” star and Maine native Zac Young, Portland Press Herald food writer Meredith Goad and cookbook authors Dana Moos and Kathy Gunst. The judges picked The Salt Exchange’s Cream Stout gingerbread with smoked sea salt and bourbon caramel, black pepper, vanilla ice cream, candied bacon and cinnamon tulle.

In the people’s choice cocktail competition the first runner up was Brian Boru’s hot ginger and lemon whiskey tea. The second runner up was Natalie’s house soda.

Proceeds from the event, held at Portland’s Masonic Temple, go to support Maine Harvest Lunch.

Cold River Vodka held its Bartenders Bash at Ocean Gateway in Portland and attracted a crowd of more than 500.

The people’s choice award at that event was won by Old Port Sea Grill with its cucumber martini. Second place went to Hugo’s for its gin ginger fizz. Third place went to 50 Local for the Local Greyhound.

Bartenders cast their own votes and the winner for the expert’s pick was Vignola’s Provincial cocktail. Bartenders Bash attendees also cast votes for the most outrageous cocktail. This category was won by Havana South for its Scorned Woman.

Proceeds from the Bartenders bash go to Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters to Maine program.

Read more details about the Signature Event, sponsored by the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, on the Society Snapshots blog.

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