Maine Restaurant Week - March 1-12, 2011 - Maine's Statewide Restaurant Event

PORTLAND, Maine - March 1-12, 2011 For many, this year will be the first time dining out during Maine Restaurant Week. For others, especially "foodies" visiting Maine and from around the state, the third annual Maine Restaurant Week is a welcome highlight of winter - the event provides special set-price, three-course menus that offer value that feels downright decadent. The growing list of participating restaurants and their special Maine Restaurant Week menus will be available online at www.mainerestaurantweek.com on Tuesday, February 1, 2011.

Maine Restaurant Week participating restaurants serve three-course dinners priced at 20, 30 or 40. In addition, some restaurants will serve three-course lunches for 15. Beverages, gratuities and taxes are not included and not all restaurants will be offering lunches. Last winter over one hundred Maine restaurants participated, organizers anticipate topping that number this March.

In addition to the twelve days of dining, there will be two special events celebrating Maine's chefs and bartenders:

The Signature Event will launch Maine Restaurant Week, Monday evening, February 28, 2011. Taking place at the Masonic Temple on Congress Street in downtown Portland, the event serves to highlight Maine's best bartenders and pastry chefs with a new element this year, the dessert competition How Sweet It Is.

The second annual Incredible Breakfast Cook-off will take place Friday morning, March 4, 2011 at the Seadog Brewing Company in South Portland.

Proceeds from these events benefits local non-profit organizations. For more information about these events or to get tickets, visit www.mainerestaurantweek.com.

The Maine Office of Tourism, Constellation Wine Brands, The Press Herald/Maine Today Media, Citadel Broadcasting, Shipyard Brewing Company, Native Maine Produce & Specialty Foods, Down East Magazine and American Express are collaborating for a third year to support Maine's statewide restaurant event, Maine Restaurant Week, March 1-12, 2011.

Chef and restaurants interested in adding their voices and flavors to Maine Restaurant Week are invited to learn more online or call for personal assistance: http://mainerestaurantweek.com/regonline1011.htm or (207) 775-2126.

Everyone is invited stay up to date on all aspects of Maine Restaurant Week by joining the event's email group by visiting http://www.mainerestaurantweek.com/join_list.htm or calling (207) 775-2126 to ask to be added to the group.

About Maine Restaurant Week:

Maine Restaurant Week is a celebration of Maine's incredible food scene and gives restaurants a much-needed boost during a time when business often slows. Its economic impact is felt by the many businesses that provide goods and services to Maine's vital restaurant industry. Customers love it because the specially priced three-course menus offer value that feels downright decadent. Maine Restaurant Week's value is lasting, many customers who try new restaurants because of the event return to dine again. Another important aspect of Maine Restaurant Week is all of the fundraising for local non-profit organizations. Thousands of dollars have been raised since Maine Restaurant Week launched during March 2009.

For more information:

www.mainerestaurantweek.com

www.facebook.com/mainerestaurantweek

www.twitter.com/dineme

Maine Restaurants Registered for March 1-12, 2011 Maine Restaurant Week
(As of Jan 14, 2011)
Academe Brasserie
Anglers Seafood Restaurant
Azure Cafe
Back Bay Grill
Bar Lola
Boda
Bull Feeney's
Cappy's Chowder House
Clementine Restaurant
Corner Room Kitchen and Bar
David's 388
David's Restaurant
DiMillo's On The Water
District
Dry Dock Restaurant
Eve's at Portland Harbor Hotel
Farmer's Table
Federal Jack's