South Alentejo, Portugal
11th — 15th June
Chloe Cooks and Noms du Jour head to the farm this June
for a four-night food and wine retreat celebrating early summer:
long, balmy dinners, hands-on cooking workshops,
low-intervention wines and the simple pleasures
of sun-ripened produce.
Stay
Stay in a lovingly restored farmhouse in the quiet valley of Montinho do Gois.
Wake up to birdsong and views overlooking the vegetable garden, where nourishing breakfasts are enjoyed together each morning, and our resident donkey roams free.
This intimate retreat offers six self-sufficient studios, each with its own bedroom, bathroom and kitchen, accommodating up to 12 women across two farmhouses.
Six rooms are shared, each with individual beds. One additional room can be booked privately or shared with a close friend; note that this bed is not separable.
Stay
Stay in a lovingly restored farmhouse in the quiet valley of Montinho do Gois.
Wake up to birdsong and views overlooking the vegetable garden, where nourishing breakfasts are enjoyed together each morning, and our resident donkey roams free.
This intimate retreat offers six self-sufficient studios, each with its own bedroom, bathroom and kitchen, accommodating up to 12 women across two farmhouses.
Six rooms are shared, each with individual beds. One additional room can be booked privately or shared with a close friend; note that this bed is not separable.
Overview
Helder Farm Studios welcomes NOMS back to the farm this June, joined by their friend and NYC-based chef Chloe Cooks. In Season celebrates the best of early summer in the Portuguese countryside: long sun-soaked days, balmy evenings and generous alfresco feasts in tribute to the season’s produce.
Across four days, we’ll roll up our sleeves for hands-on cooking workshops with Chloe, taste wines with our friends from Atlas Wines and explore local olive oil in the grove. The days tick along at a relaxed pace. Beach swims, market visits, farm walks and long lunches at the farm and our favourite local tavern, with time in between to read, nap and cool off in the sea. Evenings are spent eating under the stars, where Chloe’s signature style meets Portuguese flavours, paired with a curated wine list spotlighting low-intervention producers and conversation that hits its crescendo long after the dishes are cleared.
Food
Summer is when our favourite produce is at its peak.
Voluptuous tomatoes bursting with flavour, sweet cherries, courgettes and their flowers, herbs picked by the handful. Zingy salads, meats and fish grilled over fire, sardines
and sea bream eaten fresh, pillowy focaccia begging to be swiped through thick, glossy sauces at the meal’s end.
Expect abundant feasts that reflect Chloe’s inventive yet homely signature style, shaped
by seasonality and a reverence for summer ingredients. The food is generous and flavourful – an ode to eating simply and eating well – preparedby those who know their way around a summer table.
A Day at the Retreat
In Season is for anyone who worships at the altar of summer produce. Or is partial to a meandering dinner party conversation. Or, both! When we’re not feasting on generously-prepared feasts that hero the season’s ingredients, we’ll be in the kitchen together cooking them, relaxing at the farm or down at the beach cooling off in the Atlantic.
Long, balmy evenings are spent eating under starlit skies. Food is served off the grill, heaped plates are passed down the table, low-intervention wines are generously poured. In between feasting, there’ll be moments of movement too, with farm walks and morning yoga.
Make friends, cook, unwind and be reminded of why summer is the best season of all.
Meet the Hosts
Chloe Walsh
Chef
Chloe is a chef, recipe developer, food stylist, and food and travel writer based between New York and Los Angeles, originally from the UK. She cooks with seasonality in mind, drawing inspiration from farmers’ markets across Europe, California and the farms of upstate New York.
Her food is produce-forward, with the occasional meat or fish taking centre stage. Chloe trained at the Italian Culinary Institute in Calabria and has worked as a freelance chef for the past seven years, hosting retreats and pop-ups around the world, from BonBon in Sri Lanka to Tuba Club in Marseille.
Madeleine Woon
Noms du Jour
Madeleine Woon is an Australian writer, editor and the co-founder of Noms du Jour, technically based in Amsterdam but more often found hopping around the Greek islands. She began her career with magazines like Oyster, Marie Claire, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar, has worked with luxury brands from Cartier to Hotel De L’Europe, and now contributes essays on food, travel and culture to publications including T: The New York Times Style Magazine and RUSSH.
A preoccupation with the human condition has always been the driving force in both her work and life, and she’s at her best when interviewing chefs for NOMS or discovering new places through food and conversation.
Esmee Brandwijk
Helder Farm Studios
Esmee is a 26-year-old photographer and creative spirit with a deep love for storytelling and aesthetics. A graduate of the Dutch Photo Academy in Amsterdam, she has spent years traveling the world, gathering inspiration and experiences that now inform her work and way of life. Rooted in Portugal, Esmee has created a unique farmstay experience where art, nature and hospitality blend seamlessly.
With an eye for design, she shaped the rustic charm of the property, turning it into a warm and authentic place. Curious and hands-on, her days are a blend of many passions: organising meaningful retreats, capturing moments through her lens, tending to the gardens and preparing nourishing meals from the farm’s harvest.
What's included
• Four-night stay at Helder Farm Studios
• Daily breakfasts by Noms du Jour x Helder Farm Studios
• 3 x lunches at the farm, plus one lunch in town (own cost)
• 4 x dinners, including long-table alfresco feasts
• 2 x hands-on cooking workshops with Chloe Cooks
• Wine tasting with Atlas Wines
• Olive oil tasting with a local producer in the grove
• Morning yoga session at the farm
• Guided walk through the surrounding countryside
• Beach outings along the Alentejo coast
• Market visit
• Ample free time to swim, read, rest and explore at your own pace
Good to Know
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Check in is at 3PM
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Check out is at 10AM
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Upon your booking you will receive a guest intake form with a more detailed information letter
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Upon your booking you will be charged with a service fee. For bank transfers from outside the EU, we kindly ask guests to cover any extra additional transfer fees on top of the remaining balance.
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It’s an international retreat, communication will be in English
In Season is for anyone who worships at the altar of summer produce. Or is partial to a meandering dinner party conversation. Or, both! When we’re not feasting on generously-prepared feasts that hero the season’s ingredients, we’ll be in the kitchen together cooking them, relaxing at the farm or down at the beach cooling off in the Atlantic.
Long, balmy evenings are spent eating under starlit skies. Food is served off the grill, heaped plates are passed down the table, low-intervention wines are generously poured. In between feasting, there’ll be moments of movement too, with farm walks and morning yoga.
Make friends, cook, unwind and be reminded of why summer is the best season of all.
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Flight to/from Portugal
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Transport from train station Santa Clara Saboia to Helder Farm Studios (provided for additional fee)
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Travel/medical insurance
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Shared room - 1850€
This room is a spacious studio with bedroom, private bathroom and kitchen. Will be shared with another participant. This bed can be separated.
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Private or shared friend room - 2350€
This room is a spacious studio with bedroom, private bathroom and outdoor kitchen. This room is for the one who wants more privacy or comes together with a close friend. This bed is a fixed bed and can’t be separated.
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FAQs
Helder Farm Studios is located in the South of Portugal. The closest airport is Faro, 1 Hour and 25 minutes. Lisbon airport is also an option, 2 Hours and 30 minute drive.
Both Faro and Lisbon offer a train to Santa Clara Saboia, 20 minutes from the property, pick-up by us for a small additional fee of 10 euros round trip.
Yes you can come with a friend, but traveling alone is also an option. This retreat is about connection and making new friends along the week.
If you come together with a friend, please let us know, so we can give you the same room.
Yes, we take allergies and dietary restrictions into account. Please let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly. Keep in mind that this is a hands-on culinary retreat focused on seasonal, farm-to-table cooking and sharing meals together, so it may be challenging to accommodate highly restrictive diets.
There is a non-refundable deposit of 600 to pay when booking. The remaining amount is due 6 weeks before the retreat.
There is a non-refundable deposit of 600 to pay when booking. You can cancel your stay up to 6 weeks before the start of the retreat, after this no refund will be given.
If you do want to cancel, please get in touch immediately and we will do our best to help.
Please make sure you have travel insurance in case any unforeseen circumstances occur that might affect your travel plans.
Terms & Conditions
Every booking means a lot to us, so please read our terms and conditions before booking.
By making a reservation, you acknowledge and agree to the following terms:
A non-refundable deposit of 600 euro is required to secure your place.
The remaining balance must be paid in full 6 weeks before the start date of the retreat. Failure to do so may result in losing your reservation.The deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances.
If you cancel more than 6 weeks before the retreat, you will receive a refund minus the deposit.
If you cancel within 6 weeks of the retreat start date, no refund will be given.
If the retreat is canceled by the organizers, you will receive a full refund, including the deposit.Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from the retreat location.
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances such as illness, flight cancellations, or emergencies.
The retreat organizers are not responsible for any travel disruptions or delays.Please inform us in advance of any food allergies, dietary restrictions, or medical conditions that may affect your participation.
While we strive to accommodate dietary needs, we cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free environment.Participants acknowledge that they take part in the retreat at their own risk.
The retreat organizers are not liable for any personal injury, illness, loss, or damage of personal belongings.
Guests are responsible for respecting the property, staff, and other participants. Any damage caused must be covered by the guest.The retreat schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions, availability of local ingredients, or unforeseen circumstances.
We reserve the right to modify the itinerary to ensure the best possible experience for our guests.We foster a respectful and inclusive environment. Any disruptive behavior may result in removal from the retreat without refund.
Guests are expected to respect local customs, staff, and fellow participants.
By booking your place, you confirm that you have read and agreed to these terms and conditions.For any questions, please contact us at. We look forward to welcome you!
