Amidst the gentle April rains, a unique dining experience unfolded at the picturesque Lake Austin Spa. The culinary and beverage teams from Lake Austin Spa and Elementary joined forces

We arrived at the stunning Alila Ventana Big Sur resort with plans for a dinner in the redwood grove just down the hill, a first for the property and a magical setting for Supper. But, Big Sur is a place where you listen to the land, and the land (and sky) had other ideas. The day of the Supper emerged grey and rainy, with temperatures in the 30s — not at all ideal conditions.

Watching the sun set over open water is a singular experience. It slowly swells from a pale yellow dot high above to a pink pulsing thing, slowly bleeding into its surroundings. It sinks towards the horizon so slowly for hours, until it just starts to touch the border between sea and sky. Then, like someone deep below the ocean started sucking the sky up through a boba straw, it disappears, leaving streaks of rose in its wake that eventually fade…

‍There’s a particular feeling — a calmness of body and mind — that is familiar to anyone who has found themselves in a quiet woods in the afternoon, when the sun slants through the tree canopy in syrupy bars that cloud the trail ahead in a glittering haze. The achingly short days of fall only enhance the moment. Those thick rays of sunlight break up the chill of the shadows with piercing bands of subtle warmth.

This incredible Supper was set against the stunning backdrop of a farm outside of Seattle, where the city's vibrant culinary scene meets the authenticity of farm-to-table dining.