An award-winning sommelier will visit Cape Elizabeth’s Inn by the Sea in December to impart some of his wine knowledge to diners.

Master Sommelier Joseph Spellman is teaming up with Sea Glass Chef Mitchell Kaldrovich for an educational dinner. Kaldrovich will discuss each dish, while Spellman will talk about the selected wine pairings. 

Spellman is one of 176 Master Sommeliers in the world and has won several awards including the Bon Appetit magazine wine and spirits professional of the year in 1998. He currently works for Justin Vineyards in Paso Robles, Calif. 

The Dec. 17 prix fixe dinner is $58 per person. Call 799-3134 for reservations.

There’s a “Restaurant for Lease” sign on Katahdin Restaurant. The longtime eatery at Spring and High streets in Portland is open for business, but its owners could not be reached this week before deadline.

Hugo’s hosts the ninth annual Potato Dinner Nov. 15. The popular event is sold out, but there is a waiting list, and if last year is any indication you might want to get on the list. The eight-course dinner is a tribute to the late Jim Cook, a potato farmer from Grand Isle and a member of Crown of Maine, an organic cooperative that supplies food to restaurants. Cook died earlier this year. Call 774-8538 for information about the dinner. It’s $120 per person, and dinner starts promptly at 6 p.m. 

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Several new restaurants recently received food and liquor licenses from the city of Portland:

• JP’s Bistro is opening in the space recently vacated by Rachel’s Osteria at 496 Woodfords St. John P. Gagnon is the owner. The menu offers a combination of French, American and Italian dishes. The bistro will be open for dinner and possible weekend brunch. 

• Nosh Bar is going into the old White Heart spot at 551 Congress St. There will be alcohol along with sandwiches. Matthew Moran of Rivalries and Jason Loring, who runs the kitchen at Novare Res, are teaming up on the venture. Menu highlights include a pig belly Rueben, a meatloaf terrine sandwich, a tempura-fried bacon BLT and pickled vegetable and tomato confit.

• G’vanni’s Bistro is returning to Portland after a seven-year hiatus. The Italian restaurant formerly on Wharf Street will open at 15 Exchange St., the former home of Walter’s (which is moving to 2 Union St. and should be open soon). Old Port property owner Joe Soley said in a liquor license application that he is opening the restaurant with help from “talent from Boston’s North End.”

• Po’ Boys and Pickles is taking over 1124 Forest Ave., which used to be a D’Angelos. Peter Zinn is opening the place, which will feature classic New Orleans food.

• Patricia Henley has taken over Awful Annie’s on Congress Street in Portland. The Munjoy Hill establishment has been renamed Mama’s Crow Bar.

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No more chalkboard menu at Downtown Lounge. The Congress Street bar and restaurant in Portland has switched to a permanent paper menu, but is running several specials on the old chalkboard.

In Wells Dec. 2, mascots from the Portland Pirates and the Maine Red Claws, along with the Mercy Hospital bear, will be at the Maine Diner to help raise money for Gary’s House, a place for patients with life-threatening illnesses and their families to stay in Portland. 

All proceeds from food sales Dec. 2 will go to Gary’s House. Crackers from the Pirates, Crusher from the Red Claws and the Mercy Bear will visit the diner from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will also be giveaways of hockey-related items.

Kate Bucklin can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 106 or kbucklin@theforecaster.net

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p-diningdish-111109.jpgJoseph Spellman, a master sommelier from California, will be at Sea Glass at Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth on Dec. 17 to discuss wine pairings.


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