Maine's First Ship Offers Two Full Moon Dinners

Maine’s First Ship is hosting a pair of dinners to celebrate the changing of the seasons under the guise of summer’s Harvest Moon and fall’s Hunter’s Moon.

On Tuesday, September 17, Maine’s First Ship will host its third annual Chinese Fondue Dinner at the Bath Freight Shed at 27 Commercial St. Chefs Chris Toy and Jeff Mao will lead the farm-to-table event. The flavors of Greece will be showcased on Thursday, October 17, with dishes prepared by Bath native Mollie Jellison of Long Reach Kitchen.

During his career as a chef, Chris Toy has taught classes at Stonewall Kitchen, Now You’re Cooking, and several adult education programs. Courtesy of Maine’s First Ship

Chef Toy is a longtime educator, certified Maine guide, and bestselling cookbook author. Chef Mao teaches cooking online and has published a Chinese fondue cookbook. Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Kat Logan will provide the ambiance with folk, Americana, blues, and Celtic songs.

Under the harvest moon, these educators share some history and show people how to prepare a traditional Chinese dish called hot pot. The preparation will include making special broths and dipping sauces, accompanied by fresh local meat, seafood, vegetables and noodles. Guests will cook their meal one piece at a time in bubbling pots right in front of them.

Hot dishes can be made vegetarian by requesting a vegetable soup base. Since hot dishes are shared, guests may inform Maine’s First Ship in advance if they would like a vegetarian option or have other dietary restrictions.

Maine’s First Ship’s second Full Moon Dinner will take place under the Hunter’s Moon, with an abundance of land and sea. It will be a contemporary Greek-inspired dinner prepared by Bath chef Mollie Jollison, who will serve welcome hors d’oeuvres along with a three-course meal of Mediterranean dishes and wine pairings.

Jeff Mao has been cooking Chinese food with his family since childhood. He is an educator who teaches cooking online and has published a cookbook on Chinese fondue. He is also known for his bagels at Knead & Nosh. Courtesy of Maine’s First Ship

Chef Jollison has always felt a connection to the land and sea during her travels to the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she worked in restaurants before moving to Louisiana as part of the Del Porto team. Del Porto is one of the best Italian-inspired restaurants in the New Orleans area. She returned to Maine in 2021 and opened her hometown business, Long Reach Kitchen and Catering, three years ago.

Prices for Flavors of Greece vary depending on the wine or non-wine pairing options. Non-wine options include lemonade, tea or water.

The Chinese Fondue and Flavors of Greece Dinner is a fundraising event for Maine’s First Ship.