Plan your leaf peeping expedition just right and you may be able to catch up with some of the country’s top culinary talent at the East Meets West weekend at Arrows in Ogunquit, Maine. On Saturday, September 30th chefs Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier pit chefs from opposite ends of the country against each in the East vs. West Dinner. West Coasters Jim Dodge of San Fran’s Bon Appetit, Mark Ayers of Highlands Inn in Carmel, California and Taite Pearson and Marc Djoliza of Vegas’ Wolfgang Puck go up against East Coast talent like Boston’s own Barbara Lynch of No. 9 Park, Price Kushner of Primo in Rockland, Maine and Philadelphia favorites Jean Marie Lacroix of Lacroix at the Rittenhouse and Marc Vetri of Vetri. On Sunday, guests can enjoy cookbook signings, garden tours and samples from vintners and specialty food purveyors at the Food & Wine Fair from 11:30am until 2:30pm. Stick around for the Sunday night California Wine Dinner which will feature a collaborative menu from Mark Franz, Parke Ulrich and Emily Luchetti of Farallon in San Francisco, Taite Pearson and Marc Djoliza of Vegas’ Wolfgang Puck, Melissa Kelly of Primo in Rockland, Maine, Rebecca Charles of Pearl in New York and Bryce Whittlesey of Wheatleigh in Lenox, Massachusetts. The East vs. West Dinner costs $148 per person, the Food & Wine Fair costs $15 per person and the California Wine Dinner costs $128 per person. Reservations are recommended for any and all events since space is limited, so call Arrows at 207.361.1100.
