White Barn Inn, Auberge Resorts Collection Debuts Kennebunk’s Newest Dining Destination, Little Barn

KENNEBUNK, Maine (June 26, 2020) — Today, White Barn Inn, Auberge Resorts Collection in the coastal town of Kennebunk, Maine, opens Little Barn, a lively new restaurant that brings local Maine farmstead and fisheries to the table. Helmed by acclaimed chef Matthew Padilla, Little Barn features a selection of modern New England fare in a setting bustling with energy from the nearby harbor, where freshly caught Maine seafood is brought in daily. Long known as one of the top culinary destinations in New England, White Barn Inn looks forward to welcoming both guests and locals alike with Little Barn’s casual and convivial approach to Maine dining.

 

“At White Barn Inn, we have always celebrated the culinary offerings that make our hotel a dining destination and we are excited to introduce patrons to this new, more casual concept, offering the same level of excellence our property has always been known for,” said general manager Daniel Braun. “With a welcoming and friendly sense of New England hospitality, Little Barn will provide both our guests and local visitors with a new way to taste the many distinct flavors and ingredients of Maine.”

 

Little Barn features both a Provisions menu, with a selection of classic dishes, and a daily-changing menu of seasonal specials, presented on a chalkboard menu. Dishes from the Provisions menu include New England staples like a Lobster Roll with shoestring fries, Little Barn Herb Roasted Half Chicken with mustard greens and toasted sourdough croutons and an Avocado and Tomato Salad with green goddess dressing. Chef Padilla’s rotating selection of seasonal items highlights the best of Maine’s local farms and seafood, with dishes such as Pemaquid Oysters with red wine mignonette, Strawberry Gazpacho with avocado sorbet and Seared Maine Bluefin Tuna with cherry cous-cous and tarragon chimichurri.

 

“The beautiful Maine water and the expansive farmland have always driven me to create simple fare that highlights exceptional local ingredients,” said Matthew Padilla, executive chef, White Barn Inn. “With the opening of Little Barn, I look forward to crafting welcoming dishes in tune with the seasons that guests will want to return to time and time again.”

 

To pair with Little Barn’s Maine-driven fare, the bar menu will offer a variety of hand-crafted cocktails with ingredients that evolve with the season. To start, refreshing summertime cocktails include Lavare with Clement rhum agricole, lemon and lavender-cracked pepper syrup and Last Petal with Bimini gin, Cocchi Rosa, tonic, rose petals and grapefruit segments. In addition to an extensive list of cocktails and mocktails, Little Barn will also feature wines by the glass and a curated selection of Maine-brewed beers.

 

Little Barn is located in the property’s historic barn, an original building on the nearly 100-year-old property, which served as inspiration for the hotel’s name when it opened 46 years ago. Now fully renovated as part of a full hotel redesign led by New York-based interior designer Jenny Wolf, Little Barn’s interior echoes the Inn’s modern farmhouse feel, with inviting and cozy interiors that have a unique Maine sensibility.  An interior focal point of Little Barn is a 60-foot mural painted by acclaimed Maine artist Dean Barger whose works appear in many top New York City hot spots. Inspired by his deep admiration of Maine’s misty and mysterious coastal landscapes, his signature dreamscape style of painting is inspired by 19th century Barbizon painters from France and the Hudson Valley. Guests are able to dine in at the Little Barn dining room or al fresco on the deck.

 

In addition to Little Barn, White Barn Inns famed White Barn Restaurant, which has been awarded AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five-Star awards, is also now open for the season, highlighting contemporary New England fare in a fine dining setting.

 

Little Barn is now open daily from 11:30am to 8:30pm for lunch, dinner, cocktails or afternoon snacks. Reservations are not required, but can be made by calling 207.967.2321. As part of White Barn Inn’s commitment to exceptional guest experiences, Little Barn and the White Barn Restaurant follow all current government regulations and CDC guidelines. To learn more, please see White Barn Inn’s Health and Service Practices.