And I feel I got it.More, If you're lucky enough to be chosen by lottery, this is a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience. I also hope that if you didn't enter the lottery this year to get a seat, to put your card in next year. The highlights were the absolute best piece of fish (halibut) any of us had ever had, perfect oysters, a slider prepared over a fire pit, and a creative take on borscht. The Lost Kitchen: Erin French followed her passion and opened a restaurant in her hometown of Freedom, Maine. W, Do you follow My French Country Home? Now Streaming. Remodelista, Gardenista, 10 Easy Pieces, Steal This Look, 5 Quick Fixes, Design Sleuth, High/Low Design, Sourcebook for the Considered Home, and Sourcebook for Considered Living are registered trademarks of Remodelista, LLC. My favorite dish of the night was a green garlic spring allium soup with smoked ricotta and Maine crab. Not to mention, what seemed like endless appetizers. I'm beyond grateful I was able to meet Chef Erin, eat at her restaurant, and know her story. And since it's seasonal, it's only open six months out of the year. An Overnight Stay at the Cabins in Freedom, Maine Then the courses of the fixed menu begin, with Erin French choreographing the finishing touch of each course with balletic precision: a fresh seasonal soup poured over a medley of fruits and cheeses, a picturesque and delicious salad, the entre which is determined by whatever fish or meat is the freshest that day, and the grand finale of a very memorable dessert from Erins repertoire. One of the best parts of the entire evening was watching people that have extreme passion for their craft - Erin truly LOVES creating wonderful flavors and sharing them with others. Each of the cooks knows their job, and eachother's job, and are constantly in rotation from one production point to another, as smoothly as a Russian balet. One night she invited Tarbell, who asked if she could bring Osofsky. Osofsky says everything French works on is from the heart. - but thankfully the food lives up to the hype. Spring is coming and so is our 2022 season! It was a dream experience from start to finish. With this support, French pivoted her career and started an underground supper club that relied on using as many local ingredients as possible. 249k Followers, 540 Following, 755 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Erin French (@thelostkitchen) Saturday was the second night of the new season, and Erin's mom said their first night went flawlessly, as did our evening. The setting is the perfect blend of rustic and romantic; my absolute favorite. THE LOST KITCHEN - 95 Photos & 44 Reviews - 22 Mill St, Freedom, ME - Yelp Restaurants Home Services Auto Services The Lost Kitchen 44 reviews Unclaimed $$$ Salad, Desserts, Pizza Edit See all 95 photos Write a review Add photo Save Menu Popular dishes Heirloom Tomato Soup 2 Photos 3 Reviews Mini Crab Roll 1 Photo 1 Review Smoked Ricotta Explore. Or you can add an additional 2" repeated image borde According to the New York Times, French has a tendency to walk right out into the middle of the dining room, actively engage with customers, and even give toasts to the room. A fixed-price meal is $195, and that's before drinks or tips. Currently, The Lost Kitchen's dining room is closed for the season. Print comes: Unstretched with an additional 1/2" white border for DIY or Custom, matted glass framing. We loved our dinner and experience and have proceeded to tell many about it-even as doing this adds more competition for future reservations LOL!, Take a look more hidden gems in Maine, as part of The Maine Line issue: N.B. The Lost Kitchen Unclaimed Review Save Share 111 reviews #1 of 1 Restaurant in Freedom $$$$ American 22 Mill St, Freedom, ME 04941-3146 +1 207-382-3333 Website Closed now : See all hours See all (66) Ratings and reviews Food Service Value Atmosphere Details CUISINES American Meals Dinner FEATURES Sign up below to receive updates. On the right is a bridge that crosses the water below. And you will get a heart hug and picture with Erin on the way out :) that you can share on fb. You know what? This approach to dining and hospitality truly sets Erin French apart from her contemporaries and makes her a personality you need to keep your eyes on. place at the table, but in the past two years, they have instituted a mail in lottery for seats, with very specific guidlines. The beautiful Lost Kitchen Cabins In Freedom, Maine. Erin French remains a Rock Star, and The Lost Kitchen is evermore an American Treasure. The hostess/owner and staff put on a show worthy of a 5-star TV cooking show. . This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Her straightforward approach eschews the intricate techniques of fine dining in lieu of a comforting meal that feels like home. Stream now on discovery+. joy and fun this group of talented people are having doing their presentation for the guest of the night. "They put themselves into each one. The restaurant is beautiful, the food is beautiful, and the kitchen shines with a glow of true love and passion. And it's truly a balet. Located about halfway between Augusta and Bangor, the town of Freedom is accessible only by car a scenic trip through lush woods and rolling farmlands. Some have called it pretentious or elite, but if you go thinking that this is an experience and not just a meal, you won't be disappointed. She receives more than 20,000 cards a year, making it one of the hardest-to-book restaurants in the country. I might not even call it a restaurant. Can a vegan person get a good meal at this restaurant? You never know what could happen (I did not expect to be called at all!) Every ingredient was clean and present, every bite was a new moment of discovering bits and bobs of different flavors. The staff are lovely, Erin French is adorable as well as immensely talented- and the foodwas as delicious as it was beautiful.More, Having read up on Erin French and her story to bring The Lost Kitchen to life, it was an honor to eat at her restaurant. Our cabins are currently hibernating for the winter. And I sincerely hope that if you're reading this review and have gotten your reservation set up, you get to know what a great meal can do for your soul. The love and support French's family fostered helped inspire her successful career as a chef and laid the foundation for a culinary journey that would take French to new heights. It helps I live nearby. I hope they continue doing this for a very long time. To eat at chef Erin French's critically acclaimed restaurant, The . Even the salad exceeded expectations - deep fried capers in lieu of crouton piled onto fresh, beautiful, locally grown greens. Texan in Maine. So, please accept my humble review for what it is: an invitation to exceptional excellence. If you are considering sending your postcard next spring, dont hesitate. You can count the buildings in Freedom on one hand: Theres a general store, a gas station, a post office, and the Lost Kitchen itself, in an 1834 mill building, perched over a stream. Maine the way life should be Finding the happiness in well prepared and thoughtful dishes. I'm beyond grateful I was able to meet Chef Erin, eat at her restaurant, and know her story. I always feel like I'm returning to the home of a good and valued friend each time we enter these halls. I noted lots of counters and great equipment. What to know. I highly recommend an autumn reservation. I can now prattle on about the various foods we were presented, but suffice to say, they are at the top of their game, pushing the football a little further down the field with every new season. For more of Erin French's story, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, and order her new book, Finding Freedom, here. The highlights were the absolute best piece of fish (halibut) any of us had ever had, perfect oysters, a slider prepared over a fire pit, and a creative take on borscht. Thank you Erin and crew for your efforts and passion, it is truly appreciated. When clearing the site for construction, maintain fir trees as a barrier along the cold and windier north and west elevations. Not only did it beat expectation but it far exceeded them," says Katie Peter, a Mainer who visited the Lost Kitchen in September with her sister and cousins. Like it never happened. There are only 48 seats available per night, four nights a week for six months out of the year (this year they are open from late May to October).You'll need some luck to be picked, but there are some things you can do to improve your chances. As she grew up, she took on greater roles at the restaurant, including washing dishes and cooking breakfasts. People all over the world clamor for a chance to dine there. If you are considering sending your postcard next spring, dont hesitate. We've got a lot of skillets in the fire. Receive the Remodelista newsletter in your inbox daily. The cookbook serves me well at home with local ingredients. All Rights Reserved. Her food is off the charts, Osofsky says. But the prices may surprise you. I also hope that if you didn't enter the lottery this year to get a seat, to put your card in next year. Yes being a Mainer I insist on good value for the money. And at the bottom of Hammertowns About Us page, French appears in an uncaptioned photo smiling and cooking, moving into the future with a little help from her friends. April, 2021 | Photography: Nicole Wolf | As told to Rachel Hurn "I had been dreaming up something along these lines for four, maybe even five, years, since basically when the Lost Kitchen became far bigger than I ever imagined. On the Hammertown website, theres a quote by French: Hammertown makes me feel like Im home. Is it worth the price and the process of the lottery? Hotels, restaurants, and shops featured on Remodelista. If anything, she is warmer and more confident, accepting the good fortune and good karma in stride, making her stronger and more comfortable in her skin. French bought the entire bank building in 2011 and opened the first Lost Kitchen restaurant with her then-husband Todd French, a boatbuilder. The seafood hater even tried an oyster and the crab sammie. The Lost Kitchen S1 Trailer. 3. So once you have secured the dinner reservation by winning the postcard lottery, now you'll need a place to stay. And Erin's persona also really elevates the experience.". You can book a room at Jeweled Turret Inn, a charming bed-and-breakfast in Belfast, about 17 miles away, or head back to Portland, where there are a ton of hotels to choose from. 3. Seasons 1 and 2 of The Lost Kitchen are now airing on the Magnolia Network. There isn't much going on up in Freedom, but on the day we went (6/13) the rain had given the landscape a lush verdant atmosphere that amped up the idyllic nature of The Lost Kitchen. In its current iteration, the Lost Kitchen has eight tables and one seating a night, and French and her team of women servers and cooks do it all: one server grows the flowers, another raises the chickens. French sought help in 2013 and checked herself into a rehabilitation facility. If I can get in, I'll go. Here is what makes this place unique: Every dish was carefully crafted with such beautiful attention to detail. Then, in Freedom, Maine, she started anew with her restaurant The Lost Kitchen. How is the food, you're wondering? Situate the home to take advantage of the sun. Just watch her work that line some time, and you will see. Our dining room is currently closed for the season. She is a class act, and while service was indifferent at times (it is a well oiled machine after all,this being its sixth season), the overall experience was positive. If anything, she is warmer and more confident, accepting the good fortune and good karma in stride, making her stronger and more comfortable in her skin. You must buy any wine at the store in the mill below but the wines geez good..French and not at all pricey. were a definite added bonus. Dutton serves as executive producer of Frenchs television show. The reviews, photos, and eventhe show cant do justice to actually visiting and dining there. 11/28/2021 Tabitha C. To say that this was an amazing experience for us is not enough. Yes, and yes. It was one of the grandest, most beautiful experiences of my entire life. You can feel the love and joy in all they do and its underpriced at $200 pp. April, 2021 | Photography: Nicole Wolf | As told to Rachel Hurn. "They put themselves into each one. Hotels near (RKD) Knox County Regional Airport. It was above and beyond anything I couldve asked for or imagined. She was a stalward member of the crew that helped creat the Lost Kitchen mystique. I also noted that every counter was cluttered, even messy. Throughout the meal, the lucky patrons celebrate their good fortune of this magical and sensory epicurean experience in a cozy mill embellished with seasonal flowers bather in the warm glow of candlelight. Those chosen will be called to book their reservation. I can now prattle on about the various foods we were presented, but suffice to say, they are at the top of their game, pushing the football a little further down the field with every new season. But don't lose hope if you don't get a call right away: French selects new postcards later if a party cancels. Thank you Erin and crew for your efforts and passion, it is truly appreciated.More, I sent in the postcard in April and heard nothing. And that's the ingredient that makes each visit unique and yet the same. It was one of the grandest, most beautiful experiences of my entire life. Here is what makes this place unique: We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Yes, and yes. The chef/owner stood up before the room and explained each of her dishes, reasons why she chose each dish, and the background of the ingredients for each. She now shares custody of her son with his father, and she married Michael Dutton, a media executive in 2018. The Lost Kitchen chronicles her attempt to salvage a lost year, an epilogue to the challenges she describes in Finding Freedom. We were overjoyed to see the return of a Lost Kitchen alumnus, Mia. . Our catalog of more than 10,000 products featured on Remodelista. I will say that the three hours seemed to breeze by, as did the trip to find the restaurant. The population is 722! The Lost Kitchen in Freedom reopened last week for outdoor dining. In fact, there's a new one every night. Considering we enjoyed a 4+ hour experience and some rarely offered plates, the value was more than fair. Make the most of that time. A week after returning to Maine, still in a fragile state, French traveled to New York and cooked dinner at the James Beard Foundation, the celebrated culinary arts organization. $$$$ New American Restaurant Photos See all Videos See all 1:28 The dinner consisted of numerous small courses, each subsequent item being better than the last. In the years before opening The Lost Kitchen, French had to address her addiction to prescription medication and alcohol. Annies work has been featured in many well-known magazines, websites, and books such as Better Homes & Gardens, The Spruce, Nesting with Grace, HGTV Magazine, and many others. "Reservations got out of control. We also were able to select our wine early and beat the rush. You only have the meal in front of you. Watching everyone have that experience is my greatest joy." Sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss the announcement. Trust us, yes it is worth it. Last years' meals are long gone, and who knows about the next time? Meanwhile, French's six-episode TV series, "The Lost Kitchen," premiered on Magnolia Network on Jan. 6. "The food was 100% all I dreamed of. Having lived all over the country renovating or building homes, she enjoys the large and small details of making a house a home. When you arrive, that's when you find out what you're eating that night. For something that had the potential to be too rich, it wasn't. Texan in MaineMore, Lot going on with this place that works so hard to make it all look sort of effortless and chummy and yummy and romantic with an overall arent we cool to be here vibe. Best dining experience, too! She even keeps all 70,000 postcards she's ever received in her attic. The world can learn even more about French through "The Lost Kitchen," but the untold facets of her life make her story even more unique. There was a real exploration of matching different taste with each dish; all seven of them. The dishes are beautifully plated, well balanced, and utterly delicious. Delivered Saturdays. All prints are signed on the back. The Lost Kitchen took off, until one day French arrived to find padlocks on the doors, her grandmothers china and every pot and pan locked inside: the Lost Kitchen, lost in a contentious divorce. If you're chosen, someone will call you to arrange a date and time that works for your group (so lookout for a 207 area code!).