About Lore & Fare
About Our Name
"Lore" is our dedication to telling the stories of local growers & makers, and of the food history that makes this region unique.
"Fare" encompasses all the everyday and specialty food that make up the food culture of the California's Central Coast region.
The Lore of Us
Although the business formally developed in 2025, the dream started in October of 2023 while Lisa was “leaf-peeping” in New England. She and her friend Ryan took a whirlwind tour through New England, taking in the fall colors, with a goal of eating 10 lobster rolls in five days (which she had never had before). They explored small waterfront shops, brick lined streets, and unique roadside stands. They then set a new goal of stopping at 10+ farm stands in their 4 days left, as well. This quest took them into the farmland and mountains of Vermont, by the cranberry bogs of Massachusetts, into homes, sheds, and even micro pop up stands. During this trip, each day was an adventure, and each adventure brought them to new towns, delightful small businesses, and introduced them to folks with a story to tell. Not only did they make it to 10 different farm stands, but they did in fact get to try 10 different lobster rolls. (With number 10 enjoyed just hours before their flight home!)
It took this adventure to remind Lisa, (who was born and raised in Monterey, California) of all that actually lies in her own backyard. Returning home with a new sense of adventure and curiosity, she started to explore and discover all of the U-Pick farms, farm stands, and artisan shops within 25 miles of her hometown. This endeavor has introduced her to amazing foods, tons of new skills (because she wants to make every delicious, crafty thing she sees!), and the most friendly, kind people she could have ever hoped to meet. She has been able to create more than a community, but several special friendships and a deeper sense of peace and belonging that really speaks to the heart of this Central California girl.
About Lisa, the Founder
Welcome, I’m Lisa Wichael-Loomis, Owner and Curator of Lore & Fare.
For me, food has always been more than what’s on a plate; it’s a story, a connection, and a way to celebrate. Growing up in a Sicilian, Irish, and Scottish family, food was what brought us together. Every meal carried a memory, passed from one generation to the next, or was the beginning of a new tradition.
My Nanu was a butcher, and his father, a fisherman. My grandmother owned her own specialty food shop before there really was such a thing in Monterey. Her father was a chef on the old railroads and later owned River Inn in Big Sur, California, where my Grandma grew up. And, all of this was back when a full breakfast cost a quarter, gas was a nickel a gallon at the Inn, and Henry Miller sat at a corner table drinking coffee.
My love of great food and authentic connection runs deep in my roots. I find joy in discovering hidden farm stands, no name restaurants, savoring fresh, local flavors, and meeting the incredible people behind each of these. Whether it’s a baker, a chef, or any kind of artisan, hearing their stories and the inspiration behind their creations makes every bite feel special and creates a shared experience — a reminder that food connects us all.
With my own background as a cook, baker, and experimental gardener, I’ve dreamed of building a community around these shared passions. Lore & Fare is that dream come to life — a place to celebrate the land, the makers, and the magic behind every ingredient.
Through farm and restaurant tours, hands-on cooking classes, and thoughtfully curated gift boxes, my hope is to create experiences that nourish both heart and home — where every flavor tells a story and every gathering sparks a new connection.
Thank you for being here. I can’t wait to share the flavors, stories, and spirit of Lore & Fare with you.
About Roshi,
Operations & Marketing
With over 15 years of Digital Marketing, Communications, and Operations experience, Roshi has spent her professional life supporting entrepreneurs and small business brands, helping them find their voice in a noisy and fast moving marketplace. With a diverse background spanning multiple industries such as Tech, Retail, Entertainment, Hospitality, and even Journalism, Roshi is passionate about building things, cheerleading dreamers, and forging big ideas into reality.
....Hi, that's me! Now that you've gotten my third-person bio, here's the heart of why I'm a part of Lore & Fare:
Like so many people in the world, I identify as a "foodie". But, much more than simply liking yummy food, I believe in the power of food to bring people together... carrying on traditions and identities, and forging new bridges. We often think we must fling ourselves to far off places to find unique and memorable eating experiences. But, there is abundance in our own backyards...in our own gardens, hillsides, oceans, and rivers. We already have an abundance of delicious new things, of histories and stories that are both precious and timeless, of passionate humans cultivating the earth and their crafts to create delicious nourishment for their communities -- all in our own back yard.
Though I'm not a native to this part of California, I am a California girl who came to the Monterey Bay over 20 years ago and have called it "home" ever since. Every day, I am reminded that I get to live in a globally famous location, valued for its natural beauty and bounty. Serendipity brought Lisa and I together, and it quickly became apparent that we shared a loved of cooking, food, people, and adventure. Like, Lisa, I want very much to share the richness of the region's history, culture, and communities with people -- at home and abroad. Our shared appreciation for creativity and craft has helped to forge our work together.
It's been such a joy to be a part of building this brand, and I hope that the joy we've had in building it is felt by you -- our customers -- when you receive the lovingly curated boxes from Lore & Fare.
