Transforming Food into Love & Community ~ Cooking with Joyful Confidence

Have you ever wished you could throw the perfect dinner party, or even just a casual gathering of friends? What stopped you? Was it your Inner Critic? Or your Inner Martha Stewart that believed you were not up to the challenge? Did it seem too overwhelming?Are yourexpectations out of date, unattainable, or just not YOUR style?

Now, more than ever, we are being called to gather in community with our friends and neighbors. Imagine if you could invite friends over for a delicious and soul-satisfying meal without the stress of overthinking it, worrying about their approval, or making it more complicated than it needs to be. What if it could be fun? What if it didn't have to be an Instagram-perfect event.

In this weekend-long retreat, you will discover your Inner Host's vision and style. We want you to find a way to host that is joyful and delightful for you as well. Part of the struggle many of us face is setting expectations that are unrealistic or not aligned with who we are.

We will create together, shop, chop, and explore in community. You will learn tips on how to host with grace and intention. There are no rules. But there are ways to make the prep and planning less stressful. We will help you map out the timing of each phase of the gathering—from the invitation, to shopping, and preparing the meal. You will learn how to design a menu that accommodates your vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, and paleo friends in one meal.

We will also explore what happens when we gather and create together. As Priya Parker has shared in her wonderful "The Art of Gathering": [Gatherings are] "what can happen when people come together, exchange information, inspire one another, and test out new ways of being together." You will be guided by your two hosts for the weekend, Etta Jacobs and Liz Keifer, professional coaches who are friends and colleagues whose shared calling is to help their clients connect to their inner essence and outer purpose.

In this 2.5-day retreat you will learn new cooking skills, strategies, and mindsets to help you create memorable gatherings highlighted by delicious meals, meaningful conversation, and last but not least, fun. In addition to learning how to design and prepare a meal for an informal gathering of friends, you will be guided through creative reflective activities designed to shed light on what your true, and ultimately signature, style is for hosting. You will let go of any lurking judgements about your abilities to host. Time to ask the "Shoulds in your head" to step aside to make room for your Inner Host to shine.

What do Etta and Liz bring to this weekend? Although Etta is not a trained chef, she learned how to cook from her father, who with her mother, hosted many memorable dinner parties throughout her childhood—filled with lively, provocative conversation and fabulous food. Etta has continued this family tradition in her home in the Berkshires, where she and her husband, Aldo, host many gatherings devoted to delicious food, thoughtful conversation, and deep friendship. Etta and Aldo have been hosting biking and skiing trips for paying guests for more than 15 years, with many of them becoming dear friends. Their guests have noted that what set's Etta's food apart, is that it "tastes like love". Liz brings her gift for enthusiasm and delight to all the gatherings she and her husband, Bobby, host in their home in the Hudson Valley. They are known for their notorious sushi parties—packed with fun, joy, and a bit of theater—that keep their guests coming back for more, year after year. Liz is the Producer who brings these gatherings to life.

The retreat will be held in the Northern Hudson Valley at The Ruins at the Sassafras Museum in New Lebanon NY. Our host at Sassafras is Carol Reichert, who has created a stunningly dramatic venue for weddings, retreats, and performances. Carol will join us for some of the activities and will happily offer a group tourof her enchanted property. Each of our guests will have their own luxury room, or may choose to share a room with a friend or partner. For this intimate weekend retreat we can accommodate up to 12-14 guests.

At the end of your stay, you will gain clarity and confidence around the type of host you want to become. You will create your own recipe for a gathering that captures your style and spirit.

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Etta Jacobs is an ICF Certified Career Transition and Executive Coach. She quickly guides her clients to clarify their goals and identify their strengths so they can swiftly find new opportunities that tap into their deepest skills and align with their values. Etta coaches her clients through career transitions, promotions, and job loss by building their confidence, and empowering them to imagine what is possible.Etta's super power is her intuitive insight into her clients’ potential.Etta's first career was as an award-winning Art Director at two Fortune 500 companies. Shedraws upon this experience to guide her clients to discover creative and unexpected solutions to their career challenges. Etta and her husband Aldo split their time between Boston and the Berkshires.

Liz Keifer is a Relationship and Empowerment Coach. Liz brings over thirty years of professional acting experience in television and film to her ICF-certified Life coaching practice. Her specialty is helping her clients access and show up as their most authentic self with empowered imperfection. Liz guides her clients to question the roles they've held that are no longer serving them, and the life they'd like to live. Her mission is to help others to be in a healthy and compassionate relationshipwith themselves, so they can be a healthy relationship with others. Liz is in the business of possibilities. Liz and her husband Bobby are empty-nesters, living in the Hudson Valley.