Built on hospitality, shaped by journey
Alder didn't start with a business plan. It started with a belief that food can bring people together in meaningful ways and that genuine hospitality is a craft worth dedicating your life to .
This is the story of how we got here, and why it matters.
From Michelin-star kitchens to Chester, Vermont
My earliest memory of food was when I was about four years old. My father gave me pig trotters' stew, and I remember savoring that gelatinous consistency and rich flavor. It's stayed with me all these years—that understanding that food can transport you, can connect you to memory and emotion in ways nothing else can.
It wasn't until I was twenty-three that food became like a religion to me. Culinary school opened my eyes to a whole world I didn't know existed. I worked for free for months at a French restaurant just to earn a position on the brigade. That experience taught me discipline, respect for the craft, and what "old school" kitchens demand lessons I still carry today.
My path took me through Michelin-star kitchens, where I learned that technique is only part of the equation. The real art is in hospitality—making someone feel cared for through food. For years, I've run Calderon Dining, cooking for high-end clientele, traveling with clients, perfecting dishes as if they were symphonies. I learned to compose food the way an artist composes music, balancing all the senses to transport someone out of their everyday reality.
But here's what I've learned: that kind of magic shouldn't be reserved for private dining and high-end experiences. Everyone deserves to feel that connection through food. Everyone deserves genuine hospitality.
The long road to this place
Alder didn't happen quickly. For years, Kirsten and I searched for the right property—a place where we could build something that mattered, something bigger than just another restaurant. Doors closed. Properties fell through. There were moments when it felt like this vision might never become real.
Then I injured my knee, and everything shifted. Suddenly, I couldn't work the way I had been. That injury forced me to think differently—to build systems, to create something sustainable, to imagine a business where I wasn't carrying everything on my own shoulders.
And that's when this property appeared. Nearly two acres in Chester, Vermont. The right space at the right time. Not by accident, but because we'd waited for what was meant for us.
This place is the result of that patience, that struggle, that faith. It's what happens when you refuse to settle and trust that the right opportunity will come.
Built together
At Alder, we believe coffee and pastries taste better when you feel genuinely welcome. Whether you're grabbing a quick morning coffee, settling in with a book, or meeting a friend over lunch, you'll find more than great food here you'll find a place where you belong.
We're built on the simple idea that hospitality matters. Everyone who walks through our door should feel greeted, comfortable, and cared for.
That's our foundation. The beautiful pastries and exceptional coffee? Those make the experience even better.
The people who make it happen
We're fortunate to have three team members returning from the previous bakery ownership—people who already understand this space and this community.
We're also building our team with new members who share our values: hospitality first, quality always, and genuine care for every person who walks through the door.
A space designed for connection
Comfortable seating with couches and coffee tables where you can settle in with a book, have a conversation, or just enjoy your coffee without feeling rushed. We want this to feel like a place where you can stay awhile.
Warm, inviting design with dark emerald accent walls, maple flooring, and thoughtful details that make the space feel both elegant and welcoming. Not overly luxuriousjust genuinely comfortable.
Two distinct areas: a lounge space for lingering and a dining room for meals. Different spaces for different needs, all designed with the same care. This nearly two-acre property gives us room to grow to evolve with our community's needs and to keep building something special here in Chester.
More than food
In a world where genuine connection feels increasingly rare, we wanted to create something different. Not just a place to grab coffee and pastries—though we certainly have those but a space where people from all walks of life can feel at home.
Where a mother meeting a friend for coffee feels just as valued as a worker grabbing a quick lunch. Where someone can sit alone with a book for hours without feeling like they need to leave. Where the person behind the counter might know your name, or at least wants to.
This is our calling. It's simply what we believe: that hospitality, done right, creates the conditions for human connection. And connection is what we're all craving.
Alder is built on this foundation. Hospitality and great food. Both done with care, skill, and genuine love for the craft.
Come be part of our story
Now that you know who we are and why we're here, we'd love to meet you. Stop by for coffee, try one of our pastries, or just come sit for a while.
You'll find us in Chester, ready to welcome you.