Martin Hoellrigl Brings Team Bonding Events to Local Families

The Covid19 quarantine isn’t stopping Martin Hoellrigl, founder of Capitola Garden Feast LLC in helping local families create fine dining experiences in the comfort and safety of their homes. About his private chef services, he says, “I bring teams and families closer together through food and hospitality. Eating together connects us, cooking together bonds us.” He is now offering his chef services online.

Born in Innsbruck, Austria, he earned a hospitality degree from the Tourism Fachschule Absam College in Austria. A Sommelier diploma came from several educational facilities throughout Europe, including Cornell University and the Hilton SHINE program in United Emirates, Kuwait, and Egypt. He became Chef of the Year in Austria, winning several awards for his food. “I cooked for many celebrities in Austria, Germany, France, Southern California, and the SF Bay Area.”

Hoellrigl moved to California from Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2014 after tiring of the “gypsy life” through Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.“I wanted my family to settle down, so we chose Capitola. Having grown up in the Austrian alps at a high elevation and without any beaches in the country,” he says. “Even though I work hard every day, I feel like I am permanently on vacation in Capitola, my favorite and most beautiful beach town in the USA,” he adds. His first job in Santa Cruz County was as the GM of Byington Winery.

When asked about his greatest indulgence he says, “The healthy and organic food I cook for others is the food I indulge in, and I love garlic and herbs to give extra flavor when I cook with the ingredients from my garden.”

For his latest live virtual culinary event, he joined with Farm Discovery at Live Earth Farm, a nonprofit organization working to empower youth and families to build and sustain healthy food, farming, social and natural systems. Chef Martin of Capitola Garden Feast, worked in the farm kitchen to transform a special box of Live Earth Farm seasonal produce into a multi-course feast straight from the fields. Thirty-four families learned to make a scrumptious, seasonal organic meal for four while supporting Farm Discovery’s stewardship and action in this trying time.

Wines by Alfaro, J. Lohr, Scheid, Storrs, Flying Embers, and Discretion were available to accompany the feast. 100% of ticket sales supported Farm Discovery’s farm-based nutrition, food systems, and environmental education.

In his spare time, some of his favorite things are to spend time with his family and helping friends with cooking and gardening. He loves the charm of Capitola, taking walks every day, and most of all, the many new friends he has made here in the last six years.

See the link to his bio at www.capitolagardenfeast.com or www.whatmartinsays.com