Harvest on the Harbor 2019 Maine Lobster Chef of the Year Judges’ Choice goes to Jessica Werthen, Chebeague Island Inn, and People’s Choice goes to Thomas Barthelmes, Central Provisions

Download the 2019 Maine Lobster Chef of the Year recipes

—————-

PORTLAND, Maine – (October 18, 2019) Harvest on the Harbor (HOTH) announced The Maine Lobster Chef of the Year Judges’ Choice winner is Jessica Werthen from Chebeague Island Inn who earned top honors for her butter poached lobster. The Maine Lobster Chef of the Year People’s Choice was Thomas Barthelemes from Central Provisions, selected for his lobster toast with lobster mousseline. The Maine Lobster Chef of the Year is sponsored by Shucks Maine Lobster.

The following ten chefs competed for top honors with their dishes:
AVERY RICHTER | Black Tie Company, Portland – 2018 Maine Lobster Chef of the Year Judges’ Choice
Lobster Laab Gai Lettuce Wrap
AUSTIN MILLER | Mami, Portland
Lobster “Takoyaki”

JESSICA WERTHEN |Chebeague Island Inn
Butter Poached Lobster: Corn/ Cherry Bomb/ Brown Butter

DANA MOOS | Maine Lobster Chef of the Year 2018 People’s Choice
Pacific Rim Lobster Salad: brown butter poached lobster, carrots, napa cabbage, scallions, smoked red pepper aioli, sweet soy glaze, soy caviar pearls, diced mango, fried wontons

THOMAS BARTHELMES | Central Provisions, Portland
Lobster Toast lobster mousseline on toasted milk bread with lobster kewpie mayonnaise, tomatillo-seaweed relish, and green shiso

JP DUBOIS |Cook’s Lobster & Ale House, Bailey Island
Lobster Creme Brulee

RICK SHELL | The Tiller, Cape Neddick
Lobster Fried Rice

MATTHEW H EATON | Natalie’s, Camden
Lobster Bahn Mi

HAGAI BERNSTEIN | EVO, Portland
Corn and Lobster Soup Dumpling

JEREMY LAMOUREUX | Noble Kitchen & Bar, Brunswick
Lobster “Bake”: a play on a classic Maine Lobster Bake, which typically features lobster, clams, corn, and potatoes

The Maine Lobster Chef of the Year Judges:
Mindy Fox is a food writer, editor, author, and former chef. A frequent contributor to Epicurious, and former editor at Saveur and La Cucina Italiana magazines, her work has also appeared in Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, In Style, Rachael Ray Every Day, The London Times, and more. Mindy has authored several cookbooks of her own and co-authored cookbooks with Sara Jenkins of Nina June in Rockport, Gail Simmons of Top Chef, and, most recently, Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski. She lives in Portland.

Tracy Griffith is the former chef/host of “Cooking with D.I.Y.” and chef for “Bertolli Presents” for FoodTV.net. She was the chef/host of ”D.I.Y. Holidays” and in “Celebrity Dish” she hosted recipe demonstrations with the private chefs of celebrities. She is the first female graduate of the California Sushi Academy, and became known as the “sushi chef to the stars” and developed her signature sushi “American style” at Tsunami in Beverly Hills. She is the author of Sushi American Style. Tracy was inducted into The American Culinary Federation and The American Academy of Chefs and is a member of Les Amis D’Escoffier Society and Les Dames d’Escoffier Society.

John Hathaway is the CEO and president of Shucks Maine Lobster. The Company is known internationally for its exceptional quality “Certified Maine Lobster” lobster meat. Shucks Maine Lobster won two Prix d’Elite awards at the Brussels International Seafood Show for its raw HPP lobster meat and is MSC Certified Sustainable.

Harvest on the Harbor is sponsored by Lexus, Cape Air, AAA/Celebrity Cruises, Bulleit Bourbon, Zardetto, Buoy Local, Bangor Savings Bank, Coffee By Design and Shipyard Brewing with additional support provided by Headlight Audio, Native Maine, Visit Portland, Maine Distillers Guild, Portland Press Herald, Townsquare Media, Black Tie Company, SAVVY Event Rentals, Garbage to Garden, Eat Drink Lucky and Yelp.  Harvest on the Harbor™ 2019 will benefit local makers, the SMCC Culinary Arts Program and Maine Aquaculture Association.

About Harvest on the Harbor:
Harvest on the Harbor 2019 is the 12th annual event celebrating Maine’s crave worthy cuisine. The event brings people together for unique festival experiences encompassing Maine’s culinary culture. Harvest on the Harbor is committed to supporting Maine agri- and aquaculture and the hard working people who make it all possible. The event is owned and produced by S&G LLC partners Stefanie Manning and Gillian and Jim Britt.