Devin Finigan, chef and owner of Aragosta in Deer Isle, Maine, shares a recipe rooted in family tradition and home cooking in her cookbook, "A Kitchen on Goose Cove," co-written with Peter Kaminsky. Known for her innovative seafood tasting menus, Finigan reveals a more approachable side through a dish of crispy chicken thighs served with cucumber yogurt, a meal she often prepares on evenings at home with her two daughters, ages 9 and 11.

Finigan highlights the distinct aroma of slow-crisping chicken skin as a signal to her daughters that dinner is nearly ready. Her technique involves starting the bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs in a cold skillet before placing a second pan on top to weigh them down, a method reminiscent of the Italian pollo al mattone ("chicken under a brick") but without the use of a brick. This approach allows the skin to render gradually and evenly, producing a crisp, golden exterior.

To determine when the chicken is ready to be flipped, Finigan uses a method passed down from her father, also a chef. By gently nudging the chicken with a spatula, she waits until it releases easily from the pan before turning it, ensuring the skin remains intact and crisp.

While the chicken cooks, Finigan involves her daughters in preparing a complementary sauce, which combines grated cucumber and diced shallot folded into a herb- and lime-infused yogurt. This collaborative element adds a familial dimension to the meal, connecting cooking with shared household rituals.

Though Finigan prefers bone-in thighs for their flavor and texture, she notes that skin-on chicken breasts can be used as an alternative, emphasizing that maintaining the skin is crucial to achieving the desired crispness. Any remaining rendered chicken fat, or schmaltz, is repurposed in the kitchen; Finigan recommends sautéing shishito peppers in the fat while the chicken rests, making use of every flavorful ingredient.

Finigan’s recipe exemplifies how a professional chef balances refined culinary techniques with approachable, family-friendly cooking, blending expertise with cherished home traditions.