Executive Chef John Shaw was born and raised in Maine. A graduate of the New England Culinary Institute, John began his career at the Kennebunkport Inn as an intern, rotating through a variety of positions before assuming the Sous Chef position and then becoming Executive Chef.

During his career, John has worked at some of the region’s most renowned establishments, including Windows on the Water in Kennebunkport and The Old England Inn in Stowe. He has appeared at the James Beard House in New York City and on both the Fretz Kitchen and Kitchen Chef cooking series.

John brings his wealth of experience and creative talent to the culinary team here at the inn. His menus take advantage of regional and seasonal changes to best capture the natural flavors of his local ingredients.

“As a native Mainer, my goal is to expose customers to the amazing array of foods from the region,” John says. “Everyone knows that Maine has the best lobster on the planet, but most people don’t realize that we also produce some of the world’s best vegetables, fruits, meats and wines right here. As I develop my menus I’m always thinking about the best way showcase the intrinsic flavors of those native ingredients, then enhancing them with unexpected spices or side dishes that complement those great flavors.”