A postcard from Portugal

Food postcards from a retreat chef.

Author

Sam Hamrebtan
May 11, 2025

Hi there,

Welcome to The Life Larder! This weekly newsletter serves up a bite-sized menu of stories and ideas about making food that’s not only delicious but also healthy and sustainable.

Each issue is packed with inspiring articles, flavourful ideas, and voices from across the vibrant food world. Think of me as your friendly guide, helping you create meals that nourish your body, delight your taste buds, and care for our planet. Treat this newsletter like a personal larder—always stocked with something you’ll love.

I am currently in Alentejo, Portugal spending two weeks cooking for groups of amazing women on retreat. Retreat cheffing is a different sort of beast, often you’ll start with a menu that you feel will suit the week, but I like to lean into the energy of a group and the area we’re in - whether that’s foraging or taking inspiration from local dishes to tweaking the menus to make sure that it’s perfect for the uniqueness of the group.

This week as I’m away the newsletter is shorter but still sweet - some picture postcards for you from retreat. Back to our usual programming next week.

As always if there’s someone who you think would enjoy this issue of The Life Larder please send it to a friend and share the love <3

Before you tuck in…

Here’s some ways you can work with me 👇

🔪 Private Cheffing & Retreats – Bespoke menus that nourish, fuel, and taste incredible. Whether it’s an intimate dinner, a wellness retreat, or high-performance nutrition, I bring the flavour and the science.

📢 Speaking & Workshops – From corporate wellness to food sustainability, I deliver engaging, no-fluff talks that connect the dots between soil health, nutrition, and better living.

📦 Brand Consulting – Helping food brands create products that are as good for people as they are for the planet. Strategy, product development, and nutrition-led storytelling.

📝 Writing & Editorial – As a Guild of Food Writers member, I contribute to leading publications on all things food, health, and sustainability.

📩 Interested? Say hello at [email protected]

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Stories and insights from experts and yours truly

Postcards from Portugal

Moments from retreat.

The night off in-between two retreats - I did not cook that night!

I love cheffing on retreats. It’s a mental and physical workout for sure, but there is nothing like feeding people over a week and seeing them feel nourished with a menu built to support their bodies whilst exercising in the sun. I’ve had the pleasure of cooking for two amazing groups of strong women over the past couple of weeks, and I wanted to share some of my favourite ‘postcards’ below of the food that’s fuelled them.

A huge thank you to Empowered Fitness, Ori Lifestyle & the one and only Tasha Massucci for having me fuel you all.

My Zhoug

Green, bright, sweet and spicy I layer this over yoghurt and eat with everything.

If you haven’t tried this middle-eastern sauce before, now is certainly the time. It goes with everything and I guarantee it will brighten up any meal.

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