Maine Lobster Chef of the Year 2010 Crowned!

PORTLAND, Maine, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Maine Lobster Chef of the Year 2010 was crowned after a cook-off competition at Harvest on the Harbor, the three-day food and wine festival underway on Portland's waterfront.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101022/NE87236 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101022/NE87236 )

Kelly Patrick Farrin, Sous Chef at Azure Cafe in Freeport, earned the title of Maine Lobster Chef of the Year today with his Herb Grilled Maine Lobster Tail on Arugula with Chive Ricotta Gnocchi & Corn Milk. Two hundred lucky attendees tasted dishes prepared by three chef competitors, watched each chef demonstrate their recipe, and then voted on their favorite.  

Farrin competed against William Clifford, Executive Chef at Portland Harbor Hotel, who prepared Rustic Maine Lobster and Butternut Squash Ravioli with Toasted Walnuts, Sage and Maple Bacon, and Clifford Pickett, Sous Chef at DiMillo's Floating Restaurant in Portland, who prepared Steamed Maine Lobster & Sweet Corn Tamale with Creamy Chilies and Leeks.

All three chefs were selected from a field of professional chefs who submitted recipes over the summer.  A panel of judges reviewed the recipes, minus identifying information from the submitting chefs, and selected the three finalists based on a variety of criteria.  

"We are proud to sponsor this annual competition," stated Dane Somers, Executive Director of the Maine Lobster Promotion Council.  "The chefs did an exceptional job developing recipes that feature Maine Lobster and incorporate ingredients that share lobster's peak fall harvest time.  This is the second year in a row that we have held this event at Harvest on the Harbor, Maine's premier food and wine event.  It has proven to be an ideal venue for crowning the new Maine Lobster Chef of the Year."  

In addition to tasting the three dishes prepared by the finalists in the competition, the audience enjoyed a signature 'Harvest' whoopie pie prepared by Amy Bouchard of Wicked Whoopies, wine pairings from locally crafted Big Claw Wine and the leading importer of luxury wines and spirits, Moet Hennessy USA, and gourmet coffee by Bard Coffee.

Maine Lobster Chef of the Year Kelly Patrick Farrin, a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute, worked at Ocean Key Resort in Key West, Fla., before joining the Rocktide Inn in Boothbay Harbor. He joined Azure Cafe in 2010.

At the competition, Farrin was awarded $1,000 in prize money and a display plaque identifying him as the Maine Lobster Chef of the Year.  

Copies of the recipes by all three contestants can be found at www.lobsterfrommaine.com.

NESN (New England Sports Network) will be producing a television show on the Lobster Chef of the Year competition at Harvest on the Harbor. The show is scheduled to air Friday, October 29th at 7:30 p.m.

The Greater Portland Convention and Visitors Bureau also awarded four scholarships to culinary students from Southern Maine Community college at the event as part of the organization's mission to promote culinary tourism to the state.

Harvest on the Harbor, presented by the Greater Portland Convention & Visitors Bureau, brings nationally recognized chefs using Maine products and blends them with our own award winning local chefs in celebrating Maine as a culinary travel destination.  Last fall, Harvest on the Harbor was named one of the "Great Ideas for fall food festivals" by People magazine and was attended by more than 4,000 foodies from Maine and around the country.

For more information on Harvest on the Harbor please visit www.harvestontheharbor.com.

SOURCE Harvest on the Harbor