Bar Harbor Inn’s Chef Kiefer Named Chef of the Year by HospitalityMaine

HospitalityMaine has named the Bar Harbor Inn's Executive Chef Louis Kiefer Jr. the Chef of the Year for 2020. HospitalityMaine is the new name of the Maine Innkeepers Association and Maine Restaurants Association that merged in 2018.

Jeremy Dougherty, the General Manager of the Bar Harbor Inn had this to say about Chef Kiefer winning the award

“Chef Lou has long since established himself as one of the hardest working Chef’s in the business.  His dedication to the Reading Room and Terrace Grille restaurants over the last 20 plus years has been nothing short of remarkable.  Each season brings new challenges and the same high intensity, and Chef Lou always has set the tone for the entire season with his professionalism and passion for food.  Chef Lou matches his dedication to the Bar Harbor Inn with his passion for teaching young culinarians the trade and watching them blossom over the course of the season and beyond.  We’re fortunate to have him at the helm of our Food and Beverage program here at the Bar Harbor Inn and proud of him in winning this award.”

Kiefer has been the Executive Chef of the Bar Harbor Inn for 21 years. He is  a graduate of  A.I. Prince Technical Institute and Johnson and Wales University. He is a member of the ACF Northern Maine Chapter.

Chef Kiefer apprenticed under Chef Allen Weigman for 10 years and held many positions in resorts, such as The Belleview Biltmore, The Vanoy, The Albamarle, The Balsams Grand Resort and The Eastland Hotel. Chef Kiefer worked for many years in the Bar Harbor area at properties such as The Asticou Inn, Cranberry Lodge, The Bluenose Inn The High Seas Conference Center and The Claremont Hotel.

Chef Kiefer has published two cookbooks “The Bar Harbor Inn Recipe Collection Volumes 1 and 2”. Chef Kiefer has been published in The New York Times and has participated in media events for CBS, PBS and for local media outlets