Let the Festivals Begin

Summer is a good time to find and especially taste food from various restaurants and specialty food vendors.  The where is at the many Food Festivals several of which are in the Portland area starting thursday when the Greek Heritage Festival kicks a three day celebration of all things Greek.

Members of the church spend a couple of weeks preparing all the lovely things you taste like these delicate fried pastries above which get a drizzle of honey over the powdered sugar.

These ladies are making Finikia, a baked pastry with a walnut stuffed date inside, which has a orange sauce poured over it before serving.
An annual event held under a large tent at the corner of Park and Pleasant Streets in the church parking lot, it's always well attended with music happening during the supper and early evening hours. Saturday it's joined by three more one day events: The Strawberry Festival, in Cape Elizabeth at Maxwell's Farm,

the 2nd Annual Portland Lobster Festival on the Maine State Pier and the 6th Annual Vegetarian Food Festival at the East End Community Center.
These are followed on Sunday by Taste of the Nation 2010, at a new location this year along the Portland waterfront at Ocean Gateway. 

Held under a fancy pavilion tent, ( with a wood floor)  that Leavitt & Parris was busy putting up Wednesday, this event is a national fund raiser for children's hunger with 100% of the gate going to local charities. Twenty seven of the state's top restaurants, premium wines, beers & spirits are on hand with live music dancing and a superb auction & raffle going on into the evening.

Check Portland Food Map's  Event Calendar for details on these  and other upcoming events