Treks & Bites

 You count the silver linings in life and this year we had a beautiful gift! Due to the pandemic, Broadway sadly had to shut down, but that meant we were able to spend lots of time and so many fantastic adventures with our daughter, Courtney! We all love the out of doors, nature and staying busy, so there's been countless backcountry excursions from whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and hiking to gardening (including starting our first green house) and lots of time in the kitchen experimenting and creating new recipes. Please join us for the fun of it all from planning your next trip or meal to discovering new ideas of fun things to do at home! 

Growing up in Northern California, I have always been attracted to outdoor adventure and nature. When not dancing or singing, I’d often be found climbing trees, exploring the neighborhood hills, or meeting up with friends for a picnic in the woods. I’ve always been passionate about performing and have been lucky enough to pursue my dreams and perform on Broadway and across the country and even abroad. And although I love New York and the amazing opportunities it has had for me, I’ve always missed being near my family and the awesome outdoor activities I was lucky enough to grow up doing. So, when Broadway came to a halt in March, I took advantage and fled to be with my family. Since then, we’ve enjoyed cooking wonderful meals together and exploring the land around us, finding the silver lining in all of this. Since Mama and I have had time to cook, go on excursions, play music, and just enjoy each other’s company, we realized this would be the perfect time to collaborate! I am beyond thrilled to join the Treks & Bites team, bringing you cooking fun you can do right now and travel adventures you can plan for once things return to normal! We hope you enjoy going on this fun journey with us! Thanks for joining the adventure! Xo, S&C 

   I am pretty certain I was born to wander! This was confirmed the day my 4th grade teacher pulled down the world map for our first geography lesson. I was hooked! This was about the same time I first made tarragon chicken to earn my Girl Scout cooking badge — one of my prized achievements in those days! These two passions still motivate me today. As a regularly featured food columnist for the past 16 years, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to share my love of cooking and favorite new recipes with our Lamorinda Weekly readers. 

I was lucky enough to have a mom who allowed me to cook and experiment in the kitchen. Kudos to Grams! She gave me free rein, with the one exception that there would be no box mixes of any kind in our house. That was fine with me! The scratchier the better! This way I actually learned how to cook. When I was a young mother, I also encouraged my three kids to get active in the kitchen. Today, all of our kids enjoy cooking and entertaining! This makes me exceptionally happy, because I believe a happy home always begins in the kitchen! Nowadays, my husband and I practically run a B&B in the backwoods of Idaho - so far just for family and friends, but it's been a fun way of sharing our love of trekking and cooking with others!

This is so exciting to be able to team up with our dazzling daughter, Courtney, on this blog adventure!