Erin French is continuing to expand her team at The Lost Kitchen, with several seasonal job vacancies remaining available after the restaurant’s 2026 operations got underway in Freedom, Maine.
The acclaimed chef and restaurateur began recruiting ahead of the new season, announcing that The Lost Kitchen was looking for passionate professionals to work across different parts of the business. Now, with summer service already active at the historic mill, the restaurant is still accepting applications for kitchen and customer-facing positions.
The Lost Kitchen’s official website currently carries a prominent “We’re Hiring!” notice and lists openings for a kitchen prep cook, dishwasher and counter server. The continuing recruitment gives qualified applicants a rare opportunity to work alongside French and the close-knit team behind one of Maine’s best-known dining destinations.
The Lost Kitchen Began Hiring Before the Season
French and The Lost Kitchen team first began promoting employment opportunities while preparing for the 2026 season.
In an official social-media announcement, the restaurant said the snow in Maine was beginning to melt and that its next season was approaching. The message explained that every role contributes to the experience The Lost Kitchen creates, whether the employee works in the kitchen, dining room, garden or another part of the property.
At that stage, the restaurant was particularly seeking experienced culinary leadership, including a strong kitchen lead or sous chef.
The early announcement suggested that French was not simply trying to fill ordinary seasonal vacancies. She was looking for people capable of understanding and supporting The Lost Kitchen’s distinctive approach to food, service and hospitality.
However, the latest job listings show that recruitment did not end once the initial preparations were completed.
Hiring Continues While Summer Operations Are Underway
The timing of the current openings is especially noteworthy because The Lost Kitchen is no longer only preparing for summer.
Its official website states that summer has arrived and shows the mill’s seasonal operations running in Freedom. These include Little Lost Kitchen counter service, the retail shop and other ways for guests to visit, eat and spend time around the property.
Little Lost Kitchen offers cold drinks, sandwiches and bakery treats that visitors can enjoy outside in the garden near the mill pond. The shop at the mill is also operating Tuesday through Saturday, while the website warns that guests should expect long waits during the busiest part of the summer.
That broader seasonal activity helps explain why The Lost Kitchen needs employees beyond those working at its famous multi-course dinners. The business now includes casual counter service, takeaway orders, retail operations and the extensive behind-the-scenes preparation required to support them.
The continued recruitment may reflect the demands of these expanding summer operations. Still, The Lost Kitchen has not publicly said that the openings are related to a staffing shortage, unexpected departures or problems retaining employees.
It would therefore be inaccurate to describe the vacancies as evidence of a crisis. What can be confirmed is that French’s team is continuing to recruit during an already active and busy part of the 2026 season.
Kitchen Prep Cook
The first position currently advertised is for a kitchen prep cook.
The role involves supporting the kitchen’s daily preparation and making sure the team is organised before service begins. Responsibilities include washing, cutting and portioning fruits and vegetables, preparing stocks and sauces, helping with protein preparation and accurately measuring ingredients.
The successful applicant will also be expected to label, store and rotate ingredients properly, maintain a clean preparation station, follow sanitation standards and assist the cooking line when required.
Previous kitchen experience and basic knife skills are preferred. The restaurant is looking for someone dependable, organised and comfortable working in a fast-paced professional kitchen.
Applicants must also be able to remain standing for extended periods and lift as much as 40 pounds.
The prep-cook opening is seasonal, with both full-time and part-time availability. The restaurant promises competitive hourly compensation but does not publicly list a specific rate.
Although this is not a senior chef position, it is an important job within The Lost Kitchen’s operation. French’s food is built around seasonal ingredients and detailed preparation, meaning organisation and consistency behind the scenes are essential before the first guest is served.
Dishwasher
The Lost Kitchen is also seeking a part-time seasonal dishwasher.
The restaurant describes its back-of-house operation as a team built on respect, discipline and collaboration. The dishwasher’s responsibility goes beyond cleaning plates after a meal. The employee must help maintain the cleanliness, sanitation and organisation that allow the kitchen to operate smoothly throughout service.
Duties include operating commercial dishwashing equipment and washing, storing and organising plates, glassware, cutlery and cookware. The dishwasher must maintain a constant supply of clean items during busy service periods and keep the dish station, bussing areas and kitchen spaces orderly.
The position also involves handling rubbish and recycling, completing basic cleaning tasks and assisting other kitchen employees when needed.
No previous experience is required, making this the most accessible of the currently advertised roles. Restaurant or kitchen experience would still be considered an advantage.
The ideal applicant should be hardworking, reliable and capable of handling the physical demands of a fast-moving kitchen. Like the prep-cook position, the dishwasher role requires an employee who can stand for long periods and lift up to 40 pounds.
Counter Server
The counter-server vacancy appears closely connected to The Lost Kitchen’s expanded casual food service.
While the main restaurant is famous for its intimate, carefully planned dinners, the counter gives visitors a more relaxed opportunity to experience French’s food and hospitality.
Counter servers are responsible for welcoming customers, taking food and drink orders, processing payments and ensuring that orders are prepared and presented accurately.
They may also prepare simple counter items, restock supplies, maintain the dining and service areas, assist with light food preparation and support the rest of the team during particularly busy periods.
Previous experience in hospitality, cafés or retail is preferred, although the restaurant places significant importance on personality and working style. The ideal candidate should be friendly, efficient, attentive to detail and capable of remaining calm when service becomes busy.
This position begins in July and continues through October, with both full-time and part-time work available. That stated schedule confirms that The Lost Kitchen is actively recruiting employees for work during the current 2026 season rather than merely gathering applications for a future opening.
Working at The Lost Kitchen Requires More Than Technical Experience
Across the three listings, The Lost Kitchen repeatedly emphasises qualities such as dependability, organisation, communication, teamwork and attention to detail.
That is consistent with the restaurant’s larger identity. French has built The Lost Kitchen around more than the food served on each plate. The experience depends on personal hospitality, seasonal ingredients, thoughtful presentation and close coordination among a relatively small team.
For that reason, applicants may need more than an impressive résumé. They must also be comfortable working in an environment where every role contributes to the way guests experience the mill.
A prep cook may rarely be seen by diners, but the accuracy of that person’s work affects every course. A dishwasher helps determine whether the kitchen can maintain its rhythm. A counter server may become the first direct interaction a visitor has with The Lost Kitchen.
Each opening therefore carries a level of responsibility that goes beyond its job title.
How Interested Applicants Can Apply
The application process is straightforward.
Candidates are instructed to submit both a cover letter and résumé to the restaurant’s employment email address:
Applicants should use their cover letter to explain their relevant experience, availability and reasons for wanting to join The Lost Kitchen team. Because the jobs are seasonal and the restaurant is already operating, clearly stating an available starting date may also be helpful.
The official listings do not mention employee accommodation, relocation support or exact hourly pay. Anyone travelling from outside the Freedom area may therefore need to ask about those details during the application or interview process.
For people who have followed French’s career or admired the restaurant from afar, the current openings offer a different way to enter The Lost Kitchen. Instead of hoping for a postcard to be selected for dinner, qualified applicants could potentially become part of the team responsible for creating the experience.
French has also urged her followers to help spread the word. Anyone who knows a dependable cook, hospitality worker or hardworking person who meets the requirements is encouraged to recommend that they apply and share the opportunity with them.
