The Artisans - II

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Cashmere Cider Mill

Meet the owners of the Cashmere Cider Mill, Kyle and Marcia Green who remain a smaller family owned business with the opportunity to stay connected with their guests and customers. Their gourmet cider is all natural, no preservatives, no additives, or coloring; bottled exactly as it is pressed to focus on wine alternative selections in glass bottles, as the perfect wine alternative. While they look like wine, they are completely non-alcoholic, for those who have chosen not to drink, the designated driver, pregnant or health reasons. Plan to raise your glass of Lady Blush gourmet cider many times during special meal times, be sure to take some home to share at your next dinner party as a special gift or personal indulgence.

After many years of cider production, in 2007 The Cashmere Cider Mill opened its first onsite Tasting Room, and shares its production site. Open Thursday through Saturday 10-5, you will be greeted with chilled gourmet cider samples - the perfect thirst quencher on warm summer days, or hot steamed cider to warm you on colder days.

La Bonne Terre

We will explore the taste and texture of heirloom cuisine at La Bonne Terre (The Good Earth), an intimate restaurant and class setting at the Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery in Wenatchee. World class, Chef Richard Kitos, features artisan gourmet ciders from the Cashmere Cider Mill available at the winery and used to create specialty meats, and dressing; The antient grain, emmer grown locally, along with farmer produce in season from 300 days of sunshine in the Wenatchee Valley.

Kitos' cuisine joins the best of two worlds. While European training added subtlety and refinement to his plate, Kitos has never abandoned his Midwestern respect for hearty, generous servings of old favorites. Incorporating all kinds of influences, he has found a happy medium between more "down-home" and "west coast" cuisine. Certainly, his approach has pleased many critics numerous publication writers.

During his sixteen year stint at The Victorian/Duck Duck Mousse, he grew the company into one of L.A. 's premire catering companies, doing parties in size from ten to three thousand five hundred. The client list includes UCLA, The Ronald Reagan Hospital, The Los Angeles Clippers, top Hollywood producer Jerry Brucheimer, Cavalia Horse Show, The L.A. Zoo, MTV, Yahoo, Neiman Marcus, various movie premieres, and The Peterson Auto Museum. He also created the Victorian Bakery which bakes all of the companies breads and desserts, teachs numerous cooking classes, developed a corporate team building training program, did numerous t.v. show appearances, and trained many cooks that went on to run some of L.A.'s well known restaurants, and catering companies. He is best known as the "Omelette Guy", because of the omelette business which he created at the Santa Monicas Sunday Farmers Market.

The Huckleberry Haven

Gracious Lodging Hosts, Ruth & Ian Leslee bring wild huckleberries from the mountains of North Central Washington to your daily menu. They will share recipes, tips and tricks for baking the most perfect breads and pastries.

Retired bus driver, host Ian Leslie spends summer days hand picking each and every huckleberry that is worked lovingly into baked specialties by wife and partner Ruth Leslie. A background in bakery ownership serves her well, from 1978-1983, what is now Lemolo's on Wenatchee Avenue, once was "The Dough Boys." She seems to prefer the leisurely mornings that begin at 7AM preparing breakfast for her travel guests, to the 3AM from bakery past.

Ian and Ruth have lived in the Wenatchee Valley for over 30 years. Ian enjoys fly fishing, hiking, Seattle Mariners baseball games and naturally...picking huckleberries in the Cascade mountains. Ruth enjoys entertaining, gardening, collecting cookbooks and teacups and naturally...baking hand-made huckleberry delights. Now retired from careers in education, Ian and Ruth look forward to sharing their home and extensive knowledge about the area with their guests.

Read about more of our artisans...

Be sure to view Artisan Producer Gallery

Photo gallery of fruit, farms, and heirloom cuisine