’Tis the season of family, festivities and an abundance of chaos! It’s been exactly a year since I hosted my family’s Thanksgiving gathering for the first time. Now, I’ve hosted my fair share of intimate dinner parties and backyard barbecues, but a holiday get-together with my extended family required a whole new level of prep. Oh, there were casualties. My homemade buns didn’t rise, and the turkey showed up to the table an hour late. But all the stress and preparation around food and the perfect place setting melted away as we settled around the table, enjoying each other’s company and the imperfect (yet delicious) meal that each person contributed to. And as the night came to an end, I came to the startling realization that I had taken my place in the family legacy, following in my mother, grandmother and great-grandmothers’ footsteps. Heartwarming, right? Well, we’re just getting started.
In this issue, you’ll find many more stories of legends and legacies. We’re honored to share a new chapter for the legend of White Bear Lake on page 20. And on page 26, you’ll meet the local family behind StirStix Coffee Roasters, a small, direct-to-consumer operation with a sweet origin story.
These pages are also devoted to the theme of giving back. I’ll introduce you to our magazine’s Editorial Advisory Board on page 16, a team of local leaders that have made an impact and continue to do so as part of White Bear Lake Magazine. And of course, it wouldn’t be a winter issue without food. Turn to page 36 to read about a local chef who has found his perfect fit teaching from his own kitchen and, if you’re a sweets lover, you can’t miss the hot chocolate grazing board inspiration on page 14.
From my home to yours,
-Zoe Deal
