One of Portland, Maine’s Best-Kept Food Secrets Returns This May

One of Portland's most underrated events returns for another year of delicious bites and rocking beats.

The annual A Taste of Nations Food Festival is back at the Mayo Street Arts Center in East Bayside. It's a yearly event that brings folks together to raise money and enjoy incredible food from many of the area's finest creators.

When is Portland, Maine's Taste of Nations Festival This Year?

The tasty event runs for two days—Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11—and will feature 12 vendors from all walks of the food community. That's probably the best aspect of the event. Attendees get to enjoy food and drinks that represent regions from around the world.

The vendors participating are either current members or alumni of the Fork Food Lab, a local culinary space that allows people to watch their food dreams take off.

What Venders are Participating in this Year's A Taste of Nations Food Festival?

Here's a rundown of the vendors expected at this year's tasting event:

Amira Cuisine - Middle Eastern
Battambang Bistro - Cambodian
Barundi Star - Burundian Coffee
Choma Zone - East African
Eduardo's Brazilian Grill - Brazilian
Flores Restaurant - El Salvadorian
Gunnar's Icelandic Hot Dogs - Icelandic
Kili Organics - Tanzanian
Niyat Catering - Ethiopian
Oga Suya - Nigerian
Yardie Ting - Jamaican
Young Nonna - Italian

Tickets for the event are $10 in advance or $13 at the door. Each tasting item from the vendors is just $5, so come hungry and ready to try all different types of cuisine.

READ MORE: These are the Seafood Restaurants Earning the Most Love in Portland, Maine

I can't recommend this event enough. I've attended the past two years, and it has certainly left quite an impression. The food is always outstanding, and the variety is second to none. Plus, you get to support a local nonprofit, the Mayo Street Arts Center, along with many food entrepreneurs—some just getting their businesses off the ground.

You can get more information here, and maybe I’ll see you there in May.