Announcing the 2013 Eater Awards for Maine

It is time now—drumroll, trumpets, gongs—to announce the winners of the 2013 Eater Awards. In over a dozen categories in 27 locales, the winners comprise a diverse group of the finest and most interesting chefs, operators, and characters on the continent that have defined this year in dining. We applaud them. You are hereby instructed to applaud them. So, without further ado—actually, a few quick pre-ambling thoughts....

To recap, Eater's local editors in 27 locales nominated candidates for five major local categories: Restaurant of the Year, Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year, So Hot Right Now Restaurant, and Stone Cold Stunner. Eater readers then voted to narrow the field to a final three in each category. From that final three, the Eater editorial team chose the winner. Our Eater National brain trust then got together to decide the national winners for those categories. In addition to these main stage winners, said Eater editorial team has named worthy winners in more specialized categories, for myriad notable achievements.

Nominees and winners alike will be feted at a party tonight in Manhattan. Those winners that couldn't make it should watch their mail for packages containing cans of Italian peeled tomatoes. And now, without further ado, the winners in Maine.

Click through for the full rundown of winners across the country on Eater National.

Eater Awards 2013

Restaurant of the Year
Nominees: Outliers Eatery, Piccolo, The Gothic, Hugo's, Boone's Fish House & Oyster Room
Finalists: Piccolo, The Gothic, Hugo's
Winner: The Gothic

Chef of the Year:
Nominees: Damian Sansonetti, Harding Lee Smith, Melissa Kelly, Brian Hill, Mike Wiley & Andrew Taylor
Finalists: Damian Sansonetti, Harding Lee Smith, Brian Hill
Winner: Damian Sansonetti

So Hot Right Now
Nominees: In'Finiti Fermentation & Distillation, Salvage BBQ, Seabright, Portland Hunt & Alpine Club, Empire Chinese Kitchen
Finalists: Seabright, Portland Hunt & Alpine Club, Empire Chinese Kitchen
Winner: Empire Chinese Kitchen

Bartender of the Year
Nominees: John Myers, Andrew Volk, Seth Knowlton, Henry Jost, Christina Klein
Finalists: Seth Knowlton, Henry Jost, Christina Klein
Winner: Seth Knowlton

Stone Cold Stunner
Nominees: In'Finiti Fermentation & Distillation, David's KPT, The Gothic, Outliers Eatery, 3Crow Restaurant & Bar
Finalists: David's KPT, The Gothic, Outliers Eatery
Winner: Outliers Eatery

Food Truck of the Year
Winner: Small Axe Truck

· All Coverage of Eater Awards [~EMAINE~]