Maine chef rebuilt career after losing restaurant; now gets 60,000 booking cards a year
Chef Erin French successfully rebuilt her career and life in Maine after overcoming personal struggles and losing her first restaurant. Her current establishment, The Lost Kitchen, has become a highly exclusive dining destination.
Why it matters
The story serves as a human-interest piece on resilience and the cultural impact of niche, locally-sourced culinary destinations.
After battling addiction, depression and a difficult divorce that led to her losing her first restaurant, American chef Erin French rebuilt her career in her hometown of Freedom, Maine, turning a restored historic mill into one of the country's most sought-after dining destinations. Her restaurant, The Lost Kitchen, now receives around 60,000 reservation postcards annually, according to a report by Condé Nast Traveller.From her father's diner to her first restaurantFrench's relationship with food began in her hometown of Freedom, where her father ran a diner. She started working there at the age of 12, learning the practical demands of a commercial kitchen and gradually taking on more responsibilities.
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