The Full Story
The name Sprouting came to us in the kitchen, long before a guest ever sat at our table. While testing dishes for our first dinner, we cut open an ordinary lemon to find its seeds already sprouting, small green stems searching bravely for the light. Sprouting became our name because it felt like a sign, a small nudge from the natural world saying: start here. When life gives you lemons, yes — but what if they’re already sprouting? What if they’re inviting you to plant, nurture, and grow something? Let this be the beginning of something generous, something that grows roots and branches and gathers people to enjoy its fruits.​​
Sprouting was born of the very things it seeks to create: connection, friendship, and the shared joy of good food.​ Connected by a mutual friend, Kat reached out to Camilla in search of advice from another woman navigating a career in the food industry. What started as a networking date quickly blossomed into a friendship. Time and time again, our conversations returned to the same shared dream: to create special experiences for people over food. One long table, beautiful tablescapes, menus dictated by the season...eventually we had talked about it enough, it was time to bring it to life. We invited friends and family to Kat's backyard, set a long table, and served a 6-course meal.
The unexpected delight of the evening: 22 strangers dissolving into conversation with such presence and joy, we could barely gather their attention to announce the next dish. Laughter spilled down the table, the hum of connection rising above the clinking of glasses. ​
By the end of the night, we were ecstatic — not only about the meal we had created, but from the unexpected gift it revealed. Community had effortlessly and joyfully formed in front of us. It’s somewhat comical we hadn’t even considered this possibility, given that the magic of sharing a meal lies in the presence, the conversation, and the connection. We knew then that Sprouting could fulfill a craving felt by many in our increasingly solitary society. It could be a conduit for human connection.
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A Sprouting event is built around a table set with intention — vintage plates and cutlery, and glasses that have toasted countless prior dinners. At each place setting guests find their name and a unique conversation starter. Our scratch-made dishes honor the fleeting magic of seasonal produce, celebrating each ingredient at its peak. We create each meal with care, cook with joy, and serve food we hope will elicit comfort and delight.
Camilla Ryan
Camilla has been passionate about food for as long as she can remember, with her love of cooking rooted in the creativity and communal spirit shared around the dinner table. In 2016, Camilla attended a culinary program in Dublin, Ireland, and trained at The Pig’s Ear during her time abroad. She has since been honing her craft in kitchens ranging from her hometown of Jefferson City, MO to San Diego, CA. Camilla’s approach to cooking is driven by her deep respect for the ingredients themselves and the sense of connection created around a table.
Kat Reid
Kat's passion largely lies in baking, where she has focused since 2020. After working for two years at Elephantine Bakery in her hometown of Portsmouth, NH, Kat moved to Paris to study Pâtisserie and Boulangerie at Le Cordon Bleu. Upon returning, she moved to San Diego and trained at Wayfarer Bread. Though her professional focus has largely been baking, Kat also holds a deep love of cooking. She briefly moved back to the east coast to design and run the cuisine program at the new Elephantine location in Boston, expanding her culinary experience and further exploring this passion.