FOOD WRITERS RETREAT : MAINE
Finding Voice and Getting Your Work Out Into the World
with Kathy Gunst, Leslie Jonath, and Domenica Marchetti
June 2-5, 2026
Join us for a special writing retreat on spectacular Deer Isle, Maine. We will be hosting an intimate group of food writers who are looking to improve their skills, start a new project, or further develop a current project, staying at the award-winning Pilgrim’s Inn, offering access to two miles of rugged Maine coastline, hiking and walking trails.
THE WORKSHOP
The four-day retreat will focus on several essential aspects of the writing process:
How to develop a true/distinctive food writing voice
How to write food memories
How to write about place
How to write about the senses
How to craft and write a recipe
The art of the interview
How to start and sustain a newsletter
How to write a book proposal
How to find/work with an agent
We will meet each morning after breakfast for a two hour writing workshop filled with prompts that focus on voice, developing storylines, recipe writing, understanding the art of the interview, engaging your senses, and more. The daily workshops will provide a positive, non-judgmental space for open, honest and supportive feedback.
There will be boxed lunches to share in a common room or in your own room as you work on your writing.
Afternoon sessions will focus on cookbook publishing, starting a newsletter and other topics in the world of food publishing.
We will explore the spectacular Deer Isle and Stonington, Maine, area, and eat great food: lobster rolls, oysters, and other local specialties.
We will also take time for a hike in the surrounding area and forage for a woodlands centerpiece for our table. And there will be a special cookie demonstration by Domenica Marchetti, author of the forthcoming book, Italian Cookies.
THE LOCATION
We will be staying at the award-winning Pilgrim’s Inn, which offers two miles of rugged Maine coastline, hiking and walking trails, and a restaurant named by the New York Times as “one of the 50 best in the country” in 2025. ( website )
WHO IS LEADING THIS RETREAT
Kathy Gunst will lead our writing sessions.
She is a James Beard award-winning food journalist who has written 16 cookbooks. Her most recent book is Rage Baking– the Transformative Power of Flour, Fury and Women’s Voices. She is the Resident Chef for NPR’s Here and Now, heard on over 500 public radio stations and writes for the Washington Post, Eating Well, Cognescenti, and other national publications. She lives in southern Maine and teaches “Finding Voice in Food and Memoir Writing” around the world. (website)
Leslie Jonath will lead our talk about agents and publishing.
She is an editorial director, curator, producer and literary agent. She collaborates with creatives–cooks, chefs, floral designers, artists, and makers–to craft projects that bring people together. She is the co-founder of Cookbook Fest, a multimedia food festival in Napa for which she curates industry panels, workshops and live storytelling events. She is the agent/producer of over 100 cookbooks including Italy by Ingredient by Viola Buitoni, Budmo by Anna Voloshyna and The Curated Board by Bebe Carmito. Her own book, Feed Your People: Big-Batch Big-Hearted Recipes to Gather Around– featured recipes from 65 cookbook authors and chefs. Started as a Kickstarter, Feed Your People became a series of fundraising dinners and panel discussions. She has also curated food events for 18 Reasons, Airbnb, The San Francisco Parks Alliance, The Archery, and The Library Foundation of Los Angeles. (website)
Domenica Marchetti will lead our discussion about food writing as it pertains to cookbooks and to newsletters.
She is the author of numerous books on Italian home cooking. Her latest book, ITALIAN COOKIES, which will be published in April by Gibbs Smith, has already earned a starred review from Booklist. Domenica also writes a popular weekly newsletter on Substack called Buona Domenica (14+K subscribers) about Italian home cooking. A former newspaper reporter who earned her master’s degree in journalism at Columbia University, Domenica has published articles and recipes in The Washington Post, Eating Well, Fine Cooking, Food and Wine, La Cucina Italiana, Sale e Pepe, and other publications. She is a professional recipe developer and cooking class instructor, and she leads occasional small-group culinary tours in Italy. (website)
This workshop is open to writers of all levels.
PRICE
The cost for the four days is $3500 - which includes all meals, welcome cocktails, excursions to a lobster pound, wood-fired pizza, coffee roaster, oyster tasting, woodland centerpiece hike, and cookie demo.
It does not include transportation to the Pilgrim’s Inn (the hotel can help you with information about buses, car rental, Uber, etc.) or the cost of the room which will be booked directly through the Pilgrim’s Inn. We are being offered a special group rate; use the code creativewriting when you call or email the Inn.
We are offering an Early Bird Special of $3250 if you book by March 6, 2026.
To secure your spot in this very special workshop contact Leslie Jonath via email
ITINERARY
(subject to minor changes)
Day 1, June 2
Mid-afternoon arrival at Pilgrim’s Inn
First writing session and introductions
Welcome cocktails and a special private dinner at the Pilgrim Inn
Day 2, June 3
Breakfast
Early morning walk/hike
Morning workshop 10-12: Finding Voice
Boxed lunch 12-1
Free time for writing, walking, exploring, yoga
Afternoon cookie demo by Domenica
3-5 p.m. Afternoon workshop focused on publishing, newsletters and cookbook writing
Dinner: Burnt Cove Lobster Pound
Day 3, June 4
Breakfast
Morning workshop 10-12: Focus on Senses
Lunch: Local bakery and visit to Coffee Roaster
Foraging hike and tablescaping with Leslie
Afternoon session 3-5 p.m. Publishing Workshop
Farewell cocktails and Maine Oyster tasting
Dinner: Details TK
Day 4, June 5
Breakfast
1 hour final class before late morning departure
For more information or to register, email Leslie Jonath or Domenica.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or for more information.