If you’ve been Down East to Rockland, Maine, you’ve probably met Kerry Altiero.

Kerry is chef and owner of Café Miranda and author of the cookbook “Adventures in Comfort Food.” He was named the 2015 Down East Magazine Maine Chef of the Year, winner of the Maine Lobster Council Lobster Chef of the Year and Harvest on the Harbor Top of the Crop – Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant. He was recently named Hospitality Maine’s 2019 Chef of the Year.

He also works with a number of community organizations focusing on kids, food security, homelessness, and addiction and recovery. Chef Altiero and Café Miranda are local to the core and practice sustainability. Café Miranda has been recognized as an Environmental Leader by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Raised in the Coal mining region in eastern central PA he enjoyed the food centric Italian American and middle European Lithuanian & Polish home cooking of his family. This spawned a love of flavor & the commonalities of these vastly differing Cuisines. Foregoing post high school education, Kerry began a semi successful racing career. Paralleling the racing, Kerry took a job at one of the premier Motorbike dealers in eastern PA. Allenton Suzuki, Montesa, Maico & Husqvarna in Allentown PA. Starting in the back of the dealership as an apprentice tech, later to being an integral  part of that superb team. Moving to parts & accessories he established a reputation for service and the latest in cool motocross gear & accessories. Realizing that there is a lifespan to being a racer, he pursued a job in Hospitality. Same sort of controlled chaos, cool machinery & adrenalin enticingly similar to racing made a match for the next many years.,

Chef Kerry’s Culinary career has spanned several decades in Hospitality . In the 80’s learning the ropes in local spots, then moving and working in Cape May NL. South Jersey, then a hotspot for innovative New American  cooking, was the ideal jumping off spot . In the late 80’s a move to Maine to take a head Chef position at The East Wind Inn all the while looking to open a then dream, Cafe Miranda. Chef and his then partner founded Cafe Miranda in Rockland Maine in June of 1993. Cafe M  is often mentioned as a catalyst for the Rockland Renaissance and a true pioneering entity in the State O Maine. Wood fired oven, open kitchen, Farm to table  ethos ( Chef has owned Headacre Farm in Owls Head since 2000) and a massive multi ethnic menu with a broad demographic appeal equaled success. Known for and a fun & eclectic atmosphere, that was comfortable to newborns, Seniors and everything in between. Rave reviews from day one and for decades cemented Chef Kerry & Cafe Miranda as a fixtures in the State’s culinary landscape. 

Cafe & Chef Kerry are Known for community service targeting food insecurity, education, addiction & recovery and homelessness in Knox County. Chef continues his community service creating fundraisers using Cafe Miranda  post our closing in June of 22. Additionally Chef has been working behind the scenes consulting and to improve career opportunities in the post pandemic new world of employees and business.

Born: Buffalo NY  1956

Raised in Shenandoah, 462. , Schuylkill County “ The Coal Region” of Eastern Central Pennsylvania.

Cookbook: Best Comfort Food On The Planet.

Education: Annunciation BVM Primary School.

 Cardinal Brennan High School Class of 1973.

Random College courses.

Husquvarna & Montesa Factory Tech seminars. 

Lucerne Co. PA Community College Culinary ( 5 months, did not complete).

Work History:

Charlie’s Exxon Shepton Pa. 1970-72. Pump Jockey, oil changer. Young petrol head job.

Motocross Motorbike racer 74-78

Allentown Suzuki 74-78. Tech for Suzuki, Husqvarna, Montesa & Maico motorbikes.

    Parts & accessory manager 76-78.

SOHO Bistro, Pottsville PA. 81ish.

Bob & Dick Belinskiy’s Crossroads Hotel, crabcake house, salad bar and golf center 81ish.

Sous Chef The Swallows Cape May NJ.

 Sous Chef  The BayBerry in Congress Hall. Cape May stint- 82-88.

Pastry Chef & Roundsman Chef at the Top Of The Marq at the Marquis De Lafayette & 

   Colonial Hotels, Cape May stint  in the 80’s.

Head Chef The Eastwind Inn, Tenants Harbor Maine 89-92.

Founder-Chef Cafe Miranda, Rockland Maine 93- till???

Cooking for Community 20-21 making over 8,000 Miranda quality meals during the plague for AIO food pantry, OUT & other organizations in Knox County.

Awards:

Maine Lobster Chef Of The Year

Top Of The Crop Best Farm to Table Restaurant, Harvest on the Harbor 

DownEast Magazine Chef of the Year

Hospitality Maine ( Rest & Hotel  professional association) Chef of the Year

Penobscot Bay Chamber of Commerce I don’t remember award

Penobscot bay Community Person Of The Year 

Certificates and other commendations:

Multiple winners in the Pen Bay Pilot “Best Of” in several categories.

Strive Re-entry program for prison inmates award of excellence.

Senator Angus King certificate ( is that the correct word?) acknowledging Cafe Miranda and Kerry for being a pioneering influence in The Rockland Renaissance.. 

Charitable work:

 Since 1993 Cafe Miranda has been in the mix of charitable work in Knox Co. 

Food insecurity, Homelessness & addiction & recovery have been constant themes . 

Knox Co. Homeless Coalition

AIO Food Pantry

Come Spring Food Pantry 

Knox Co. Gleaners

Mid Coast Recovery Coalition 

Current:

Consulting for foodservice/ hospitality companies. Menu. procedure, equipment, hiring etc.

Kennebec Vally Com. College: occasional wood fired cooking classes.

Food & Petrol blog.

Cafe Miranda  event space coordinator.

The Excellent Dog, A new wave hotdog cart.

Vespa Jubilee, an adult &  soft beverage, espresso & gelato dispenser.

Used equipment  buy & sell.

Public speaking on various topics.