our STORY
Long before Bar Harbor Catering Company was a glimmer in founder Mandy Fountaine's eye, she spent more than 18 years in the restaurant and food service industries, becoming a familiar face in the local food scene.
Mandy graduated Phi Theta Kappa with a degree in Culinary Arts from Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, and after graduation, she became head chef and co-owner of Calypso in Ellsworth. It was there that her passion for travel and food blended to create her signature "Maine-fusion" style.
Bar Harbor Catering Company sprouted from Mandy’s belief that food is a celebration. What started as a few small dinner parties for friends and family soon grew to 200 person wedding receptions with multi-course menus. It wasn't long before Mandy was catering regularly and enjoying every minute of it. The marriage of food and celebration was the key to what her cooking philosophy was all about - cooking good food for friends and family and creating memories and experiences that people will carry home with them.
BHCC has grown into a full-service catering and event planning company focusing on the client. We listen to you and we collaborate with you to bring your vision to life. We pride ourselves on forging our own path, taking cues from the old, new, textured, traditional, nontraditional, unconventional, and everything in between. We also look to where we live for a lot of our style inspiration. Extra touches, which are above and beyond the expected, make each event even more special and unique. We go where each client’s event goes – be that at a campground, an estate perched on a cliff, a rustic farmhouse, or anywhere in between.
For anyone planning a wedding or major event, one of the most alluring qualities of this place is the beautiful backdrops. The evergreen forests hugging the cragged shores, the fields full of lupines that, at night, dance beneath one of the darkest night skies you’ll ever see, and the way the sea, lakes, rivers, streams, mountains, and wide open spaces all come together in one place. It’s simply magical. The natural, authentic rugged elegance of Maine is one of our specialties. We also travel worldwide to keep the seasons of our work innovative and growing.
Good enough is not enough. This reaches beyond the dining experience. From the initial planning process and location site visits to how we train and develop each of our team members, we don't settle for mediocrity. And neither should you.
“You will get knowledgeable, dedicated service and they think of every detail so you don’t have to. Can’t recommend them enough!”
THE BHCC TEAM
Mandy Fountaine
owner & chief executive officer
A staple on the local culinary scene for the last 20 years, Mandy is a fan of all things food and travel-related. A Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE), she's dedicated herself to creating an event dream team of talented professionals who share her inspiration and drive for creating memorable gatherings. When Mandy's not playing with food or her daughter Charlotte, she’s sure to be planning her next foodie adventure, exploring the hidden gems of Down East Maine, or training for her next hardcore spartan race.
Kristen Bradbury
executive chef
Kristen was one of the first staff members to join BHCC more than 10 years ago, working her way up the ranks to Executive Chef. Born and raised in Maine, Kristen has been in the food industry since she was in high school, cooking up deliciousness at hundreds of events, and isn’t slowing down any time soon! Baking and cake decorating are her passion, but leading her team through exceptional events is where she truly shines. When she has downtime in the off-season, you can usually spot her on the slopes skiing with her son Wesley or in her bakery at Indulge Cakes & Cupcakery.
Nicholas Reynolds
bar manager
Nick has been working in the foodservice industry since 2007 when his family owned a small restaurant on Taunton Bay. He’s a graduate of Eastern Maine Community College with degrees in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management. Nick has served as our Bar Manager for the last two years and has been a part of the BHCC team since 2015. He loves the thrill of a busy night behind the bar and relishes coming up with tasty and creative new cocktails for the masses to enjoy. When he’s not slinging drinks you can find him seeking out all the newest restaurants in Maine and exploring Acadia National Park with his wife and dogs.
