Northern Maine Community College
Headquarters: Presque Isle, Maine
Website: http://www.nmcc.edu/
“While we’re not exactly a Down East restaurant, I’m thrilled to stack my recipe alongside the best of the best,” said Northern Maine Community College Chef Rob Ottaviano, who entered the Down East contest on a whim after he read about it in the magazine’s pages.
“I shared my recipe and explained that it is served on very special occasions at the college,” Ottaviano told NMCC’s Campus News. “Officials at Down East sampled the roll and later informed me that it had been chosen among the semifinalists.”
“I was floored as the only finalist from northern Maine and the only college represented. It’s quite an honor and I hope this event will bring attention to Aroostook, Northern Maine Community College and the wonderful local vendors that supply my ingredients,” Ottaviano told the college.
As part of the competition, Ottaviano will have to prepare as many as 250 lobster roll samples for festival attendees to try and judge. Ottaviano’s recipe incorporates the classic Maine ingredients of locally sourced bread, lobster and butter, with a dash of pure maple syrup to set it apart.
