A TIME LINE; 20 YEARS OF MEMORABLE ARROWS EVENTS

1988   
Arrows opens its doors on April 15th.
Gene Burns of WRKO Boston heralds Arrows as a great new restaurant that will change the New England dining scene.
Robert Levey critic for the "Boston Globe" gives Arrows a glowing review.
"The Portland Press Herald" gives Arrows one of its finest reviews ever.

1989   
"The Boston Globe" gives Arrows an unprecedented second outstanding review.

1991   
Julia Child visits Arrows for the first time.
Lucia Velasco Evans starts as pastry assistant.

1992   
Arrows garden is founded with the help of Head Gardener, Robin Barnard.  Expansions follow every year for 5 years include the building of the greenhouse and increasing by ¼ of an acre a year to a now total of an around an acre.
Mark and Clark first cook as guest chefs at the James Beard House in New York City.

1993   
Mark and Clark travel to South East Asia to have celadon and laquer ware made for the restaurant.  Italian crystal and silver are also purchased for the dining room.
Vance Frasier creates new furniture for the Arrows dining room.

1994   
Mark and Clark cook a legendary "1945" dinner for Gene Burns in his home in New York City.

1995   
The new dining room chairs are custom crafted by local craftsman, James Taylor.
Lucia becomes Arrows Pastry Chef and wins a James Beard Award as Best Pastry Chef in the Northeast.

1996   
The greenhouse is built and raised beds and row covers are added to the garden.
Marsha MacDonald, Master Gardener, takes the reins of the garden as well as becomes a waitress.

1997   
Phase one of the kitchen remodeling;  The grill and sauté stations get a makeover and the kitchen get's windows!
Sarah Davis starts in the kitchen as a line/rounds cook. 

1998   
Arrows is the restaurant of the month in "Bon Appetit".
Justin Walker starts in the kitchen on his externship from New England Culinary School as a line/rounds cook.

1999   
Arrows is recognized by Wine Spectator with the "Award of Excellence" (1999 - 2004).
Justin Walker becomes night time Sous Chef and Sarah Davis become daytime Sous Chef.

2000   
Arrows is named in the "10 most romantic restaurants in the country" by Bon Appetit.
Arrows receives a glowing feature review in "Gourmet".
Danielle Johnson starts as a waitress.

2001   
Arrows is named 26th in "America's Best 50 Restaurants" by Gourmet Magazine.
Mark and Clark cook for the James Beard Journalism Awards.
Norman Dufour starts as a waiter.

2002   
Mark, Clark and Justin cook for the James Beard Gala Awards.
Mark, Clark, Justin and Danielle first cook at the Master's of Food and Wine.
Phase two of the kitchen remodeling;  The cold salad and dessert station get's a makeover, including a new dish station.  The remodeling is completed.  Custom made refrigeration is installed throughout the kitchen and a beautiful Italian porcelain floor is installed.
Danielle Johnson becomes Sommelier and Dining room manager.

2003   
The Arrows Cookbook, Cooking and Gardening from Maine's most beautiful farmhouse restaurant, is published
Mark and Clark become regular contributors on the NBC Today Show.
Mark and Clark are acclaimed as "Home town heroes" by "Bon Appetit".
Virtually every major Food and shelter magazine writes about Arrows.
Justin Walker becomes Chef de Cuisine.
Sarah Davis Patch leaves kitchen and becomes person of many hats; including personal assistant/internal marketing.
Janice Blanchard starts as receptionist.

2004   
Mark and Clark are nominated for the first time by the James Beard Foundation as Best Chefs in the Northeast.
MC Perkins Cove opens!
Arrows is recognized by Wine Spectator with the "Best of  Award of Excellence" (2004-2007).
MC is featured as the "Bon Appetit" "Hot Spot".
Norman Dufour chosen as manager of  MC Perkins Cove.
Janice Blanchard becomes Executive Assistant to Mark and Clark.

2005   
Mark and Clark design and have created uniforms unique to Arrows.
Arrows is featured at Rockefeller Center's Meals on Wheels and while there Mark and Clark win the "Today Show's Chefs competition".
New smokehouse and outdoor barbeque are built.
East Meets West becomes a culinary foodie event attended by thousands, including Maine's Governor and first Lady (2005-2007).
Mark and Clark are nominated by the James Beard Foundation as Best Chefs in the Northeast.
Danielle Johnson Walker adds Wedding Coordinator to her duties.

2006   
Arrows is moved up to 14 in "America's Best 50 Restaurants by "Gourmet" magazine.
Mark and Clark are nominated by the James Beard Foundation as Best Chefs in the Northeast.

2007   
Summer Winter Opens!
Mark and Clark are nominated by the James Beard Foundation as Best Chefs in the Northeast.
The Arrows lounge is completely redecorated.
MC is picked by USA Today as one of the "Top ten places in the world with a view".

2008   
Mark and Clark are nominated by the James Beard Foundation as Best Chefs in the Northeast.

 

 

"How improbable and how splendid... a world class destination restaurant on a country road in Maine!  I still remember that first dish the week Arrows opened, house cured prosciutto and impeccably grilled vegetables.  Now twenty years and literally hundreds of fantastic dishes later, I ponder how fortunate I have been to join Clark and Mark on this incredible and delicious journey."
Gene Burns
Host of Dining Around
KGO Radio,  San Francisco