Page 64 - WCM 2021 Winter

Exceptional Restaurants, Amazing Chefs! Recipes from the Best by Brendan Schauffler
Brendan Schauffler
The Grown-Up Grilled Cheese at Salt & Pepper and Sugar Too is a decadent upgrade on a timeless comfort food.
“After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relatives.”
~ Oscar Wilde
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Behind every great restaurant there are hard-working, talented chefs creat- ing standout recipes; these are the siren songs that call diners back time and again. My experience at each of these establishments was top-notch. I hope you will enjoy getting to know a few of these places and the people behind them, as well as their unique approach to the signature recipes included here, that will allow you to bring some of the magic from their kitchen into yours.
Salt & Pepper And Sugar Too
In an unassuming location along Route 2 in Wilton, Don and Mary Beane are serving up elevated comfort food, and winning fans amongst locals and visitors alike. Mary, a native of nearby Farmington, is the head chef. Her love of cook- ing began in high school when she was fortunate enough to have had a mentor who was a restaurateur in New York City. Don has been in and around the res- taurant business since he was a boy, when his father started a hot dog stand in his hometown of Skowhegan. The couple developed their skills and creativity as the executive chefs and kitchen managers of a resort in central Maine where they worked for many years before making a start on their own.
“The first part of our business plan was to make a great work environment for ourselves and our employees, since we knew we’d be spending so much time here,” Mary shared. They’ve created a relaxed, comfortable place with friendly staff — a fitting setting for comfort food that makes the ordinary extraordi- nary. There’s nothing stuffy on the menu; you’ll find classics like meatloaf, grilled cheese, and a steak bomb. But most everything will surprise you with- out taking you out of your comfort zone. On a recent visit my wife and I tried their “Grown-Up Grilled Cheese,” which changes regularly. Our version had
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Arts, Entertainment, Adventure and More in Western Maine
Eric Dillman