Chef Erin French Released New Cookbook

The Lost Kitchen owner shares her latest culinary collection alongside a scheduled speaking tour.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in French Food

Flat opaque gouache-painted illustration of a cast iron skillet with root vegetables on a wooden table, representing seasonal cooking.
Chef Erin French has released her latest cookbook, 'Seize the Supper,' coinciding with a speaking tour event at the State Theatre in Portland. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Erin French has launched her fourth book and third cookbook, titled Seize the Supper. The release coincides with an upcoming speaking event at the State Theatre in Portland.

Why it matters

The cookbook centers on the urgency of seasonal changes and the philosophy of living in the moment. French developed the recipes during the winter months when the workload at her restaurant, The Lost Kitchen, slows down.

The Lost Kitchen in Freedom, Maine, charges a base price of $295 per person for dinner. Tickets for the upcoming speaking engagement at the State Theatre range from $50 to $75.

The players

Erin French

She is the owner of The Lost Kitchen, a renowned restaurant located in Freedom, Maine.

State Theatre

This is a prominent entertainment venue located in Portland that hosts speaking events and performances.

The details

French improvises her menu at The Lost Kitchen based on the immediate availability and freshness of local ingredients. She has also maintained a practice of avoiding all Trip Advisor reviews for the past 10 years.

Timeline

  1. October 11, 2026: Erin French speaking event at the State Theatre at 7 p.m.

Culture Shift

This move follows the documented trend of chef-led boutique restaurant models expanding into multimedia publishing. The release marks a continued transition for restaurateurs from hospitality to lifestyle branding.

Portland residents can purchase tickets for the October 11 event to see French discuss her work in person. The cookbook offers home cooks a way to replicate the seasonal, ingredient-focused style that has defined her Maine restaurant.

The takeaway

French emphasizes that high price points at her establishment are necessary to ensure fair wages for staff and the highest quality ingredients. Her decade-long avoidance of online reviews highlights a focus on creative intuition over public sentiment.

Further reading

Discover more culinary trends and regional expertise on the French Food section of our site.

More information

To purchase tickets for the upcoming speaking event, visit Ticketmaster event ticket sales.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Portland Press Herald.

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