I recently had the pleasure of attending Westbrook’s first annual Feast at the Falls event. Of course, with a name like that, it took place right next to the Falls and had a menu that was designed to leave you thinking about it for days after.
Couldn’t snag a ticket before the event sold out? Check out my thoughts on it below!
Course One: Chef Hope, Casa Novello & Chef Jeanne, Maine-ly Meatballs
Antipasti platter & marinara meatball with herbed ricotta & crostini
DDH Tell Tale Pale Ale from Mast Landing Brewing Company
Besides this first course, the remaining four courses were served at your table. The first course was more buffet style, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t impress, because it definitely did!
With a chef duo like Casa Novello and Maine-ly Meatballs, there was no way we were going to go wrong. The meatballs were a healthy size, and served with an amazing whipped ricotta. Plus, there were meats and cheeses and some incredible eggplant that practically melted in my mouth.
Course Two: Chef Mark, 33 Elmwood
Grilled halloumi cheese ‘toast’ with fresh watermelon round, Maine blueberry salad & micro mint
Parfait Maine Blueberry Sour from Yes Brewing
For course two, Chef Mark from 33 Elmwood prepared a creative interpretation of toast, along with a fresh blueberry salad and some micro mint to top it off.
There’s pretty much no wrong cheese can do in my book, so sure, make it into toast, why not? With a nice, firm cheese like halloumi it worked really well.
It also paired perfectly with the watermelon round that was on top of it. By course two, I was feeling less hangry, and enjoying the beer pairing from Yes Brewing as well.
Course Three: Chef Kori, Lenny’s at Hawke’s Plaza
Street corn with scallop crudo
Simmer Down Session Ale from Sebago Brewing Company
As I’ve never been to Lenny’s (I’ve been meaning to, I swear), I was pretty excited to try course three. It was more of a conceptual dish, but it was extremely tasty!
The scallop crudo was on par with anything you’d find in Portland. They were fresh, and of course, perfect with the street corn.
I won’t lie, Simmer Down from Sebago isn’t always my favorite beer, but with this course, it definitely worked. Needless to say, I really need to go visit Lenny’s, don’t I? The answer is a resounding yes.
Course Four: Chef James, The Frog & Turtle
Grilled lamb chops, roasted root vegetables in a white bean ragout, mint pesto, & roasted chicken thyme sauce
Saccarappa IPA from Mast Landing Brewing Company
I won’t lie, I was most looking forward to course four. Can you blame me? Anything with grilled lamb chops is going to be my favorite, hands down. Some people don’t like lamb, since they think it’s gamey.
But that’s not me. I love lamb in any and all forms! These grilled lamb chops were unbelievable. They were juicy and tender, and the root vegetables paired with them, as well as the mint pesto and chicken thyme sauce was a symphony of flavors in my mouth.
You know that perfect bite that people aspire towards? When you had the lamb chops, the vegetables, white bean ragout, pesto, and thyme sauce all in your mouth at once, the perfect bite was achieved. Pure heaven.
Course Five: Chef Kate, Black Dinah Chocolatiers
Bittersweet chocolate tart with raspberry curd
Allagash Black from Allagash Brewing Company
Dessert may be my favorite meal of the day, besides brunch. That being said, by the time we got to course five, I was beyond stuffed. Like I didn’t know if I had it in me to eat another bite.
You know I did. The bittersweet chocolate tart with raspberry curd made by chef Kate from Black Dinah Chocolatiers was orgasmic. I mean, it was sweet, tart, and just a tiny bit bittersweet.
What more could you ask for in a dessert? The answer is nothing, of course. I always knew that the chocolate at Black Dinah Chocolatiers was amazing but this dessert was transcendent.
Feast at the Falls was a truly amazing event and a great way to bring together the community of Westbrook. We’re lucky to live in such a wonderful place with so much talent and so much amazing food and craft beer!
I can’t wait for next year’s event and to see what Discover Downtown Westbrook has in store next!
