Several Maine cookbook writers/chefs were honored at the 3rd annual Readable Feast Awards in Boston on June 21. The awards celebrate New England food and cookbook writers and books with New England food themes.

Erin French, owner and chef at The Lost Kitchen restaurant in Freedom, took home two awards for her first cookbook, “The Lost Kitchen: Recipes and a Good Life Found in Freedom, Maine,” most notably an honorable mention in the category Book of the Year. Her stylish book also won an honorable mention for Aesthetic Achievement.

Barton Seaver of South Freeport won an honorable mention for his book, “American Seafood, Heritage, Culture & Cooking from Sea to Shining Sea.”

Also getting an honorable mention in the Aesthetic Achievement category was South Freeport resident and fish sustainability expert Barton Seaver’s latest book, “American Seafood, Heritage, Culture & Cooking from Sea to Shining Sea.” The judges praised the many fascinating, historical photographs that Seaver tracked down and gave large play in the book, a big encyclopedia-style tome devoted to fish.

Portland resident Vanessa Seder received an honorable mention as well, in the category of Single Subject for her first cookbook, “Secret Sauces.” Judges said while the book was ostensibly about sauces, it also gave readers an extended and well-structured lesson in how to cook.

And Nancy Harmon Jenkins – a Camden resident and nationally known olive oil and Italian cuisine expert – was one of three honorees at the evening gala; she was given the Literary and Culinary Achievement Award. Among her many achievements, Jenkins, an eleventh-generation Mainer, has lectured widely; written seven books and many articles for national publications; and is a founding director of the Boston-based nonprofit Oldways Preservation and Exchange Trust.

The awards evening was held at the TriMark Innovation Center in Boston’s Seaport district and was attended by several of Boston’s culinary luminaries, including Lydia Shire (who cooked for the event), Jody Adams and Jasper White. It honored books that were published in 2017.

(Full disclosure: I was one of 10 judges for the awards.)

Peggy Grodinsky can be contacted at 791-6453 or:

pgrodinsky@pressherald.com

Twitter: @PGrodinsky

Erin French of the Lost Kitchen in Freedom received two awards for “The Lost Kitchen: Recipes and a Good Life Found in Freedom, Maine.”