Gigi's Rancho el Rincon

HOST FARMERS: Jehanne & Nick Brown | Rincon Tropics

GUEST CHEFS: Julian Martinez & Preston Knox | Barbareño

GUEST WINERY: Tara Gomez & Mireia Taribó | Camins2Dreams

GUEST DISTILLERY: Sarah & Marko Suput | Rock 12 Distillery

The Brown family has been committed to taking care of the land here for generations, and Jehanne Brown, its current steward, has curated a Mediterranean-inspired paradise working with its natural topography, various microclimates and soil types to grow specialty, subtropical fruits. This lush, historic haven is filled with guavas, passion fruit, avocados, cherimoya, dragonfruit, pomegranate and citrus and offers sweeping views of the Pacific, the Channel Islands, and the California coast. Farming naturally with no pesticides or sprays, the family uses a variety of regenerative techniques including cover crops, beneficial insects, and interplanted fields to produce stunning fruit that is well-loved by some of the best chefs in Southern California and beyond.

Jehanne’s son, our co-host and sixth-generation farmer, Nick Brown, helps manage the ranch and also sells fruit from the family’s properties direct-to-consumers nationwide and at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market. 

Executive Chef Julian Martinez and Chef de Cuisine Preston Knox of Barbareño are steeped in the cuisine of the Central Coast of California. Known for using the history and traditions of the area as a starting point, the pair promises a menu that vividly expresses time and place, incorporating produce from the ranch.