Maine Chefs Set to Take Stage at Boston Wine Expo

AUGUSTA, Maine - Eight Maine chefs will represent Maine's lively food scene this month at the Boston Wine Expo to be held February 14 and 15 at the Boston Seaport. Among the featured chefs will be the 2014 "Maine Lobster Chef of the Year", Stephen Richards of The World is Mine Oyster restaurant in Boothbay Harbor, Food Network's Kitchen Inferno winner, Shannon Bard, Food Network fan-favorite, Sam Talbot, and James Beard Award winning chefs Clark Frazier and Mark Gaier. Each will display their expertise and creativity with a one-hour demonstration on the Maine Office of Tourism sponsored food stage.

Representing Maine on Saturday, February 14th will be: 1:30 PM Clark Frasier & Mark Gaier of MC Union at The Press Hotel, Portland 2:15 PM Kerry Alterio of Café Miranda, Rockland 3:00 PM Sam Talbot of Pig and Poet at Whitehall, Camden 3:45 PM Stephen Richards of The World is Mine Oyster, Boothbay Harbor

And on Sunday, February 15th: 1:30 PM Shanna & Brian O'Hea of Academe Maine Brasserie &
Tavern at Kennebunk Inn 2:15 PM Ilma Lopez & Damien Sansonetti of Piccolo, Portland 3:00 PM Christopher Basset of Azure Café, Freeport 3:45 PM Shannon Bard of Zapotecca Restaurante Y Tequileria, Portland

"Maine's vibrant restaurant scene and local foods movement has become one of the cornerstones of the Maine vacation experience," said Carolann Ouellette, Maine Office of Tourism Director. "With the growing number of small farms and craft brewers in our state, and our lobster and seafood fisheries, the farm- and sea- to- table movement has exploded in Maine and the entire state is becoming a foodie' destination."

Sommelier Erica Archer, Maine native and founder of Wine Wise, will be joining the 2015 Boston Wine Expo as the emcee of the Maine Stage, working alongside the Maine chefs to expertly pair wines with each of their dishes and facilitate a great food and wine pairing discussion.

Wine Wise is a wine education and events service based in Maine. At her weekly events in Portland and seasonal wine events in Camden, Kennebunkport, and Ogunquit, Archer creates sought-after wine experiences on land and at sea, and Wine Experience Getaways at luxury boutique hotels in Camden, ME and Newport, RI. Information on events and immersion trips is available at winewiseevents.com.

Closely following the Boston Wine Expo weekend is Maine Restaurant Week, March 1- 14, 2015, with events held throughout the state that further highlight the food and drink professionals who make Maine's restaurant scene one of the best in the country.

Visitors to Maine in 2015 can also follow the Maine Wine Trail for vineyard tastings; take a Beer Bus tour to sample Portland area craft brews, or visit 40+ independent breweries during Maine Craft Weekend in October; take a Lobster Boat tour to learn about all things lobster and help bring in the day's catch; take an oyster boat tour, or follow the new Maine Oyster Trail. For more information about these and other culinary vacation opportunities in Maine, visit the Maine Office of Tourism booth at the Boston Wine Expo or online at www.visitmaine.com.