BIDDEFORD — Culinary connoisseurs and everyday eaters alike are all invited to partake in the fourth-annual Biddeford + Saco Restaurant Week this March.

The week-long event, which runs from March 12-18, follows the annually-held Maine Restaurant Week, a 12-day event that encourages Maine residents to dine out as often as possible to support local businesses and enjoy all the state has to offer.

The intent of Biddeford’s and Saco’s themed week, said Heart of Biddeford Executive Director Delilah Poupore, is to stimulate the local economy by encouraging residents of both cities to support their favorite establishments, and try a few new things along the way.

“We’ve always wanted to provide a more grassroots restaurant week option because the statewide one is, in my opinion, a much larger financial commitment for the restaurants,” Poupore said Tuesday. “This is a more lower-key, lower-price way to feature Biddeford’s and Saco’s restaurants.”

This year, Heart of Biddeford has teamed up with the Saco + Biddeford Chamber of Commerce + Industry to help bolster its efforts in Saco. Also this year, Camden National Bank has stepped up to sponsor the week, allowing for a number of promotions to take place.

Poupore said the decision to include both cities is a result of Biddeford’s statewide and national recognition as a culinary destination, which has allowed residents — and tourists — to explore more of the area.

“What’s great is (food) has a great foundation to build on here in Biddeford,” she said. “There have been a lot of small, family-owned, ethnic restaurants people have driven from a distance to come enjoy. Now, we’ve been able to add places that have some national attention and certainly statewide attention coming to them.”

It’s true that Biddeford has established itself as a culinary hotspot in recent years.

Last year, Palace Diner was placed on Eater’s list of “America’s Essential Restaurants,” receiving rave reviews from writer Bill Addison, who called the diner’s Deluxe sandwich, “the best breakfast sandwich I’ve ever had.”

And this year, several establishments have opened in the city’s downtown, including Cowbell Burger Bar, The Hamburger Stand and Dirigo Brewing Company. Uncorked Wine Bar opened shop on Main Street just weeks ago, and owner Jim Albert has plans to open an additional arcade bar in the coming weeks.

But, during Restaurant Week, all of the Twin Cities’ establishments have a place at the table.

“Restaurant Week will showcase a great variety of restaurants here … older as well as newer,” Poupore said.

A number of special events are planned over the course of the week. Heart of Biddeford will sponsor a community raffle. Entrants only have to fill out a survey at a participating restaurant or bar during the week and will be entered to win a $100 gift card to a restaurant of their choice at the end of the week.

“In the past we’ve just had one event called the ‘Community Souper,’” Poupore said. “We’ve raised over the first two years $2,250 for local food pantries, and this year we’re hoping to raise that amount in one night for Seeds of Hope.”

The Community Souper returns at 5 p.m. on March 12 in the Pepperell Center, 40 Main St., Biddeford. Local restaurants will be donating soup for the cause, and for $10 patrons will be given the opportunity to try two soups, plus bread, for a good cause.

When the planners say “community,” they mean it: even the Biddeford Intermediate School fifth graders are on board, donating handmade ceramic bowls to the event.

“One of our big hopes with Heart of Biddeford is to engage as many constituents as possible in developing community,” Poupore said. “That night the children are pitching in, the restaurants are pitching in, the community — who come and pay at the door — are pitching in and we give back to people who could use some support any time of the year.”

And that’s just the beginning, Poupore said.

On Wednesday, March 15, four home cooks will compete in an “Iron Chef”-style challenge, creatively named “FYOOD Kitchen.” The event, hosted by Biscuits & Company, has limited seating. Ten tickets out of 25 available have been sold, Poupore said, so those eager to watch are encouraged to act fast.

Tickets for “FYOOD Kitchen” are available for $20 on Eventbrite.

A number of other activities are scheduled throughout the week, and there are more to come, Poupore said. A full list of events can be found on Eat Biddeford + Saco’s Facebook page. Yet to be announced are a multi-course dinner at Custom Deluxe and a cooking class for those who want to hone their culinary skills.

Beyond just satisfying the appetites of the Twin Cities, Poupore said Restaurant Week is a chance for residents to expand their palates while in the comfort of their home communities.

“Restaurant Week provides a pretty wide range of options, from $1 slices of pizza at Portland Pie to just filling out a raffle form at a place you’d ordinarily go,” she said. “There’s opportunities to explore some places or restaurants maybe they haven’t seen before.”

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.