Chef David Turin, Owner of Two Exceptional Restaurants in Portland and South Portland.  He is a Graduate of Cornell Uinversity’s School of Hotel & Restaurant Management in Ithaca, New York.  He Hails From Ohio But Sailing Brought Him to Maine.  That’s Another Story – via France.

“I was literally tripping over food bags in my office,” said restaurant owner David Turin, 68, of the iconic David’s Restaurant in Monument Square, Portland.  “They were getting to be a nuisance” he said laughing this afternoon.  “We must have collected about 30 to 35 bags of food during this drive.  And about half of them came from my staff here.”

So, the accessible Chef called upon his Chef Makayla Galbreath, of his South Portland restaurant to come in and pick them up and deliver them to their Portland destination – Preble Street.

It was Chef Galbreath’s idea for both restaurants to host food drives following the Trump Administration’s cut back on SNAP. benefits.  So far, Chef Galbreath  has made two pick-ups from the upscale Portland restaurant.  One was about three weeks ago and one just last week.  If donations today and tomorrow to the Portland restaurant warrant,  he will make a third pick up and delivery – that is yet to be determined.

“It was my idea,” acknowledged Chef Galbreath this afternoon.  “As part of the hospitality industry, it is our job to make sure that everyone gets food.”  He said that he has already delivered about two shopping carts packed full of non-perishables to Preble Street.  The Portland restaurant has been a wonderful supplier of non-perishables.”  He said he was hopefull for a good turnout of food donations.  But he was  pleasantly surprised by the turnout.   There were many more donations than I expected.”  A food drive poster in the window of David’s Restaurant announced the event.

“David is a very large advocate for helping others.  I’m very proud to wear his name on my uniform,’ said Chef Galbreath, 24. “People who work for him know how big his heart is.  He is a good boss and very knowledgeable about life.”  Chef Galbreath has worked for David for five years now.  He grew up in Buxton where his grandfather was a chef, although he did not attend culinary school.  He currently lives in Lewiston.

Chef Turin grew up in Ohio.  He’s a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel & Restaurant Management.  His parents were both college professors in the sciences.  So they were surprised when he declared his interest in the hospitality business.  A sailor on Lake Erie, he arrived in Portland via a foiled sailing adventure in France.  Recently, several of his close relatives have passed on.  “This food drive is a bright spot light durig the holidays.  To see people’s generiousity during this time of so much uncertainity is very gratifying,” he said this afternoon.