About Us

Executive Chef Jon Gaboric comes to Camden, Maine via Austin, Texas. He is most broadly known for winning Food Network’s Chef Wanted (episode aired in February, 2013).

Gaboric was the General Manager and Executive Chef at Sobani Restaurant and Wine Bar in Austin and was founder and operating partner at Austin’s Wefuse Eatery. Wefuse was an unusual restaurant at the time for Austin; the emphasis was on healthy food, offering an option to the prolific BBQ and hamburgers.

Other past experience includes time spent at Vermont’s Three Clock Inn, a restaurant serving modern French cuisine with Asian influences. There the culinary emphasis was on local, seasonal and foraged ingredients before that became a nationwide trend. Gaboric incorporated Asian technique and flavors that he developed during his formative years as a student in Korea and then in Japan, traveling with his family and experiencing regional foods.

Gaboric also worked at The Wilburton Inn in Vermont, and in Florida, where he was a partner and then a manager at two different large, high-end catering businesses, Chef Gui of Provence Catering and Café Anna. During that time he served private dinners to Paul Newman and singer Patti LaBelle among others.

Gaboric earned his degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University, under the tutelage of culinary masters such as Chef Ben Quicho, personal chef to several U.S. Presidents.

After completing his studies, Gaboric took a position at Hotel Residence, a Two Michelin Star top-rated hotel in Germany. Returning to the States, Gaboric worked during the summer as a freelance chef at Fenway Park where he hosted VIP events and catered to guests including Ted Williams, Sammy Sosa, Chris Rock, and Matt Damon.

Natalie’s at the Camden Harbour Inn has been called the finest gourmet eatery in Maine and was awarded Best French Restaurant and Best Overall Restaurant in New England by opentable.com. The restaurant offers modern French cuisine with an emphasis on Maine seafood. The Wine Spectator-honored wine list features more than 250 specialty wines. The restaurant serves a four course Lobster Tasting menu in the summer and fall, in addition to extensive a la carte offerings and a Chef’s Tasting menu.

The Inn and Natalie’s have both earned the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award and the Inn is a member of Condé Nast Johansens.

Bart van der Velden a native from the Netherlands is general manager of Natalie’s Restaurant. In his role as general manager, van der Velden oversees the restaurant’s Front of House, bar, kitchen and staff.

Bart previously served as the Assistant Food and Beverage Manager at the Golden Tulip in Noordwijk Beach in the Netherlands. Prior to that, he held various management roles at luxury hotels in the U.S. and Europe, including Boston’s Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel and the Bel Air Hotel in the Netherlands.

In his capacity as Fairmont Gold Supervisor at the Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel, van der Velden helped earn the hotel the number one rating from Fairmont Hotel & Resorts’ Gold Department, which are based on JD Power Surveys. He also acted as the Service Plus Committee President, organizing the hotel’s high-profile social and charity events.

He received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in Hotel Management from Hotelschool The Hague and trained at the NH Kensington Hotel in London and the AC Meerkerk hotel in the Netherlands.

Pastry Chef Jason Sturdivant joins Natalie’s Restaurant from L'Auberge Provencale, a bed and breakfast complete with a 5 star French restaurant in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Previous experience includes a stage at WD-50, a One Michelin Star restaurant in New York City, and a position as Pastry Cook at Herons Restaurant in the Umstead Hotel and Spa in North Carolina.

Sturdivant has a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts and a certificate of Culinary Arts as well as experience as a cook. With over eight years of experience in professional kitchens and expertise in pastry arts and seasonal menu development, Jason is a welcome addition to the kitchen at Natalie’s.

Mixologist and Bar Manager Ryan Okholm joins Natalie’s Restaurant from the world famous Chateau Marmont , a luxury hotel with restaurant and Bar Marmont in Hollywood California. Previous experiences includes Terragusto in Chicago Illinois.

Since purchasing the venerable Camden Harbour Inn in 2007, Dutch owners Raymond Brunyanszki and Oscar Verest have transformed it into an AAA four-diamond boutique hotel and restaurant that has earned raves and draws guests from all over the US and beyond. Both Raymond and Oscar have impressive professional credentials as well as a natural affinity for providing personalized, "above-and-beyond" hospitality. For more information on Oscar and Raymond please - click here.