It was a profound honor to prepare the feast for Capay Valley Lavender’s open house on a sunny fall day October 27th 2018— a day devoted to savoring the land, the season, and the dream that FarmHer Sherri has brought so beautifully to life.
Where once 28 acres lay dormant, now endless ribbons of lavender ripple across the valley, tended with organic care and a spirit of heartfelt community. Capay Valley Lavender is more than a farm — it is a living poem, a gathering place for connection, learning, and celebration.
The day unfolded with a bountiful buffet, a vibrant spread of the season’s finest offerings:
Flame-charred green garlic, golden beets, rainbow carrots, and vibrant chard, all harvested at their peak and presented with silky herb-infused dips and bowls of hand-caramelized orchard nuts, inviting guests to graze leisurely, savoring the flavors of the land.
As a luxurious accent to the garden’s abundance, wood-fired grass-fed flat iron steaks were offered — cooked quickly over a fragrant bed of oak embers, kissed with wild herbs, and finished with a delicate lavender-balsamic glaze, a whisper of earth and smoke to deepen the experience.
A cheesemonger’s table provided another layer of indulgence:
Lavender-crusted Brie, honey-washed chèvre, cave-aged Carmody, all accompanied by poached apricots, heirloom grapes, rustic breads, and whipped lavender butter — a celebration of the Valley’s richness.
As golden light softened the fields, the celebration reached its sweetest note with a grand Dessert Buffet:
- Kumquat upside-down cake, gleaming with caramelized citrus
- Rustic farm cakes, layered with hand-whipped creams and bursting with orchard fruit
- Fresh heirloom figs, grapes and flowers harvested that morning, offering their simple, sun-kissed sweetness
- Lavender and honey-infused coconut milk and cream ice cream, churned on the spot, releasing the soft perfume of the fields into the twilight
- Espresso infused icecream with chipotle glazed almond flakes
- Caramelized local walnuts & almonds, a final, irresistible crackle of sweetness
It was a day of relaxed grazing, gathering, and gratitude — a slow, abundant dance with the land, and a beautiful beginning for all the seasons to come at Capay Valley Lavender.
Here’s to the dreamers who tend the earth, and to the tables where we come together to taste its blessings.
— Shaunie
