As the countdown to the holiday season gets closer, we’re already daydreaming and drooling over the iconic Feast of the Seven Fishes—an immersive Southern Italian holiday feast centered around the most marvelous dishes of the sea. 

This year, Experience Maine, Chef Arianna Stefanilo, and the Briny Babe’s Jacqueline Clarke are partnering together to create a New England adaptation of this classic festive feast, guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit. We’ll be joined by SoPo Seafood’s Matt Brown, and marine scientist Ashley Charleson, who will share with guests their perspectives and stories on how each of the night’s featured fish get from the Gulf of Maine to table. 

The festivities will be set at Ballast, an intimate gathering space overflowing with old world charm located in the heart of the historic Old Port.  

Get ready for a night of innovative creations featuring local, sustainable seafood from the Gulf of Maine, including delicious oysters on the half shell, briny sea urchin bites, Monkfish Bolognese, and Seared Halibut En Brodo, alongside a symbiotic experience of Italian wines curated by Maine Events Co. We’re also excited to feature a Learn to Shuck station, where guests can get hands-on with the delicious seafood gracing the raw bar. 

Our goal is to create a delicious seafood experience reminiscent of only the best kind of family holiday dinner party, while sharing with guests the knowledge, passion, and stories of the men and women who make it possible for us to share in the sea’s many bounties. 

One intimate seating. Seven delicious fish. 

Feast of The Seven Fishes Tasting Menu

One

Raw Maine Oysters on the Half Shell 

+

Dressed Oysters with Crème Fraîche, Salmon Roe, Lemon Zest

Two

Sea Urchin Shooters

Shoyu, Tamari, Lemon Zest

Three

Dayboat Scallop Crudo

Capers, Shallots, Serrano, Chives, Dill, Lemon

Four

Peekytoe Crab Crostinis

Fennel, Yuzu Kosho Aioli

Five

Miso Butter Lobster Blini Bites

Scallion Sesame Pancakes

Six

Monkfish Bolognese

Smoked Mussels, Soffrito, Rigatoni

Seven

Halibut en Brodo

Seared Halibut with Cannellini Beans, Tomato Fennel Broth, Gremolata

Dessert Bar

The Details

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

6:00pm Doors Open - one seating only

$145 per person + tax

Location

Ballast, 345 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101

Inside seating at Ballast

Parties of 1 to 8

Included: A Feast of The Seven Fishes Dinner Experience by Experience Maine Culinary + Chef Arianna Stefanilo, The Briny Babe, and Ashley Charleson of SoPo Seafood, including one welcome pour of bubbly. Please make a note of any allergies and dietary restrictions at checkout. 
Additional: Al-a-carte wine, cocktails, and spirit-less cocktails cash bar by Maine Events Co.

Level up your seafood and bevvy repertoire with this experiential oyster and wine tasting class led by oyster experts Jacqueline @thebrinybabe and Ashley Charleson of SoPo Seafood at Portland's vibrantly aesthetic Blind Tiger Guest House.

This class includes a shucking lesson followed by lots of practice as you work your way through a comparative oyster tasting of bivalves near and far. Along the way, we'll explore how oyster culture varies from region to region in Maine, delve into our favorite wine pairings, and experiment with condiments and different preparation techniques (who doesn't love a little bit of caviar?).

We'll also be serving up delicious appetizers featuring local, sustainable seafood for you to enjoy during class. You'll leave with the know-how to be a confident oyster consumer, however you choose to eat them - at home, in restaurants, or fresh out of the water.

What is Included:

·       A hands-on oyster shucking class

·       15 Maine oysters (4 varieties)

·       3 pours of our favorite wine pairings

·       Hearty appetizers featuring fresh, local, sustainable seafood

·       Handouts to take home

The Details:

·       Date: Thursday, November 16, 2023

·       Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

·       Where: Blind Tiger, 163 Danforth Street, Portland, ME 04102

**We may take photos during class for marketing or promotional purposes, if you have concerns about this, please let us know.

Oysterfest In The Port hosted by Newburyport FISH will bring together oyster farms and fish vendors from across New England to highlight delicious local seafood. Craft brews from Riverwalk Brewing and wine from Grand Trunk Wine will be available for additional purchase!

The event ticket includes one entry into the event and 18-oysters for tasting. Several oyster-adjacent free tastings will be available like poke, chowder, horseradish, seaweed salad and more. Additional paid add-ons like additional oysters can be pre-purchased with your ticket or at the door. Caviar add-ons are only available for pre-sale in 2023. Please make your purchase along with your tickets on Eventbrite if you would like a caviar pairing.

Featuring a"learn-to-shuck" station to test your skills. We will have the best shucking merch available for purchase like hats, shirts, sweatshirts, shucking equipment. This event will partially benefit Mass Oyster Project through donation of all of the oyster shells shucked.

Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program's newest program, Community Kitchen, is celebrating its one year anniversary during Harvest Week 2023. Curious about what the space looks like? Interested in meeting renters? Join us for an open house!

Join us Tuesday, September 26th from 4:00pm - 6:00 pm for the Community Kitchen Open House! You can enjoy samples and buy product from many of the small businesses that rent the space, taste some of the most popular product MCHPP makes for Soup Kitchen distribution , and hear from our staff and volunteers about the kitchen’s one year impact.

There’s nothing like a Maine summer.

I’m popping up with Mere Point Oyster Co. on their oyster float in Maquoit Bay. We will be selling shucked and unshucked oysters, lobster rolls and cool merch! Boat over, tie up and eat fresh seafood while we explain how and why we do what we do!

No boat, no problem!  We will be working closely with Owner/Captain Peter Milholland of Seacoast Tours of Freeport

Captain Peter and his trusty crew will serve up your favorite beer or wine while giving you the full tour of Casco Bay, Maquoit Bay and Mere Point Oyster Farm.

Once on the farm you will be provided with a bounty of freshly shucked oysters and a lobster roll provided by a rotation of Maine's finest lobster joints!

We will teach you:

• the lifecycle of an oyster

• how we grow our oysters

• how to shuck 

So, if passing seals and sea birds on your way to an exclusive tour and oyster shucking class with a glass of wine in hand is your thing, you're in luck. If you enjoy lobster rolls served up by Portland's finest, then you have just struck gold.

Each guest with Seacoast Tours of Freeport will leave with a goodie bag that includes a shucking knife (and a few other things) so that you can put your newly learned skills to use. 

There’s nothing like a Maine summer.

I’m popping up with Mere Point Oyster Co. on their oyster float in Maquoit Bay. We will be selling shucked and unshucked oysters, lobster rolls and cool merch! Boat over, tie up and eat fresh seafood while we explain how and why we do what we do!

No boat, no problem!  We will be working closely with Owner/Captain Peter Milholland of Seacoast Tours of Freeport

Captain Peter and his trusty crew will serve up your favorite beer or wine while giving you the full tour of Casco Bay, Maquoit Bay and Mere Point Oyster Farm.

Once on the farm you will be provided with a bounty of freshly shucked oysters and a lobster roll provided by a rotation of Maine's finest lobster joints!

We will teach you:

• the lifecycle of an oyster

• how we grow our oysters

• how to shuck 

So, if passing seals and sea birds on your way to an exclusive tour and oyster shucking class with a glass of wine in hand is your thing, you're in luck. If you enjoy lobster rolls served up by Portland's finest, then you have just struck gold.

Each guest with Seacoast Tours of Freeport will leave with a goodie bag that includes a shucking knife (and a few other things) so that you can put your newly learned skills to use. 

There’s nothing like a Maine summer.

I’m popping up with Mere Point Oyster Co. on their oyster float in Maquoit Bay. We will be selling shucked and unshucked oysters, lobster rolls and cool merch! Boat over, tie up and eat fresh seafood while we explain how and why we do what we do!

No boat, no problem!  We will be working closely with Owner/Captain Peter Milholland of Seacoast Tours of Freeport

Captain Peter and his trusty crew will serve up your favorite beer or wine while giving you the full tour of Casco Bay, Maquoit Bay and Mere Point Oyster Farm.

Once on the farm you will be provided with a bounty of freshly shucked oysters and a lobster roll provided by a rotation of Maine's finest lobster joints!

We will teach you:

• the lifecycle of an oyster

• how we grow our oysters

• how to shuck 

So, if passing seals and sea birds on your way to an exclusive tour and oyster shucking class with a glass of wine in hand is your thing, you're in luck. If you enjoy lobster rolls served up by Portland's finest, then you have just struck gold.

Each guest with Seacoast Tours of Freeport will leave with a goodie bag that includes a shucking knife (and a few other things) so that you can put your newly learned skills to use. 

There’s nothing like a Maine summer.

I’m popping up with Mere Point Oyster Co. on their oyster float in Maquoit Bay. We will be selling shucked and unshucked oysters, lobster rolls and cool merch! Boat over, tie up and eat fresh seafood while we explain how and why we do what we do!

No boat, no problem!  We will be working closely with Owner/Captain Peter Milholland of Seacoast Tours of Freeport

Captain Peter and his trusty crew will serve up your favorite beer or wine while giving you the full tour of Casco Bay, Maquoit Bay and Mere Point Oyster Farm.

Once on the farm you will be provided with a bounty of freshly shucked oysters and a lobster roll provided by a rotation of Maine's finest lobster joints!

We will teach you:

• the lifecycle of an oyster

• how we grow our oysters

• how to shuck 

So, if passing seals and sea birds on your way to an exclusive tour and oyster shucking class with a glass of wine in hand is your thing, you're in luck. If you enjoy lobster rolls served up by Portland's finest, then you have just struck gold.

Each guest with Seacoast Tours of Freeport will leave with a goodie bag that includes a shucking knife (and a few other things) so that you can put your newly learned skills to use. 

Come get fancy with us as we dive into the indulgent world of caviar. Whether you are new to caviar or a seasoned veteran, our Caviar Tasting Course will give you an unmatched appreciation for all the finer things in life.

Our caviar connoisseurs Matt Brown, co-owner of @soposeafood, and Jacqueline Clarke @thebrinybabe will guide you through the sublime world of caviar—from tasting culture, to the etiquette of storing and serving this delicacy. We'll chat about the history of caviar, quality levels of caviar production, sustainability, and ways to enjoy caviar across all different price points.

We'll pop the bubbly and start class off with a caviar tower with all the fixings – from blinis to crème fraîche to flaming hot cheetos (!). Each guest will receive a decadent sampling of Osetra, Siberian Sturgeon, American White Sturgeon, and Salmon Roe. Guests will then be treated to 3 bites featuring fresh local seafood, adorned in heaps of caviar.

What is Included:

·       A hands-on caviar tasting class

·       1 glass of champagne

·       Generous samplings of 4 types of caviar and roe

·       3 seafood-centric appetizers, adorned in heaps of caviar

·       Handouts to take home

Add-Ons:

Additional beer and wine available for purchase.

We'll also have additional caviar for purchase should you desire to take a jar (or two) home to continue your indulgence.

**We may take photos during class for marketing or promotional purposes, if you have concerns about this, please let us know.

Level up your seafood and bevvy repertoire with this experiential oyster and wine tasting class led by oyster experts Jacqueline @thebrinybabe and Ashley @soposeafood at Portland's vibrantly aesthetic Blind Tiger Guest House. We'll be joined by Rachel Sagiroglu, owner of the Maker's Galley in Portland, who will share her favorite wines that pair perfectly with delicious Maine seafood.

This class includes a shucking lesson followed by lots of practice as you work your way through a comparative oyster tasting of bivalves near and far. Along the way, we'll explore how oyster culture varies from region to region in Maine, delve into our favorite wine pairings, and experiment with condiments and different preparation techniques (who doesn't love a little bit of caviar?).

We'll also be serving up delicious appetizers featuring local, sustainable seafood for you to enjoy during class. You'll leave with the know-how to be a confident oyster consumer, however you choose to eat them - at home, in restaurants, or fresh out of the water.

What is Included:

·       A hands-on oyster shucking class

·       15 Maine oysters (4 varieties)

·       Roasted oyster trio tasting

·       3 pours of our favorite wine pairings

·       Hearty appetizers featuring fresh, local, sustainable seafood

·       Handouts to take home

The Details:

·       Date: Thursday, June 15, 2023

·       Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

·       Where: Blind Tiger, 163 Danforth Street, Portland, ME 04102

**We may take photos during class for marketing or promotional purposes, if you have concerns about this, please let us know.

Level up your food and bevvy repertoire with this experiential oyster and wine tasting class led by oyster expert Jacqueline @thebrinybabe and Ashley @soposeafood, with wine pairings from expert Rachel Sagiroglu. Taste, Learn, and Create game-changing wine pairings for delicious raw oysters from Maine.

This class includes a shucking lesson followed by lots of practice as you work your way through a comparative oyster tasting of bivalves near and far. Along the way, we'll explore how oyster culture varies from region to region in Maine, delve into wine pairings, and experiment with condiments and preparation techniques. Chef Ariana Stefanillo will be preparing delicious seafood-centric bites for you to enjoy during class. You'll leave with the know-how to be a confident oyster consumer, however you choose to eat them . . . at home, in restaurants, or fresh out of the water.

What is Included:

·       A hands-on shucking class

·       18 Maine oysters (4 varieties)

·       A trio of roasted oysters

·       3 pours of our favorite wine pairings

·       Seafood treats for you to nosh on during class

·       Handouts to take home

**We may take photos during class for marketing or promotional purposes, if you have concerns about this, please let us know.

Level up your food and bevvy repertoire with this experiential oyster and wine tasting class led by oyster expert Jacqueline @thebrinybabe and assisted by Ashley @soposeafood, with wine pairings from expert Rachel Sagiroglu. Taste, Learn, and Create game-changing wine pairings for delicious raw oysters from Maine.

This class includes a shucking lesson followed by lots of practice as you work your way through a comparative oyster tasting of bivalves near and far. Along the way, we'll explore how oyster culture varies from region to region in Maine, delve into wine pairings, and experiment with condiments and preparation techniques. Chef Ariana Stefanillo will be preparing delicious seafood-centric bites for you to enjoy during class. You'll leave with the know-how to be a confident oyster consumer, however you choose to eat them . . . at home, in restaurants, or fresh out of the water.

What is Included:

·       A hands-on shucking class

·       18 Maine oysters (4 varieties)

·       A trio of roasted oysters by Chef Ariana Stefanillo

·       3 pours of our favorite wine pairings

·       Seafood treats for you to nosh on during class

·       Handouts to take home

**We may take photos during class for marketing or promotional purposes, if you have concerns about this, please let us know.