Chef Steve Corry of Portland's Five Fifty-Five
Restaurant named to
Food & Wine's of “Top 10 Best
New Chefs"
Portland,
ME - Chef Steve Corry
of Portland, Maine's acclaimed Five
Fifty-Five Restaurant has earned
a slot on Food & Wine's prestigious
2007 list of Best New Chefs. The annual
recognition of talented, "up-and-coming"
chefs by Food & Wine is widely considered
to be a distinguished achievement in culinary
circles. The announcement of Corry's recognition,
made at an April 4th gathering held at
Manhattan's 7 World Trade Center, came
as additional good news for Portland,
in terms of the Maine city's increasingly
prominent role in the nation's culinary
scene.
In being selected for the annual Best
New Chefs list, Corry joins the ranks
of well-known chefs who also have earned
the distinction in previous years, among
them Thomas Keller, Gary Danko, Suzanne
Goin and Todd English.
"When I learned that I had been selected
by Food & Wine as one of their Best
New Chefs choices, it obviously came as
great news," said Corry. "While
it's a bit intimidating to be keeping
company with such talented chefs who have
made it onto the magazine's list through
the years, we all also genuinely take
it as a great compliment. Our whole team
at Five Fifty-Five - both our kitchen
staff and front-of-house team - really
appreciates having received this recognition."
Corry's cuisine, described as "California-influenced
American," marries fresh, local,
seasonal ingredients prepared simply with
a Mediterranean flair. Known as much for
its innovative menus and award-winning
wine list as for its seamless service
and inviting ambiance, the fine-dining
establishment continues to earn raves
from food press, locals and visitors to
Maine alike. Since the July 2003 launch
of Five Fifty-Five by Corry and his wife,
Michelle (555's General Manager and Wine
Director), the duo have served countless
capacity crowds at both their dinner and
brunch services.
Chef Corry brings a wealth of food and
beverage experience to the table at Five
Fifty-Five. After achieving a brewing
certificate from the American Brewers
Guild, he was hired as an assistant brewer
at the San Francisco Brewing Company.
Within two years, Corry was tapped by
California's Mammoth Lakes Brewing Company
to serve as the company's head brewer.
The culinary world soon beckoned, however,
and Corry next went on to graduate with
distinction from the esteemed New England
Culinary Institute in Burlington, Vermont.
Upon his return to California, the young
chef gained several years of experience
working in the kitchens of such luminaries
as Chef Robert Curry, of the acclaimed
Domaine Chandon in the Napa Valley. Corry
today still views Chef Curry as having
had a great influence on his culinary
growth and development.
After years of hard work, not only at
their own Portland restaurant, but also
at such notable restaurants as Maine's
award-winning White Barn Inn and Arrows,
Michelle Corry expressed great excitement
at receiving the news from Food &
Wine staff about Chef Corry's selection.
"Owning and operating a restaurant
means a lot of work. Being a chef and
choosing the restaurant path means making
some sacrifices, but when we get fantastic
news like learning that Steve had been
named to Food & Wine's annual list,
it's rewarding, to say the least,"
she noted. "All of the long days
and nights that Steve and our whole team
work in the kitchen seem all the more
worthwhile when we learn that patrons
are so enjoying their dining experience
with us at Five Fifty-Five."
For reservations at Five Fifty-Five, phone
(207) 761-0555.