About the Author

Owner of Catbird Cottage in the Hudson Valley, New York, Melina Hammer and her husband, Jim, host travelers who have made their cozy cottage the place to celebrate their most special moments. For nearly two decades, Melina has also been an expert recipe developer, food stylist, and food photographer and a regular contributor to the New York Times, Cooking Light, EatingWell, Edible, and Row 7 Seeds. She is a Food52 resident and bestselling author. Melina won an IACP award for best food styling and was nominated as an IACP finalist for her Instagram.

Reviews

“A Year at Catbird Cottage makes a strong argument for strengthening our connection to nature through what we cook. From sourdough to stocks, foraging to fermentation, Melina’s seasonal, ingredient-driven recipes are flavor-packed and beautiful. Her love for the bounty of the natural world is infectious.”—Heidi Swanson, author of Super Natural Simple

“Spending time in these pages makes me want to spend more time in nature. A Year at Catbird Cottage reminds us to look closely at everything around us and to see beauty and possibility in every corner. This is how Melina Hammer not only approaches cooking food, but also how she approaches growing it, foraging for it, and capturing it through her stunning photography.”—Julia Turshen, bestselling author of Simply Julia and host/producer of Keep Calm & Cook On Podcast

“With A Year at Catbird Cottage, Melina does so much more than welcome us into her kitchen; she invites us out into her garden, seduces us to forage with her the neighboring woods, shows us how to preserve all manner of edibles, and plies us with some of the most enticing recipes I’ve seen in ages. Her lusciously styled photos and equally evocative prose will leave you torn—do you grab this book and start cooking immediately or do you find a quiet spot to hunker down and get lost in the magical world she’s created? Either way is a total win.”—Suzanne Lenzer, author of Graze

“Melina’s photos are evocative and soulful, and everything looks scrumptious. A Year at Catbird Cottage is full of nourishing and seasonal meals made with foraged foods or fruit and vegetables you can grow in your garden, and quick meals prepared with everyday staples to share with the ones you love. This is a world I would love to immerse myself in.”—Aran Goyoaga, author of Cannelle et Vanille and Cannelle et Vanille Bakes Simple

“Any dish at Melina’s table is like a cozy embrace. I say this in the best way possible: her cottage reminds me of the comfort I felt at my grandmother’s. Melina is a badass, and A Year at Catbird Cottage inspires a special nostalgia in a beautiful and delicious way that only she can create.”—Gregory Porter, two-time Grammy Award–winning singer/songwriter and emcee of legendary Bed-Stuy dinner parties