Private Workshops, Perfume & the Magic of Wild Petals Provisions
One of my favorite things about hosting private workshops is the energy guests bring with them. I have an area setup to the side of the workshop where guests bring food and beverages.
Over the years I've watched tables transform: candy and cakes, wine and pasta, full catering spreads, you name it. But a few months ago, something caught my eye. These stunning charcuterie boards kept appearing at workshops, and they weren't just delicious — they were art. I tracked them back to Nancy at Wild Petals Provisions, a cheese shop on Brooks Street in downtown Bend.
Nancy's path to cheese and charcuterie winds through some unexpected places — including the halls of Nike and Nordstrom, where she spent years in product management. But the seed of Wild Petals was planted long before that, somewhere between airports and cobblestone streets.
"The biggest part of this journey is having traveled all over the world wondering through shops that sold cheeses and meats," she explains. "That was the beginning of the idea behind the store."
When she and her family moved to Bend in 2020, the idea finally had room to grow. She made a decision that shocked her friends: she took a job at a supermarket.
"I told all of them — this is my passion, and my best education will come from working there," she says with a laugh. "I learned so much from that experience, and it led directly to opening this shop."
Today, Wild Petals carries an artful selection of meats, cheeses, jams, and everything else you need for a dinner party, a picnic, or a pre-concert spread downtown.
What's your favorite part of running this business?
Without hesitation: the people.
"We have regulars who come in and I know their stories — we end up being friends. Sometimes they stop in and don't buy anything, but I get a hug. I'm a big hugger."
There's also the staff at neighboring shops — a tight-knit community of small business owners who check in on each other, celebrate each other's good days, and show up on the hard ones.
"My neighbors have become family," she says. "We look out for each other."
The Charcuterie boards. Let's talk about the boards.
When Rebecca of Cowgirl Properties brought a Wild Petals charcuterie board to one of my workshops, it became the centerpiece of the entire table of appetizers. It was gorgeous and tasted amazing.
Nancy's approach is simple: it starts with listening.
"Everything on the board is specific to that customer — that's when the magic happens," she says. "We focus on the meats and cheeses, and keep the crackers, mustard, and jams on the side. We include fresh edible flowers. And the underlying wood boards, must look gorgeous too."
She takes extra care training new staff on the craft of building them — at Wild Petals, the board isn't just a holder for food. It's art. Art you can eat.
"It really elevates a party," she says simply. And I agree. We love you Nancy!
Wild Petals Provisions 930 NW Brooks Street, Bend, OR 97703 wildpetalsbend.com | 503.577.3848
