“But that was really my dream. I wanted a tasting menu and to highlight the seafood. And to go forage this property and use the moss and the wild cranberries and the ocean. I mean, the ocean is literally in my backyard here, and I wanted to bring that to the plate.”
We’re in great company with Devin Finigan of Aragosta at Goose Cove. As an acclaimed chef and proprietor, a proud mother and community activist, Devin curates the best of Maine’s bounty through her creative palate for food and hospitality.
Having traveled the world learning from some of the best chefs, Devin was inspired to make Maine her home, committing to the community of fishermen and farmers who source local ingredients from the island and the ocean around it. Since 2019, she has restored Goose Cove with its 21 acres of lush greenery and rocky coasts, to house a heavenly seasonal restaurant with cozy vintage cottages for guests to have a taste of her own “chef’s dream.”
In this episode, Devin shares all of the senses that can be found on Deer Isle, Maine from the mossy forest floor to the salty sea air, from the wildflowers gracing her dishes to the cracking of the wood fired stoves, and what makes those memories so meaningful for her family and her guests alike
Top Takeaways
[1:30] Devin paints a picturesque memory of growing up in the mountains of Vermont, working in her father’s restaurants, gardening and milking the cow with her mother, enjoying homemade ice cream, butter, and maple syrup with her three sisters.
[3:40] Without a formal culinary education, Devin shadowed in Michelin starred kitchens around the world, from Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry, Dan Barber’s Blue Hill at Stone Barns, and Kyle Connaughton’s SingleThread Farms where she learned to “highlight the ingredient as it is.”
[7:45] With its original location on Main Street in Stonington, Devin set out to create beautiful dishes “from the heart,” with a feminine touch of course.
[13:25] After deciding to relocate her growing family to restore an old restaurant and cottages along the forested coastline of Goose Cove, Devin’s young daughters are learning their way around her culinary world as “momma’s helpers.”
[15:20] Fishing is the way of life in Deer Isle, and Devin thought what better way to highlight the prized catch of the town, than by naming her restaurant “Lobster” in Italian.
[23:50] Overnight and dinner guests alike can dine in good company with Chef Devin’s multi-course tasting menu that is no fuss, no frills, just fun.
[30:30] Guests can “live a chef’s dream” by supporting local fishers and farmers, from scallops and oysters to carrots and mesclun.
[36:15] From farming her own oysters to harvesting honey from her beehives, from private dining greenhouses to a craft cocktail beach bar, from collaborations with other local female chefs to restaurants around the world, Devin continues to build upon her island destination.
Visit For Yourself
Notable Mentions
- Maca de Castro in Mallorca, Spain
- Le Labo Fragrances
- 44 North Coffee
- Clé Tile
- Stonington Farmers Market
- Harbor Cafe in Stonington, Maine
- PenBay Farmed Scallops
- Four Season Farm
- Fine Line Farm
- Long Cove Sea Farm
- Verjus in Paris, France
- Table by Bruno Verjus in Paris, France
- Crown Jewel in Portland, Maine
