ABOUT LANI

My heart kept leading me back to food. After 10 years as an event planner, I had chosen menus for hundreds of meetings and gala events, taste tested hors d'oeuvres for conferences from London to Japan and traveled the country from California to New York. Finally I decided to make a break for it, my lifelong desire to cook for a living.

At first, I considered cooking school but that would delay my urge to get into the kitchen, so I took a job at a popular cafe and bakery in Bronxville, New York. First it was baking muffins and scones then cookies, homemade pies and cakes. Soon it was catering, then managing the operation.

Now what to do? I was on the hunt for a kitchen in Camden, but nothing appeared. One day, while surfing the internet, I came across a market (with a kitchen) for sale.

My husband, Dale, and I packed for a road trip and jumped in the car to go see it. Although it was a little rough around the edges from neglect, I could see this country store as the center of community activity, just waiting for a fresh coat of paint and some new energy. I couldn't wait to get in the kitchen and start baking.

We chose Maine because it is a food lovers paradise. There are fresh produce farmers, fishermen, bread bakers, cheese makers and food artisans making jams, jellies, pastries and confections. There are orchards, dairies and organic farms. This little market was the perfect place to bring all these artisans and farmers together.

This is how my food and wine adventure on the coast of Maine began.

Lani is a regular guest on 207 WCSH NBC Portland, ME and Our Maine Destinations, featured in the Bangor Daily News and a regular columnist for Maine Food & Lifestyle. Lani has also been a guest on Home Matters and The Carol Duvall Show, and the author of several books on cooking and crafts.

See more about News & Events on our blog at www.LanisFoodFinds.com.