Erin Gleeson Woodside, CA

After a cross-country move from New York to California, the now-bestselling cookbook author went from photographing lavish dishes in the city to simple recipes in the woods—an artistic pivot inspired by her new home, a charming cabin in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Nearly a decade and four cookbooks later, The Forest Feast series is as fresh as ever.

Erin subscribes to a weekly farm box for access to the freshest local produce.

How did you become interested in cooking?

I grew up in rural Sonoma County, California, on an apple orchard. We had a big garden and cooked a lot as a family. Then, in college, I studied art for a year in Bologna, Italy’s culinary capital, and that really solidified my love of food.

What’s your process for creating recipes for your cookbooks?