Eric Ripert is a big deal with a special relationship here in Maine.

Eric is the executive chef and owner of Le Bernardin in New York City. In 1995, when he was only 29, the restaurant Le Bernardin earned a four-star rating from the New York Times. Twenty years later and for the fifth consecutive time, Le Bernardin again earned the New York Times’ highest rating of four stars. That makes it the only restaurant to maintain this superior status for this length of time, without ever dropping a star. One of the places he gets his fish is here in Portland, Maine at Browne Trading.

Eric Ripert / Facebook
Eric Ripert / Facebook
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He loves working with Rod Browne of Browne Trading and has for over 30 years. He says that Brown Trading is...

...one of our most trusted fish purveyors at Le Bernardin. I’m always amazed by the incredible quality of his seafood. We got a first of the Maine season halibut to bring back to NYC, on the menu tonight…

Eric Ripert / Facebook
Eric Ripert / Facebook
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Chef Eric has won every type of award there is in the restaurant business. He is easily recognized as one of the top chefs in the world. In 1998, the James Beard Foundation named Ripert “Top Chef in New York City” and in 2003, “Outstanding Chef in the United States.” Not bad. You may have even seen him on TV with his show on PBS, 'AVEC ERIC', or on dozens of talk shows. But Maine, that is where he gets some of the freshest seafood that is on his award-winning menu.

 

Eric Ripert / Facebook
Eric Ripert / Facebook
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This trip was on May 2, 2023. If he had just waited a week, he would have been in shorts and a T-shirt. Come back, Eric!

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