ROCKLAND—It was Anthony Bourdain’s first book, Kitchen Confidential that first introduced me to the chef’s term, mise en place, a French expression for having all your ingredients measured, cut, and prepared and all your tools all aligned before you start cooking.

For Eileen Gaughan, the owner of the new kitchen store Mise En Place that just opened in May on 425 Main Street, the term was apropos of her entire store concept.

“I love to cook and I love to read cookbooks and some of the chefs I follow on TV or social media always bring up the concept of mise en place,” she said. “I’m a firm believer in the concept and it’s what I do at home. And I thought it was a great name for a kitchen shop.”

Gaughan, who has traveled the world and last lived in New York, moved to Port Clyde at the start of the pandemic in 2020. She spent years in corporate communications and had always wanted to open her own shop.

“I thought Rockland would be a great place to do that,” she said.

Her store is stocked with shelves of tools, such as Japanese knives, kitchen gadgets, cookbooks, and food items made by Maine craftspeople. And she hopes to add more in the coming months.

The shop used to be an insurance agency, and one of the standout features is a large bank vault in the back with an open steel door.

“I plan to use that little space of the vault for some kind of kitchen display,” she said.

Gaughan’s favorite comfort meal is making pasta and Mediterranean food. Knowing how Rockland is considered a “foodie” town, she is open to the idea of using the shop to host various chef talks and demos, as well as cookbook authors.

“My vision and tagline is: ‘Tools for the everyday chef’ so tools and ingredients for people who love to cook,” she said. “I want to make sure I’m catering to the community, so I will continue to expand my wares and I’m asking everyone who comes through the door for feedback.” 

She said more inventory and more shelving will be arriving in the coming months, which will be shaped by that community feedback.

“I am absolutely trying to feature as many locally made items as I can,” she said.

For more information visit: www.mis-en-place.me

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com