Cinque Terre / Vignola 7th Annual Harvest Dinner

Have you ever daydreamed about that trip to Italy, spending a leisurely afternoon drinking wine and eating fine food at some out of the way restaurant in the countryside?  Well I'm here to tell you, forget the jet lag and the airfare and just mark your calendar with a little note *next August-sign up for the Cinque Terre/ Vignola Harvest Dinner, which happened this year on Sunday, the 12th of September, at Grand View Farm, in Greene Maine. The farm is owned by Dan Kary and his wife Michelle, who are half owners with Chef Lee Skawinski of the two Portland restaurants.  Their partnership started with a conversation about what Dan could grow and what Lee could cook with it.
The dinner started seven years ago... a real world exploration of a culinary idea, "Slow Food" or farm to table, the idea that memorable food is more about fresh, seasonal ingredients, uniquely put together in ideal proportions than the actual chef, a movement that has gathered momentum in the past 10-15 years in this country. Today the farm produces up to 40% of the seasonal produce served at the restaurants. The tour bus pulled up to the farm house around 1:45. A 14 year old mare watched as the 50 odd people disembarked, walked past the fruit trees along the drive way, making their way toward the farmhouse steps, where they were greeted by Dan Kary.

Inside Chef Lee Skawinski and a staff of a dozen were busily preparing for the afternoon event.

After a quick hello to old friends and a tour of the first floor dining area, guests move outdoors for a look at the new oven, were the Porchetta had been cooking for several hours. Soon Hors d'oeuvres began arriving, drinks were poured and a tour of the gardens started.

After an hour and a half or so spent tasting the wines and listening to a jazz trio it was time to move inside where more goodies awaited!

And then it was time to say goodbye for this year!

Cinque Terre

36 Wharf Street

207-347-6154

& 

Vignola

10 Dana Street

207-772-1330

Portland

http://www.cinqueterremaine.com/main.html

http://vignolamaine.com/main.html

If any of you are wondering about the two ovens seen above, the one indoors which was used to bake the bread and some of the Hors d'oeuvres and the larger outdoors one on the patio, used to roast the Porchetta; both of which were finished and fired for the first time for this dinner, they were made by David Neufeld of Northstar Stoneworks.

More On Flickr

Feast Of The Seven Fishes

Well , maybe six, because yours truly sort of missed one course, again, sort of.  When I mentioned to my wife that I might shoot in the kitchen at Cinque Terre on Christmas Eve for the traditional Italian "Feast of the Seven Fishes" she showed more then a little interest in tagging along.  So a little trade of a picture and voila, a night on the town, again sort of, because I'm running back n forth taking pictures and in a lull coming out front to sit for a few minutes.  At one point she looks into the kitchen and says you have to try this, it's fabulous! So while I somehow didn't take any pictures of "Maine Shrimp Fritto, radicchio, basil and caper sauce" I did get to taste it and she didn't lie, it was great! So without further ado:

 Cinque Terre 

Feast of the Seven Fishes

December 24, 2009

Winter Point Oysters with prosecco mignonette

Crab Arancini and mozzarella white anchovy crostini

Warmed Leeks and lobster vinaigrette

*Maine Shrimp Fritto, radicchio, basil and caper sauce

Creamy Codfish Ravioli with tomato, fennel and basil oil

Seared Sea Scallops, parsnips, chicory and balsamic aioli

White Chocolate Cranberry Semifreddo, orange crème anglaise, pistachio tuile

The flow of every kitchen is different and I've taken to going with the flow so to speak, shooting the parts of the plate, as it comes together, until I get a picture of the whole.  Still video like.

Now not everybody dining at Cinque Terre on Christmas Eve was there for the "Feast", some had come for the regular menu which on that night had a a variety of seafood dishes to choose from...

Portland has an abundance of good food to choose from and many of the best restaurants offer these prix fix multi course meals, which are usually a great value, so if your thinking of going out New Years Eve, check the Portland Food Map Calendar as at last look about a dozen choices in all price ranges where listed, including a pig roast at Shima on Fore Street. 

I'll be out there somewhere, with my wife, enjoying myself with or without my camera. I hopr you are too!