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Flatbread Pizza on Commercial Street is donating a portion of its proceeds from tonight’s sales to Konbit Sante, a Maine-based medical partnership with Cap Haitien, Haiti. Amber recently did a mission trip to Haiti with our church and travelled with Konbit Sante. She’s seen the good work they’re doing to bring medical care and training to the people of Haiti’s second largest city. We’ll be going out for pizza tonight and hope to see you there. If you’ve already got dinner plans, but would like to help out this effort, take a look at Konbit Sante’s “How You Can Help” page. Financial assistance is not the only means of contributing:

Konbit Sante is different from many other organizations in that we do not send teams of doctors and nurses to provide hands-on care. Instead, our staff and volunteers work with Haitian colleagues to develop health care programs, to teach doctors and nurses, to make infrastructure improvements, and to collect and deliver much-needed equipment and supplies.

The most valuable asset you can give is your time. Not a doctor or nurse? They have many needs that can be filled by those without medical training, including infrastructure improvements, working with things like the computer and electrical systems, and collection and distribution of medical supplies and equipment. 

Konbit Sante is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation organized in the State of Maine. They can be contacted as P.O. Box 11281, Portland, ME  04104. You can call 207-347-6733 or email info@konbitsante.org for more information.

I’m on call this week for work, so taking Amber out to dinner for Valentine’s Day is not really possible. However, a friend of mine came up with an alternative that is going to work out well. Vintner’s Wine Cellar on Forest Ave., within walking distance of our apartment, is hosting a series wine and chocolate tasting events beginning tomorrow (February 13) and running through Sunday evening. There will be three 90 minute tastings each night, beginning at 4:30 PM and running back-to-back-to-back. Amber and I will be checking this out Saturday night with a group of friends (don’t worry, I have some other Valentine’s Day things up my sleeve too). The cost is $30 per person, and you should call ahead to make a reservation – 207-878-1119.

Looking for something a little different? Don’t mind the cold? Then perhaps this is for you:

Portland Harbor Hotel on Fore Street welcomes the cold of winter with its Annual Ice Bar event Thursday, January 22 through Saturday, January 24. The Ice Bar runs from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each night. Surrounded with white lights, outdoor firepits and gleaming ice sculptures, the Ice Bar is a unique and unusual way to take advantage of the cold winter months in Maine.  

Portland Harbor Hotel chef and ice carver Jeff Landry will shape more than 7,000 lbs. of ice into three working bars, complete with a martini luge. Located outside in the hotel’s courtyard garden, bundled patrons can sip on specialty martinis, wine and local beers. Complimentary light hors d’oeuvres will be served courtesy of Costa Vida and Burrito. 

The Portland Harbor Hotel will be charging a $10 cover charge to attend the Ice Bar with proceeds going to three different non-profits. On Thursday night, the cover charge will support the Southern Maine chapter of Share our Strength. On Friday night, the cover will go to the Keep ME Warm fund. On Saturday night, the cover will support the Center for Grieving Children.

It sounds like a fun way to spend a Happy Hour. Looking at weather.com, I think Thursday or Friday night might be a little warmer than Saturday. Too bad I already have plans Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (Amber is out of town, so I try to keep busy to ward off loneliness). If anyone does go, let me know how it is. I’d love to get a picture from someone…

Just wanted to throw a quick note up here assuring everyone that Amber and I are, in fact, alive. We’ve just been busy lately. We’re heading out of town this weekend for a camping trip at Keyser Pond outside Concord, NH. We’re hopeful it won’t rain the whole time. I’ve got a handful of restaurants to review when I get back, so stay tuned…

We are on the Vignola/Cinque Terre email list and have gotten a few notices about their upcoming dinner/wine presentation in NYC. Vignola is hosting a preview event next Tuesday for those of us up here in Maine unwilling or unable to pony up the $200 a ticket (plus a hotel stay and transportation, I’m sure). From the announcement,

Join us this coming Tuesday, September 9, for a special night at Vignola, when we host the complete six-course dinner and wine pairings we’ll present at New York’s James Beard Foundation on September 17.

The theme for the dinner is “From Maine to Veneto,” and the evening showcases many of the things we enjoy about living in Maine: farm-grown vegetables, fruits and herbs from Vignola’s Grand View Farm; lobster from Maine’s cold ocean waters; local lamb from nearby Stone Heart Farm; and locally made small-batch artisan cheeses.

The crew at Vignola has been working overtime – tweaking recipes, finding perfect wines to pair with each course – to make this event a standout success. We hope to see you Tuesday! To make your reservation, contact Vignola at (207) 772-1330.

Visit their Web site to see the menu >>

Details
Date: Tuesday, September 9
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Vignola (10 Dana Street, Portland)
Cost: $80 per person; includes tax and gratuity
Space is limited and reservations are required: (207) 772-1330