On the shortest day and longest night of the year, twenty four of us gathered at the harvest table to celebrate turning the year once more. The greenhouse on the land at The Kinlands was the perfect setting to host this seasonal gathering. While the greenhouse glowed with warmth from within, the harvest fields beyond lay bare and the animals quietly dozed in the barns. All the space on the horizon, rendered blank by Autumn’s hand, left our gaze ample room to drink up the dark starry sky. And that we did, in addition to copious amounts of hot herbal tea and warm company to keep winter’s chill at bay.

24 people sit at a long harvest table in a greenhouse to celebrate the winter solstice

The Winter Solstice lands on December 21st every year and marks a new solar year in nature as well as the start of the winter season. For the few days around the Winter Solstice, the sun seemingly stands still at its farthest point away from our orientation on the earth. It’s the darkest time of year, yet the sun is reborn and light is renewed. The seasonal transition of the Winter Solstice ushers in a shift of energy in the natural world. From now until the Summer Solstice, daylight will gradually lengthen. In winter, the energy in nature is below ground, dormant and hibernating. As sunlight increases and the days lengthen, the energy ever so slowly rises back up from the warm belly of the earth - renewed, rested, and ready for new beginnings.

These themes were the context within which we gathered and communed around the harvest table for the evening. I was honored to host and fully cater this community seasonal gathering. The Kinlands is a special place and there’s no where else I’d rather host such an intimate and intentional affair within my local community. The Kinlands is a land-based project set in the center of our bustling Salt Lake Valley that aims to help locals connect deeper to the nature that surrounds them. We both have that in common.

The Winter Solstice Tablescape

The organic and rustic tablescape, designed by The Kinlands, was a showstopper. With candelabras, sweeping benches, rustic botanical bundles, and statement sheepskins, the whole space served as the most beautiful setting to welcome good conversation between friends old and new on such a special occasion.

Two women set a winter solstice dinner table

a long harvest table set for 30 designed for the winter solstice

The Winter Solstice Meal

Sourcing my seasonal ingredients from the productive fields at The Kinlands, I crafted a flavorful, rich, and hearty dutch oven dinner to serve our dinner party guests. Barebones generously sponsored my cooking endeavors by setting me up with all the tools necessary to cook outdoors over the coals. Dinner in the dutch ovens slow cooked all afternoon leading up to dinner. As the sun lowered past the horizon, my husband, brother-in-law, and I huddled over the dutch ovens adding ingredients and stoked the fire. Cooking outdoors is never an easy task, per-say, even when cooking for two. Fully catering an event like this for 24 guests on a cold winter’s day (and when the sun sets at 4:45pm) is no small feat. I could not have have crafted a meal so tasty and so perfectly timed for the gathering without the help of my husband (who also happens to be an expert outdoor cook).

For appetizers we grazed on a loaded charcuterie board themed around the in-season fruits of cranberries and oranges. Aged sharp cheddar paired with blood orange and oozy tart cranberries is a combination we won’t soon forget. Dinner in the dutch ovens consisted of cranberry and red-wine braised short-ribs with roasted roots laid over a bed of garlic mashed potatoes. Paired with a cranberry blood-orange crafted mocktail or hot herbal tea, it was a beautiful and comforting winter dinner that hit the spot on this cold dark night. Our dessert, which was a dark chocolate ganache tart with a hazelnut crust, was cooked in cast-iron skillets and topped with sea salt flakes resembling snow.

Two men cooking dinner in dutch ovens for a winter solstice party

dutch oven braised short ribs in a bowl for winter solstice dinner

Dinner Table Dialogue inspired by the Winter solstice

Amidst the tablescape were Winter Solstice themed conversation cards that I created for this event. At the start of dinner I shared insights about the Winter Solstice such as the themes and energetics of the season and how this seasonal transition impacts us as human animals living on earth. As dinner progressed, guests flipped cards and read questions amongst themselves to inspire thoughtful dialogue with their dinner date in order to foster a deeper connection to each other and the land. As an intimate community we also shared our insights of the season and answered some of the questions from the cards with the whole table. Together we reflected on the year passed and dreamt up our hopes for seasons ahead as we all turned the year on the Winter Solstice.

Brianne Dela Cruz stands at the head of a winter solstice dinner party table and makes a toast

24 people gathered at a long dinner table to celebrate the winter solstice

It was a beautiful evening that is still resonating with me these weeks later. As I go about my days and nights in this winter season, I’m rooting into the grounded energy of these winter themes: rest, dream time, inward reflection, and renewal. Our Winter Solstice gathering was one to remember and I’m already looking forward to celebrating the next big seasonal transition in nature surrounded and supported by my community.

Event Hostess: Brianne Dela Cruz; Gather & Grow

Catering: Brianne Dela Cruz; Gather & Grow

Venue: The Kinlands

Table Design: The Kinlands

Photography: Elisha Braithwaite
Cast Iron Cookware: Barebones