(NEWS CENTER) — It’s been a long, tough winter for many restaurants across Maine.

Next week, is “Maine Restaurant Week”, an annual effort to boost business and offer some great deals at some favorite dining spots throughout the state. Jim Britt sits down with Jackie for a preview of that and some special events happening during the restaurant week.

Jim Britt: We’re kicking off Maine Restaurant Week with breakfast – the Incredible Breakfast Cook Off Friday, February 27 at South Portland Sea Dog 7 a.m.

– A friendly but fierce competition for top breakfast honors, attendees vote for their favorites $25/pp

Then on Sunday March 1 we have a Chef-Am Bowling Tournament at Bayside Bowl, teams are paired with a restaurant professional for some fun bowling and eating

Tuesday, March 3 is the Pancake Race at Bissell Brothers in Portland – this is a crazy relay race, last year people wore costumes. You have to stop at certain points on the course to flip a pancake, you run with a skillet. Still openings for teams of four. It’s from 2-5 p.m.

Sunday, March 8 is the Signature Event at Prime Mercedes in Scarborough – this is a fun cocktail competition and new this year, the bartenders and chefs are working together to pair cocktails with bites of food from their restaurants. It begins at 5:30 p.m.

We’re ending Maine Restaurant Week with dessert and coffee at a new event at Coffee By Design’s roastery at One Diamond Street, Sunday March 15, 2-5 p.m. Area bakers are showing off their best and Coffee By Design is going to select the best brewing method and coffee beans to go with each dessert at the event.

A portion of proceeds from all of the events support Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Preble Street.

Then for Maine Restaurant Week itself – March 1-March 14. Restaurants serve special 3 course menus for 25, 35 or 45 per person. All of the restaurants are up on mainerestaurantweek.com. Many of the restaurants have already posted their menus.

Tickets are available to all the events mentioned below through the events page on mainerestaurantweek.com.