About David Tomberlin, founder of Well Dressed Food
My lifelong love of great food and entertaining is part of my experience growing up in the South. Eating and socializing were a big part of our tradition, and I had the good fortune to be surrounded by great cooks and lots of natural, locally grown food. To this day I recall picking pecans and figs in my grandmother’s yard and helping her transform them into delicious pies, preserves and rich, flavorful snacks.
Even as a child, I loved to explore the kitchen and all its wonders. Like many other aspiring cooks at the time, I learned from Julia Child on television and then experimented with different foods and recipes, including the Adirondack Crunchy Granola offered today. As soon as I was on my own, I expanded my culinary skills and continued to surround myself with people who were passionate about food and entertaining.
While living in Atlanta, my circle of friends hosted dinners nearly every night of the week. We tested new recipes on each other and had great fun in the process. Several friends worked for an Atlanta-based cooking show host and another owned a catering business. Helping out wherever possible, I realized how much I loved working with food and helping people have a good time.
And so after twenty years in the corporate world, mostly in real estate, I decided it was time for a change. It’s only natural I chose to follow my dream of working with food and entertaining. How I got from Atlanta to the Adirondacks is another story…
About Well Dressed Food
When I first visited the Adirondack Park in northern New York State, I instantly fell in love with the area and made it my home. It’s about six million acres, and I was surprised to learn that the Adirondack Park is the largest publicly protected natural area in the country… greater in size than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier and Grand Canyon National Park combined!
The weather is harsh for a good part of the year, but the environment is absolutely pristine. Huge forest preserves are constitutionally protected as “forever wild” and other areas have been minimally developed for outdoor recreation such as fishing, boating, hiking, skiing and ice fishing. Interestingly, only 130,000 people live within the park’s six million acres. Yet despite this sparse population, I discovered many warm, wonderful people and communities that I now consider a part of my extended family. And what a wonderful family it is! Entertaining and sharing my food with them, whether on the porch at my camp or picnicking out on the lake, has inspired me to take my love of food and entertaining to the next step. This is how Well Dressed Food was born.
During my journey I’ve discovered many small, family-owned growers and producers of pure, high-quality foods in the North Country. These artisans share my passion for food and producing quality products. My goal, and the goal of Well Dressed Food, is to support these local enterprises and share their wonderful products with everyone. Our recipes use local ingredients wherever possible, and we are constantly expanding our offerings to include unique products that reflect the rich history and natural wonder of the region.
I hope you enjoy our products and let them inspire you to visit this beautiful and precious area. We use only the finest natural ingredients to make foods that are versatile and satisfying for every occasion. Whether you pack our Adirondack Crunchy Granola for a hiking trip or serve Walnuts in Buckwheat Honey over brie at your next gathering, Well Dressed Food offers the very best of the North Country for your eating and entertaining pleasure. Come join the adventure!
