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WILDFLOWER FARMS, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION PRESS RELEASE

CHEFS ARNO JANSE VAN RENSBURG AND LIEZL ODENDAAL APPOINTED EXECUTIVE CHEFS AT WILDFLOWER FARMS, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION IN THE HUDSON VALLEY

Gardiner, NY (June, 2024) - Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection is pleased to announce the appointment of Chefs Arno Janse van Rensburg and Liezl Odendaal as Executive Chefs of the paradisal Hudson Valley property. The husband-and-wife duo bring a robust knowledge of and dedication to local supply chains, sustainable farming practices and seasonal ingredients—a culinary ethos that complements Wildflower Farms’s commitment to curating a luxurious guest experience that is in harmony with its lush natural setting. Clay, the source-origin restaurant at the heart of the hotel’s culinary program, highlights produce grown onsite in the namesake farm’s clay-rich soils in its rustic new American menu. Chefs Arno and Liezl are inspired by the beauty of Wildflower Farms, and look forward to embracing its serene energy in creative, thoughtful dishes to come.

Hailing from South Africa, Chefs Arno and Liezl trained in classic gastronomic technique at the Institute for Culinary Arts in the Banhoek Valley. Their education instilled in them a commitment to sustainable farming practices, rooted in an appreciation for the beauty, resilience and vulnerability of nature. Chef Arno embarked for Kleine Zalze wine farm to hone his culinary craft at Terroir, later immersing himself in the cosmopolitan buzz of Cape Town to join the award-winning kitchens of Ginga and Shoga. With a focus on the sweeter things in life, Chef Liezl began her career as head pastry chef at World’s 50 Best-recognized La Colombe, as well as Myoga, Nova and Ellerman House, a Relais & Châteaux property. Growing together as their careers blossomed, Chefs Arno and Liezl married in 2017, subsequently opening their joint restaurant, Janse & Co in Cape Town.

The pair’s dedication to—and fascination with—brought them to the Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica, where they together oversaw the dining outlets of Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection. Their passionate approach to sourcing, foraging and farming, focusing especially on indigenous ingredients, enabled the pair to curate a hyper-local dining experience that was beloved by guests. At the close of 2023, the culinary program of Hacienda AltaGracia garnered the highest NPS score in the Auberge portfolio at an outstanding 94.5. Chefs Arno and Liezl’s knowledgeable approach to culinary storytelling extended into their astute ability to weave others into the joy of the process: the couple brought immersive experiences to life, such as weekly Edible El Cultivo garden dinners and the signature open fire cooked Cienfuegos, a dinner theater concept with music, riding and roping. Eternal stewards of the earth, the Chefs additionally tended to the resort’s 7,000 coffee plants.

Departing Central America for Upstate New York, Chefs Arno and Liezl are thrilled to helm the gastronomic mantle at Wildflower Farms. The 140-acre resort boasts a working farm with orchards, heirloom gardens, animals, a greenhouse and a mushroom forest. Ingredients grown in the clay-rich soils star on the menu at Clay, the heart of Wildflower Farms’s culinary experience, from refreshing salads to unexpected botanical infusions in cocktails. The property also enjoys a dedicated partnership with local farms, ensuring seasonality and a community-oriented supply chain. Reflecting on the horizon to come, Chef Arno shared that “nature is my greatest inspiration. I feel very lucky to work within the beautiful landscape of Wildflower Farms—it is especially exciting to be able to walk along the farm and see ingredients at every stage because I’m able to imagine dishes so vividly. The setting of Wildflower Farms proves itself to be an evocative muse.” As the farm kicks into high gear throughout the summer for harvest, Chefs Arno and Liezl look forward to bringing diverse, clever dishes that highlight the region’s bounty.

For more information on Wildflower Farms, please visit https://aubergeresorts.com/wildflower-farms/

About Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection

Sprung from the site where a fallow tree nursery once stood, Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection is an oasis within reach just 90 minutes from New York City in the storied Hudson Valley. The 140-acre resort is designed

to provide meaningful encounters with nature at every step, fueled by a namesake farm with orchards, heirloom gardens, farm animals, meadows of native flowers and unique one-of-a-kind experiences. A three-mile walking trail connects the farm to all elements of the property—from the 65 stand-alone cabins, cottages and suites, the main building, fitness and movement studio, and a wood joinery barn home to a dynamic cooking school, Maplehouse. The Shop welcomes guests to the resort with an adjacent open-air Great Porch, source-origin cuisine at the centerpiece restaurant, Clay, and wild-crafted wellness at Thistle, An Auberge Spa. Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection also offers nearby access to the outstanding beauty of Mohonk Preserve, a private reserve known for hiking, biking and world-class rock climbing.

https://aubergeresorts.com/wildflower-farms/

About Auberge Resorts Collection

Auberge Resorts Collection is a portfolio of extraordinary hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the soul of the locale to life through captivating design, exceptional cuisine, innovative spas and gracious yet unobtrusive service. With 27 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts, Auberge invites guests to create unforgettable stories in some of the world’s most desirable destinations. aubergeresorts.com