Portland Harbor Hotel Executive Chef, Jeff Landry, Named Maine Restaurant Association Chef of the Year

Portland, ME (PRWeb) December 29, 2006 -- Portland Harbor Hotel & Eve's at the Garden Executive Chef Jeff Landry was named Maine's Chef of the Year by the Maine Restaurant Association. Landry was notified of his recognition at Portland Harbor Hotel by Dick Grotton, Maine Restaurant Association's President and CEO. A formal award ceremony takes place in Portland, Maine on March 20, 2007.

"Jeff was nominated by his Maine restaurant industry peers and chosen from a pool of incredible Maine chefs. In the last year he has been instrumental in raising awareness about childhood hunger issues in Maine with Share Our Strength and he has worked to help victims of Hurricane Katrina with his 'Creole Cooking' event. He is someone who always thinks of everyone else first," said Grotton.

Landry's leadership at Maine's Share Share Our Strength and Portland Harbor Hotel's "Creole Cooking" fundraiser netted nearly sixty-five-thousand dollars. This is an amazing accomplishment for Landry and his peers from area restaurants, who also participated.

"Jeff is a terrific culinarian, but his greatest asset is his attitude. He never shies away from a challenge and is always trying new ideas. His most recent event was a sit-down dinner with a fashion show. It brought together a nice group of Old Port merchants and a generous group of guests. This event benefited The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center. His passionate approach to using his cooking skills to help others makes working with Jeff a truly enjoyable experience," said Gerard Kiladjian, General Manager at Portland Harbor Hotel.

Jeff Perkins, Director of Operations and Franchising at Amato's Sandwich Shops and Share Our Strength and Maine Restaurant Association board member said, "Jeff Landry is a good friend to have. His efforts at Taste of the Nation (Share Our Strength) last summer were remarkable. The Taste was a combined effort by Back Bay Grill, Cinque Terre, Hugo's and MIMS, but Jeff Landry led the charge. The efforts of these great chefs and restaurants allowed Share Our Strength Maine to make two large grants this year to Maine Equal Justice Partners and East End Kids Catering -- totaling nearly thirty-thousand dollars. These non-profit organizations are deeply committed to childhood hunger issues in Maine. Helping at this level, at any level really, is something that all of the Taste of the Nation chefs are very proud of."

Jeff Landry -- Background
Jeff Landry is Executive Chef of Eve's at the Garden at Portland Harbor Hotel. The focus at Eve's is on Mediterranean cuisine, with a strong emphasis on French and Italian cooking. Landry's culinary experiences include owning his own restaurant, Seasons Café (Lewiston, ME), as well as a multi-year engagement with Harraseeket Inn (Freeport, ME). Landry entered the Portland, ME, dining scene when he opened the popular Old Port restaurant, Cinque Terre, where he was executive chef. He earned a culinary arts degree from New Hampshire Community College.

About Portland Harbor Hotel & Eve's at the Garden
Portland Harbor Hotel is located at 468 Fore St. in the heart of Old Port, just a block from the city's vibrant waterfront. The Hotel's old world charm, distinctive design and top-notch service have earned it the distinction of being an American Automobile Association (AAA) four-diamond hotel, the only hotel to receive this honor in Portland. The Hotel's deluxe guest rooms and suites offer views of Portland and the beautiful courtyard. On-site services and amenities include a state-of-the-art conference room, wireless high speed Internet access throughout the Hotel, valet parking, complimentary Lincoln Town car service, certified concierge services, 24-hour room service, nightly turndown service, meeting and banquet facilities, and a fitness center. The Portland Harbor Hotel is home to the four-star restaurant, Eve's at the Garden. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily in the dining room overlooking the Terrace.

CONTACT:
James Britt 207-775-2126
gBritt PR

Gerard Kiladjian 207-775-9090
Portland Harbor Hotel, General Manager
Portland Harbor Hotel

Photo Download
Photo caption: Dick Grotton, Maine Restaurant Association President and CEO with Chef Jeff Landry, Maine Restaurant Association 2007 Chef of the Year

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