Chef
Jason Eckerson
- Discipline
- Chef
- Based in
- Biddeford, Maine, United States
i. Biography
Jason Eckerson has been co-owner of Fish & Whistle in Biddeford since 2022, and that role anchors the working knowledge he built across Maine kitchens and seafood buying.
The Path
At Eventide, Jason Eckerson worked as sous chef, a position that demands pace, repetition, and clean handling of seafood under pressure. That kind of line work builds timing and control: how to move product, how to hold texture, how to keep the plate direct. He then shifted to seafood buyer at Big Tree Hospitality, where the craft changed from execution to selection. Buying requires a different discipline, one rooted in judgment, market knowledge, and the ability to decide what belongs in the kitchen before service ever begins. Taken together, those roles show a career built in layers—cooking, sourcing, and learning the business from both sides of the pass—before Fish & Whistle brought Jason Eckerson into ownership in 2022.
The Work Today
Since 2022, Jason Eckerson has been co-owner of Fish & Whistle in Biddeford, a position that brings together the kitchen instincts and purchasing judgment he developed earlier in Maine. Ownership in a seafood-focused operation asks for consistency, product sense, and a steady balance between craft and hospitality. At Fish & Whistle, his name sits on that daily work: keeping standards aligned, shaping what reaches the table, and carrying forward the practical knowledge that comes from both cooking and buying. The role is less about spectacle than about maintaining a reliable house style, day after day.
Signature
Jason’s signature dishes include Fish Chowder, Squidwich, Fish & Chips, and Soft Serve Swirl. Together, they sketch a portrait of his culinary range: comforting and direct in Fish Chowder, playful in the name and spirit of Squidwich, classic in Fish & Chips, and finished with the kind of sweet counterpoint that Soft Serve Swirl suggests. The list is concise, but it hints at a kitchen language rooted in seafood, pleasure, and a sense of ease—food that feels approachable without losing its sense of care. These are the dishes associated with his name, and they form the most immediate expression of what Jason Eckerson brings to Fish & Whistle.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Jason
Where did Jason Eckerson work before?
Jason Eckerson's earlier career included Eventide and Big Tree Hospitality.
What recognition has Jason Eckerson received?
James Beard Award semifinalist.
