Natalie’s chef Deconinck in running for Best New Chef

Geoffroy Deconinck, chef at Natalie’s restaurant at the Camden Harbour Inn, has been nominated a second time for “The People’s Choice Best New Chef” by Food & Wine.

Deconinck worked at Cafe Boulud, Daniel and Bouley in New York City, and at Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee in Paris before moving to Maine.

The magazine named Natalie’s salad with house-cured duck prosciutto as the chef’s “must-try dish,” and lauded Deconinck for using “his traditional Belgian pedigree to modernize French food.”

Amanda Hallowell of Nebo Lodge in North Haven also received a nomination this year. The magazine said Hallowell is “serving exceptional farm-to-table food even in Maine’s ultrashort growing season.”

Her “must-try dish?” Roasted Atlantic cod with tomatoes, green olives and haricots verts.

To vote for either Deconinck or Hallowell, go to foodandwine.com/peoples-best-new-chef/new-england.

Shucks Maine Lobster contest Sunday in Boston

The Boston round of the first annual Shucks Maine Lobster World Series will be held Sunday at the International Boston Seafood Show.

The contest is one of three being held around the world that will culminate in a face-off with a hometown champion in Maine this fall. The winner will receive the First Prize Golden Buoy and a check for $5,000.

On Sunday, four chefs will use fresh Shucks Whole Shucked Maine Lobster to impress the judges with the dishes they make in an exhibition kitchen at Booth 2353 at the Visitors and Convention Center.

The chefs who will be competing are Chris Gould, sashimi chef at Uni in Boston; Pascal Sauton of Milwaukie Kitchen in Portland, Ore.; David MacLennan of Latitude 41 in Columbus, Ohio; and David Quintana, chef at Kobe’s Kreations in Charlotte, N.C. The competition begins at 10 a.m., with a winner crowned at 3:45 p.m.

Another round was held in Hong Kong in September, and there will be a European round in May.

The judges for the Boston competition will be Carolyn Faye Fox, columnist for The Improper Bostonian’s “Dish” column and a regular panelist on NPR’s “Says You”; Jean Kerr, editor-in-chief of Northeast Flavor magazine; and William McAdoo, editor and publisher of the blog The Boston Foodie.

Shucks Maine Lobster is a Richmond-based company that shucks lobster using high-pressure water that loosens the raw meat in the shell.

Chefs like it because it retains its shape, flavor and texture better than traditionally prepared lobster that must be shipped live or frozen. 

Restaurant association names Turin chef of year

David Turin, chef/owner of David’s in Monument Square and David’s 388 in South Portland, has been named Chef of the Year by the Maine Restaurant Association.

Jules Patry of DaVinci’s Restaurant in Lewiston has been named Restaurateur of the Year, and Curt Parent of Cook’s Lobster House on Bailey Island will receive the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award recipients are selected by the restaurant association’s board from nominations made by its members statewide.

The awards will be presented on April 3 during the association’s annual awards banquet at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland. The banquet begins at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

For information or to reserve tickets, call 623-2178 or go to mainerestaurant.com.

KENNEBUNK

Academe’s O’Hea to appear on episode of “Chopped”

Shanna O’Hea, chef at Academe, the restaurant at the Kennebunk Inn, will be on an episode of the Food Network show “Chopped” at 10 p.m. Tuesday.

The show revolves around four chefs who are given mystery baskets of ingredients from which they must cook something special for the judges in the form of an appetizer, entree and dessert. A chef is “chopped” at the end of each course, until a winner is left standing.

O’Hea’s episode, “Plenty of Fish,” features mystery baskets filled with ingredients such as an Indian gourd, lutefisk and, for dessert, Chinese sausage and baby eggplant.

O’Hea is one of several Maine chefs who auditioned for the show last winter. Rob Evans, the chef/owner of Hugo’s in Portland, won the show’s $10,000 prize in an episode that aired in October.

O’Hea’s episode will repeat at 1 a.m. March 14 and at 9 p.m. March 22.

PORTLAND

Boutique winery owner to guest at Bar Lola dinner

Bar Lola, 100 Congress St., is having a spring wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. March 27.

The dinner will feature wines from award-winning wine maker Victor Abascal, owner of the California boutique winery Vines on the Marycrest in Paso Robles. The winery produces Paso Robles Zinfandel and Rhone blends. Its 2009 vintage of My Generation and limited-release 2009 Syrah just received gold medals at the 2012 San Francisco Wine Competition.

The dinner costs $75 per person, which includes a five-course meal, wine pairings, tax and gratuity. Call 775-5652 for reservations, or reserve online at barlola.net.

New bagel maker to launch when fund goal is reached

There are new bagel makers in town.

Five artisan bakers led by Paul Farrell of Portland are launching a new bakery called the Union Bagel Co. It will operate as a wholesale business out of the community kitchen in the Portland Public Market House in Monument Square.

The bakers are raising the $7,500 capital they need to start the business on kickstarter.com, and have already raised 64 percent of the funds.

The group has posted video and photos of their bagels, which are made with organic flour, at unionbagelco.com.

Cheese cracking is now a wine event, not beer tasting

There’s been a change of plans for the cracking of the wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano at Whole Foods Market on Saturday.

The event still begins at 2 p.m., with the actual cracking of the wheel taking place at 3 p.m. But instead of a beer tasting, the cracking will be followed by a tasting of Italian wines that go well with Parmigiano Reggiano. The wine tasting will run from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. There will also be a sampling featuring Parmigiano Reggiano in every department.

Whole Foods Market is located at 2 Somerset St.

Van available for Camden Gourmet Adventure diners

Portlanders traveling to the Camden Gourmet Adventure on Thursday night, one of the major events of Maine Restaurant Week, have the option of sharing a van that will leave Portland at 3:30 p.m. and return at midnight.

The Camden Gourmet Adventure will feature two courses at two different restaurants and conclude with an after-party at Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville with dessert and dancing. The dinner and party cost $79.

The ride-sharing costs an extra $55 per person, round trip. Call gBritt PR at 775-2126 to reserve a spot.

Two Fat Cats’ new owners to keep name, products

Two Fat Cats, the popular Portland bakery at 47 India St., is now officially under new ownership, and will be closed Monday for some renovations.

Stacy Begin and Matthew Holbrook of Blackbird Baking Company of Maine in South Portland are the new owners. They say they plan to keep the bakery’s name and signature products.

The bakery began selling some new items Monday, launching a month-long celebration of maple syrup. Maple scones, maple-frosted cinnamon rolls, tarte au sucre (a traditional sugar pie sweetened with maple syrup) and a maple spice cupcake have been added to the menu.

WATERVILLE

Cooks invited to enter whoopie pie competition

Spectrum Generations Muskie Center will hold its Second Annual Best Whoopie Pie competition March 29 at 38 Gold St.

Judges will include Amy Bouchard of Isamax Snacks and Amos Orcutt, president of the Maine Whoopie Pie Association.

Want to compete? Bring in three whoopie pies between 7:30 and 11 a.m. Judging will begin at 11 a.m.

Bakers do not have to be present to win. Prizes will be go to best traditional and most unique whoopie pie.

There is a $5 entry fee, with proceeds benefiting the Muskie Center. For more information or to sign up, call 873-4745.