
29/05/2025
LADIES WHO LIT: the French retreat.
Instagram brought to my attention an incredible company called who run women’s only reading retreats, and unlike almost all suggestions that Insta throws my way - which are, should we say, utter sh*te! - this one hit a chord deep in my heart.
On a whim I sent a message asking if they ever needed private chefs to cater their retreats, fully expecting an opportunity this incredible never to come to fruition.
A message back, a call scheduled, a menu written and a flight booked and an opportunity beyond my wildest dreams became a reality.
I get to travel, cooking in incredible locations, with amazing local ingredients, picking up baguettes every morning from the local bakery so fresh they’re warm enough to almost burn your arm as you carry them back, taking breaks by the pool to read book in the sun (instead of sitting on a fire escape scrolling Instagram), sampling local icecream (research purposes of course), drinking stupid cocktails (team building obvs!), walking through beautiful French towns looking for treats.
All this is true, but to me, retreat cooking is about so much more than putting out delicious food 3 times a day.
You have 11 meals, in succession, to show your guests that they are worthy of not just nourishment, but time, and care, and joy. Each breakfast, lunch and dinner becomes an opportunity to communicate that they deserve - as I believe all women do! - to have their needs met, and exceeded. As they sat and talked, opened their bellies and their hearts to what will always be at the centre of every dish we prepare - love.
It may sound corny, it may sound cheesy, but I absolutely f*cking love my job! And with every retreat/wedding/event we do, bolstered by the strength of women believing in and supporting other women, I get to do it again and again and I could not be more grateful.
Please, dearest Feastablers, we will feed you any time, any where around the world!
Also - there was a hedgehog who was on the grounds of the house and we named him Gary!