Rebeka Carpenter. Head chef by title, but she did more than just nourish the body. She was a nurturer of talent; steadfastly leading the kitchen team with vigour and gusto at the early hours of the morning into the evening. She was a nurturer of connecting food to the human spirit; using the freshest ingredients from the on-site organic garden to feed our guests, oft the catalyst needed to start their days full of programming and adventure. It is with a cup of joy and a pinch of sadness that we must bid her adieu, as she departs on another venture. This is truly a piece of bittersweet chocolate.
She was a program all of her own; proving that it is possible to value the garden, the kitchen, the food, and the mouths that would be fed. In this vein, she will be presenting “Garden to Table: Cooking & Mindful Movement” this year, which combines harvest, cooking, and yoga play; a natural fit.
After 12 seasons with us, Rebeka is moving on from her position as the Kitchen Manager. We wish Rebeka all the best and will keep her spirit alive with each vegetable cut, each bread baked, and every batch of Yeast Dressing whipped. Find her heartfelt, open letter to our community below.
After 12 seasons at Hollyhock as the Head Chef, I have decided to move on and take on a new adventure. A unique full-time, year-round position – rarely offered in my field – opened up, and it became apparent to me this would be the best choice for me at this point in my life. I am a newly-wed. My husband, Don, is building us a home on Cortes Island. There is a Bakery expansion in the works for the Cortes Natural food Co-op, where I accepted the position of Kitchen Supervisor. As I transition between these roles, there is an immense letting go for me as the leader of a truly talented and caring team who have worked closely together for many years.
As I reflect on my tenure, I well remember the feeling I had upon arriving to the interview – I felt like I had come home! I am not unique in this. So many of us reclaim this feeling for ourselves as we make the wild choice to move to a wee island off the coast of British Columbia, surrounded by ocean waters. I have never looked back! Oh, I miss my dear family who live a day’s travel or more away, yet there is just something special about this place that is in my bones. I am sitting in my ocean-view kitchen office and looking out at the water and Hernando Island and Vancouver Island in the distance. It is simply stunning, in any weather or circumstance. Awe-inspiring, really. What’s not to love?
Thank you to Hollyhock and the incredible team that gathers every season to share a bounty of educational offerings, with the opportunity to delve deep into new visions, explore our creativity, and feel treasured, as we all are. It is so special to find renewed purpose and be supported by this sacred place.
I will not say good-bye, but rather ask you stop by and say hello at the Cortes Natural Food Co-op Cafe. I will sorely miss all my many wonderful colleagues and co-workers, and I trust that this change will only deepen our connection and friendship.
Thank you to Hollyhock and the incredible team that gathers every season to share a bounty of educational offerings, with the opportunity to delve deep into new visions, explore our creativity, and feel treasured, as we all are. It is so special to find renewed purpose and be supported by this sacred place.
I will miss the smell and whirl of the many hundreds, if not thousands, of batches of Hollyhock Yeast Dressing I have made, seen made, and certainly heard, loud and clear, to creamy deliciousness on the amazing greens from the garden! Oh, I will miss the garden and all the herby goodness of the thyme and parsley grown in abundance!
I will hold dear the many sweet memories of the incredible people I have worked with and the wonderful guests and Presenters who traverse to Cortes Island and Hollyhock to unfold, explore, and remember their best selves.
Its been a day at the beach!
Do you know anyone passionate about culinary arts and leading with authenticity? Please pass along our Kitchen Manager job description to any of your Chef connections that you think would be fit to take the reigns of our kitchen and lead our team in creating the mouth-wartering, garden-to-table meals that Hollyhock is internationally known for.
