Dinner Party Guest #2: Candace Stock

Photo by Sarah Faith Strong

What is a a favorite food memory you have? This is the question Candace asked us at the Bright Moon Salon at the Arthouse in August. We went around the circle sharing deep, meaningful memories of our pasts. Some of us brought to tears, but each of us moved.

Candace Stock has a true gift for storytelling and healing through food. She is a deep listener who can take your dreams and turn them into a culinary reality. Her very essence is to nourish those whom she feeds, and many times I have been just in awe of the ways she is able to bring flavors and textures together in ways that make one feel profoundly loved.

Photo by Sarah Faith Strong

Candace and I had daydreamed a bit about hosting some sort of experience in the Arthouse. Maybe next summer, we thought. But when Chris started painting the mural, I had to show it to her. Her quick mind immediately started connecting the dots and she pretty much said “I got this”, and the rest just come together from there.

Pickled mushroom dirty martini- photo by Sarah Faith Strong

The meal itself was glorious. It utilized locally-sourced fungi in each dish, save for the salad that utilized the colors of the mural. Even the profiteroles were filled with a chocolate-lions mane- turkey tail cream filling.

This meal is one of my absolute favorite food memories of all time. Candace cooks with her heart and soul, and creates the most beautiful surprises each time we meet up for a meal. She is a true artisan and we are so fortunate to have her as a creative force of nature in the Red River Valley. I am profoundly grateful to call her both family and friend, and I encourage you to stop by Studio Crawl October 1+2 to meet her and savor the inspired snacks she is creating for all of us.

xoxoMs.AnnaLee