Kate Krukowski Gooding...

... was born to John Anthony Krukowski of Hartford, Connecticut and Constance Hall Krukowski of Moose River, Maine. She was raised between Enfield, Connecticut and Jackman, Maine. Kate made Maine her permanent home in 1976, when she moved to Jackman, then down to Portland to attend what is now known as the University of Southern Maine. She left Maine only for two brief stints: in 1979 for an eight-month trip to Europe (it started out just as one month!) and two years in Boston at Northeastern University, where she earned a B.A. in Marketing.

Kate put herself through school working in restaurants, catering events and private parties and working on the road crew for Scott Paper (now Plum Creek) in the back woods between Jackman and Greenville.

Living, working and playing in Portland for 24 years, Kate also volunteered for and ran many non-profit events. She left Portland when she met her husband Don and moved to the village of Pretty Marsh on Mount Desert Island. Don and Kate presently live between the two places they love most, Pretty Marsh and Portland.

A self-trained chef, Kate hostesses annual Solstice Parties, with 2007 marking her 19th year of creating culinary adventures for friends and family on the longest night of the year.

In addition to Black Fly Stew: Wild Maine Recipes, Kate has written a cookbook for a friend in Oregon who raises grass-fed lambs. Not surprisingly, Cooking with Karen's Grass-fed Lamb contains only lamb recipes. She is also working with a company in Vermont to create a cookbook for their special line of products. Her second cookbook in the Black Fly Stew series will carry an international flair into your kitchen.