The Cliff House Resort & Spa Opens for 140th Season This Month
The Anniversary Celebration Features Maine-inspired Specials

Ogunquit, Maine – The Cliff House Resort and Spa on Maine’s beautiful south coast is celebrating its 140th season with specials designed for people who love the coast of Maine. The Cliff House opened in 1872 when Elsie Jane Weare, great-grandmother of Innkeeper Kathryn Weare, hosted prominent Gilded Age guests like the Biddles, Cabots and Lodges atop Bald Head Cliff. Today the Resort offers the same spectacular setting along with tempting specials made for 2012 travelers.
In the Dining Room

Lobster, anyone?  Indulge your obsession with the Resort’s 140th Season Lobster Tasting for Two. This five-course dinner for two includes lobster bisque, fresh lobster spring roll with hoisin plum dipping sauce, mini lobster quesadilla with pico  de gallo, lobster citrus risotto with asparagus tips, and half grilled lobster tail with truffle butter, all paired with a bottle of  iced Chandon Brut Sparkling Wine. $140 for two.
At the Bar

Toast the 140th with the Resort’s Blueberry Bellini and help benefit breast cancer research. With every order of this Maine blueberry-scented Prosecco cocktail, The Cliff House will donate $1.40 to this important cause. $14.
In the Spa
Finally, relax and rejuvenate with the 140th Celebration Spa Treatment. This 50-minute full-body special, in the Resort’s  oceanfront spa, features a tension-releasing back massage and aromatic sea salt body buff, followed by an invigorating  Swiss shower and hydrating lotion rub. $140.
The Cliff House Resort and Spa is just an hour north of Boston and a world away. Reserve your place on the coast of Maine today.

At only 5 years old, Finn is battling an aggressive form of brain cancer.   A fundraiser has been set for tonight at all Portland Pie locations to raise money to help him and his family.

Portland Pie will be donating money for every pizza and Maine handcrafted beer sold.  They are also raffling off some great prizes like Red Sox-Yankees Tickets, 1hr Massage, Seadog tickets and more.
Here are the event details.   
All Portland Pie Locations. THURSDAY, APRIL 5 2012 FROM 3pm-8pm

• 51 York St Portland, ME (207) 772-1231
• 869 Main St Westbrook, ME (207) 591-6248
• 400 Expedition Dr Scarborough, ME (207) 510-6999
• 786 Elm St Manchester, NH (603) 622-7437
• 14 Railroad Square Nashua, NH (603) 882-7437

Please spread the word to help this little boy.

You can read about Finn's story on Portland Pie's website here.
http://www.portlandpie.com/articles/finns-fundraiser/

If you can't make it but still want to make a donation you can visit

http://www.portlandpie.com/shop/finn-donation

SHARE OUR STRENGTH’S TASTE OF THE NATION® MAINE 2012

SET FOR JUNE 24 ON GREAT DIAMOND ISLAND

Tickets now on sale for 7th-annual event featuring Maine’s top chefs and restaurants

Who:    Honorary chef chairs, Sam Hayward (Fore Street), Larry Matthews (Back Bay Grill),Lee Skawinski (Cinque Terre, Vignola), Steve Corry (Five-Fifty-Five, Petite Jacqueline) and Jeff Landry (The Farmer’s Table), head a lineup of top-notch chefs and mixologists donating their resources and talents to Share Our Strength Maine.

What:    An unprecedented opportunity to sample the finest foods, spirits and wine from some of Maine’s most noted restaurants.  Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation® Maine is the premier culinary benefit that raises critical funds needed to end childhood hunger in Maine.

When:     June 24, 2:30 – 8 p.m.

Where: Diamond’s Edge at Diamond Cove, Great Diamond Island, Portland Harbor, Maine

Details: Tickets for Taste of the Nation® Maine are $125 for General Admission and $200  for VIP, which includes a reception. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-877-26-TASTE or visiting TasteOfTheNation.org. Thanks to the generosity of participating restaurants and our sponsors, one hundred percent of ticket sales support Share Our Strength’s efforts to end childhood hunger in Maine. Taste of the Nation® Maine is sponsored by Hannaford, PowerPay, Stonewall Kitchen, Maine Magazine and Bill Dodge Auto Group. In 2011, Taste of the Nation® Maine raised more than $103,000 for this important cause.

About Taste of the Nation

Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation® is the nation’s premier culinary benefit dedicated to making sure no kid grows up hungry. Each spring and summer, the nation's hottest chefs and mixologists donate their time, talent and passion at nearly 40 events across the United States and Canada, with one goal in mind: to raise the critical funds needed to end childhood hunger. Taste of the Nation is nationally sponsored by American Express, Sysco, Food Network, Brown-Forman Corporation, S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water and Stella Artois. Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $73 million.

About Share Our Strength Maine

Share Our Strength is the leading national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. In Maine, where 1 in 4 children is unsure about where their next meal is coming from, our dedicated volunteers work with community groups and good local programs to catch these children and ensure they have nutritious food where they live, learn and play. Supported by our generous sponsors – Bill Dodge; Power Pay; Maine Magazine; Stonewall Kitchen; and Hannaford – and by Maine’s outstanding restaurants and chefs, we create engaging, pioneering programs like Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation®, Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale®, Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry: dinners®, Share Our Strength’s Dine Out®: No Kid Hungry, and Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters®. Visit Strength.org/portlandme to learn more.

LOCAL RESTAURANTS JOIN SHARE OUR STRENGTH’S
Dine Out®: No Kid Hungry
A portion of March sales pledged to end childhood hunger

Portland, Maine – Share Our Strength announced today that four of Maine’s best restaurants have joined efforts to end childhood hunger in the state, through participation in Share Our Strength’s Dine Out®: No Kid Hungry in March. Miyake, Pai Men, Grace – all in Portland - and The Foreside Tavern in Falmouth will offer specially priced menus, donating a portion of sales to help Share Our Strength efforts to provide every child in Maine with nutritious and sufficient food.

For the entire month of March, Miyake will donate $1 from each $30, 3-course special menu, up to $3 from the restaurant’s 7-course tasting dinner menu, and Pai Men will donate $1 from each order of its $23, 3-course menu. “We are all very excited to be raising money for a great charity and trying to help make a difference in our own state,” said Jessica Sueltenfuss, manager at Miyake.

From March 5th to 18th, Grace will contribute $1 from each $40, 3-course menu and The Foreside Tavern will donate $1 from each $30, 3-course menu. “The idea that there are children in our state that are hungry is simply unacceptable to us. When we learned that each dollar raised connects a child with 10 meals we knew we could make an impact right here in our own community.” said Anne Verrill, owner of The Foreside Tavern.

The March fundraiser, which was initiated by the four restaurants and echoes the annual, nationwide Dine Out®: No Kid Hungry event held each September, is another example of the commitment Maine restaurants have shown to Share Our Strength, helping the organization to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to end childhood hunger since 2006.  These efforts have the full support of the Maine Restaurant Association, which in 2011 partnered with Share Our Strength pledging to fight childhood hunger throughout the state. “The fact that these four restaurants have teamed up to get the word out to raise funds for Share Our Strength is a call to action for other restaurants and food businesses to join us,” said John Woods, Maine Chairman for Share Our Strength.

In Maine, where nearly 1 in 4 children are uncertain where their next meal will come from, the dedication of restaurants, corporations and individuals to Share Our Strength makes a powerful difference. In addition to the Dine Out®: No Kid Hungry campaign, funds raised will continue to support the most effective and efficient anti-hunger organizations in the state:

• Good Shepherd Food Bank. The state’s largest food bank collects and distributes food to nonprofit organizations, including many in York County. gsfb.org
• The Preble Street Teen Center. Provides free, low-barrier services to thousands of youth, adults and families from all around Maine experiencing homelessness, hunger and poverty, and advocates for solutions to these issues. preblestreet.org
• Cultivating Community. Grows more than 10,000 pounds of organic produce annually for families living in poverty and engages more than 1,000 community young people in growing and distributing food each season. cultivatingcommunity.org.
• The Opportunity Alliance. This community action agency is committed to identifying and addressing social, economic, educational and health needs in Maine. propeople.com

About Miyake and Pai Men
After many years of experience in restaurants in Tokyo and New York City, chef Masa Miyake opened his first restaurant in Portland in 2007. He has recently relocated Miyake to a stunning, contemporary space in the Old Port, where he blends Japanese technique with Maine seafood and other local ingredients to create sushi that The New York Times said “raises the bar.” In 2010, he opened his second restaurant, Pai Men, in Portland’s West End, where a more casual menu centers on Japanese noodle dishes and, in the evening, offers foods from a traditional yakitori grill. For more, visit miyakerestaurants.com.

About Grace
Portland’s most visually distinctive restaurant is housed in a former church, faithfully restored in 2009 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In this dramatic, inspiring space, centered by a large, lively bar and surrounded by vaulted beams and stained glass, chef Peter Sueltenfuss serves inventive, locally sourced New American food, offering what Boston Magazine called a “divine experience.” For more, visit gracerestaurant.com

About The Foreside Tavern
Just 5 miles from downtown Portland in Falmouth Foreside, The Foreside Tavern is a family friendly gathering place known for its warm welcome and inventive American bistro menu featuring Maine ingredients. At the bar watching the game, relaxing by the fireplace in the winter or listening to live music on the terrace in the warmer months, there is something for everyone, in every season. For more, visit theforesidetavern.com

About Share Our Strength
Share Our Strength is the leading national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. We weave together a net of community groups, activists and good programs to catch the children at risk of hunger and ensure they have nutritious food where they live, learn and play. We work with the culinary industry to create engaging, pioneering programs like Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation®, Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale®, Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry: dinners®, Share Our Strength’s Dine Out®: No Kid Hungry, and Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters®. Visit Strength.org to learn more.

Portland Harbor Hotel’s Ice Bar Raised $15,000 in Three Days

PORTLAND, Maine – Portland Harbor Hotel’s popular Ice Bar raised $15,000 in three evenings in late January. These funds have been shared with the following local organizations: Gary’s House, affiliated with Mercy Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and Share our Strength Southern Maine.

Gary’s House and Ronald McDonald House will use the funds to help hundreds of families in need of a place to stay while family members are in the hospital. Share our Strength Southern Maine distributes funds to help hungry children.

Funds are raised through the $15 cover charge at the door. One of Portland’s most highly anticipated winter events, the Ice Bar sold out on Friday and Saturday evenings and attendance was high.

On hand to receive the donation were Debra Lavoie, Executive Director of Gary’s House, Whitney Bruce, board member of Share our Strength and Robin Chibroski, Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House.

Portland Harbor Hotel General Manager Gerard Kiladjian said, “It’s great that so many people attended the Ice Bar and were able to help support these organizations in need. All three organizations play an important part in supporting our community.”

Sponsors for the event included Smirnoff Vodka, Shipyard Brewery, Sonny’s Restaurant, Kamasouptra, Zapoteca and GoBerry.  
Planning for Ice Bar 2013 has already begun.

For more information about the Portland Harbor Hotel, visit www.portlandharborhotel.com, or call 207-775-9090.

Photo :
In front of the remains of the January Ice Bar: Pictured from left to right Robin Chibroski, Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House; Debra Lavoie, Executive Director, Gary’s House; Gerard Kiladjian, General Manager, Portland Harbor Hotel; Celine Couillaut, Ronald McDonald House; Whitney Bruce, Share our Strength Southern Maine board member and Ralph Debay, Share our Strength Southern Maine board member.

Hundreds Crown Supreme Dessert-Maker and Bartender at Maine Restaurant Week Kickoff, The Signature Event
Academe Brasserie, The Salt Exchange, and Walter’s Win Prizes

PORTLAND, Maine – It was an evening of decadent desserts, drinks, and décor during The Signature Event, the kick-off to Maine Restaurant Week. The area’s finest bartenders, dessert chefs, and bakers provided samples of their best work to over four hundred guests in the majestic Masonic Temple in Portland last night. Academe, The Salt Exchange, and Walter’s came out winners in the Signature Cocktail, the juried “Art of Dessert,” and the People’s Choice “How Sweet It Is” categories, respectively.

“The Signature Event was a great kick off Maine Restaurant Week,” notes Jim Britt of gBritt PR, organizer of Maine Restaurant Week. “Maine is filled with such extraordinary culinary talent. Hopefully people are hungry for more so they’ll go check out some of the many wonderful and wide-ranging restaurants participating in Maine Restaurant Week now through March 12.”

Adrian Trudeau, bartender at Academe Brasserie at the Kennebunk Inn won the Signature Cocktail competition with his drink “Sage Against the Machine.” The cocktail featured Absolut Raspberry Vodka, Triple Sec, St. Germain, sour mix, muddled sage and lime. Jay Towle of Brian Boru was the runner-up for the night with his drink “Hot Ginger and Lemon Whiskey Tea” and Tom Laslavic, Natlalie’s, Camden Harbour Inn was the second runner up with a three course cocktail, “Natalie’s House Soda.”

Five finalists competed in the juried “Art of Dessert” competition. Patrick Tubbs, pastry chef at The Salt Exchange won the grand prize with his cream stout gingerbread with smoked sea salt and bourbon caramel, black pepper and vanilla ice cream, candied bacon, and cinnamon tulle. The judges’ table was comprised of an elite cast of tasting professionals: Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram food writer Meredith Goad; cookbook author and Maine hospitality specialist Dana Moos; cookbook author Kathy Gunst; and former “Top Chef: Just Desserts” competitor and Maine native Zac Young.

The People’s Choice “How Sweet It Is” competition featured desserts and treats ranging from chocolates and cupcakes to reverse root beer floats. Pastry chef Anthony Scherrer of Walter’s received the most votes for his dessert, “Kitt Katt Bar with Sea Salted Caramel.” The Salt Exchange’s Tubbs was the runner up (by just one vote) for his Creme Stout Gingerbread dessert that won the “Art of Dessert” competition.

The Signature Event was catered by Natalie’s of the Camden Harbour Inn, which was also a sponsor. Maine Beverage Company and Double Cross Vodka were also sponsors of the event. Part of the proceeds of the event were donated to Maine Harvest Lunch.

About Maine Restaurant Week:
Founded in 2009, this is the third year for this statewide event. Participating restaurants offer specially priced menus from March 1-12. For restaurant names, menus and special event information, visit www.mainerestaurantweek.com.

Sponsors of Maine Restaurant Week include: Down East Magazine, The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, Constellation Wines US, American Express, Maine Office of Tourism, MPBN, Shipyard Brewing Company, Citadel Broadcasting, Oakhurst Dairy, WCSH 6, and Native Maine Produce.

MaineDistilleries Announces Maine Mixologist Winners
  From Its 2nd Annual Cold River Bartenders Bash

Freeport, Maine–Gin trumped vodka at the 2nd Annual Cold River Bartenders Bash, according to partners at Maine Distilleries.  The company shared results of its sold-out February 28th mixology competition today, with Old Port Sea Grill’s bartender Leah Chamberlin topping the list of 20 competitors with her Cold River Gin “Cucumber Martini.” 
Second-place honors went to Roxanne Dragon of Hugo’s who earned high marks for her “Gin Ginger Fizz,” while 50 Local’s James Ferguson took third for his “The Local Greyhound” cocktail.  All three awards, decided by attendees’ “People’s Choice” votes, came with cash prizes for the winners ($500, $300 and $200, respectively).
Also of interest were results of the event’s “Experts’ Pick” vote, a separate vote cast by attending Maine bartenders, who named Vignola’s “Provincial” cocktail the winner.  The concoction, a spin on the French countryside created by Vignola bartenders Scott Doherty and Guy Streitburger, featured Cold River Gin, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, and simple syrup infused with lavender flowers.
The evening’s “Most Outrageous Cocktail” vote went to Havana South barkeep Eddie Costales for his popular “The Scorned Woman” cocktail, featuring habañero, jalapeño, and serrano chili peppers, and passion fruit purée.
More than 500 guests attended the Bash held at Portland’s Ocean Gateway, which featured the talents of 20 Maine mixologists, live rock and blues music by the Ken Grimsley Band, and gourmet fare by Aurora Provisions.  Portland restaurant veteran and Mainemagazine contributor Joe Ricchio acted as emcee.
“A tremendous amount of care and attention to detail went into every cocktail entry,” noted Dick Grotton, President and CEO of the Maine Restaurant Association.  “Every participating bartender and their restaurants were 100 percent behind the project, and that really wound up being clearly evident in the quality of entries throughout the evening.”
On March 11th, over $2,000 raised from the event will be donated to Share Our Strength Maine’s “Cooking Matters to Maine” program.  Cooking Matters to Maine, a nutrition education program benefiting hundreds of families throughout the state, features the talents of numerous Maine chefs and nutritionists who teach healthy cooking techniques and how to stretch families’ grocery store dollars.
The 2nd Annual Cold River Bartenders Bash was generously sponsored by Mainemagazine, the Maine Restaurant Association, the Greater Portland Convention & Visitors Bureau, Maine Beverage Company, Bow Street Distributors, RSVP Discount Beverage and Better Bread Company.

Photo Caption: Guests cheer the winning entries at the 2nd Annual Cold River Bartenders Bash, held February 28th at Portland's Ocean Gateway.  Over 500 guests attended the event. Old Port Sea Grill's Leah Chamberlin took top cocktail honors. (Photo courtesy Ted Axelrod)

Restaurants from Kittery to Bangor participate in Maine Restaurant Week 2011

PORTLAND, Maine. — Portland may be one of America’s foodiest small towns, but the participant list for March 2011’s Maine Restaurant Week proves that Maine as a whole must be one of America’s foodiest small states. Participating restaurants are spread along Maine’s southern beaches and Mid-Coast, the Greater Portland and Bangor areas, as well as in Central Maine. With such a geographically disparate list of participants, Maine Restaurant Week creates destinations across the state for both Mainers and folks from away.

Offering special prix-fixe three course menus at exclusive price points of $20, $30, or $40, diners across the state are tempted by creativity, affordability, and culinary adventure from Route 1 to Route 202 and everywhere in between.

Along the southern coastline, participating restaurants can be found in Kennebunk, Kittery, Kennebunkport, Eliot, Saco, and Old Orchard Beach. In the Greater Portland area, participants are located in Cape Elizabeth, South Portland, Portland, Falmouth, Westbrook, and Yarmouth. Central Maine boasts participants in Lewiston, Auburn, and Hallowell. Mid-Coast destinations are scattered throughout Bath, Brunswick, Camden, Rockland, Searsport, Topsham, and Wiscasset. Newport, Hampden, and Bangor create the northern-most cluster of cities with participating restaurants.

For those in Mid-Coast Maine, the Maine Restaurant Week website features a special section highlighting participants in the Camden-Rockland region. This region of the state boasts some of the most highly-regarded restaurants and chefs Maine has to offer; chefs from the Hartstone Inn and Natalie’s recently traveled to New York City to present their creations to members of the James Beard Foundation. For those traveling, there are numerous lodging suggestions and deals for the Greater Portland and Mid-Coast regions.

A complete list of participating restaurants along with their location is available on the Maine Restaurant Week website, www.mainerestaurantweek.com.

About Maine Restaurant Week:
Founded in 2009, this is the third year for this statewide event. Participating restaurants offer specially priced menus from March 1-12. For restaurant names, menus and special event information, visit www.mainerestaurantweek.com.

Sponsors of Maine Restaurant Week include: Down East Magazine, Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, Constellation Wines (Robert Mondavi, Estancia, Clos du Bois, Kim Crawford, Ravenswood), American Express, Maine Office of Tourism, MPBN, Shipyard Brewing Company, Citadel Broadcasting (WHOM, WBLM, WCYY, WJBQ), Oakhurst, and Native Maine Produce.

Maine Restaurant Association Names Gritty Mcduff’s Brewing Company Owners
“2011 Restaurateurs Of The Year”
Richard Pfeffer and Ed Stebbins, co-owners of Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Company, a standout on Maine’s restaurant and bar scene for more than 20 years, have been recognized as the 2011 Maine Restaurant Association’s (MeRA) “Restaurateurs of the Year,” Steve DiMillo, Chairman of the Board of the Association, announced today.  The award will be presented to Pfeffer and Stebbins at the MeRA Annual Awards Banquet on Tuesday, March 15.
“Gritty’s has earned such a highly respected reputation throughout Maine since it first opened its doors,” said Dick Grotton, president and CEO of the Maine Restaurant Association.  “Ed and Richard have consistently worked for the betterment of Maine’s restaurant community since Gritty’s launch in 1988.  They’ve consistently and generously served countless community organizations and charities for decades now, and are widely considered a favorite destination for Mainers and visitors alike.  Our MeRA team unanimously agreed that this was Gritty’s year.”
MeRA’s Restaurateur of the Year award, which has been presented for more than 30 years, is based on nominations from the community, the business’s tenure with and contributions to the Association, and its reputation among local patrons and community members.
Gritty’s, which operates three brew pubs in Maine, enjoys a sterling reputation for its award-winning English-style ales and upscale pub fare.  In addition to repeat wins as "Maine's Best Brew Pub" and "Best Maine Microbrew," Gritty’s also has been recognized in dozens of regional and national outlets.  Forbes.com writer Zack O’Malley Greenburg singled out the small-batch ales and ambiance offered at Gritty McDuff’sBrewing Company as just one of the many good reasons Portland was selected as America’s Most Livable City in 2009, and Imbibe, which recently labeled Portland one of America’s “emerging beer meccas,” named Gritty’s a key pub and brewery that have put the city on the beverage map.
“We’ve always felt very much a part of Maine’s supportive and positive restaurant industry,” Pfeffer said.  “Recognition from our industry’s leader is gratifying, to say the least.  We couldn’t do what we do without a top-notch staff, and we’re awfully proud of our whole team.”

There is a new local website launching tomorrow called Dealitious.com. It features discounts from 50% to 90%  from Portland area businesses.   
Their first deal will be featuring El Rayo Taqueria Mexican Restaurant. So, If you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping you can get a great deal with a discount voucher tomorrow or Tuesday.
Check this out… you can get 50% off at El Rayo Mexican from Dealitious.com  -

Get $30 of Fresh Mexican fare for $15  - Monday Dec, 13th and Tuesday Dec. 14th only.

Visit www.Dealitious.com and you can get all the details.
Dealitious.com is a locally owned site (no big out of state media companies) so you can support the local businesses and a local website at the same time.  

A cool features of Dealitious.com is that you can suggest a restaurant that you want to see deals from. So, If you don’t see your favorite restaurant just use the suggestion box and maybe they will be up next.

Maybe we can organize a write in campaign.  Put your suggestions below in the comments section.