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Maine is special. The seasons and the land are harder and more beautiful than anywhere else. So in Maine, people pull together and are welcomed inside to be nourished—especially at our table. 

Jesse Souza

EXECUTIVE CHEF

A New England native, Jesse returns to Maine to join the Lockwood Hotel and Front & Main restaurant after spending the better part of three decades cooking in all four corners of the United States. This journey began as a teen working on the Maine coast, washing dishes and making salads, and quickly led to a cross-country relocation to the San Francisco Bay Area. This was the beginning of a newfound passion for both Regional American Cuisine as well as the culture and camaraderie of a life in hospitality. Jesse eventually joined Noble House Hotels & Resorts and would spend fourteen years with them as executive chef at multiple properties, from Florida to Southern California and ultimately the Pacific Northwest, spending the last six years at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle, Washington.

During a brief relocation back to Maine in 2005, Jesse met his wife-to-be, Shannon, and quite effectively fooled her into saying yes and rambling around this country on a Great Adventure. Together they spend free time with their young daughter, Georgina, and a small (yet unreasonable) zoo of pets. His passions include writing, drawing, cooking, and family.

John Phillips-Sandy

DIRECTOR OF FOOD & BEVERAGE

Originally from Waterville, John is excited to be back in Maine after seventeen years away. Upon completing his music degree at the University of Hartford's Hartt School, John began his career in hospitality and business management, gaining experience in both restaurants and full service hotels. Most recently, John served as Restaurant Manager at Butchers & Bakers in Farmington, Connecticut.

A firm believer in the power of community through great food and drink, John loves to study the broad history of different cuisines, wines & spirits. His days off are usually filled with listening to or playing music, reading, crafting new cocktails and spending as much time as possible with his Golden Retriever, Harper. John is thrilled to have joined the team at the Lockwood Hotel, and looks forward to welcoming guests from near and far to his hometown.