Kennebunk, Maine's Windows On The Water To Offer Special Fall Events

John Hughes, Chef and Owner of Kennebunk's acclaimed Windows on the Water, today announced an upcoming special Cooking Class Dinner, as well as emerging plans for the Community Harvest Thanksgiving Day Dinner. Over 200 guests are expected to be welcomed at this year's Thanksgiving dinner event, to be prepared and delivered by Hughes, his restaurant staff, and a growing number of enthusiastic volunteers from throughout the state of Maine.

"We're excited to offer at Windows on the Water culinary events like our Cooking Class Dinners that really appeal to novice and experienced cooks alike," said Hughes. The restaurant will be offering a four-course Cooking Class Dinner on Wednesday, November 15th at 6:00 pm. At the upcoming event, part of the restaurant's popular cooking class series, guests will enjoy a multi-course demonstration and meal with Hughes, as well as informal "Q&A" time with the chef on prep skills, techniques used, and ingredients. Guests at the November 15th Cooking Class Dinner also will be offered select wines to be paired with each course, as well as detailed recipes for each course prepared. Interested parties should call 207/967-3313 to reserve their slots.

Additionally, the Sixth Annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner will be assembled and run by volunteers of Community Harvest, the 501(c)3 charity organization co-founded by Hughes and his colleague, Donna Marinaro, in 1999. "The goal of our Thanksgiving Day events each year has been not only to offer food to the underprivileged in our community, but to offer real companionship as well," Hughes noted. "We believe that's a good reflection of what Thanksgiving Day is all about. We've grown to having nearly 50 committed volunteers from throughout Maine donate their time and talent at Community Harvest, and we're all proud to be a part of this effort.

"My original vision was that we would be able to serve people of all ages at this annual event, and we hope we continue to reach that goal," he added. "In addition to serving guests this year at St. Martha's Catholic Church in Kennebunk, we'll also again be delivering meals to individuals at home. We like to think this part of our outreach fills a needed role in the community, however modest, since Thanksgiving is a day on which Meals on Wheels doesn't deliver dinners."

Hughes has several other projects underway, as well. In addition to planning for upcoming special holiday events at Windows on the Water, the Kennebunk chef has introduced his new fall menu, and soon will be launching a new Web site for the restaurant.

Hughes, who began his culinary training at age fifteen, has earned two decades' worth of regional and national acclaim for his creative, high-energy, seasonal New American Cuisine. Recognized as one of New England's foremost chefs, Hughes continues to be widely praised by patrons and press alike for his pioneering efforts in serving cross-cultural, organic and sustainable cuisine, and is singled out for his ongoing commitment to community service.

"I repeatedly tell my staff that we're only as good as the next plate we serve," Hughes said. "I think that even though we have over 22 years of success with Windows on the Water to our credit, we should always be asking: 'What can we do today that's different from yesterday - that makes the dining experience fresh, exciting and innovative?' That's been an effective formula for us. Our ingredients have changed through the years, but the principle has not."

About John Hughes:
A favorite dining destination among Maine residents and visitors for over two decades, Kennebunk's renowned Windows on the Water restaurant continues to "wow" patrons and food press alike with Chef and Owner John Hughes's innovative New American Cu