On the Hammertown website, theres a quote by French: Hammertown makes me feel like Im home. 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 only have the meal in front of you. You could tell immediately she had this impeccable style, French says of Osofsky. We paid $25 for a gorgeous red. It used to be that on April 1 the phone lines would open for the summers reservations, but after the phone lines crashed, French turned to a more old-fashioned system last year: Prospective diners sent in a handwritten postcard, postmarked between the dates of April 1 and April 10, to be considered for a coveted seat at the table. Hotels near (RKD) Knox County Regional Airport. "It's the setting of the table. There was a real exploration of matching different taste with each dish; all seven of them. I also noted that every counter was cluttered, even messy. Something as easily executed as an iceburg salad becomes a piece of art and a joy to eat. For someone with no formal training, you would assume she spent time honing her skills at The French Laundry or Chez Panisse. 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 My favorites were probably the cabbage salad (so mild you'd hardly know it was cabbage), spicy end-of-season gazpacho and to die for apple spice cake. It absolutely is. No turnover. 2. Do not allow the challenging reservation system and high price point deter you from the best dining experience you will ever have, The Lost Kitchen lived up to the hype and somehow exceeded our lofty expectations. Be prepared to spend a good chunk of change, but it is worth the cost. The restaurant will reopen spring 2023! But what's more daunting than the price of your meal may be the wait to even get a seat at the table. 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.More, This place lived up to the hype and that is pretty amazing. During the pandemic, these items, made by Belgian manufacturer Ethnicraft, ended up in one of the cabins, along with two other sets she purchased from Osofsky. She knows her vision and she sticks by it, she says. An Overnight Stay at the Cabins in Freedom, Maine 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. Finding the happiness in well prepared and thoughtful dishes. The series focuses on French, her life, and how she handled surviving the pandemic as a successful chef who had to shutter her restaurant for extended stretches of time. If you run out you can go back to that store and buy more mid meal. Can a vegetarian person get a good meal at this restaurant? Shops, hotels, restaurants and points of interest for the home and garden obsessed on the go. A post shared by Erin French (@thelostkitchen). So, Erin sent us with some coffee and treats to go. Something as easily executed as an iceburg salad becomes a piece of art and a joy to eat. A cat cafis coming to Rotterdam. One with the wineries, one with nature and one with your own imagination. W, Do you follow My French Country Home? Once at the table, guests uncork their selections and begin with several delectable pre-courses to the main menu: a bread and cheese platter, a delicious mini slider, and a palette cleansing herb sorbet . The kitchen crew, all women, act as a cooperative movement, with each bringing their own unique talent to the plate both literally and figuratively. Unless youre one of the lucky few, though, you may never get inside the Lost Kitchen. Also pleased to see the loyalty flowing in both directions. 44m 1/26/2021. Youll be so glad you did. I noted lots of counters and great equipment. Your table seats at 6:00 PM and it's yours for the night. If you are considering sending your postcard next spring, dont hesitate. 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. So a refined production kitchen is by it's very nature, efficient when the whole crew in on the same page, and this one always is. But believe me, there are enough flavors and so much food here that it won't matter if you're not a fan of a particular kind of food. The setting is beautiful and the dining experience rustic but elegant. 3.5 hours passed quickly. And it's truly a balet. She uses amazing, fresh ingredients, and looks for a different twist. If you walked into The Lost Kitchen prior to the pandemic, you could instantly feel French's warmth greet you at the table. And Erin's persona also really elevates the experience.". You only have the meal in front of you. When the pandemic hit, French had to close up shop, but that didn't stop her. For these two women restaurant chef-owner French and Joan Osofsky, owner and founder of Hammertown the partnership is proving to be a perfect creative pairing, local or not. You can feel the love and joy in all they do and its underpriced at $200 pp. Sign up below to receive updates. You know what? Want to stay connected? "They put themselves into each one. Start here for sourcing and advice. It's helmed by a self-taught chef, Erin French, a Freedom native who spent her teenage years working at the local diner. But now, her restaurant is sought after by people all over the world, and she has her own show on the Magnolia Network. "I love caring for people," French told People. Also pleased to see the loyalty flowing in both directions. She was also readily available at the end of the night for a chat if you so desire. Best Restaraunt we've ever eaten in!!! TV-G. Never miss a fabulous garden or ideas on how to design your own. We have dined with the Lost Kitchen family a few times in the past, and feel we got the luck of the draw to have been seated at the table at the end of the cooking line, with a full exposition of what is taking place on the line. There is no other way to describe it. 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. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. This is the countrys most talked-about restaurant, but youll need to get a little lostand mail a love letterto find it. "You can't throw them away," she said. "I was hoarding them, trying to get multiple prescriptions from one doctor or another because it was the only thing that made me feel okay," French said. this one" . This was worth every penny.More, I first learned of TLK the summer of last year, and immediately put it on my bucket list. this being its sixth season), the overall experience was positive. ", Once you've secured a reservation, you're in for a treat. To have someone who has been through divorce and started a business from scratch what she does spoke to me.. Click the "Lost your password" link and follow directions. A single seating each night. But the prices may surprise you. As she grew up, she took on greater roles at the restaurant, including washing dishes and cooking breakfasts. You bet! Delivered Fridays. I can call her anytime for advice. 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. How is the food, you're wondering? This probably doesn't tell tell you what you want to know about the food, but the food is only part of why you might want to go there. 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. We had the table for the evening and it was indeed a night out. The buzz around this place generated by the unique presentation and operating style and the good old fashioned NYT review has not corrupted the actual experience; good for them. 3.5 hours passed quickly. Erin converts the outdoor dining cabins into sleeping cottages for guests. She was a stalward member of the crew that helped creat the Lost Kitchen mystique. "My whole childhood is filled with memories there," French said. Spectacular place to call home if only for a weekend getaway. French cooks the multi-course meals on the spot, in the open kitchen, with no menu in mind, drawing only from whats available that day, recipes learned from her mother and grandmother, and the simple flavors of Maine. place at the table, but in the past two years, they have instituted a mail in lottery for seats, with very specific guidlines. "My friend will text me a photo of a cauliflower in her field, and I'll say, 'Bring me 12 of those.'". Make the most of that time. and experience that completely delivered - we left feeling that we got what we paid for and more. All Rights Reserved. When you arrive, that's when you find out what you're eating that night. There was a real exploration of matching different taste with each dish; all seven of them. She keeps them all in her attic. The Lost Kitchen is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travelers: Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant? You couldn't ask for a better subject than French. My favorite dish of the night was a green garlic spring allium soup with smoked ricotta and Maine crab. Travelers from all over the world gather at The Lost Kitchen to enjoy Erin's locally inspired and sourced menu. If you run out you can go back to that store and buy more mid meal. She receives more than 20,000 cards a year, making it one of the hardest-to-book restaurants in the country. You go, Erin and staff. And it's always with a smile, like it's no big thing. to the story that surrounds the owner to the story that surrounds the food and why THIS food is being served on THIS night to the story on how you got the reservation, it can all be a little exhausting. Through the course of the series, French helps set up an online farmers market to support her restaurant, negotiates offering a brand-new lunch service, and ruminates on how to keep bringing joy to diners while dealing with the new reality of dining during a pandemic. Stay current with the latest posts from Remodelista each day in their entirety. I've known others who have become jaded. A fixed-price meal is $195, and that's before drinks or tips. - but thankfully the food lives up to the hype. Annie Diamond is a dedicated and continuously inspiring blogger with 12+ years of experience sharing ideas on creating a meaningful and collected home with the things you love. 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 3. Those chosen will be called to book their reservation. According to People, French received Xanax and Ambien prescriptions from doctors to help reduce the effects of depression and anxiety. You'll need to follow the directions carefully as your card needs to be postmarked before the date indicated. Trust us, yes it is worth it. Erin French's Restaurant The Lost Kitchen Is Accepting Postcards for ReservationsAll the Details, Fire-Safety Tips for the Holidays: How to Decorate, Celebrate and Avoid Tragedy, Tabitha Brown Fan Girls Over Patti LaBelle and Reveals the Sign She Gave Her When Her Mom Was Sick, Air Fryers: What They Are and How They Work, Chip and Joanna Gaines' 'Silos Baking Competition' Will Air on Sunday: 'Dream Come True', The 7 Best Nonstick Cookware Sets of 2023, Tested and Reviewed, Erin French and 'the Magic of the 'Lost Kitchen' ' Returns for Season 2 Watch the Trailer, James Corden Banned from Popular NYC Restaurant as Owner Calls Him 'Most Abusive Customer', The 7 Best Pizza Ovens of 2023, Tested and Reviewed, Hot Spots! The dinner consisted of numerous small courses, each subsequent item being better than the last. Rest assured that regardless of what you eat at The Lost Kitchen, it's always fresh. How much does it cost to eat at The Lost Kitchen? Clearly, this is not at all hard to believe, given the low turnover in the crew, and they years of working together, sharing a common goal and values. Watching everyone have that experience is my greatest joy." Join our email list to stay updated on all things Maine; food & drink, events & festivals, home & garden and much more! Make the most of that time. She lit up the room.. Every dish was carefully crafted with such beautiful attention to detail. Miraculously, she never forgets my wife's quirky dietary restrictions, and presents her with a slightly modified meal to accomodate, and it's always as good, and some times better than the one she's serving to everyone else. Feb 21, 2022 - The beautiful Lost Kitchen Cabins in Freedom, Maine where we jumped at the chance to stay for a night. When clearing the site for construction, maintain fir trees as a barrier along the cold and windier north and west elevations. Can hardly wait for our winter woods dinners in these warm and. In an interview with People, Erin said that no two nights are the same. Shes someone who believed in me, who said, This girl is going places, says French. 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. Maine the way life should be Make no mistke, Erin is a strong production chef as well a creative master. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The definitive guide to stylish outdoor spaces, with garden tours, hardscape help, plant primers, and daily design news. Erin and her staff go above and beyond, the entire time. A Wednesday round-up of our favorite new products for the home. Twice-a-week notices of our latest tips and inspiration to improve your home organization and storage strategies. Unfortunately I was too busy enjoying the courses to take photos, but I do have to say it was the first time ever I liked oysters! All the creativity and fresh local ingredients taken together, cannot in themselves be more valuable to the total experience than the mutual respect, regard, and affection this great crew of striving young women, working in harmony and in tendem. French sought help in 2013 and checked herself into a rehabilitation facility. The Lost Cabin Erin French's 160-square-foot, multipurpose huts in the woods are one good thing to come from Covid. Dutton serves as executive producer of Frenchs television show. "We were really in danger of losing the restaurant," says. No worries, we will email you reset instructions! I noted lots of counters and great equipment. Its an unlikely success story, but a wild success it is: In the four years its been open, French has written a cookbook,The Lost Kitchen: Recipes and a Good Life Found in Freedom, Maine. I dont think anything can truly do it justice. 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.