Get your votes in now for Maine’s Hottest Chef

Sometimes, you can judge a book by its cover, or, in this case, a dish by its looks. That’s what Eater Maine, one of many regional food blogs hosted by the Curbed Network, is asking Maine eaters to do with its annual Hottest Chef Competition. Not the best chef, not the most creative chef, no, none of that – just the best looking, most attractive chef in Maine. The picture to the left is not a Maine chef, but it is Eric Ripert, who is a pretty sexy chef in his own right (at least I think so; isn’t he dreamy?).

Voting is open until Monday, Feb. 11; to make your nomination, send an email to maine@eater.com with your pick for the sexiest chef in Maine. I’m keeping my nomination secret, though I’ll give you a hint: my pick is a chef in Maine’s midcoast.

Eater Maine also has a yearly set of awards based on actual culinary prowess, not just physical beauty. The 2013 Eater Awards for Maine were announced last November, and the winners were Carmen at the Danforth in Portland for Restaurant of the Year; Cara Stadler at Tao in Brunswick for Chef of the Year; Eventide Oyster Company in Portland for the “So Hot Right Now” award; Guy Streitburger from Gingko Blue in Portland for Bartender of the Year; and the “Stone Cold Stunner” award for best designed restaurant went to Grace in Portland. An honorary award for Empire Building went to Mike Keon and Anthony Allen of Otto Pizza, for their two wildly popular pizza joints in Portland.

Emily Burnham

About Emily Burnham

Emily Burnham is a Maine native, UMaine graduate, proud Bangorian and a writer for the Bangor Daily News, where she's worked since 2004. She reports on everything from local bands to local food to all the cool things going on in the Greater Bangor area. In her quest for stories, she's seen countless concerts and plays, been lobster fishing, interviewed celebrities, hung out with water buffalo and played in a ukulele orchestra. She's interested in everything that happens in Maine.