I rarely share the behind-the-scenes of running Choosing Chia, but some moments feel worth recording — and this was one of them. A few weeks ago I flew to Atlanta, Georgia to attend the Fresh Air Retreat, and it turned out to be one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had in a long time.
Huge thanks to Amanda Kamppinen, our retreat photographer, whose work you see throughout this post. She’s talented, fun, and captured the weekend beautifully.
What Is the Fresh Air Retreat?
The Fresh Air Retreat is an intimate gathering for food creators hosted by Liz Della Croce of The Lemon Bowl and Lauren Grier of The Curious Plate. Their retreats have become known for bringing together a small group of bloggers and food creatives to connect, exchange ideas, and have candid conversations about the realities of this work. There’s no competition or performance — just honest dialogue, creative inspiration, and delicious food.
This was my first time attending and I left with a full heart and a long list of ideas in my notes app.
The People — Honestly the Best Part
Working from home can be isolating. I love my job, but most days I’m in my own bubble without coworkers or casual brainstorming. Being in a room with eight other creative, experienced women who understand the ups and downs of blogging was incredibly refreshing. The atmosphere was warm and collaborative — there was zero sense of competition.
One of the most useful moments was a lightning-round problem-solving session where we took turns troubleshooting real business challenges. Having that many thoughtful perspectives in one room was a gift and provided practical takeaways I’m already applying to Choosing Chia.
Attendees included:
- Grilled Cheese Social
- The Recipe Rebel
- Eating Bird Food
- Jar of Lemons
- It’s a Flavorful Life
- Foodess
- Dinner in 321
And a special shoutout to Chef Trimmel, who prepared our in-house meals throughout the retreat. Every dish was outstanding and thoughtfully composed.
The Food — Of Course We Need to Talk About This
As food bloggers, we were always going to focus on the food, and the meals lived up to expectations. Our dining experiences ranged from Chef Trimmel’s home-cooked meals to curated lunches and dinners out in Atlanta.
Dinner with SUNSET® Produce
On night two we enjoyed a stunning dinner centered on SUNSET® produce. The menu showcased bright, flavorful ingredients in simple, satisfying preparations. We started with chilled tomato gazpacho, homemade pickles, and a burrata and crudité board with toasted bread that was impossible to resist.
The main course featured shrimp and grits accented with roasted Flavor Bombs® cherry tomatoes, followed by a beautifully cooked steak with pepper potatoes and asparagus. The Flavor Bombs® were a standout for their sweetness and depth, while Pop Its® mini cucumbers and Wild Wonders® mini peppers added freshness and color to the crudité board.
The whole meal felt like effortless summer entertaining — the kind of menu and table styling I’m already planning to recreate at home.
Lunch with Amylu Foods
Another highlight was a build-your-own-bowl lunch hosted by Amylu Foods. We sampled a variety of their products and got to speak with the brand team. As someone who loves bowls — from hearty grain bowls to Mediterranean-inspired plates — this format was perfect.
Amylu makes straightforward, all-natural chicken sausages, burgers, and other proteins without nitrates or nitrites. As a busy parent, having quality freezer staples I can rely on is a real convenience. Their Korean BBQ Chicken Crumbles were delicious and flexible for easy weeknight meals.
The bowl format encouraged experimentation and showcased how versatile Amylu products are for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Knife Skills with Zwilling
Zwilling led a practical knife skills demo that was both fun and educational. Even experienced home cooks benefit from revisiting technique, and I appreciated the chance to test different knives and refine my pinch grip — now my preferred way to hold a knife.
Dinner with Mediavine at Ray’s on the River
We closed the retreat with a dinner hosted by Mediavine at Ray’s on the River. The waterfront setting was gorgeous and felt like a perfect ending to the week. Earlier we’d had a productive brainstorming session with the Mediavine team, and finishing the retreat together over a memorable meal was the ideal send-off.
What I’m Taking Home
Beyond the food and the new city, the biggest takeaway was renewed motivation. It’s easy to get stuck in the routine of creating, posting, and optimizing without stepping back to see the bigger picture. Being surrounded by creators who are passionate, supportive, and ready to share their knowledge reminded me why I started this work.
Thank you to Liz and Lauren for organizing such a thoughtful retreat, to Amanda for capturing the moments so beautifully, to Chef Trimmel for incredible food, and to SUNSET® and Amylu Foods for elevating the meals. If you ever have the chance to attend a Fresh Air Retreat, I highly recommend it.