There are moments in life when something just clicks—and you don’t even realize how much you needed it until you’re right in the middle of it.

That’s exactly what happened to me this past weekend.

I spent a long weekend at the Substack Food Writer’s Retreat with a group of incredible women (& two men!)—chefs, food writers, cookbook authors, photographers, bloggers, and storytellers.

And here’s the wild part… most of us had never met in person before. We had only connected through Substack.

But from the moment we arrived, something felt different.

There was this instant ease.

This shared energy.

This feeling like… oh, these are my people.

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🍷 A Weekend of Food, Stories & Connection

The weekend was everything you’d imagine—and more.

We cooked together.

Shared meals around a big table.

Talked for hours about food, creativity, business, and life.

Laughed until we couldn’t breathe.

It was one of those experiences where time slows down just enough for you to really feel everything.

And somewhere between chopping herbs, plating dishes, and pouring glasses of wine… we became a tribe.

Not just a group of women who met at a retreat—but a community built on shared passion, mutual respect, and genuine connection.

✨ What “Finding Your Tribe” Really Means

We hear this phrase all the time—find your tribe.

But what does that actually look like?

For me, it’s not just about being surrounded by people.

It’s about being surrounded by the right people.

The ones who:

• understand what lights you up
• see your vision
• support your growth
• and remind you who you are at your core

It’s that feeling where you don’t have to explain yourself.

You don’t have to tone it down or play small.

You just show up as you are—and that’s enough.

There’s a quote by Jim Rohn that says:

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

And when you’re in a room full of creative, passionate, driven people?

You feel that shift immediately.

🌿 Why the Right Environment Changes Everything

One of the biggest takeaways from this weekend was just how much your environment impacts you.

When you’re surrounded by people who are aligned with your passions and values:

• your creativity expands
• your confidence grows
• your ideas flow more freely

You start thinking bigger.

Dreaming again.

Taking yourself—and your work—more seriously.

Because you’re no longer questioning whether you belong.

You already know you do.

And that’s where real momentum begins.

🤝 Collaboration Over Competition

Something else that really stood out to me was the energy of support.

There was no competition. No comparison.

Just women genuinely cheering each other on.

Sharing ideas.

Offering advice.

Talking about ways to collaborate.

And it reminded me of something so important:

The right people don’t see your success as a threat.

They see it as inspiration.

As Brené Brown beautifully says:

“We don’t have to do all of it alone. We were never meant to.”

And that’s exactly what this experience felt like.

🍲 The Meals That Brought Us Together

Of course, no food writers retreat would be complete without an unforgettable meal.

And we had many! We all shared breakfast, lunch and dinner together

made by our individual cooking teams and everything was delicious!

For our final dinner, a few of us teamed up to create an Indian-inspired feast with street food appetizers,

Chickpea Curry, Salad, Cumin Rice, a variety of Indian Condiments and a Spiced Cake for dessert —

and I made:

Mini Curried Spinach & Queso Mini Pot Pies w/ Cilantro-Lime Yogurt Sauce

Golden, flaky pastry filled with warm curry-spiced spinach, chickpeas, and creamy queso.

They were comforting, flavorful, and perfect for sharing—just like the weekend itself.

Curried Spinach + Queso Mini Pot Pies

By Kristen Hess / The Artful Gourmet

Baked in Muffin Pans

Makes about 24 pot pies / or 48 mini pot pies

INGREDIENTS

Puff Pastry

• 4 sheets store-bought puff pastry or shortcrust pastry, thawed
• Flour for dusting

Spinach + Queso Filling

• 2 1/2-3 lbs fresh baby spinach, chopped
• 12 oz queso fresco, crumbled
• 2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
• 2 small yellow onions, finely diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tbsp curry powder
• 2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 cup heavy cream or coconut milk
• 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Glaze

• 2 eggs, beaten (optional, for brushing on pastry tops if using)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare the Filling

1. Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the diced onions and sauté for 5–6 minutes until soft and translucent.
3. Stir in the garlic, curry powder, and turmeric and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

2. Cook the Spinach

1. Add the chopped spinach in batches, stirring until wilted.
2. Stir in the chickpeas and cook for 2 minutes.

3. Make the Creamy Sauce

1. Pour in the heavy cream or coconut milk and simmer for 5-6 minutes until slightly thickened.
2. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste.
3. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
4. Fold in the crumbled queso fresco.

(The filling should be thick and scoopable, not watery.)

4. Prepare the Pastry

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Lightly grease two 24-cup muffin pans.
3. Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface.
4. Cut into 5-6-inch squares or circles.

Press each piece of pastry gently into the muffin cups to form small shells.

Note: You can also use two 24-cup mini muffin pans and cut the pastry into 3-inch circles and bake 18-22 minutes.

5. Fill the Pot Pies

1. Spoon 1–2 tablespoons of filling into each pastry shell.
2. Cut additional small pastry rounds or squares for the tops (if desired.)

You can either:

• Leave them open-faced, or
• Add small pastry lids and press lightly.

6. Egg Wash & Bake

1. Brush the tops with beaten egg (if using).
2. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until:
   • pastry is golden, crunchy and puffed
   • filling is heated through

Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, run a sharp knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the pies, then gently remove and serve on a platter with the Cilantro-Lime Yogurt Sauce drizzled on top of the pies (and extra on the side for dipping!)

Cilantro-Lime Yogurt Sauce

Makes about 2 cups

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
• 3/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 2-3 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp garlic powder (or 1 small clove minced)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Optional: 1 tsp honey or agave

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Stir until smooth.
3. Chill for 30 minutes to let flavors develop.

✨ Serving Tip

Arrange the pot pies on a platter with the yogurt sauce drizzled on top and bowl of extra sauce in the center and garnish with:

• cilantro leaves
• lime wedges
• a light sprinkle of curry powder

👉🏻 Click here for the printable recipe

🌆 A Personal Wake-Up Call

If I’m being honest, this weekend was more than just a fun getaway.

It was a wake-up call.

After spending the past four years in Texas, working in a different rhythm of life and a full-time role, I didn’t realize how much I had been missing this part of myself.

This creative energy.

This sense of community.

This connection to food, storytelling, and building something meaningful.

It reminded me of my time in New York City—where I first built my business, my network, and my creative identity.

And it made one thing very clear:

I want to find my way back there.

Back to a life that feels aligned.

Back to my people.

Back to the energy that fuels me.

❤️ Why Finding Your Tribe Matters

Finding your tribe isn’t just about friendship.

It’s about alignment.

It’s about surrounding yourself with people who:

• inspire you
• support you
• challenge you
• and help you grow

It’s about creating a life—and a business—that feels authentic, fulfilling, and connected.

Because when you’re in the right room, everything changes.

A special thanks to Jenn Sharp, our amazing event hostess and organizer who brought us all together and made this retreat magical for all of us!
And another shoutout to my new food tribe! You are all so talented and inspiring, and I am so happy to have met you all – I can’t wait to next year’s adventure together again! France? Italy? I’m In!

Debbie Dale Blackwell, Mindy Crosato, Anne-Marie Pietersma, Betty Williams, Kerry Faber, CulinUrsa — Elizabeth Baer, Annada D. Rathi (& her husband Dinesh), Lori Olson White, Janet Mary Cobb, Elizabeth Pizzinato, Rebecca Blackwell, Kristen Hess, Marjory Pilley, Sarah Pilley, Emily Pilley, Anne Blackwell, Alex_Sharp, Dianne Jacob, Colton Sharp

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🎧 Listen to the Full Story

If you want the full behind-the-scenes story—including more reflections from the retreat and what it taught me about life, creativity, and business—

🎧 Listen to the companion podcast episode

Finding Your Tribe: The Food Writer Retreat That Changed My Life

And listen to more episodes on The Artful Gourmet Podcast

✍️ Read the Full Essay on Substack

For a deeper, more editorial take on this experience (with more reflections + photos):

📖 Read the Substack essay here

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💬 I’d Love to Hear From You

Have you found your tribe yet?

Or are you still searching for your people?

Drop a comment below or send me a message—I’d love to hear your story.

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🔚 Final Thoughts

If you’ve been feeling a little disconnected lately…

or like something is missing…

Maybe it’s not that you’ve lost your way.

Maybe you just haven’t found your people yet.

And when you do?

Everything shifts.