There have numerous semifinalists and nominees from Maine. In total there have five Maine award winners since 2000 in the category of Best Chef Northeast,
2004: Sam Hayward from Fore Street
2009: Rob Evans who was then the chef/owner of Hugo’s
2010: Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier from Arrows
2013: Melissa Kelly from Primo
2017: Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley from Eventide
an award winner in the Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer category,
2019: Rob Tod from Allagash Brewing Co.
an award winner in the Outstanding Hospitality category,
2023: The Quarry in Monson
an award winner in the Outstanding Bakery category,
2024: ZU Bakery, Portland
an award winner in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category,
2024: Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery, Portland
and three America’s Classics award winners.
2001: Waterman’s Beach Lobster in South Thomaston
2008: Bagaduce Lunch in Penobscot
2023: Nezinscot Farm in Turner
Here’s a year by year detailed digest of the last from 2008 to the present:
2024
Award Winners
Outstanding Bakery – ZU Bakery, Portland
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker – Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery, Portland
Nominees
Outstanding Bakery – ZU Bakery, Portland
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker – Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery, Portland
Outstanding Hospitality – Woodford Food & Beverage, Portland
Best Chef: Northeast – Jake Stevens, Leeward
Semifinalists
Outstanding Restaurateur – Cara Stadler and Cecile Stadler, Bao Bao Dumpling House/Tao Yuan/Zao Ze Cafe and Market in Portland and Brunswick
Emerging Chef – Joseph Robbins, Bissell Brothers Three Rivers, Milo
Best New Restaurant – The Alna Store, Alna
Outstanding Bakery – ZU Bakery, Portland
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker – Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery, Portland
Outstanding Hospitality – Woodford Food & Beverage, Portland
Best Chef: Northeast – Celia Bruns, Artemisia Cafe; Ian Driscoll, Bar Futo; Valerie Goldman, The Honey Paw; and Jake Stevens, Leeward
2023
Award Winners
Outstanding Hospitality – The Quarry
America’s Classics – Nezinscot Farm
Nominees
Outstanding Hospitality – The Quarry
Semifinalists
Outstanding Restaurateur – Krista Cole, Sur Lie and Gather
Best New Restaurant – Wolfpeach
Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker – Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery
Outstanding Hospitality – The Quarry and Sur Lie
Outstanding Bar Program – The Jewel Box
Best Chef: Northeast – Sara Jenkins, Nina June; Jason LaVerdiere, Flux; Courtney Loreg, Woodford Food and Beverage; Tony Pastor, Fore Street; Isaul Perez, Isa Bistro.
2022
Nominees
Best New Restaurant – Leeward
Outstanding Baker – Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery
Best Chef: Northeast – Vien Dobui, Công Tử Bột; Courtney Loreg, Woodford Food & Beverage; Damian Sansonetti, Chaval
Semifinalists
Best New Restaurant – Leeward
Outstanding Pastry Chef – Kate Fisher Hamm from Leeward
Outstanding Baker – Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery
Outstanding Hospitality – Bao Bao Dumpling House
Outstanding Bar Program – The Jewel Box
Best Chef: Northeast – Bowman Brown, Elda/Jackrabbit; Vien Dobui, Công Tử Bột; Ben Jackson, Magnus on Water; Courtney Loreg, Woodford Food & Beverage; Damian Sansonetti, Chaval.
2021
The Beard Foundation did not operate an awards program in 2021.
2020
Award Winners
The Beard Foundation did not hold an awards gala or release a name of winners in 2020.
Nominees
Best Chef: Northeast – Vien Dobui, Cong Tu Bot; Ben Jackson, Drifters Wife; Krista Kern Desjarlais, The Purple House; Greg Mitchell and Chad Conley, Palace Diner.
Semifinalists
Best Chef: Northeast – Vien Dobui, Cong Tu Bot; Devin Finigan, Aragosta at Goose Cove; Erin French, The Lost Kitchen; Ben Jackson, Drifters Wife; Krista Kern Desjarlais, The Purple House; Chad Conley and Greg Mitchell, Palace Diner; Ravin Nakjaroen, Long Grain.
Outstanding Restaurant – Fore Street
Outstanding Chef – Melissa Kelly, Primo
Outstanding Baker – Briana Holt, Tandem Coffee
Outstanding Bar Program – Novare Res Bier Cafe
2019
Award Winners
Outstanding Wine Beer or Spirits Producer – Rob Tod, Allagash Brewing Co.
Nominees
Outstanding Wine Beer or Spirits Producer – Rob Tod, Allagash Brewing Co.
Semifinalists
Best Chef: Northeast – Vien Dobui, Cong Tu Bot; Chad Conley and Greg Mitchell, Palace Diner; Krista Kern Desjarlais, The Purple House; Erin French, The Lost Kitchen; Keiko Suzuki Steinberger, Suzuki’s Sushi Bar.
Outstanding Restaurant – Fore Street
Outstanding Baker – Alison Pray, Standard Baking
Outstanding Wine Beer or Spirits Producer – Rob Tod, Allagash Brewing Co.
Outstanding Service – Back Bay Grill
2018
Nominees
Outstanding Baker – Alison Pray, Standard Baking
Semifinalists
Best Chef: Northeast – Krista Kern Desjarlais, The Purple House; Vien Dobui, Cong Tu Bot; Erin French, The Lost Kitchen; Ravin Nakjaroen, Long Grain; Keiko Suzuki Steinberger, Suzuki’s Sushi Bar
Outstanding Restaurant – Chase’s Daily
Outstanding Baker – Alison Pray, Standard Baking
Outstanding Chef – Sam Hayward, Fore Street
Outstanding Service – Back Bay Grill
Outstanding Pastry Chef – Ilma Lopez, Piccolo
Rising Star of the Year – Cara Stadler, Tao Yuan
2017
Award Winners
Best Chef: Northeast – Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide
Nominees
Best Chef: Northeast – Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide
Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer – Rob Tod, Allagash Brewing Co.
Semifinalists
Best New Restaurant – Drifters Wife
Best Chef: Northeast – Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide; Keiko Suzuki Steinberger, Suzuki’s Sushi Bar; Ravin Nakjaroen, Long Grain; and Brian Hill, Francine Bistro
Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer – Rob Tod, Allagash Brewing Co.
Outstanding Restaurant – Fore Street, and Chase’s Daily in Belfast
Outstanding Bar Program – Portland Hunt and Alpine Club
Outstanding Baker – Alison Pray, Standard Baking
Outstanding Pastry Chef – Ilma Lopez, Piccolo
Rising Star of the Year – Cara Stadler, Tao Yuan
2016
Nominees
Best Chef: Northeast – Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide; Brian Hill, Francine Bistro
Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer – Rob Tod, Allagash Brewing Co.
Semifinalists
Best New Restaurant – The Honey Paw
Best Chef: Northeast – Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley, Eventide; Erin French, The Lost Kitchen; Keiko Suzuki Steinberger, Suzuki’s Sushi Bar; and Brian Hill, Francine Bistro
Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer – Rob Tod, Allagash Brewing Co.
Outstanding Restaurant – Fore Street
Rising Star of the Year – Cara Stadler, Tao Yuan
2015
Nominees
Best New Restaurant – Central Provisions
Best Chef: Northeast – Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley of Eventide Oyster Co. and Hugo’s; Masa Miyake of Miyake and Pai Men Miyake
Rising Star Chef of the Year – Cara Stadler of Tao Yuan and Bao Bao
Semifinalists
Best New Restaurant – Central Provisions
Best Chef: Northeast – Andrew Taylor and Mike Wiley of Eventide Oyster Co. and Hugo’s; Masa Miyake of Miyake, Pai Men Miyake; Brian Hill of Francine Bistro and Shepherd’s Pie; Ravin Nakjaroen of Long Grain
Rising Star Chef of the Year – Cara Stadler of Tao Yuan and Bao Bao
Outstanding Baker – Alison Pray, Standard Baking Co.
Outstanding Bar Program – Portland Hunt & Alpine Club
Outstanding Restaurant – Fore Street
Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer – Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing Co.
2014
Semifinalists
Rising Star Chef of the Year – Cara Stadler of Tao Yuan and Bao Bao
Outstanding Restaurant – Fore Street; Primo
Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer – Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing Co.
Best Chef: Northeast – Brian Hill of Francine Bistro, and Shepherd’s Pie, Masa Miyake of Miyake and Pai Men Miyake; Ravin Nakjaroen of Long Grain
2013
Award Winners
Best Chef: Northeast – Melissa Kelly, Primo
Nominees
Best Chef: Northeast – Melissa Kelly, Primo
Semifinalists
Best Chef: Northeast – Krista Kern Desjarlais, Bresca; Brian Hill, Francine Bistro; Melissa Kelly, Primo
Outstanding Restaurant – Fore Street
2012
Semifinalists
Best Chef: Northeast – Krista Kern Desjarlais of Bresca; Demos Regas of Emilitsa; Brian Hill of Francine Bistro; Danai Sriprasert and Nattasak Wongsaichua of Boda; Pennelle, Megan and Phoebe Chase and Ted LaFage of Chase’s Daily
Outstanding Chef – Melissa Kelly, Primo
Best New Restaurant – Petite Jacqueline
Outstanding Restaurant – Fore Street
2011
Nominees
Best Chef: Northeast – Krista Kern Desjarlais, of Bresca
Semifinalists
Best New Restaurant – Shepherd’s Pie
Outstanding Chef – Sam Hayward of Fore Street; Melissa Kelly of Primo
Best Chef: Northeast – Krista Kern Desjarlais, of Bresca; Brian Hill of Shepherd’s Pie; Pennelle, Megan and Phoebe Chase and Ted LaFage of Chase’s Daily; Demos Regas of Emilitsa
2010
Award Winners
Best Chef: Northeast – Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier of Arrows
Nominees
Best Chef: Northeast – Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier of Arrows
Semifinalists
Outstanding Chef – Sam Hayward of Fore Street
Outstanding Restaurant – Fore Street
Best Chef: Northeast – Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier of Arrows; Krista Kern Desjarlais, of Bresca; Brian Hill of Shepherd’s Pie; Pennelle, Megan and Phoebe Chase and Ted LaFage of Chase’s Daily
2009
Award Winners
Best Chef: Northeast – Rob Evans of Hugo’s
Nominees
Outstanding Restaurant – Fore Street
Best Chef: Northeast – Rob Evans of Hugo’s; Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier of Arrows
Semifinalists
Outstanding Chef – Sam Hayward of Fore Street
Outstanding Restaurant – Fore Street
Best New Restaurant – Emilitsa
Best Chef: Northeast – Rob Evans of Hugo’s; Pennelle, Megan and Phoebe Chase and Ted LaFage of Chase’s Daily; Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier of Arrows; Brian Hill of Francine Bistro; Rich Hanson of Cleonice
2008
Award Winners
America’s Classics – Bagaduce Lunch
Nominees
Best Chef: Northeast – Rob Evans of Hugo’s; Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier of Arrows
Semifinalists
Outstanding Chef – Sam Hayward of Fore Street
Best Chef: Northeast – Rob Evans of Hugo’s; Pennelle, Megan and Phoebe Chase and Ted LaFage of Chase’s Daily; Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier of Arrows; Brian Hill of Francine Bistro