M.C. Union Becomes Union Restaurant as Chefs Mark and Clark Depart

The Press Herald broke the bizarre news last night that M.C. Union, a restaurant named for the renowned chefs in charge — James Beard Award-winning Mark Gaier (M) and Clark Frasier (C) of Arrows fame in Ogunquit — would no longer be a Mark and Clark project. Henceforth the name of the venture, opening within a couple of weeks in the new Press Hotel at 119 Exchange Street in Portland, will be simply Union Restaurant.

Maine native Joshua Berry, chosen by Gaier and Frasier as executive chef, will take charge. Hotel publicist Carla Tracy confirmed for Eater that Berry was "always intended to be at the helm" anyway, as Gaier and Frasier have so many irons in the fire, including Ogunquit restaurant M.C. Perkins Cove and Boston's M.C. Spiedo.

No word yet from either side on what caused the rift, which according to Tracy was "an amicable decision" reached this week, but expect more as this intriguing development unfolds.