Barbara C. Cary is an award-winning restaurateur, chef, caterer and expert gardener. Since early in 2009, she has been the chef/manager of the acclaimed Kitchen Garden Café at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.

 

She has a life-long passion for the culinary arts. Her experience ranges from formal French cuisine to traditional Maine fare, and she has a special interest in creating new dishes featuring Maine's undiscovered food treasures and the freshest organic agricultural products. Her dedication to educating the community on healthful eating and supporting locally owned farms and food merchants has led to strong working relationships with quality Maine food artisans and purveyors and the region’s best restaurateurs.

 

For more than 20 years, Barbara owned and managed an award-winning restaurant and catering company in New Jersey and maintained a kitchen garden for use in the restaurant’s food preparation and floral displays.  Within one year of opening, the restaurant had earned the New York Times’ two-star rating and other high accolades.