Category: People

Mainebiz has published an interview with Hannah Ryder, the executive chef at Twelve.

Hannah Ryder was recently promoted to executive chef at Twelve, a high-end restaurant on Portland’s East End owned by the Prentice Hospitality Group. The 27-year-old, who grew up in Cumberland and has worked at the Prentice-owned Evo and Chebeague Island Inn, was part of the team that opened Twelve in July 2022. We sat down with her in the enclosed waterfront patio one sunny April morning as chefs were prepping that evening’s dinner.

The Boulos Beats podcast has published an interview with chef David Turin who owns and operates David’s, David’s 388 and David’s Opus Ten. Listen to the podcast to hear about Turin’s early career, his thoughts on a wide variety of business management topics, and advice on running a successful restaurant and having a successful culinary career.

Delicious Musings has published an article about The Jewel Box and interview with owner Nathaniel Meiklejohn.

Velvety cushions line the front window bench. The aesthetic is a thoughtful blend of history and romance, with hints of punk and modern tech—less curated than conjured. Victorian frames meet party lights. It doesn’t feel like it’s trying. It just is: timeless, a little mysterious, and utterly inviting—and encourages you to be too.

While you’re on author Sharon Kitchen’s substack you might also read about her visit to a bean supper in Sabattus and a conversation with Tandem co-owner Will Pratt about the books he’s been reading.

The latest episode of Restaurant Unstoppable is an interview with Tom Barthelmes, a co-owner of Finestkind in Saco.

Cyle Reynolds is joining the team at Bar Futo (website, facebook, instagram) as a co-owner and as the restaurant’s chef de cuisine.

“We are excited to have Chef Cyle join the team at Bar Futo,” said Jordan Rubin. “Cyle’s menu at Crispy Gài has been a clear success since we opened in 2021. His passion for Asian cuisine and dedication to community align perfectly with our mission to provide an exceptional dining experience that reflects both global influences, local flavors and creative Japanese-American dishes that are playful and delicious like the new BEC Okonomiyaki (bacon, egg and cheese). We also have worked well together for the last 4 years and know when a shift is needed to adapt to consumer dining habits and the seasonal market we’re in – we think Cyle leading this new menu change of improving pricing and plate portions will excite a lot of Bar Futo – and Crispy Gài – fans.”

Reynolds resume includes time working in Thailand as an apprentice at a knife shop and cooking at the Michelin-starred restaurant Canvas. When he returned to the United States he worked at Restaurant Ukiyo in New York before moving back to Maine.

Bar Futo has a calendar of upcoming events with guest chefs including chefs Genie Kwon and Timothy Flores from Kasama in Chicago, Sai Guntaka from Taj in South Portland and Nikhil Naiker from NIMKI in Providence. Stay tuned to their instagram account for full details and schedule.

Jordan Rubin and Marisa Lewiecki launched Bar Futo in December 2022. They are partners with Cyle Reynolds and Sasha Brouillard in the operation of Crispy Gai.

 

The latest episode of Restaurant Unstoppable is an interview with Damian Sansonetti from Chaval and Ugly Duckling.

The latest episode of Restaurant Unstoppable features an interview with Paige Gould from Central Provisions, Tipo and Finestkind.

Today’s Maine Sunday Telegram includes a feature on six “up-and-coming Greater Portland chefs to watch”.

The chefs featured here (all 30 years old or younger) have already proven themselves not just as great cooks with honed palates, serious technical chops and the creativity required to develop menus, but also as effective communicators and respected team leaders…Though they’re working under more senior chefs or restaurateurs now, they hope to open their own restaurants eventually, and we can celebrate the fact that all of them aim to launch in and around Portland. Here are six local chefs to keep an eye on in the years to come.

Mimi Weissenborn, the executive chef of Sur Lie, Gather in Yarmouth and Catface in Biddeford, will be a contestant in season 22 of the Bravo TV show Top Chef. The season will “highlight the local food scene of Canada, including Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, and Prince Edward Island.”

The winner of season 22 will receive $250,000, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, the chance to serve a dinner at the James Beard House in New York City, and other prizes.

Take a look at our 2023 interview with Weissenborn for more details on her background, career and thoughts on the restaurant industry.