Rooted in Mendo: Springing Back into the Season

Rooted in Mendo: Springing Back into the Season

There’s something sacred about returning to a place that feels like home—not just the house-and-keys kind, but the kind of home where your feet touch the earth, the air smells familiar, and you can breathe a little deeper. That’s exactly how I feel being back in Mendocino.

After a few months on the road—visiting family in Trinidad, reconnecting with friends in Miami, soaking in Mexico’s incredible street food scene, and making a quick stop in New York—I’ve come home full of fresh energy, new ideas, and a deep gratitude for this coastal life.

Cooking Among the Redwoods

This season, I’m back at Mendocino Grove, where I’ll be curating the Friday Night Dinners once again. There’s nothing quite like cooking under the redwoods—watching guests gather around the fire, live music echoing through the trees, and plates full of food that reflect this land and the people who care for it. These dinners are more than meals—they're experiences, built on connection, comfort, and curiosity.

We're planning seasonal menus with bold flavors (you know I’ll be sneaking in a little Caribbean magic) and as always, ingredients sourced from local farms, the coast, and the gardens we’re planting on-site.

Expanding What I Offer

This spring, I’m also opening up more private chef bookings. Whether you’re a local hosting friends for a special evening or visiting the coast and want an unforgettable meal in your Airbnb, I’m offering custom menus for small groups, celebrations, retreats, and intimate dinners. I love stepping into someone’s home kitchen, seeing what they’ve got, and turning it into something thoughtful and nourishing.

These experiences allow me to slow down, get to know people, and create something truly personal—sometimes barefoot, always intentional. You bring the stories and the appetite, I’ll bring the spice and the soul.

Food as a Way to Give Back

One of the most important parts of my mission is giving back. Food is how I connect with people, and this year I’m planning more community dinners, pay-what-you-can events, and collaborations with local makers and musicians. Whether it’s sharing a table with neighbors or using my skills to uplift others, food is my offering—it’s how I contribute to the healing and joy of a community I truly care about.

What’s Growing

Beyond the kitchen, I’ve got my hands in the dirt again. We’re planting herbs and edibles at the Grove and working on some garden projects that tie directly into my menus. If you know me, you know this is where I feel most alive—hands messy, heart full, ingredients still warm from the sun.

I’m so excited for what this season will bring—new guests, familiar faces, surprise meals, and hopefully a few unforgettable nights by the fire.

If you’re visiting Mendocino, or you live here and want to co-create something delicious, reach out. Let’s plan a dinner, grow a garden, or just share a conversation about food, roots, and what it means to come home.

With love and vegetables,
Chef Chantelle