Your guide to the heart of Litchfield County:
Discover local stories, hidden gems, and must-know events.

By Charles Dubow

There are probably not many New Milford residents who have been welcomed to Buckingham Palace. It is also fairly safe to say that—nothing against New Milford—few of its residents have ever been called a “national treasure.” Yet Matin Malikzada can lay claim to both honors. 

A seventh-generation potter from Afghanistan, through the auspices of New Milford Refugee Resettlement, Matin and his young family arrived in March of 2022 after having escaped the Taliban. But he is not just any potter. “What is important to understand about Matin,” says Litchfield County’s doyen of pottery Guy Wolff, “is that he is a living embodiment of a tradition that goes back centuries and he is an absolute master of his craft.”

A visit to the Malikzada’s home in New Milford reveals a porch covered with elegant vases, pots, bowls and dishes waiting to be glazed and fired. “I am not happy unless I am working,” says Matin through an interpreter. “I have been doing this since I was seven when I started to help my father in his workshop.” Now at the age of 36 he has achieved what Wolff says is the true sign of a virtuoso: effortlessness. “It’s something more than skill or talent—and Matin has it.”

The community has warmly welcomed Matin. Local potters like Wolff and Jayson Roberts at the Village Center for the Arts have loaned him tools and material, and given him the chance to fire his pots in their kilns. Local galleries and art associations have also opened their doors to him. So far he has shown his work at Wolff’s shop and the VCA, as well as at Kent Art Gallery, Brookfield Craft, Waterbury’s Mattatuck Museum, Judy Black and the Washington Art Association in Washington, and Privet House in New Preston.

Nevertheless, challenges remain. It is tough for even the most talented and respected artists to make a living, but tougher still when one is separated from the traditional raw materials that characterize one’s work. “I am very grateful for all the help I have been given,” says Matin, “but I can’t get the same clay or the same glaze I used back home. I can still create beautiful pieces but it’s not the same thing.”

He has tried to recreate the glaze, which is derived from a plant called eshkar that only grows in a certain part of Afghanistan and which gives its pottery its distinctive rich turquoise color. He attempted to grow the plant himself in New Milford without success. “He is used to making all his material by hand,” says Wolff. “You just don’t go to the local art supply store for your glaze. That’s part of what makes his work so special.” Matin also needs a studio and kiln of his own. So far he has relied on the kindness of his friends and supporters but that’s not a long-term solution. “What he needs is a Medici,” laughs Wolff. 

He had one of sorts in the form of the Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, who founded a non-profit called Turquoise Mountain in 2006 to support and revive traditional crafts in Afghanistan. Not only did Matin run Turquoise Mountain’s ceramics department in Kabul, through it his work was displayed at the Palace in London and the Smithsonian. 

But for now he is happy to be in New Milford and to be allowed to continue to make and sell his work. “I will tell you a funny story,” he says. “People ask me why I charge so much for a piece that took me only 15 minutes to make. I tell them it didn’t take me 15 minutes. It took me 35 years.”

To learn more about Matin’s work or to place an order, go to malikzadapottery.com

By Clementina Verge

Functionality and timeless design are keywords for Romina Frecha when creating meaningful spaces. Ro by Frecha Design—her recently-opened interior design studio and showroom in New Preston—captures these ideals while also showcasing her fondness for Scandinavian influences. 

“The studio celebrates the art of interior design through a commitment to modernist architecture, artisanal craft, and quality workmanship,” Frecha notes. “The focus is on artists’ works that are internationally recognized as classic and contemporary, and crafted from responsibly-sourced materials.”

Frecha fell in love with design at an early age, studying her surroundings and contemplating ways to enhance them. Through the years, her passion for aesthetics and decor compelled her to pursue interior architecture—while still a novel area in the late 1980s in her native Argentina—and after graduating in Buenos Aires, she embarked on a life of travel, observing decor and designs in more than 20 countries before settling in New York City more than two decades ago.

Until recently, one professional aspiration still remained: opening her own studio, a space to showcase her curated collection of design and lifestyle pieces. Choosing its location was easy.

“A few summers ago, we came to visit friends in Sharon,” she reminisces. “They brought us to New Preston and drove us around Lake Waramaug. It was instant love. New Preston is a magical place with stunning landscapes and incredibly kind, creative, and interesting people.

I spent our entire drive home back to the city looking for real estate, and three months later, we moved into a house up on the hill overlooking the lake.”

Frecha now maintains Connecticut and New York City residencies and her vast design portfolio, ranging from country homes, to city apartments and executive offices, captures tranquility and keen emphasis on craftsmanship. 

Always focusing on genuine materials, bespoke hardware, and timeless signature furnishing, she advises that just a few well-designed and impeccably constructed pieces can create the entire atmosphere. To demonstrate, her studio displays an exquisite collection, including lighting by Finnish designer Paavo Tynell, an original lounge chair by celebrated Swedish designer Bruno Mathsson, restored vintage pieces from Denmark, and fine art prints by Alex Katz.

When designing furniture, she prefers to use locally-sourced materials, such as the ash and walnut woods used for her sculpture table “Pebbles,” which earned an honorable mention at the 2022 Members Show of the Washington Art Association.

“I also like to use reclaimed or local woods for countertops,” Frecha explains. “Whether new pieces, or vintage furniture and light fixtures, I buy directly from the designer or country of origin. I travel frequently and always search for rare pieces.”

Though design trends change—affecting types of patterns, stone, and wood—Frecha says she prefers “pieces that have history.” Still, when designing for others, she presents a variety of choices, helping them make the right design decisions.

“A home needs to be designed according to its environment and occupants,” Frecha notes. “Functionality and aesthetics go hand in hand to give harmony to the people living in it.” —rominafrechadesign.com

By Zachary Schwartz 

The old adage, “out with the old, in with the new,” hardly applies in the case of a gorgeously renovated Roxbury farmhouse. The weekend holiday home, purchased in 2019 by a couple with an affinity for historical architecture, is something of a multi-century jigsaw puzzle. 

The original homestead was built in the 1700s, followed by a significant addition in the 1800s, then modernized in the 1900s, and finally renovated to its current glory in the 2020s. This labor of love quite literally spans four centuries. 

The main challenge of the 2020 renovation was the fragmentation of the first construction and its subsequent extensions. In order to pass from one part of the upstairs floor to the other, residents had to go downstairs, cross the ground floor to another staircase, then reascend upstairs. Structural changes were required to breathe new life into this antique home, and a fastidious architect was required to unite the disjointed spaces into an architectural alloy.

The new owners enlisted the help of POP Architecture, DPC, an architecture studio run by Okan Oncel and Jessica Pleasants, in partnership with contractor Shaun Nettleton of Pinnacle Peak, Inc. The homeowners’ assignment was deceptively simple: reconfigure the home to flow, without disrupting its character. The implementation was anything but simple. 

POP Architecture, DPC had to perform surgical modifications to the 18th century home, modernize and redesign where needed, and honor the historical integrity of the space. “Preservation was definitely top of mind for our clients. The priority of the design was to maintain as much of the original character of the home,” says Jessica Pleasants.

Following completion of the 2020 remodeling, the multi-generational property finally flowed elegantly. Importantly, residents could cross from one side of the upstairs floor to the other without going up and down. “The way we connected the floors melded and integrated it in a way that felt very natural. It’s hard for someone to go there now and think that there were two separate houses,” says Oncel.

Today, the four-century residence is highlighted by personality and period panache. Flanking the farmhouse are bucolic grounds with pastoral landscaping, rock gardens, and outdoor courtyards. Within the home, there are original wooden floors, windows, and doors, fireplaces, antique cabinetry, and plenty of authentic finishes that contribute charm and character. 

For added effect, the new homeowners evoked a design language characteristic of Litchfield County homes, with support from Rod Pleasants of McIver Morgan Design. Antique curios, heirloom carpets, chairs upholstered with patterned fabrics, and a copper clawfoot bathtub transform the space into an abode perfect for modern entertaining. “I wanted it to have a little bit of a contemporary feel in the rooms, but still have period appropriate furnishings,” says the homeowner.

Notably, a non-functional spiral staircase from the original home now serves as an art object, memory, and homage to the farmhouse’s architectural archive. In this chronological home whose blueprints read like a storied saga, a different aged adage rings true: what’s old is most certainly new again.

By Clementina Verge

Many high school students graduate with little knowledge about themselves and how the world works, and feel overwhelmed about immediately pursuing college. The remedy is the gap year—an essential bridge to self-discovery, as well as rediscovering curiosity, personal motivation, and the wonder of ideas.

The insight comes from Jake Horne, an educator, mentor, and founder of The Student Compass, a Washington Depot-based program that provides personalized mentoring for academic and personal development. He advises parents to consider the gap year experience for children who finish high school bright, but “filled with anxiety and struggling to find their place in the world.”

“This anxiety, a cumulative phenomena that Gen-Z is experiencing, pre-dates the college application process and is deeper rooted than in previous generations,” he emphasizes, “embedded in the angst and zero-sum mentality of American society.”

“After 14 years of schooling and 20 years of social trauma, the gap year offers opportunities to rest academic minds and experience new perspectives, actually applying knowledge to real world experiences,” Horne explains.

Understandably, deferring college is a novel strategy for many parents, but Horne—whose daughters thrived from gap years—provides assurance. Alleviating parental worries, he addresses misconceptions that this break is wasted time by relating that “91 percent matriculate college following their gap year, but with a more engaged, expanded worldview.”

A customized plan incorporating three experiences in three environments fuels this transformation. First comes college admission, which Horne can assist with. Once accepted and committed to a university, students submit a letter requesting a gap year. Then, Horne begins mentoring them, building rapport, and “getting to know their hopes and dreams” before presenting them with possibilities and matching them with proven programs, supervised by adult coordinators.

Examples include volunteering with dolphin research in Florida, teaching art in Costa Rica, and visiting the country of one’s ancestors and working as apprentices. Such diverse experiences generate personal responsibility, adaptability, leadership, and inspire appreciation for other cultures. In between, gap year students often work locally and “have wonderful stories to share.”

Ultimately, the gap year helps students find a sense of purpose and emotional balance before college. It fosters independence, decision-making, and budgeting skills, while highlighting the complexity of human endeavor and “preparing them to enter college with social and emotional maturity that most secondary schools fail to teach.”

A Harvard graduate, Horne contends that “most schools are too achievement-oriented and performance-driven, causing significant anxiety for the Gen-Z population.”

“To enter college with such deep anxiety and misplaced belief that college, or someone else, will fix it, is an illusion. Being stuck in that illusion means missing the powerful engagement and broadening world view experienced in a liberal arts education,” Horne cautions. “What happens after college then is a scary, confused unknown at best, and a black hole at worst. Instead, it is vital to learn how to manage life, to make it productive, happy, and interesting, and to thrive in this world, not just survive.”

Following an extensive teaching career, including as an academic director and college counselor, Horne established The Student Compass in 2011. He has mentored hundreds of students seeking to develop a growth mindset, gain confidence, expand critical thinking, and overcome challenges as they acquire a purposeful sense of direction.

“Ultimately, these students are intrinsically better prepared and more motivated than their peers,” Horne reflects, noting universities including Princeton and Harvard seek them out. “The gap year isn’t simply an elective anymore. It is an essential part of a dynamic, transformative college learning experience, and critically influences one’s trajectory toward a healthy, thriving life.”—thestudentcompass.com

Vote for your favorite things about Litchfield County with a wide variety of categories for our annual Reader’s Choice Contest in this Best of Litchfield County issue. The results will feature people and businesses in various industries—including food, health and wellness, apparel and accessories, home and design, education, spa and beauty, and many more! We will share the top three choices in each category—not to mention, some of  the local businesses that make Litchfield County the amazing place it is.

This year there will be two voting rounds. The nomination round is open now through October 30. The top 5 nominated in each category will move on to the final voting round which will take place November 9-20. The top 3 in each category will be featured in our Best of Litchfield County issue. You will have one chance to vote a day so make it count.

Important! Vote for as many or as few categories as you like – but when you are finished just make sure to go to the last page of the survey and input your email address and hit submit. Otherwise, your nominations won’t come through to us. Thank you!

Vote Here!

Looking for a fun night full of jumpscares and fright? Then you are in the right place! Harrybrooke Park in New Milford is back for another year as their chill giving alter ego Scarrybrooke Park. The haunted trail in the woods is about one mile long and should take approximately 45 minutes to an hour to complete. Choose from any of these date–October 14, 15, 21, and 22—and prepare to get spooked! Event times run from 6pm to 10pm all four days. Ages 12 and up.

• Tickets are $20 per person
• Groups of 10 or more are $15 each
• This event is for ages 12+, no children under 12 years old
• All proceeds support Harrybrooke Park and New Milford area nonprofits

Purchase tickets here

For more spooky fun check out these other Halloween events.

View photos from last year’s Haunted Trail below:

Photo credit: Philip Dutton

Harrybrooke Park
100 Still River Drive, New Milford

We’ve put together a list of Halloween events happening in Litchfield County this Fall!

Bantam

• Junior Women’s Club of Litchfield Hills presents: Halloween Ball, October 29, 2022, 7pm 

21+ Byob, costumes recommended not required. Dj, dancing, 50/50raffle, snacks, costume prizes. Ticket price is $25. All proceeds go to local charities and families in need.

• • 92 Doyle Road, Bantam (Bantam Firehouse)

Bethlehem 

• Blue Boy Entertainment presents: Peaches and Kareem Halloween Comedy Show, October 29, 7pm

Enjoy a night of Comedy in Bethlehem. Show is BYOB and snacks and food are encouraged. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm.

• • 10 The Green, Bethlehem (Memorial Hall)

Bridgewater

• Children’s Paint Party, October 29th 10am-12pm

Read a book and paint pottery, all with a Halloween theme! Ages 8 and under, limited space

• • 62 Main Street South, Bridgewater (Burnham Library)

Goshen

• The Forsaken Lands Outdoor Haunted Attraction, September 30-Nov 2, 7pm-10pm 

Connecticut’s latest and most cutting edge haunted attraction, opens its very creaky barn doors for the first season of fears at Action Wildlife! The inhabitants of this long forgotten farm village unleash their wrath on, and consume all who dare step foot onto their forbidden grounds. Recommended for ages 13+

• • 435 Torrington Road, Goshen (Action Wildlife)
  • $6 cash only parking fee, General admission is $25, VIP is $35

Harwinton

• YA Halloween Party, October 26, 6:30pm-8pm 

For teens, tweens, and those who still feel like a teen, costumes are not required. Fun night of Halloween games, activities, prizes and goodies.

• • 80 Bentley Drive, Harwinton (Harwinton Public Library)
• Halloween Scavenger Hunt, October 29th, October 31st all day

Kids and Teens come Saturday or Monday to enjoy the scavenger hunt. Come anytime during the day in costume or as you are. There will be prizes for all winners

• • 80 Bentley Drive, Harwinton (Harwinton Public Library)

Kent

• 46th Annual Kent Pumpkin Run, October 30, 2022, 12pm

The five-mile event is Kent’s largest one-day community event with up to 700 participants for the main event. The Kent Pumpkin Run travels along one of the most scenic courses in Connecticut.

• • 41 Kent Green Blvd, Kent

Litchfield

• Scarecrows in the Meadow, October 15-31

A community event celebrating the end of the harvest season.

• • 82nd South Street, Litchfield (Tapping Reeve Meadow)
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, October 19th 5:30-7:30pm

Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk brings The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to life in Litchfield! Event will take place outside so please dress for the weather. Free for members, $10 for nonmembers and $25 for groups

• • 82nd South Street, Litchfield (Tapping Reeve Meadow)

Morris

• Morris Public Library presents Trick or Treat at Story and Music  October 25th, 10am

Young listeners, ages 0-5, are invited to a special Story Time wearing their Halloween costumes. Families will enjoy a story, rhymes, songs, and trick or treating with a librarian! Don’t forget to bring your baskets for the goodies!

• • 4 North Street, Morris

New Hartford

• After Hours at the Beekley Teen Halloween Movie Night: The Witches, October 28, 6:30pm-8:30pm

6th grade and up, Halloween snacks and candy will be provided.

• • 10 Central Ave, New Hartford

New Milford

• Harrybrooke Park Haunted Trail, October 14,15, 21, 22 
  • 100 Still River Drive, New Milford

• The Creative Flow presents: Kids Only Halloween Paint Party, October 29, 10am

2 hour drop off event, will create a painting and fabric pumpkin! Painters will be given painting supplies and light refreshments. $35 per painter, payment should be paid in full by October 25. 6 years and older.

• • The Creative FLOW | New Milford

• Annual Halloween Funfest, October 21, 5pm-8pm

Mounted Games include: key hole, barrel race, horse and rider apple bob, costume contest, stall decorating and more. $50 to participate in all events, $30 for boarders/leasers. Payment in advance is asked. Party is open to those participating in the contest, those who are not and family + friends. Please bring a snack or treat to share with friends, those of legal age may byob. Stall decorating may begin October 14th, own stall or QRF’s stall if you don’t have one. 

• • 8 Wells Road, New Milford (Quiet Rein Sales)

Plymouth

• Halloween Fun Fest, October 7, 8, 9

Enjoy one last camping trip by enjoying Halloween activities, events, and decorating your campsite for the evening. Call to reserve your site.

• • 262 Mount Tobe Road, Plymouth

• Hollowed Harvest, September 23-October 30

Thousands of Jack O Lanterns create landscapes, larger than life displays, tunnels and intricately carved pumpkins.

• • 221 Mount Tobe Road, Plymouth

Torrington 

• Not So Spooky Halloween Bash, October 15, 4-6pm 

Trick or treating, haunted snack shack, halloween photo station, mini golf. $10 per family.

• • 12 Daycoeton Place, Torrington

• Ruwet Berry Scary Acres, September 24-October: every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Pumpkins, haunted house, corn maze, and more. $5 admission per person, children under 3 are free.

• • East Pearl Road, Torrington

Washington

• Jack O Lanterns at Judy Black Park, October 29

Carve your most creative designs in pumpkins at home and bring them in for the contest. Must be registered by 9:30 am, winners announced at 1:15pm.

• • 1 Green Hill Road, Washington

• Gunn Jr Library Annual Halloween Costume, October 29, 1 pm-2pm

Trick or treating through the library, ghostly games, and chilling crafts. Registration is required. Parents, children and caregivers are encouraged to dress up in their favorite costume.

• • 5 Wykeham Road, Washington

• 15th Annual Washington Cemetery Tour, October 28, 6:30pm-8:30pm

The Washington Cemetery Tour our annual event that showcases the rich history of Washington, CT through costumed actors who portray residents from the past

• • 5 Wykeham Road, Washington

Watertown

• Watertown Parks & Rec Dept. presents 2022 Trunk or Treat, October 22, 3-4pm 
  • 779 Buckingham Street, Watertown (John Trumbull School Parking lot)

Winsted (Winchester)

• 7th Annual Winsted Lions Club Halloween Party, October 14, 7pm-11pm (doors open at 6:30)

Music, costume contests with prizes, raffles for prizes donated from local businesses. Tickets are $30, call 860-921-6644 or buy here.

• • 164 Torrington Road, Winsted (Crystal Peak)

• Winsted Recreation: Trunk or Treat, October 29, 5:30pm-7pm

Cars will be decorated and will be handing out candy and treats. Come in costume and walk vehicle to vehicle to trick or treat. Park across the street and walk to the entrance!

• • 75 Rowley Street, Winsted (Rowley Park)

Woodbury

• The Glebe House All Hollow’s Eve: Witch of Woodbury & Haunted Museum, October 30, 5:45pm

Haunted museum and garden is open 5:30pm-9:30pm. Limited tickets, no walk-ins. $11 per person, $6 for 5-12 year olds, children under 5 are free.

• • 49 Hollow Road, Woodbury

• Flanders Nature Center Haunted Hikes, October 21,22, October 28,29

4-6pm family friendly hike for a not so scary walk in the woods. 6:30-8pm spine chilling walk through the woods *not recommended for children under 12 or the faint of heart. Dress for the worst conditions. $9 per person.

• • 596 Flanders Road, Woodbury

By Tovah Martin

Wendy Goidell was merely looking for a real estate investment when she found the 25-acre site in Wassaic. “It was reasonably priced and adjacent to a state park, I didn’t see a downside,” Goidell recalls. That was back in 2003 when she was renting a weekend house in the area while working as a film stylist in the city. If you noticed the flowers and greens in The First Wives Club, Analyze This, The Thomas Crown Affair, or Meet the Parents, they were Goidell’s work.

Not long after buying the investment acreage, Goidell began the serious business of house-hunting because renting wasn’t really Goidell’s long-term plan. “Basically, I looked at about a thousand houses that I didn’t like,” she summed up the buying search. And that’s when she ended up at her realtors’ converted barn home. It wasn’t for sale, but she loved the spacious open floor plan. And suddenly it hit her, “I realized that I could actually build a house if I kept it simple.” From that point onward, she began looking at her investment property from a whole different perspective. However, Goidell’s version of “simple” included geothermal radiant heat, solar panels, and green energy. Another little wrinkle was that her Amenia dream house would need to be blasted out of stone.

Not only is ledge omnipresent on the Amenia property, but the grade is strictly vertical. While the house was becoming a reality, landscaping was also part of Goidell’s picture. But finding spaces sufficiently level to allow plants to get a foothold was a challenge until the contractor suggested using the massive rocks to brace terraces. Three levels later, Goidell called up Andy Durbridge to install a few trees around the house while stairs to access the house were chiseled into the hillside and edged with drought-tolerant calamintha. Blueberries were inserted as well as other plants that fit with the wild look.

Not long afterward, Goidell happened upon an article about natural swimming ponds and was instantly intrigued. But she could find nobody with the knowledge necessary to tackle the project in our region. Finally, she found Chris Rawlings who had just completed a stint in Europe studying natural ponds.

Again, the boulders in situ were put into service for the project. The natural pond theory utilizes shelves of plant life to filter the water—and the stones on site were perfectly suited. At first, Goidell wanted the pool out of sight from the house so her little indulgence would not make a big splash in the scene. Rawlings convinced her that the pool should be sited proudly and prominently just footsteps from the house’s blue-stone back patio. In the end, Goidell agreed and now acknowledges that the natural pond sets the mood for the property. Surrounded by stone, feeling congruous with its surroundings, and with a breathtaking view of the surrounding scenery, the pool fits hand-in-glove with the land. The crowning jewel in the con-figuration is a whale of a rock that serves as a jumping-off point sprawled across the middle of the pool. Not only does her little water feature keep Goidell cool in season, but it becomes a gathering place when friends come to visit. Plus, the natural pool is a hotspot for Goidell’s cat, Sammy.

Garden designer Ana Hajduk of Singing Brook Gardens crafted plantings around the natural pond, anchoring it in irises, rudbeckias, carex, and ornamental grasses that manage to survive the challenging terrain without requiring continual irrigation. Hajduk also tucked gardens farther afield. Practical plantings were installed. Down from the summit of the hill, a fruit orchard produces peaches, pears, and edible quince. A vegetable/cutting garden furnishes sustenance for dinner as well as food for the soul beside the bank of solar collectors. Everything feels so apropos for the place—it’s a testimony for liv-ing in concert with nature without a heavy footprint. And the scene is achingly beautiful in all seasons of the year. Even when the weather is too brisk for swimming, the pond is a strong part of the place’s personality—framing the view of the surrounding forest in its fiery autumn wardrobe.

On September 18, 2022 our publisher Happening in the Hills hosted a sold-out fabulous farm-to-table dinner food and wine event for 180 people at South Farms in Morris. Featuring a sit down dinner created by seven of some of Litchfield County’s most accomplished chefs, the evening included a cocktail hour and a glorious meal prepared with locally sourced food in a beautiful Litchfield County setting.  Zachy’s provided all of the wine for the evening. Litchfield Distillery and Kent Falls Brewing Company provided cocktails and draft beer. William Pitt Sotheby’s sponsored a comfortable lounge area during cocktail hour. Chef Joel Viehland led the team of talented chefs. Locally made Zero Prophet Coffee was served at the end of the meal. A portion of the profits are being donated to F.I.S.H. NWCT in Torrington. Photos by Jim Henkens.

THE CHEFS

Chef Joel Viehland

Joel Viehland has worked at award-winning restaurants including New York’s Gramercy Tavern, Noma in Copenhagen, Herbsaint and Bayona in New Orleans, before becoming opening chef at Community Table where he was nominated for three James Beard Awards and named Best Small Town Chef in America by Cooking Light. In 2017 Joel opened Swyft in Kent. When the pandemic hit Joel decided to sell Swyft to focus on special events for private clients. @joelviehland

Chef Gabby Rios

A native of Waterbury, and a graduate from The Art Institute of New York City, Gabby has worked her way throughout the Litchfield Hills and the Berkshires. Currently the Pastry Chef at The White Hart Inn, Gabby is responsible for the many elegant and comforting desserts you’ll see displayed in Provisions and the Dining room. She is a seasonally inspired chef and is an advocate for local farming and ingredients. @gabalicious121

Chef Robert Arbor

Le Gamin Café and Les Deux Gamins were founded by French owner Robert Arbor in 1992. Le Gamin was known for its authentic French ambiance, food, and signature crêpes. In 1994, Robert opened Les Deux Gamins in the West Village, and during the pandemic, Le Gamin Studio Agraire in Sharon, which he operates with his son. Arbor is the author of the memoir/cookbook Joie De Vivre, and spokesperson and consultant on many Franco-NYC projects. @legaminstudioagraire

Chef Carlos Perez

Chef Carlos Perez is the executive chef of @ The Corner in Litchfield. Originally studying in Manhattan under some of New York’s top chefs, Perez has spent the last few years working around Connecticut before finding a home in Litchfield. His approach to cooking can be described as sustainable farm-to-table, paired with a modern influence along with an extensive background in pastry. @chefcarlosperez

We’d like to thank the local farms that provided the harvest for the dinner:

Helmstead Farm, Earth’s Palate farm, Vibrant Farm, Fort Hill Farm, Starbury Farm, Kimberly Farm, Windy Hill Farms, Hidden Gem Orchard

Wines for purchase from Zachys:

Please feel free to use this QR code to go to Zachys site:

Cocktail Hour
Cuvee de l’Ecusson Brut NV Bernard-Massard NV
Giovanna Tantini Chiaretto Rose 2020
Poggio Argentato IGT Bianco Le Pupille 2019
Geologist Bolgheri Rosso 2019 (6 Liter)

Dinner Wines
Gavi di Gavi Villa Sparina 2020
Greppicante I Greppi 2019

Sweet Wine End of Meal
Elio Perrone Sourgal Moscato d’Asti 2021

Thank you, David Grausman for playing the piano during cocktail hour!

Sadly, our team and community lost a shining star this week. 

If you’ve read Litchfield Magazine for any point of time, you have undoubtedly read many stories written by Joseph Montebello. Joseph was our senior writer, in both senses of the word. 

 

You would never have guessed it, but he had just turned 80 this past July. Fit, healthy, vibrant, and always well dressed, you’d think he was at least a decade younger. He’d been writing for Litchfield Magazine since its inception—about seven years before my time began with the magazine.

 

This time last month Joseph and I were discussing the stories he would write for our upcoming issues. He was making new friends with those he interviewed. I would receive emails from him and his subjects grateful for my part in coordinating the connections. 

 

Joseph was kind, gracious, professional, interesting, intelligent, compassionate, and funny. A prolific and talented writer. Wonderful at making connections with others. I depended on him to bring story ideas and to get the best interviews. I respected his opinion and sought his approval when I took on new initiatives or projects. He was one of my biggest supporters.

 

 

Dana Kraus had met him a couple months ago when he wrote the feature on her home in our Sept/October issue. This was the email I received from Dana the day after their initial meeting. “Dear Mary Beth, Sometimes magic happens in the world of magazines. You have that amazing talent of both keeping your finger on the pulse of the communities you cover, and of connecting people who should know each other. Thanks for connecting me with Rana and Joseph. Joseph and I met again yesterday and had the most wonderful afternoon. Kindred spirits, all, and just FUN people. Magic!” “He was a fascinating man with great talent, a big heart, and an appetite for living. The last thing he said to me from the hospital was, ”We had such a great honeymoon you and I…just too short,” shares Kraus. 

 

Today I was emailing with Theo Coulombe, owner of Standard Space Gallery in Sharon, who Joseph had interviewed for our upcoming design issue. Theo shared, “We only spoke face to face for about three hours and in that brief period of time I felt, ‘here is a fellow I can relate to, a gentleman traveler, and maker of his own world.’ I’m grateful to have met him.” 

 

I think Joseph had that effect on many people. 

 

Montebello attended Syracuse University. He had a career as Creative Director at HarperCollins in NYC. For many years he wrote for Litchfield Magazine (famous for his annual 50 Most pieces that he worked on and talked about all year). He loved interviewing actors, artists, and especially authors about their work. He wrote for the Litchfield County Times, Berkshire Style, community portrait pieces for Litchfield.bz., and in the new premier issue of Millbrook Magazine.

 

His favorite thing was to interview authors in front of an audience at the Gunn and the Oliver Wolcott libraries. He was a gifted host who forged many longtime friendships around his dining table surrounded by books.

 

Montebello was a longtime leader of the Litchfield Historic District Commission helping to maintain the character of the town as it is today. He served on the boards of the Oliver Wolcott Library, Litchfield Historical Society, and ASAP!

 

For 49 years he was the loving husband and best friend to Ron Leal, and the father to Boo (the rescue dog) and over the years, many, many Westhighland Terriers.

 

It was my true pleasure to work with him on the magazine. RIP Mr. Joseph Montebello. We all adored you. You will be missed by many. You were one of a kind.

 

Editor-in-Chief

Mary Beth Lawlor