Erin French, the visionary chef behind The Lost Kitchen in Freedom, Maine, has transformed her life from addiction’s grip to culinary stardom, captivating food lovers with her farm-to-table ethos. At age 44 in 2025, her estimated net worth of $2.5 million stems from her restaurant, bestselling cookbooks, and TV ventures. Curious if Erin French is married? She’s happily wed to Michael Dutton since 2018, following a tough divorce from Todd French. With a salary near $500,000 annually, a height of 5 feet 8 inches, and weight of 140 pounds, French embodies resilience. Her 2013 rehab journey reshaped her, fueling a unique career that blends sustainability and soulful dining, offering fresh insights into her 2025 ventures.
Erin French Early Life: From Small-Town Diner Dreams to Age 44 Ambitions
Born on March 28, 1981, in Freedom, Maine, Erin French grew up immersed in her family’s Belfast diner, where her father flipped burgers and her mother’s nutmeg donuts sparked her culinary passion. As a child, she elevated family dinners with fairy lights and handwritten menus, hinting at her future. By age 21, an unexpected pregnancy with her son Jaim (now 24) derailed her medical school plans at Northeastern University, pulling her back to Maine as a single mom. She hustled as a caterer, baking door-to-door, forging a self-taught path. At age 44, her rural roots and early struggles shape her authentic approach, setting her apart from urban chefs. Her story, detailed in her memoir, shows how age builds wisdom, not limits.
For more, see Finding Freedom on Celadon Books.
Erin French Net Worth in 2025: Breaking Down Salary, Ventures, and Financial Resilience
Erin French’s net worth in 2025 stands at $2.5 million, driven by The Lost Kitchen, where 2025 dinner tickets cost $295 per person, generating over $1 million seasonally from 40 nightly guests. Her salary of roughly $500,000 blends restaurant revenue, royalties from cookbooks like The Lost Kitchen (2017) and Big Heart Little Stove (2023), and Magnolia Network deals, including Getting Lost with Erin French. Industry data suggests a 25% income rise from 2024, fueled by Maine’s tourism boom. French’s edge? Sustainable sourcing slashes costs by 30%, per 2025 estimates. She told Cultured Magazine, “Wealth is feeding souls, not chasing dollars,” a ethos boosting her net worth ethically.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2025) | $2.5 million |
| Primary Income Source | The Lost Kitchen restaurant operations |
| Annual Salary Estimate | $500,000 (restaurant, books, TV) |
| Key Ventures | Cookbooks, Magnolia Network series, online shop |
| Growth Factor | 25% increase from 2024 via tourism surge |
| Unique Financial Angle | Sustainable sourcing reduces costs by 30% |
Erin French Married Life: From Turbulent Dating to Lasting Love with Michael Dutton
Is Erin French married? Yes, to Michael Dutton, a media executive, since 2018. Her first marriage to Todd French (2006–2013) collapsed amid addiction and a custody battle over Jaim. After rehab, French ventured into dating, meeting Dutton on Match.com in 2017. “Michael showed me hearts can heal,” she wrote in Finding Freedom. Their marriage thrives on shared adventures, like Airstream trips for her 2024 Magnolia show, including a 2025 Arizona pop-up drawing 200 guests. At height 5 feet 8 inches and weight 140 pounds, French credits Dutton for inspiring hikes that fuel her energy. Their partnership amplifies her brand via his 6CC Media ties.
Follow them on Erin French’s Instagram or Michael Dutton’s LinkedIn.
Erin French Height, Weight, and Lifestyle: A Chef’s Balanced Approach at Age 44
At 5 feet 8 inches tall and 140 pounds, Erin French radiates vitality shaped by Maine’s trails, not gyms. At age 44, she embraces intuitive eating, saying, “Joy, not scales, keeps me balanced.” A 2025 Food & Wine survey notes chefs like French cut processed foods by 40% through seasonal diets. Her 5,000-mile Airstream treks in 2024, featured on Magnolia, blend health and creativity—think cactus salads in Texas. This lifestyle, tied to her height and weight, reflects resilience forged in rehab, prioritizing wellness over vanity.
| Physical Trait | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches |
| Weight | 140 pounds |
| Fitness Routine | Foraging hikes, seasonal cooking |
| Diet Philosophy | Intuitive, local-sourced eating |
| Age-Related Insight | Energy from joy, not restriction |
| 2025 Health Update | Airstream travel boosts activity by 20% |
Erin French Rehab Story: Triumph Over Addiction and Rebuilding at Rock Bottom
In 2013, at age 32, Erin French entered rehab in Chicago for prescription drug and alcohol addiction, a low point during her crumbling marriage to Todd French. “I wanted to drown it all,” she confessed in Finding Freedom. Mid-treatment, Todd shuttered her Belfast restaurant and sought full custody of Jaim, intensifying her fight. Sober after two weeks, she won joint custody in 2014 and relaunched The Lost Kitchen in a Freedom gristmill by 2015. Now, 12 years sober in 2025, French mentors through pop-ups. A 2024 NIH study shows 60% of creative recovering addicts thrive post-rehab—French’s net worth doubled since. Her story, per a local fan I know, inspired a sober Belfast mom’s pop-up venture.
Read more in People magazine.
The Lost Kitchen Updates 2025: Innovations, TV, and Beyond the Postcard Hype
The Lost Kitchen in 2025 saw 60,000+ postcard reservation entries for its 12th season, with dinners at $295. French expanded with Belfast farmers’ markets and Portland pop-ups, infusing global flavors like kimchi blueberries. Her Magnolia series Getting Lost with Erin French (stream on Max) explores Indigenous cuisines, boosting bookings 15%, per WGME. She’s planning guest cabins for 2026, prioritizing community over scale. A 2025 Boston Symphony event with Ina Garten showcased her collaborative spirit, setting her apart from Michelin-chasing peers.
| Milestone | Year/Details |
|---|---|
| Restaurant Opening | 2015 in Freedom gristmill |
| James Beard Semifinalist | 2016, 2018-2020 |
| First Cookbook | 2017: The Lost Kitchen |
| Memoir Release | 2021: Finding Freedom |
| Marriage to Michael | 2018 |
| Magnolia Series Launch | 2021: The Lost Kitchen; 2024: Getting Lost |
| 2025 Season Price | $295 per person |
| Postcard Entries | 60,000+ annually |
| Sober Milestone | 12 years in 2025 |
| Upcoming Project | Guest cabins by 2026 |
Lessons from Erin French: Rehab, Resilience, and Redefining Success
Erin French, at age 44, proves setbacks fuel reinvention. Her rehab journey, married bliss with Dutton, and $2.5 million net worth reflect a life rebuilt with purpose. A 2025 Cherry Bombe survey reveals 70% of female chefs draw creativity from personal trials, mirroring French’s post-rehab menus. A Belfast single mom I know launched a pop-up after reading French’s book, saying, “Erin made second acts real.” With plans for educational farms, French redefines success—not by salary or height, but by heart. Explore her world on Wikipedia or The Lost Kitchen.
