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New media kitchen in Portland seeks to add more buzz to state's food scene [Bangor Daily News (ME)]
[October 22, 2014]

New media kitchen in Portland seeks to add more buzz to state's food scene [Bangor Daily News (ME)]


(Bangor Daily News (ME) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) PORTLAND, Maine -- Rory Strunk wants to find the Stephen King of food for Maine.

"Somewhere in Maine, there is someone with his caliber under the cooking theme that is hidden who could be the next food star," Strunk said.

Strunk's new O'Maine Media Kitchen on Danforth Street exists to uncover that underground epicurean and help bolster the state's status as a growing "foodie mecca" in the process.

Aided by the soft gauze of Klieg lighting, high-end video cameras, a chef's stove and sophisticated backdrops, the TV veteran, with a background in action sports, is putting his weight behind a culinary content studio that puts food and drink in the center ring.



"As we put this stake in the ground, we hope to be a catalyst for new clients and food and beverage companies working in silos to come together," said Strunk, who also founded Resort Sport Network and the Emmy-winning World of Adventure Sports.

Last week, a group of food and beverage influencers gathered in the new demonstration kitchen to taste test the concept. Pastry chef Tara Smith of Standard Baking Co., who started teaching classes at O'Maine Media Kitchen for Maine College of Art this month, helped him spread the word.


"There is a huge demand for people who want to take baking classes, but there is no space to get their hands in the dough," she said.

One part commercial kitchen, one part stage set, the studio provides a maker's space for food and beverage business selfies.

A chef or food service company such as Sodexo, could use the space to film 25 cooking tips in two days, for example. A local food producer such as Barney Butter could film enough recipe videos to fuel their Pinterest and Instagram feeds for the next six months.

Food entrepreneurs, media outlets or anyone seeking to enhance their social media output can rent the space for $100 per hour or $50 for a nonprofit. For additional fees, customers can tap the expertise of Strunk, who owns Global Content Partners and O'Maine Studios, formerly Maine Media Hub, a film production space equipped with a giant cyc wall, to facilitate access to distribution channels such as Netflix.

Popular in larger cities such as New York and Los Angeles, the media kitchen concept is new to Maine. But marketing pros such as Cynthia Fisher of Bar Harbor Foods in Whiting are ready to roll.

"Oh my God. I don't have to go to Philadelphia to shoot a video," the company's vice president of marketing said to the group. "We need to get everyone behind us because this is huge for Maine." So far, 45 people have backed Strunk's Kickstarter campaign, seeking to raise $65,000 by Nov. 6th.

The commercial demonstration kitchen could be used for pop-up dinners or for an ascending chef to launch a TV series via Netflix.

"It's smarter and easier, and people can have control over their content," said Strunk.

In the fast-changing media landscape, this is welcome news to ad agencies and communication firms.

"The food culture in Portland in the last five years has boomed," said Bill Springer, executive vice president of Diversified Communications, a Portland-based company that stages seafood exhibitions around the world. He envisions using the space to entertain clients and vendors.

"That culture will support this," he said.

Other companies such as Sodexo say a partnership with O'Maine Media Kitchen will save them time and money.

Varun Avasthi, district manager for the food service company, expects to use the kitchen to train chefs at institutions such as Colby College and the University of New England.

"This has potential written all over it. If we are teaching a new skill set, we can do one training video here and send it out, instead of traveling to individual sites," he said. "This is an opportunity to showcase what we do, and that is phenomenal." O'Maine Media Kitchen also will be an event space. Next month, Mountain Flavor, a new food and drink event will highlight Maine's ski mountain chefs, and a craft lab in the winter will unite mixologists.

Ideally, Strunk seeks to promote food tourism and raise the profile of Maine seafood.

"Food is the fastest growing theme on YouTube," said Strunk, but "seafood is dead last." With new restaurants opening regularly in the state's largest city, a place to keep the buzz going is the missing link in the chain, he said.

"We want to advance the food and beverage industry with his media kitchen," he said. "It's a tool that other markets don't have. Without it, it would be difficult." (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved.

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