Mark & Kelly LaCasse launched The Maine Meal in 2012 and are passionate about supporting a thriving Maine food system. As a diversified, local foods processing kitchen they are doing a lot out of their downtown Skowhegan facility! The Maine Meal is located right on the mighty Kennebec River in the middle of a developing local foods scene in Somerset County.

The product line, developed by Chef Mark, with recipe development honed by central Maine farmers market customers, is made up of a wide array of quick-and-easy-to-prepare menu items featuring high quality ingredients celebrated in Maine! Kelly & Mark source ingredients from over 20 Maine farmers, fisher people and makers to create dishes that include… beef, chicken and seafood, soups, chowder and chili, vegetable side dishes, fresh pasta and ravioli menu items, and popsicles! Some best sellers are Fresh Pasta, Braised Beef Chuck in a cabernet sauv. reduction sauce with caramelized onions and sauteed mushrooms, Seared Sea Scallops in a lemon garlic cream sauce, Lobster Bisque, Fiddleheads (seasonal), Maple Glazed Carrots, and Blueberry Popsicles. Maine Meal products are great to have in the freezer when you need an easy, wholesome meal ready in 20 minutes or less.  These items also make a thoughtful, gourmet food gift!

As a classically trained Chef, Mark LaCasse understands the value of tradition. His deep-seated love for the art of cooking was discovered as a child while working alongside his grandmother – affectionately known as “Gug”. In the kitchen, surrounded by family and friends, Gug instilled in him a strong foundation – combining a genuine passion for food and an ongoing commitment to culinary excellence that extends through to every aspect of the meal. Mark graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York in the Spring of 2007. Mark and Kelly, together since 1997, grew up in central Maine, but had many adventures around the United States and abroad. Getting out into the world was important to both of them to gain invaluable educational, professional, and life experiences before settling in Skowhegan in 2011.

In addition to the product line, The Maine Meal is contracted with a local school system to provide a Farm to Table lunch program. Kelly, Mark and their team are also excited about new partnerships with area non-profits providing food security assistance programming and free outdoor outings for local families!

Being an active member of a thriving local food system is a dream come true for Kelly. Her passion for food equity, food justice, and food system education is apparent whether she is taking your order, delivering your food, doing a food demo, planning and event, or connecting you with other amazing Maine food businesses. Fueled by well rounded life experiences, a multitude of inspiring people that Mark & Kelly met along the way, and grounded by the strength of their families, they are thrilled to be scaling up their food home to Maine. “There is no other place we would rather have our family business, raising two active kids, three dogs, and the occasional pig. Maine is a wonderful place to grow!”