Last Autumn at the end of October I had the pure joy of heading upstate New York with Ashley and Mike of Gather & Feast to co host our Autumn Harvest Retreat! The focus was Autumn baking – literally one of my favorite things on earth!! There was much anticipation for it; weeks of preparation and world travels just prior and the retreat was such a success ( you can read more about my ventures to Croatia and Germany here !) .
We stole away to a beautiful Red Cottage home, Deer Hill Farm outside the city a few hours in the Catskill Mountains and it was just stunning in every way. It was like we were out in our own little farm, waking up to frost bitten grass and lush, auburn trees that were slowly slipping away into winter. The perfect setting to be able to enjoy the heart of Autumn in.
Can I just rave about Ashley and Mike? We were online friends for the last 2 years or so, Ashley and I starting our blogs just within weeks of each other. They are the sweetest couple with the most beautiful hearts and were an absolute joy to work alongside. If you haven’t already, make sure to check out their blog and definitely make sure to look at their post recap as well! It was so amazing to see how they work together as a perfect team, and I’m so thrilled to be sharing this film that Mike captured and then produced from our time together.
Every moment was serene and beautiful as we cooked, ate, photographed and enjoyed beautiful company. Thanks so much to Jessie, Danna, Esha, Justine and Kyla for joining us and for flying in from so many far away places to be with Ashley, Mike and I! And to Jeanette, Christy and Rosie, you’re beautiful hearts to serve in the kitchen and throughout the weekend made this retreat amazing. Thank you also to our sponsors who made this weekend possible!
Heirloomed Collection : linen tea towels
Steven Smith Tea : various teas
Red Cottage Inc. : workshop house
King Arthur Flour : various flours and baking ingredients
Vermont Creamery : various cheese and dairy
Syncline Wine : wine pairings
Chaljeri Meats : various local meat and fresh eggs
House Spirits : Westward Whiskey, Coffee Liqueur
Amy Rochelle Press : custom menus
Dona Chai : chai tea
