A day in Bedford
Earlier in the summer, I invited the Ad Sales Team of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to spend a day at my farm in Bedford. The purpose was to report about the business and to inspire the team for continued success. Fortunately, the weather was glorious and we were able to spend a good deal of time outdoors. Because food has always been an important aspect of my business, I asked my former chef, Pierre Schaedelin, if he could possibly free up his schedule from his restaurant, Benoit, in New York City, and we were all so happy that he was able to. Pierre served a beautiful breakfast, a wonderful box lunch, and an amazing paella dinner. With the good weather, delicious meals, and many motivating speeches, I am confident that everyone left quite inspired.
1 Once the guests arrived, they were served a lovely breakfast down at the equipment barn.
2 Hard boiled eggs from my chickens
3 Breakfast included flaky and buttery croissants.
4 Buttermilk biscuits that I baked myself
5 Yummy homemade granola
6 Assorted honey and homemade jams and jellies
7 A delicious assortment of stone fruits
8 Orlando, Lee, Lauren, and Liz
9 Here I am with Lisa Weiss.
10 Here I am with Darcy.
11 Here I am with Hannah Milman - SVP, Exec Editorial Director, Crafts
12 The group gathering in the equipment barn for the presentations
13 Executive Chairman - Charles Koppelman and CEO - Robin Marino
14 The name of the day was 'A Day in Bedford.'
15 This is where I sat - always connected.
16 Rich Fontaine - SVP Consumer Marketing
17 Larry Diamond - SVP, Finance & Business Development
18 Liz Aiello - SVP, Broadcasting and Omnimedia Content Strategy
19 Susan Magrino - My longtime publicist
20 Gael Towey - Chief Creative Officer
21 Some data Anna presented about the readers of Everyday Food
22 Anna Last - AVP, Food Editor, EF
23 A happy Pierre next to the fresh ciabatta bread used for the box lunches
24 Some of the sandwiches for the box lunches
25 Bamboo eco-friendly forks
26 Once again, many hands make light work.
27 The old Martha by Mail truck was used to deliver our boxed lunches.
28 Look at the perfect fit!
29 As you can see, I am very happy with my box lunch.
30 Lisa Weiss, Stephanie Klein-Trout, Erin Mervis, and Lisa Silvers
31 Heather Kimoto, Jenna Aldelberg, Shaina Kennedy, Jackie Polce, and Elisha Fahmy
32 Orlando Reece - SVP, Broadcast Sales and Bernie Young - EVP and General Manager, Broadcast enjoying a stroll near my vegetable garden.
33 Cold gazpacho ready to serve in spatterware enamel cups
34 Chicken pieces seasoned for the paella
35 Calamari
36 Beautiful shrimp
37 Fresh peas from the garden
38 Chopped tomatoes
39 Asparagus pieces
40 Red and green bell peppers
41 Mussels
42 Chef Pierre in control of the grill and the gigantic new paella pan
43 Chicken and pork browning
44 The paella ingredients coming together
45 Prosciutto and cured olives
46 Refreshing and fruity sangria
47 A bartender pouring delicious sangria
48 Body and Soul team - Donna Merritt (Boston/sales), Justine Beaudoin (Boston/brand director) Heather Kimoto (Los Angeles/sales), Jan Bruce (svp publisher/Boston), and Kathy Staib (sales Long Island)
49 The digital sales team - Carolyn Licata, Lisa Weiss, Sam Poor, Danae McDuffee, Emily Cappella, Christine Cook, Amie Smit, Nicole McCormack, Rhonda Bitterman, Wendy Robbins
50 Freshly picked blueberries from the garden
51 Chef Roberto Bellisimo assembling the blueberry crisps
52 The completed blueberry crisps
53 A group shot of the attendees of the off-site meeting
Photos By Eliad Laskin
What a lovely day! Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Samantha | August 25th, 2009 at 3:12 am
It's funny, most of my friends call me Martha in homage of you as it seems I have endless energy and I just know how to use it, but, after seeing those Bedford pictures I am just befuddled by how you do it. I know that you have a trusted staff but it all seems so meticulous and wonderful. It makes me want to serve the kids blueberries and fresh granola in the mini-barn although I suppose it wouldn't be nearly as quaint.....ha ha. I just love this blog.
Posted by: Not So Glamorous Housewife | August 25th, 2009 at 4:46 am
Everything looks so lovely and well thought out - so Martha! I love the cups you used for soup - did you hire them or are them from your own collection?
Was there a vegetarian option instead of paella? I think I missed the sangria recipe on Twitter, will you be posting it on the blog?
Hope you are well.
Pru
Posted by: Pru | August 25th, 2009 at 5:12 am
Food looks awesome but where are the chairs for your fabulous looking staff? Digestion benefits from a seated position!
Posted by: Jayne | August 25th, 2009 at 7:19 am
Martha,
I noticed on the slide presentation that your readers are referred to as "she is time poor and budget concious", and while I'll agree that the largest percentage of your readers are women, I also beleive that you have a reasonable portion of your readers are male. I always have the most recent edition of MSL or EF on either my coffee table in the living room, or on the end table on my front porch where I relax in the evenings. As always -love reading your blog and viewing the pics.
Posted by: Marc Fountain | August 25th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Hi Martha miss your blog posts and tweets still enjoying the summer between Mount Lebanon and London, I will be back in Kuwait early September. Can't wait to be back and keep updated with your wonderful posts and great news.
Happy Belated Birthday! may God bless you with good health, happiness, success and prosperity.
Best Regards,
Rowaida Flayhan
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | August 25th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Looks like a talented, hard working group of happy campers you have working for you--always pays to keep folks well fed!
Posted by: Cathybytheriver | August 25th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Hi Martha!
I don't know...that equipment barn looks like the typical church picnic! Hallelujah! Pass me the plate!
As I mentioned before, bringing your employees to your home is such a great idea, after all, the rest of us draw inspiration from you in the same way. But what a spiritual experience to be there in real time! Can't imagine!
Looking forward to hearing from them in the up and coming 'business-as-usual'! Ha! Nothing' 'usual' about you OR your company. Thank God for all of you! Amen!
Posted by: tinay | August 25th, 2009 at 11:13 am
How wonderful to enjoy this superb setting for an important meeting. Beautiful foods to 'fuel' everyone's inspiration. I loved how the box lunches were packaged and transported in the old Martha By Mail truck...charming! Your staff must feel very well taken care of.
Posted by: sherey | August 25th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Martha, I must agree with the post of Marc Fountain with the MSL lean to being a "woman's mag". I still enjoy reading MSL from cover to cover though I had noticed a shift of bias a number of years ago. You have been an inspiration to me over the years and my collection of past issues will continue to grow, but it would be nice to see a few more "gender-neutral" references and an occasional out-and-out "male" article.
Posted by: Kevin Gilchrist | August 25th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Hi Martha,
(First off, note to self – do not read Martha’s blog before you have had breakfast!) Okay then….
You made everything so beautiful for the MSLO Ad Sales Team and I’m sure they will never forget their Day in Bedford – I know I wouldn’t! I would have left there feeling so inspired and appreciated. You really know how to make people feel good about life, Martha, and so much of how you do it is by example. I take more pride in my home now than I ever did because of you. Anyway, of all the years I worked in the corporate world, not one boss ever did anything as unique and effective as the way you do things. I wonder if that is why some of them aren’t in business anymore. Oh well.
I really like the new Paella pan and I can almost taste the ingredients. Maybe you can hear me slurping! Ha-ha. Off to eat breakfast although it is noon. Thanks for preparing this blog for us. Trish
P.S. You and Darcy looked great in your hot colors!
Posted by: Trish | August 25th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
You really put other companies to shame in how well you treat your talented staff. I think it is incredibly important for the everyone at a company to be connected to what they do no matter what the industry is.
I've really enjoyed the blogs over the summer where you have traveled with various members of your staff exploring and experimenting with new things.
Can't wait to see how these inspirational treks and off sites translates into upcoming new shows and future magazine issues.
Posted by: Sonya W. | August 25th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Oh my! I can almost smell these! Yum!
Posted by: pat merewether | August 25th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I'm so happy so see more 'yellow' in the media - my favorite color!
Posted by: pat merewether | August 25th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Thank you, Martha, for sharing this day - wow, the fresh veggies, berries and Sangria look so good!
You look great in that color - wear more bright colors!
Posted by: pat merewether | August 25th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
What a fabulous, well-thought-out, 'no-stone-unturned' offsite meeting, Martha! You guys DID make a day of it, didn't you?! It's wonderful, too, that the weather cooperated and the majority of the day could be spent outdoors. There has been many-a-day when I'd ask my manager may I please move my desk outside - just for that afternoon (in jest, of course). [giggle]
Boxed lunches are downright fun! I've been on opposite ends of them - ordering them while coordinating meetings, and receiving them (when someone ELSE ordered/coordinated)...the suspense of the contents is what's part of the fun, right down to the very bottom of the box! I liked the bamboo forks -- eco-friendly, as you said and quite sturdy, eliminating broken fork tines stuck in your goodies that leave one sometimes feeling stranded. Ooo, I LOVED your branding logo, too, on the boxes and your signature color scheme that we've all come to recognize and love. Everyone basically got to eat picnic-style, which I'm sure was an added treat to the day for many!
I've been playing catch-up on all the different nursery destinations from last week's blogs, and each one looked fabulous, each in their own right. Glover's setting just seemed so pastoral, along with the welcome church bells ringing thru the day. I had to chuckle, too, at one photo caption at a (yet another!) birthday meal where you were cheering (with glasses) 'to another year - ugh!'. (Most of us can probably relate with that, or are at an age where we're juuust beginning... [giggle] )
Summer is slipping by, isn't it?! - I've been trying to savour each day with that in mind. We have lost about 35-45 minutes of daylight in the evenings already here in Maryland! (Anyone else notice that?!) One good thing about it, though, is that September 14th will be here before we know it - the start of Season 5 - 'MARTHA'! MY Martha!
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | August 25th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Hi Martha,
I've already visited and commented today on your blog but then I went to @twitter and read your tweets...very sorry, too, to hear about child washed out to sea on Mt. Desert Island. How can there be any comfort to the parents? Praying (in my own way) for all of the survivors and cry with them. A pure and innocent, no-guilt tragedy. Too sad, way too sad.
Posted by: tinay | August 25th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Well forgive me for asking, but, who cleaned out the equipment barn. If it was mine there would be wasp to deal with, birds to escort out hoping no young were waiting for din, there would be the hydraulic oil spot, the dust on the rafters, the extra tire in the corner, oh I do see some floor brooms hanging up. But after all the house cleaning no one would still dare to wear white.
And you are still cute sitting on the stump with your pearls.
Posted by: Margie | August 25th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
What a beautiful way to have a meeting. The food looks yummy!
Posted by: Melanie Adey | August 25th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Hi Martha, This was a superb blog! Your photo gallery was absolutely fantastic!! What a wonderful way to have an important meeting with staff members! I love the 3 meals you provided for all of them and your photos show how much they loved them, also. I think this kind of meeting helps everyone leave feeling inspired and happy.The food looks fabulous and how nice Pierre was able to be there. I love seeing photos of people I've heard of but never seen like Rick Fontaine from you magazines. My favorite was the box lunches in your Martha By Mail Truck. Thanks for all you do for us and them. You make life so much fun! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | August 25th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Your Ad Dept and all the rest of your staff do a wonderful job! I invested in MSO stock, and the gain so far has been 75%! Whoo hoo! Keep this going, and I'll host the next breakfast for them at my "estate" along the Columbia River in Oregon. =D
Posted by: Elise | August 25th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Awesome day you had for your crew/staff. I was impressed with everything, especially individual blueberry crisps. Thanks for sharing.
Linda
Phila, PA
Posted by: Linda | August 25th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Oh those biscuits look just perfect!
I baked your Whole Grain Bread recipe this week and the photos of it just made Tastespotting.com (which I've noticed you're now posting on!) I imagine lots more people will be discovering how fabulous that bread is for themselves. It's my favorite!
Posted by: Q. | August 25th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
hello,
my name is Orly and I'm from Israel, I see your show daily and I never miss it!!
I love your ideas and tips, books and website.
good work!!
Orly
Posted by: Orly | August 26th, 2009 at 4:48 am
Wow - how do you get a job at your company?
What lucky employees that get to attend meetings like that one. Many companies should take directions from you on how to keep happy employees, Martha! No wonder you have such glorious product lines, and everything is so elegant and well put together. I am impressed, as usual!
Posted by: Cindy in Georgia | August 26th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Those eggs are absolutely beautiful!
The woman who owns the fabulous little cottage we sometimes visit in Point Reyes Station, CA always stocks the kitchen with a basket of beautiful pastel colored eggs (along w/ a few other West Marin goodies) and they are such a treat, both for our eyes and our taste buds.
You must really enjoy having your own chickens and fresh eggs.
Posted by: chez danisse | August 26th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
My nickname since college was MJ... can you imagine why? Martha Jr. It was a privilege to be compared to you, Martha. And I just want to tell you that you look as beautiful and happy as ever in your photos!
Have a blessed day!
Posted by: Renee | August 26th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Hi Martha,
I luv this blog. You can definitely see how each and everything really does matter---from the setting to the organization of all the meals for your hard-working staff. I am particularly curious how they assembled the impressive MS Boxed Lunch. I think it would be a great idea to feature it in your daytime show. I would luv to know how everything is prepared so i can make a Boxed Lunch Picnic themed party for my family and friends. Thanks for the great Blog.
Sincerely,
Sherrie Tan from Chicago,IL.
Posted by: Sherrie Tan | August 28th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
My eyes just grew bigger and bigger with every picture. What a perfect day!
Posted by: Lynn | August 28th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Another thought...I would love to attend a motivation seminar at Bedford...you could sell this experience!!!
Posted by: Lynn | August 28th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Hurray for using bamboo eco-friendly forks!
Posted by: Penny | August 29th, 2009 at 12:25 am