Portland's Cinque Terre To Hold Special Calabrian Food & Wine Event

For Immediate Release Contact: Jen Beltz
Ph 207/899-2750 Email beltzpr@yahoo.com

Cinque Terre, a favorite Portland restaurant known for its authentic take on Italian cuisine and its Wine Spectator Award-winning wine list, will bring a bit of southern Italy to Maine this February 28, when it holds its special event, "Calabria and Librandi: The Food and Wine of Southern Italy." Executive Chef Lee Skawinski will host Paolo Librandi, of Calabria's highly regarded Librandi family winery, for dinner and wine pairings that evening, beginning at 6:30 pm.

"Librandi has been the leading wine-producing name in Calabria for decades now," Skawinski said. "We're excited that Paolo has agreed to share perspective about his family's history and winery with Cinque Terre diners at this special dinner. It will make for a great evening."

The Librandi winery is situated in the rugged geography of Calabria - the "toe" of the Italian boot. Calabria is perhaps best known for its most significant DOC wine, Cirr, named for a town on the Ionian coast which dates back to the days of the Greeks; interestingly, Cirr wine is said by some vintners to have been the award of choice for victorious athletes during ancient Olympic competitions. Today, the Librandi name in Calabria is known for favorites such as Librandi Cirr Rosso Classico "Duca San Felice Riserva" (1998), often referred to as a classic Cirr red.

Calabrians are known to have profited from the culinary and viticulture "know-how" introduced by early occupiers such as the Greeks, Romans, French, Arabs and Spaniards, each of whom, to varying degrees, left their mark on Calabrian cuisine.

"Calabrian cuisine, however, still has an identity all its own," Skawinski noted. "Calabrian dishes rely heavily on eggplants, bean dishes and hearty stews, and swordfish from the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas. Their amazing citrus liqueurs and robust red wines really round out meals nicely."

Cinque Terre has become known for its trademark Italian cultural exchanges. The "Calabria and Librandi" dinner comes on the heels of Skawinski's most recent trip to Italy earlier this month, during which time he and his staff met with Italian balsamic, prosciutto, and parmigiano-reggiano producers in Emiglia-Romana, and several top-tier vintners in Verona.

"We think learning firsthand about products from Italian producers and artisans really serves as a solid guidepost when we're choosing ingredients and assembling our menus at Cinque Terre," said Skawinski. "There's a reason people know they can count on Cinque Terre for an authentic Italian meal - we're learning from the masters."

Reservations are required for the "Calabria and Librandi" dinner.
Phone (207) 347-6154
$65 per person

"Calabria and Librandi: The Food and Wine of Southern Italy"

MENU

Mozzarella and anchovy crostini
(paired with Cirr Rosato)

Steamed shrimp and cockles with brodo and artichoke bruschetta
(paired with Citrone IGT)

Grilled eggplant, Pio Tosini prosciutto and herbed ricotta cheese,
salsa pomodoro, parsley pesto
(paired with Cirr Rosso Classico)

Hand-cut rigatoni with braised lamb, fennel and rosemary ragz
(paired with Cirr Rosso Riserva)

Grilled flat iron steak with salmoriglio sauce, chantanay carrots and fried capers
(paired with Gravello)

Southern Italian cheese plate with marmellata

Citrus Ricotta Cake
(paired with Le Passule Passito IGT)

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Come discover why the New York Times, Boston Globe, Down East Magazine, the Portland Press Herald and Portland Phoenix all list Cinque Terre as one of Portland's "Must-Dine" experiences.
Serving dinner nightly. For rese