Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
'Barefoot Contessa' draws a crowd for Cutler
More than 200 people – some of whom support the candidate – attend a fundraising luncheon.
By Edward D. Murphy emurphy@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
PORTLAND -- Eliot Cutler may have been the headliner, but he knew who was the star attraction.
Ina Garten, the “Barefoot Contessa” of the Food Network, and independent gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler take questions from the audience at the Portland Co. on Fore Street in Portland on Friday.
Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer
Eliot Cutler and Ina Garten listen to a question from a member of the audience. The two met in the late 1970s in the Office of Management and Budget under President Jimmy Carter.
Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer
CHECK OUT OUR Governor's Race special section
"I'm here for her, too," Cutler said after he and Ina Garten, the Food Network's "Barefoot Contessa," chatted and took questions before more than 200 people Friday at the Portland Co. on Fore Street.
Cutler, an independent candidate for governor, and Garten, who turned a small specialty food store in New York into a burgeoning cookbook and television show empire, first met in the late 1970s in the Office of Management and Budget under President Jimmy Carter. Cutler was the associate director of the office and Garten analyzed nuclear power issues.
There were plenty of questions about her story and a handful about Cutler's positions on the environment, education and the economy.
But most of those who forked out $50 -- or $250 to attend a private reception with the two -- have, to put it charitably, clearly not begun to focus on the gubernatorial campaign.
"I'm a huge fan of hers and I don't know anything about Eliot Cutler, to be honest," said Jeremy Young of Freeport, clutching a "Barefoot Contessa" cookbook for Garten to sign. "Definitely, if it had not been for her, we would not have turned out for this."
Linda Knight of South Portland said she, too, was there more to hear Garten and get her signature on a cookbook than to consider policy options. But she promised to pay attention to Cutler to determine "if I spent my money wisely."
Matt and Susan Lelansky of South Portland said the event, which also featured a lunch of salmon, summer squash, zucchini and salad, was a win-win for them.
Both support Cutler's bid and also are big fans of Garten.
"I'm here for a little of both," Susan Lelansky said. "This was a nice event for getting to see her."
Most of those attending checked in at a reception table, got their name tags and then went straight to the book table, where an assortment of Garten's cookbooks was displayed. People shelled out $37.75 for each and a few had two or three copies in hand for Garten to ink.
After the private reception, limited to 50 people, Cutler and Garten casually recounted the beginning of their friendship at the OMB and her abrupt turn toward a new, more lucrative career.
Garten said she saw an ad in The New York Times for a small specialty food store, visited it with her husband and made a low offer. To her surprise, it was accepted.
Then she went to tell Cutler she was leaving.
"I said, 'You're going to buy a shop called The Barefoot Contessa?'" Cutler said, mimicking his incredulity. "Who knew?"
"She went from baking yellowcake (uranium used in nuclear fuel pellets), to baking chocolate cake," Cutler cracked. "Uranium to flour. It's all the same."
Cutler did use the opportunity to pitch some of his policy ideas, including a couple linked to Garten's expertise. He said that Mainers buy only 4 percent of their food from local sources and if that figure was increased to 10 percent, it would produce thousands of jobs and put millions of dollars in Maine farmers' pockets.
He also said lower-cost electricity would allow more farmers to use and heat greenhouses, with more fruits and vegetables produced locally year-round.
Cutler said he and Garten planned to dine in Portland on Friday night and would stop at the Portland Farmers Market in Deering Oaks this morning before Garten flies back to New York.
Staff Writer Edward D. Murphy can be contacted at 791-6465 or at:
emurphy@pressherald.com
Were you interviewed for this story? If so, please fill out our accuracy form
Most...
Copyright ©2010 MaineToday Media, Inc.
41 COMMENTS
jake007 said...
I wonder if the PPH requires a photo of Cutler to be on every employee's screen saver. Along with a bobble head Cutler doll on each desk and lifesize Cutler posters on the inside of every bathroom stall. Hopefully Phineas Sprague and "Bobby"Monks got their books signed as well.
July 31, 2010 at 6:05 AM Report abuse
Maine_Huntah said...
jake007, it's not the fault of the PPH that Cutler is generating so much buzz, interest, and campaign news stories. I can't wait until he becomes our next governor.
July 31, 2010 at 7:15 AM Report abuse
Janie said...
Says something about our society when the draw is not the person making policy for us but the person on TV. To give money to a politician you have no information on is a dangerous thing. Good Luck with this one folks!
July 31, 2010 at 7:37 AM Report abuse
null said...
Cutler could very well be the new Gov. Lepage needs to shut up, his real lack of tact is starting to show, also the Democrat Libby is not the answer she is typ. tax @ spend cronie.
July 31, 2010 at 7:43 AM Report abuse
Hobbes said...
FYI - If you're wondering why Cutler gets good publicity here, here's why....Cutler's campaign treasurer, Robert C.S. Monks, is an investor in and a board member of MaineToday Media, which publishes The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel daily newspapers, the weekly Coastal Journal in Bath and their respective Web sites.
July 31, 2010 at 7:44 AM Report abuse
Hobbes said...
Null, wake up and shut up. Cutler is a "tax @ (sic) spend cronie" (read - liberal democrat). He's only running as an independent...
July 31, 2010 at 7:49 AM Report abuse
TiredMainer said...
Anyone who worked for Jimmy Carter will NOT get my vote. Cutler is a democrat in disguise.
July 31, 2010 at 7:57 AM Report abuse
jaysee said...
LePage - tea bagger Libbey left wing nut Cutler - moderate and will get my vote!
July 31, 2010 at 8:09 AM Report abuse
Cochon said...
If LePage keeps flubbing up I just may have to take a closer look at Cutler. He is beginning to gain some real traction.
July 31, 2010 at 8:20 AM Report abuse
UofA said...
BAREFOOT CONTESSA indeed! Did anyone notice how big her feet were? Where do you find shoes that big? Special order!
July 31, 2010 at 9:06 AM Report abuse
JJ said...
What a great campaign idea: schedule a political rally and then invite a show biz crony to glom onto his publicity and sell her cookbooks! (Oh wait, it was the other way around with the political hack glomming onto the food star.) “Eliot Cutler: the return of the Carter years.”
July 31, 2010 at 9:25 AM Report abuse
Chainyanker said...
Let's see the fact Cutler knows people and has connections that could result in significantly helping the State of Maine economy is a bad thing? At least he can articulate his position without alienating half of the State's population. He's not entrenched in Augusta so that he would be beholding to all of the special interests that roam the halls there. He's looking and behaving more and more like our next governor.
July 31, 2010 at 9:37 AM Report abuse
Merrigan said...
Oh how marvelous for the guy who went to prep school and Harvard, lives in a $4 million house in Cape Elizabeth and has lived outside of Maine by choice (see Al Diamond's column in Capital Weekly a week or two ago) all of his adult life. We don't need more of the Beautiful People, we need someone who understands the issues of an old lady living in a trailer with less than $10K yearly income. And the reason the PPH loves Cutler and takes every opportunity to criticize LePage has a lot to do with class.
July 31, 2010 at 9:38 AM Report abuse
common_cents said...
Define "some"....oh, that humming noise, is 'buzz'....define that too!...Kutler Kooks, err, cooks!
July 31, 2010 at 10:10 AM Report abuse
Scrib said...
Just the type of event that turns out the yuppie wine and cheese crowd with their big, wide, toothy fake smiles.
July 31, 2010 at 10:17 AM Report abuse
common_cents said...
That sucking 'buzz' is Kutler referring successful Maine businesses to his Chinese bosses for offshore manufacturing. If your job is exported to China, at least you'll have someone to blame; you can sit outside Kutler's law firm and watch them drink wine paid for with the 'consulting' fees.
July 31, 2010 at 10:20 AM Report abuse
JackStraw said...
“Cutler's campaign treasurer, Robert C.S. Monks, is an investor in and a board member of MaineToday Media, which publishes” He’s no longer the campaign treasurer . Maybe you should get your facts straight…
July 31, 2010 at 10:27 AM Report abuse
common_cents said...
I wonder what lens Andrea used to get those two 'gluttons' into one shot? ..nothing like feeding at the public trough to fill out a photo-op!
July 31, 2010 at 10:27 AM Report abuse
Biddy said...
Mainedog's and barrylincoln's comments show the level of LePage's supporters. Another making a comment on another blog spoke of "letting welfare mothers earn their keep on houses of ill repute". "At least we'd get something for feeding them". Those kinds of comments, the fact that the Knox County Republicans proved themselves to be thieves, and LePage's own foot in mouth issues, show this campaign to be an embarassment and a disgrace to this state. These turkeys should be run out of Dodge on a rail.
July 31, 2010 at 11:08 AM Report abuse
common_cents said...
Isn't she the VP for BIMBO BAKERIES---see biz. section for details.
July 31, 2010 at 11:12 AM Report abuse
homeboy said...
There is a heck of a lot more to running the State of Maine than simply making pronouncements. LePage and Cutler, as well as the other two independents, would be like a fish out of water when it comes to dealing with the Legislature. The only person running who understands the legislative process is Libby. When folks get tired fo slamming her, they might want to step back for a moment and look at her accomplishments. Given the problems that we are facing, do we really want a rookie in that job right now?
July 31, 2010 at 11:15 AM Report abuse
Biddy said...
I agree that Libby Mitchell is underrated. If nothing more she deserves a look because of her experience in maneuvering through the legislative process. LePage would be a disaster in that respect. Dealing with a small City Council is a picnic compared to dealing with a legislature AND State Senate. Cutler would fare better because he has had experience in the Federal Government as well as dealing with various governments.
July 31, 2010 at 11:26 AM Report abuse
Jon said...
LePage is a failed candidate. He is so radical, so unpincipled, so ignorant, he's not really a serious candidate. Our attention should move to the real republican anti-worker candidate Cutler.
July 31, 2010 at 11:35 AM Report abuse
Routone said...
Jon, Seriously, you said Cutler was anti-worker? How so?
July 31, 2010 at 11:53 AM Report abuse
FormerRep said...
There are daily knee jerk commentators and there are political strategists. The latter realize LePage is a flash in the pan and are ignoring him, saving money for the Cutler/Mitchell battle later in the year I'll take any best that even though LePage is current front runner, he finishes third Cutler has the money (Hence the early ads) Mitchell has the base, will be interesting
July 31, 2010 at 12:09 PM Report abuse
barrylincoln said...
biddy, you've proven to be a leftest socialist and i on the other had am 180 degree politically different from you. neither of us will change the others opinion so it looks like our votes will offset each other. it doesn't bother me but i'd bet it kills you and that makes me smile.
July 31, 2010 at 1:32 PM Report abuse
DuaneL said...
If one can remember the children's story. THE RED HEN. perhaps they'll draw some analogies to this race for governor or better still from what I can see, "...talk a LITTLE, do a LITTLE " from 76 Trombones' River City might be good theme songs for LePAge.
July 31, 2010 at 1:48 PM Report abuse
common_cents said...
Why should LePage 'run' the legislature? LIBDEMS prefer to have a czar who can control the legislature instead of taking what the legislature dishes up and turning it into an effective program. The rest of us was a cost-effective manager. GOOD GRIEF, Mainers have lost hundreds of millions of dollars to ineffective public executives who were not hired because of their expertise but degree of cronyism. Kutler is attempting to walk in Angus's path, unfortunately it was carved by MPB; and is not littered with the droppings from the King's insider business deals, i.e. big wind. Maine needs a cost-effective manager, someone who will tend to business in the State House, and stay out of the legislature!
July 31, 2010 at 2:11 PM Report abuse
Chris said...
When Paul LePage starts to attack other candidates, the media, it's obvious that he flubs very badly. Nemitz was absolutely correct to hold LePage to account for his flubs. However when LePage talks about what he can do for the voters, he tends to do very well as that tends to play to his natural ability. Instead LePage needs to be drawing on his experience at Marden’s and on the Waterville City Council to talk about how he would reform the state’s efforts. Also very few political candidates can relate as well to the problems of poverty as LePage can. I would suggest LePage consider Steve Abbot to head his campaign, as Abbot gained a national reputation with the campaign he ran for Susan Collins.
July 31, 2010 at 2:52 PM Report abuse
UGF0cmlvdGlubWU%3D said...
Since Rachel Ray had a show for $50 or less, she must be supporting Paul Lepage.... I think Paula Deen must be with Libby Mitchell, being Southern.
July 31, 2010 at 3:09 PM Report abuse
Routone said...
People supporting someone like LePage, a surpremely unqualified, ignorant person who isn't up to the job of Governor, raises an interesting question about human nature. It is striking that the people who most dislike the whole idea of healthcare reform, for instance, - the ones who think it is socialist, godless, a step on the road to a police state - are often the ones it seems designed to help. In Texas, where barely two-thirds of the population have full health insurance and over a fifth of all children have no cover at all, opposition to the legislation is currently running at 87%. There is either a self-loathing among Republicans or an addled sense of confusion that places the concept of being a Republican far ahead of being RATIONAL.
July 31, 2010 at 3:39 PM Report abuse
omitch said...
Independent in name only. To the left of our present governor in many ways. The more you get to know him the less you'll like him.
July 31, 2010 at 4:58 PM Report abuse
Mainedog said...
Saw the PPH editor and Nemitz on site kissing their butts! There is no room for partisan reporting like the PPH does!
July 31, 2010 at 5:19 PM Report abuse
root66 said...
My vote gos to Culter hands down.Look at who the Dems and reps have running. Both look like a train ready to derail and any time..
July 31, 2010 at 5:23 PM Report abuse
tenacity said...
The Rainbow Reporter trying to make this Carter reject attractive is like the recent Mrz Oqunquit Pageant another boy pig with lipstick.....Come on November can't wait to see these whack jobs all crying to each other...... lol
July 31, 2010 at 7:05 PM Report abuse
crackhead said...
Another elitist, lawyer who is out of touch with working americans.
July 31, 2010 at 7:29 PM Report abuse
Scrib said...
If you're not aware of what's going on in this Country or just want things to continue to get worse- join the liberal elites and super-rich rino Republicans who don't give a tinker's dam for traditional Maine values- jump on the Cutler bandwagon.
July 31, 2010 at 8:37 PM Report abuse
gotabor said...
mmm eliot could you please pass the wine before the caviar????mmm yes.....maybe we should invite libby over after for a sail around the harbor....mmm yes....don't worry the working class taxpayers will be there for us after the sail to tie up the yacht for us,then swab the deck GO LEPAGE the working class needs you!!
August 1, 2010 at 6:08 AM Report abuse
BeachPatriot said...
Eliot Cutler, architect of Jimmy Carter's energy policy. Now he wants to set up a state owned energy company. State owned, just like in the old Soviet Union. What else needs to be said? Ahh, the wonderful Carter years; double digit unemployment, double digit interest rates on mortgages and double digit inflation. Impotent foreign policy that culminated in our embassy in Iran being taken over by "students" and hostages held for over a year.
August 2, 2010 at 10:03 AM Report abuse
Routone said...
Beach, And what exactly did privately owned energy companies do that was so great for America??
August 3, 2010 at 10:46 AM Report abuse
gdgirl said...
Wow, what's the big deal? A national celebrity shows up to support a friend and promotes Maine local agriculture and a local business (Rabelais Books) at the same time? Seems like a pretty good deal to me as well as an actual news event (Sorry, all you conspiracy theorists who think the PPH news operation is run by its investors... ) Lighten up, will ya?
August 13, 2010 at 4:26 PM Report abuse