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CHRISTIAN GORDON NAMED 2009 CHEF OF THE YEAR BY THE MAINE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION

AUGUSTA, MAINE (February 24, 2009) - Christian Gordon, executive chef at The Inn on Peaks Island, has been named 2009 Chef of the Year by the Maine Restaurant Association (MeRA). The award will be presented to Gordon at MeRA's Annual Awards Banquet on March 31st at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.

³Our Board of Directors at MeRA is pleased to present Chef Gordon with this prestigious award," said Dick Grotton, President and CEO of the Augusta-based association. ³Receiving the Chef of the Year award is viewed as a hallmark of demonstrated ingenuity in the kitchen. When you combine Christian's track record of over twenty years spent honing his craft, the outstanding creativity shown in his food presentation and his genuine commitment to mentoring others for the betterment of our food industry, Chef Gordon is a great choice to receive this year's award."

Gordon is a Maine native who began his taste for culinary cuisine in the 1980s at Tobie's Drive-in in his hometown of Saco before attending the culinary arts program at SMCC. He has served as executive chef at The Inn on Peaks Island since 2007. Prior to joining the Inn, he was executive chef at Federal Jack's Restaurant and Brew Pub in Kennebunk for ten years. Before coming on board Federal Jack's he was at The White Barn Inn

³We set the bar high at MeRA in terms of our standards of excellence, and Chef Gordon has more than passed the test," Grotton added. ³Both through the Inn on Peaks Island and his enjoyment of working with other culinary talents to raise their capabilities, Chef Gordon's talent and hard work help keep Maine's food scene front and center on the national map."

This award is not something Gordon expected. "This was a complete surprise and I am truly honored. I am thankful to the people who have helped me in my career and to the team of talented people I work with everyday. I couldn't do what I do without the support of everyone in our organization."

Gordon resides in Biddeford with his wife and two children. He is a member of the ACF Piscataqua Chapter and has won numerous awards for his chili, chowder, and desert creations. Throughout his career, he has donated numerous hours of his culinary talents to charitable organizations throughout Maine. In addition to overseeing the restaurant at The Inn on Peaks Island, Gordon also serves as executive chef for special events in the Inn's Bay View Room.

"Chris is a world-class chef who we are very fortunate to have as part of our team," noted Fred Forsley, owner of Federal Jack's and The Inn on Peaks Island. ³I am very happy he has been recognized by his peers as Maine's chef of the year."

The Inn on Peaks Island is situated in the heart of Casco Bay, a short ferry ride from Portland. In 2008, Coastal Living magazine named the Inn one of the world's top ten most romantic island destinations.

For further information about MeRA's March 31st Annual Awards Banquet or the association's April 1st Maine Restaurant & Lodging Expo 2009 visit www.mainerestaurant.com. For more information about The Inn on Peaks Island visit www.innonpeaks.com.

Discover more at:

www.shipyard.com
http://shipyardbrewingcompany.blogspot.com/

Contact:
Tami Kennedy
207-761-0807 x7135
tami@maine.rr.com