Sweet Melissa's Private Chef Services

Sweet Melissa's

Personal Chef Services

Serving San Francisco Bay Area

MEET CHEF MELISSA

"I cook to nourish bodies and fill the soul."

I am a Northern California native, have a degree in Human Development and Nutrition from UC Davis, along with my Culinary Arts Degree from the California Culinary Academy, San Francisco. I grew up with most of my best memories taking place in the kitchen. From learning to bake with my Easy Bake Oven, to eventually catering weddings and private parties, my passion has always been food. I’ve traveled all over Europe, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, and North America and enjoy sharing my travel experiences through the food I prepare.

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"Sweet Melissa’s seemed an apt name for my business given that the name “Melissa” means honeybee. Not only do I work like a busy bee, I thrive from sharing the fruits of my labor with my family, friends, and community."

-Melissa Winstead

What are my specialties?

I am trained in cooking for a variety of dietary needs including, but not limited to, diabetic, heart healthy, low cholesterol, low fat, vegetarian and kosher. I believe in cooking with local, organic, and sustainable ingredients whenever possible, however I tailor my menus to the clients dietary and monetary requirements.

Recently, I have become trained in postpartum care. I am offering services to new mothers and growing families. I will help take care of the nutritional needs of your family, when it is most needed.

Lactation Treat Packages

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“Melissa is the best! Her food is yummy, healthy, and awesomely plated. She is professional and very sweet! I would recommend her for any event or just to have her come and cook for you. YUM!”

Rachael F.

Rachael F.

Orange blossom and vanilla bean panna cotta with peach and nectarine compote
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Sweet little dinner party tonight for a group of ladies in SF. Summer corn and Burrata crostini, zaatar salmon with green tahini, basmati rice and haricot vert
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Proud of my Buche de Noel tonight! @endsandstems this always makes me think of you and our epic cake party with the Lady Chefs 🎄
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Beautiful spread for a birthday party last night in Winston Salem. And the flowers! Thank you Sprigg for the beautiful arrangements!
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All set to meet some pregnant mamas and families today! @pregnantinthepiedmont thanks for setting up this great event!
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Come see me this Saturday for yummy samples and explore awesome resources for parents and families. 3320 Silas Creek Pkwy, Winston-Salem, NC 27103-3011, United States @piedmontdoulas
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Family dinner tonight-flank steak bowls with cauliflower rice, zucchini, portobellos, tomato/mozzarella/basil salad and balsamic drizzle, plus ketchup drizzle for Autumn because, toddlers. 🤣
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Corn pancake topped with ground turkey black bean taco mix, @traderjoes unexpected cheddar, avocado cilantro chunky guac and sour cream #eatgoodfood #cheflife #feedme #greensborochef #homemade
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It was a long commute, but worth it to cater this beautiful event with @sujikong3 Thanks to all our awesome staff who helped us pull it off! NC———- ✈️——SF 👩‍🍳
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Had fun last night trying @bungalowkitchentiburon with @stephanietomanloves #backinthebay #citybythebay
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After moving across country, unpacking (emotionally and physically) tonight I finally felt some inspiration to cook and share some delicious food. Inspired by some beautiful local products that I found at @weaverstreetmarket Summer favorite-peach and burrata salad, and then delicious @melinaspasta ricotta gnocchi with organic bicolor corn, Brussels, brown butter and pine nuts.
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Back at it with the holiday events after 2 years!
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Early Thanksgiving and baby’s first Thanksgiving as an eater! And of course I made @zenbelly dry brined Turkey-so delish and so easy! 🦃
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Soba noodle salad with flank steak, mango, fresh herbs and almond ginger dressing
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Salmon with corn salsa, cauliflower mash and sautéed baby greens for my weekly meal clients #summercooking
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Such a pleasure catering a beautiful small wedding today in Woodside
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I’m back! After a year off from catering due to covid and having a baby, I’m starting to book small parties again. Felt a little rusty, but had a great time feeding a table full of guests!
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It’s been a while since I’ve posted any food pics-and that’s because I’ve got a very demanding, but adorable, new client! So far she hasn’t sent anything back, phew! @autumnjwins 5 months old and loving peas 💚
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Words cannot even describe how excited I am to devour all of these #glutenfree goodies from @amythefamilychef !! And I didn’t wait long. Had to eat the cookies in the car on the way home. And that cupcake, holy shit that was delicious!!
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First time catering in 4 months!! Felt good and somewhat “normal” apart from not interacting with guests and wearing a mask. Couples cheese boards and apps that fingers don’t have to touch the food 👍🏻
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Antioxidant salads were popular this week #covidcooking #wearamask
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Made a trunk load of food for a client taking a weekend getaway with friends #newnormal #covidcooking thanks for offering @stephanietomanloves ❤️
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Peach and nectarine upside down cake because I can’t get enough stone fruit! Recipe from @nytcooking and going to be topped with a sweetened creme fraiche 🍑 🍰 ☀️
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Made some drop off salads for a graduation party today. Quinoa with grilled apricot, mint, almonds, caramelized onion and lemon olive oil dressing. And then a classic pesto pasta salad with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and pine nuts. Topped with home grown basil! 🌿 just had enough for garnish today, but pretty soon I’ll have enough to make my pesto with it!
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Made cream cheese stuffed French toast this morning. Was not disappointed 🤤 🍞 🍓 🥓
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Felt like a pie kind of day 🥧 and a great way to use up farmers market strawberries and blackberries.
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Thanks for the tip @endsandstems ! I can’t wait for my strawberry infused vinegar to be ready for summer salads! 🥗 🍓
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Cream cheese pound cake with Meyer lemon sour cream glaze
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This is a riff/copycat of my favorite dish from @mandalaysf Mandalay Special Noodle. And a side of green mango salad. It totally hit the spot! No recipe yet, I’m working on it! Missing the people i normally eat this with @sejensen17 @a_roveroo and @rach_free
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Ricotta spinach gnocchi going in the water, then hot pan with butter and finally getting topped with pork ragú 🤤
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Made a batch of Gojuchang Chicken Bowls to neighbors who reserved them. Marleau is guarding the goods that are ready for pick up!
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Soba noodle salad with marinated grilled tofu, carrots, bell pepper, edamame, crunchy peanuts and almond ginger soy dressing. This hit the spot today!! #meatlessmonday #vegan #quarantinelife
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Double chocolate banana bread a la @smittenkitchen So damn good.
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Making basil spinach pesto today, it’ll go on salmon tonight, but I had to test it on some yummy bread first 🥖 🌿
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Crispy fried egg on top of potatoes, kale and onion all cooked in bacon fat. Oh and 🥓 too, because duh.
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Turns out we have a fantastic Japanese restaurant within walking distance of our house. Score! Thanks @higumarwc for being open and serving with a smile (under the mask of course). This is our second order this week, I predict many more.
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Ribs felt right tonight. Cooked them in the @instantpotofficial for 25 min, then broiled with sauce in the oven. Heavenly comfort food. Added the kale chips with nutritional yeast to make sure we covered the green category 🥬 🌽
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Challah French toast, crispy bacon pieces, fresh berries and Vermont Maple syrup 🙌🏻 Happy Sunday!
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Pickling beets today 👏🏻👏🏻 1lb beets 1/2 cup Apple cider vinegar 1/2 cup water 3 tbsp honey 1 tsp coriander seeds Salt and pepper to taste. Roast or boil your beets, peel, cut, drop into mixed brine. Let sit at least overnight, and keep in fridge for 3 weeks!
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Found mint growing in back of garden so naturally I had to make mint chip ice cream
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Today’s pandemic project: mochi! Made mango curd and lemon curd yesterday and then homemade sweet mochi wrappers. Stuffed a few with blackberries.
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I was craving my favorite gelato flavor, Coppa Mista which is a combo of 4 flavors-vanilla, almond, pistachio and dark chocolate. I had a bunch of milk frozen and found the rest of what I needed in the pantry, so here it is! It did not disappoint, and it didn’t last long either. 🍨
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Quarantine cooking projects continue! Sticky buns 🤤
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After eating a brownie for dinner last night, I felt it was a nutritional necessity to do better tonight. King Salmon with maple Dijon glaze, roasted potatoes and brown butter asparagus #quarantinecooking
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Matzo Brie always feels right this time of year. 2 eggs 2 tbsp milk 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1 sheet of matzo crumbled into 1in chunks. Mix eggs, milk and cinnamon, add matzo pieces and mix. Let sit about 3-5 min. Then cook up like an omelette with plenty of butter. Top with jam, and some salt and pepper.
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Remember that sauce I was making the other day with eggplant? Tonight’s dinner: Pasta Alla Norma #quarantinecooking
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Thai yellow curry with chicken and vegetables over jasmine rice. Great way to use up those veggies in fridge! #quarantinecooking
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Taking all my veggie scraps today and making #vegetablestock. I am usually lazy and just compost my scraps, but it’s been a good reminder to use what I’ve got in order to avoid excessive trips to the store. All you do is save your scraps, in a bag in freezer, until it’s full. Dump into a pot, cover with water, add some salt and simmer for at least an hour. I then let it sit and completely cool before straining and storing. #quarantinecooking
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It’s cookie o’clock somewhere. 🍪 🤪
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Tonight we went with (mostly)homemade bar food. Soft pretzels are from @esprovisions and we’re 💣. BBQ chicken wings, crispy kale chips and homemade cheddar and truffle honey mustard dipping sauces 🤤 #quarantinecooking
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Had some eggplants leftover and canned tomatoes=Pasta Alla Norma. Recipe from @nytcooking and I add sautéed onions and garlic and fresh basil at the end.
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Making room in the freezer, cleared out some frozen bananas by making these beauties! Chocolate chip one for the fantastic @ofieskitchen for helping me out with ingredients during quarantine!
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Got more milk than you can use during Shelter in Place? I froze most of it, but then figured, why not Flan? Made my own evaporated milk by boiling it down, and used up that stray can of sweetened condensed milk in the pantry. Bring it on #quarantine15
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I generally hate making bread. I’m not patient enough, but with an abundance of time on my hands, and flour in my pantry, I felt it was time to get baking! Full steps in stories. Thanks @markbittman for the easy #nokneadbread recipe.
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It may not be the sexiest looking meal, but it was delicious! Mini BBQ turkey meatloafs, mashed potatoes and maple bacon Brussels sprouts. #howchefsquaruntine
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No one was hoarding Paneer cheese or spinach at the market, so I took the opportunity to snatch it up and made us a big batch of Saag Paneer and Chana Masala. Froze the rest! #quarantinecooking #staysafeoutthere
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Miso black cod, coconut basmati rice, haricot vert with shiitake mushrooms
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Orange blossom coconut panna cotta with berry compote and pistachios #glutenfree #dairyfree
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Vegetarian chili, gluten free cornbread muffins, Greek yogurt as sub for sour cream and quick lime picked red onion. This filled me up all day!
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Pumpkin mousse filled cream puffs with salted maple caramel sauce
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Cranberry Curd tart for #friendsgiving today. Recipe from @nytcooking
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Happy (belated) Halloween! Spooky monster cupcakes 🎃
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I grew tomatoes. In San Francisco. In the Outer Sunset of San Francisco. Anyone who’s from here knows that this is a miracle. That is all.
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Sweet 16 cake with a Lucky Charms marshmallow surprise 🎉 🎂
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Prosciutto wrapped pears with Manchego and basil for my favorite SF party client. No other food pics because we were having too much fun 🎉
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I had 4lbs of beautiful plums from @staycphoto family tree and it’s a (rare) sunny day in SF, so I’m making jam! 🙌🏻☀️🌈 using @nytcooking recipe for stone fruit jam. I separated into a few jars and added balsamic and black pepper to a few so I can use on a savory cheese plate 🧀 👏🏻
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When you do a potluck with chef friends 🙌🏻
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So glad I FINALLY got to try @ofieskitchen today! BEST Burger in the Bay and made by the BEST people! Can’t wait to come back!
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If you ever go to Burlington Vermont, this Maple Biscuit from @augustfirstvt is TO DIE FOR. Everything there was super fresh, delicious and clearly made with a lot of love.
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This was so yummy and refreshing. Haloumi with pickled rhubarb, strawberry and micro greens. Thanks @honeyroadrestaurant
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When in Vermont...
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Fantastic food at @artsriot, thanks @thelambo08 for the recommendation!
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Pizza with a view, doesn’t get much better than this!
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Summer caprese with heirloom tomato, avocado, corn, basil, pine nuts and pea shoots. #summerlovin
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Cleaning out the fridge tonight and always inspired by @endsandstems mission to end food waste-so I used up some sad looking zucchini and a month old butternut squash by making these veggie latkes. Then clipped some fresh dill, mint and chives from my garden to make a yogurt sauce to go with! #gardentotable #endfoodwaste #useitup
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Brunching hard today 🍳 🥗 🥞 🍉
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#Latergram of a beautiful buffet that @sujikong3 and I catered last weekend
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Strawberry galette with mascarpone and lemon #hellosummer
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Happy 3 Year Anniversary @mrwinstud77 🥰
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Such a fun dinner tonight with our fantastic healer Angie ✨ 🙌🏻👣 thanks for the amazing food @kokkarisanfrancisco
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Enjoyed a lovely dinner at @mourad_sf with @daisy_asilomar And yes, that’s a tiny little lily pad in that cocktail! ❤️ thanks @hoomantv for the recommendation
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So, it’s spring here. #roses 🌹 #notjustfood #springtime #girlstrip
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Made homemade dulce de leche in the @instantpotofficial for these oatmeal layer bars-turned our great!
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Sunday morning garden haul-leeks, fennel and sage! #urbangardening #spring
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Some highlights from tonight’s #PassoverSeder 🍴
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10 YEARS as Sweet Melissa’s!! How did that happen?! I’ll tell you how-blood, sweat, tears, cuts, burns, so many menus, wonderful staff, supportive family, friends and clients. I’m so grateful for my career thus far and where it has taken me. Thank you to everyone who had believed in me and supported me! A few photo highlights and more in stories 👩🏼‍🍳
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Filet Mignon with crispy leeks, Demi glacé, Pom puree and sautéed snap peas and asparagus
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Sesame seared ahi on won ton chips with avocado, mango jalapeño salsa and ponzu
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#brunchgoals 🍳 🥐 🍞
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I see you Spring, and I’m coming for ya! ☘️💐☀️🌱💛
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Expo West, we hit it hard, had a blast, and have some creative packing to do to get it all home! #samples @natprodexpo
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Some highlights from my evening at @saisonsf What an amazing treat and phenomenal dining experience.
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Happy Galentines @daisy_asilomar and @sashaimi ❤️💋❤️ Beet and Ricotta gnocchi, rack of lamb and Brussels with a honey chili glaze. Oh and a burrata salad because I spotted a good tomato today!
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Appetizer buffet compete with dumpling station and taco bar!
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Delicious lunch after a beach walk today! Quinoa bowl with roasted veggies, greens from the garden, avocado and balsamic drizzle #sundayfunday
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I couldn’t take one more minute of football, so I made blueberry muffins. Thanks @smittenkitchen for the inspiration! #sundayvibes
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Deviled eggs, apple cider brined chicken with broccolini and wild mushrooms, and finishing it off with apple cinnamon bread pudding.
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Here we go! #fancyfoodshow2019 #winterfancyfoodshow
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Big thanks to this crew who works hard with us all year long to create seamless events! So lucky to have them on our team AND call them friends!
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Last event of 2018!!! Closing it out with crowd favorites-Tuna Poke ok won ton crisp, roasted pumpkin and @bellwetherfarms ricotta, Brie and apple crostini, and chicken souvlaki with mint chimichurri 👊🏻✌🏻
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