June Recap

From one wine country to the next...

June came and went quickly. Summer is in full swing now and I am writing to you from a beautiful view overlooking the grapevines in Healdsburg.

At the beginning of this month, I was working on a job for the historic winery Clos du Val. I am excited to share more from this project. It really is a lovely spot and they offer wines by the glass, so if you find yourself in the area, stop by!

Next I headed to Santa Ynez with a car full of flowers, produce, and props; it was a sight to behold and quite the task to load and unload. My creative collaborator Maddy Pease and I were there for the week to shoot the summer launch for Year and Day, a company that sells beautiful dinnerware and table settings. I styled the shoot and made all the food including fresh pasta which ended up coming out just how we envisioned.

Next stop: Ojai! We ended up staying at Hotel El Roblar which is brand new and had just opened. The hospitality, food, and charm of the place was unmatched and I will definitely be returning! Try the Best Friends Cocktail and the Tuna Tostada by the pool.

I finally made it to Rory’s Place for dinner! I had only been to Rory’s Other Place, next door. It was truly delicious. The corn chowder, broiled oysters, hearth bread (a must!) and homemade pastas were all really great.

After a day of rest between projects, we geared up for the final job of the week: A Summer Garden Party for Evite. The menu was simple and seasonal: Cherry Tomatoes with Burrata, Zucchini Pasta with Lemon, Little Gem Salad, and the best crusty bread from The Dutchess with Basil Butter. Our host, Tess, made an incredible cake with apricot jam and decorated with green plums.

Photo by Carly Hildebrant

It was a creatively rewarding month. This morning I am off to Andy’s Orchard to gather ingredients for my for my next release of jam. Any guesses on what flavor is coming next?

Sending all my love, Caitlin