White plate

MAKE FRIENDS and BUILD COMMUNITY over food.
One meal at a time.

Members are invited to EXCLUSIVE EVENTS
at public venues and in private homes.

 

A TASTE OF SOME

UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE GREATER PORTLAND, MAINE AREA

Jesse Souza
January 8th 2024

CHEF OF THE YEAR!

Start off the new year right with a multi-course curated dinner
created by the winner of
BEST CHEF OF THE YEAR 2023, Jesse Souza.

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COMMUNITY HOST

THAI FOOD FEAST

Join Joe Ricchio, a chef, comedian and food critic and pastry chef and Leigh Kellis (founder of the Holy Donut) for a gastronomical feast.

Henrys
Dec 20th

THE HENRY

Newly renovated old english pub that captures the creative spirit of Portland with the town’s best music lounge. Listen to jazz by trumpet master, Marc Chillemi. Paired with a perfect martini and delectable food this is a memorable night out.

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January 14th

WINE TASTING

Come for a Sunday afternoon wine tasting and food pairing. CellarDoor Winery tasting room. Special curated tasting for us. Portland

Wander
February 1st

WANDER AT LONGWOODS

From their own soil to your plate
Wander brings you the best from Maine’s breweries, fisheries, and farms—including their own. Cumberland.

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February 10th

CASCO BAY ARTISANS

The 'Art of Life’ in Old Port, Portland. Serving high end cheese, hors d’eouvres and wine as we learn about art!

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Date TBD

BOOK RELEASE AND BRUNCH

Come listen to Leigh Kellis talk about her newly released book "The Power of a Donut" while indulging in a delicious brunch with quiche, mimosas and donuts! Ticket price includes a signed copy of the book! Scarborough

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March 14th

BITE INTO MAINE

Join us for a lobster roll tasting with a surprise new flavor created just for Friends with Forks guests!

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April 6th

VEGAN PRIX FIXE

Come join us at Vickies Veggie Table. Mother daughter team. Two passionate women making vegan delicacies! Biddeford
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April 19th

SIP 'N SUSHI

Come eat gourmet sushi, drink beer,  and listen to a Belleflower Brewery founding member tell us stories about the history of the brewery. Portland

What is FRIENDS WITH FORKS?

Making friends and building community over food is the core mission of Friends with Forks.

We create monthly events in a variety of restaurants, and smaller intimate events in private homes, on farms, on boats, etc.

Come have a drink, share a meal, learn about wines, foods and about each other.

Become part of a communal dining experience.

 

SELECTED RECENT EVENTS

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PUBLIC EVENT

PIZZA AND HOPE

Come share a meal and listen to a discussion with Frederick Ndabaramiye, a Rwandan Rwandan genocide survivor at a brewery in downtown Portland. A talk about forgiveness (and a love of pizza). 

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MEMBERS ONLY

SOLO ITALIANO

Italian cuisine–fresh from the farm and the sea and prepared from the heart by the winner of both the 1992 Best Young Chef in Italy and 2008 Pesto World Championship awards. An authentic Italian communal meal.

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MEMBERS ONLY

DINNER AT AN ART FARM

Join us at the Two Diamond Art Farm in Saco prepared and served by a private chef with an artist talk.

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SALTWATER GRILL

CELEBRATION HAPPY HOUR

The membership is 1-year old and we are hosting a party at Saltwater Grille.

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MEMBERS ONLY

FALL FEST

Join us for another intimate dinner party, this time with an Asian Fusion theme.  A multi-course meal cooked by an up-and-coming private chef. Celebrate the beginning of Fall.

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MEMBER HOSTED

PRIVATE CHEF DINNER

A Mediterranean multi-course meal prepared and served by a local chef.

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MEMBER-HOSTED

LOBSTER ROLL PARTY

Make your own lobster rolls at at private home on Peaks Island!

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MEMBER-HOSTED

BLIND WINE TASTING CONTEST

Bring a covered bottle of wine and join the contest. Your wine could win. 

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MEMBER HOSTED

GOURMET POTLUCK

A gourmet pot-luck with a twist
Theme: FRENCH!

Andre and Lynn
MEMBER-HOSTED

CRÊPE PARTY

Learn the French secret for how to make perfect crêpes 

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BROKEN ARROW

Back by popular demand! A multi-course Chef Tasting Menu specially curated for us. With optional cocktail and wine pairing.

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CHEZ ROSA

French comfort food influenced by their local seafood, farms and pastures.

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MAKER'S GALLEY

Portland’s most unique restaurant and marketplace located on Portland’s waterfront.

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MEMBER HOSTED

OYSTER SHARING AND GYOTAKU DEMO

A private oyster talk and tasting and art demonstration.

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MEMBER-HOSTED

NEW ORLEANS GUMBO PARTY

Members have teamed up to host a special dinner featuring a New Orleans theme.

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SUR LIE

We return to one of the top rated restaurants!  Eclectic tapas style serving local food. Truly delicious!

Friends with Forks now welcomes new members

Why join?

It is never just about the food, but about sharing meals together and creating sustainable and lasting connections with new friends.

As a member you get first access to all the exclusive events at the lowest price.

You are not just going to a one-off meal, but you become a part of the Friends and Forks community!

Come for the food. Stay for the friends.

 

The Back Story

Hello there. I'm  Laurel Chiten, the founder of Friends with Forks.

I was an award winning independent filmmaker and made films for over 30 years. (Blind Dog Films) I am also a foodie and lived in Manhattan.

One summer day in 2019, I walked into a restaurant around the corner from me, and I had a vision of people in my neighborhood sitting around a table eating together.

That was it! The idea was born! I dropped my film career, made a 180 degree turn to make this dream come to life.

Originally launched in January 2020 in New York City as Dinner Mates. We took off like a rocket! All our events sold out.

Then, the pandemic happened...

I left NYC, moved to South Portland, and relaunched Dinner Mates here. A year later I renamed it Friends with Forks.

 

ox Laurel (and my pup Sprout)

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Watch this video!

Want to join now?

Not ready to join yet?

Join the Friends with Forks Community

Thank you for joining the 

Friends with Forks Community

Dinner Mates Club 

Get notified as soon as enrollment opens up again

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Thank you!

That's it for now.

While waiting, feel free to try out any event as a guest!

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Become a Dinner Mates Ambassador

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Thank you for your curiosity!

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