Wildflowers and Fresh Food

Kristin Alpine is the kind of person that exudes warmth, friendliness, and a real desire to want to help others. We first met a few years back when she was working in home health. So, when I started seeing her show up on social media under the name Wildflowers and fresh food, I reached out to find out what the buzz was all about.

We had lunch and I was blown away to learn about what she does. It is hard to capture what Wildflowers and fresh food is all about but suffice it to say, it’s about getting friends together for a good time and a different cooking experience. It doesn’t take long to realize Kristin loves what she does, “encouraging all cooks along their paths”, she invites guests to muddle and mash, savor the senses and explore their palate as she leads them through a culinary experience.

Her business is not just light, healthy recipes but more an experience of hearth and home. She first greets guests with a mocktail. She explains that this is a great ice breaker, a time for them to put down their purses and any worries that this is going to be a fussy event. Warmth, Christmas morning, and Mary Poppins are the descriptions people use to describe her…her goal is to share her joy in the kitchen, gardens, and farmers' markets and to encourage her guests to continue cooking well after this class and incorporate it into their own homes and routines.

After the mocktail, she assists guests in preparing an easy appetizer to snack on during class, she enjoys weaving products from our Scenic 98 Coastal community into the class. Local support and collaborations are important to her. She often is one of the first faces of Fairhope to guests at local Airbnb’s Lucia Bleu and Jubilee Suites - she happily connects them to favorite restaurants and shops.

During class, they chop and talk about all of her local favorites. Then they prepare an entire meal, she focuses on herb-based sauces such as chimichurri and citrus salsa verde on top of grilled steaks, poached salmon, or perfectly cooked shrimp to keep the class light and fresh. Dessert is often fruit-based, currently, she is focusing on peaches - she is grilling them and topping them with lemon zest and local honey over ice cream.

It is not uncommon for folks to maintain communication after a class with her, she is thrilled when participants tell her of the recipes, ingredients, and successes they have after class in their own homes. Classes are typically groups that have been put together by the participants… girls' night out, honeymooners, bridesmaids, family reunions, client appreciation, and retreats are just some of the types of groups you will see her amongst.

Kristin loves children and it's not unusual to see her hosting kids cooking birthday parties - hence the “Mary Poppins” reference, kids seem to adore her and sense her trusting nature. This isn’t limited to little kids through - teens, college-bound, and adults alike gather for her classes. The simplicity of her recipes and her approach are part of her success.

Kristin is inspiring folks to get out of the fast-food car line and into their kitchens. “You can do this!” is her mantra and her guests' success are important to her. She further encourages their creativity in building flavors and weaves in some related thoughts too. Cooking for one or a family can be stressful, and Kristin has a way of transforming it into a fairytale-like experience. “It’s perspective,” she says but whatever it is…we like it!

Her 30 plus 5-star reviews describe her classes as a Unique experience, Relaxing, Educational, Delicious, Positive Personality and Passion, and Wonderful … go see for yourself on her website.

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