About The Host Notes
Welcome!
The Host Notes is your place for simple recipes and hospitality guidance – designed to help you create connection, celebrate the everyday, and gather with intention and joy.
Meet Amber Dawn
I’m Amber Dawn Schultheis, a culinary writer, recipe developer, and hospitality professional based in the Greater Seattle Area. I’m the creator of The Host Notes, where I share approachable seasonal recipes and thoughtful ideas for gathering well.
My approach to food is shaped by hands-on culinary experience, professional recipe development, and nearly two decades of storytelling and brand strategy. Before moving into corporate marketing and customer experience, I trained and worked in commercial kitchens and hospitality settings across the Pacific Northwest—as a baker, barista, prep cook, caterer, server, and event hostess.
My time as a baker and barista at The Flying Apron Bakery in Seattle had a lasting influence on the way I cook and develop recipes today. Working in a dedicated gluten-free and vegan bakery taught me to think creatively about ingredients, technique, texture, and accessibility—and that dietary considerations never have to come at the expense of delicious food.
Earlier in my career, I worked at a French-inspired bed and breakfast, where I was introduced to the details of thoughtful dining service and the art of making people feel genuinely welcome.
Across kitchens, dining rooms, catering events, and commercial bakeries, I learned how to execute food with care, adapt to different dietary needs, and create experiences that feel both generous and approachable.
I’ve continued to build on that foundation through culinary coursework, recipe-writing education, and years of developing and refining recipes for The Host Notes and other lifestyle publications.
The Host Notes brings all of these experiences together. My recipes are designed for real home cooks: seasonal, approachable, thoughtfully developed, and worth sharing with the people around your table. My goal is to help you feel more confident in the kitchen—and more at ease when it’s time to gather.
I believe good hospitality doesn’t require perfection. It requires attention, generosity, and a willingness to make people feel welcome.
That’s what I hope you’ll find here.
“Hospitality is at the heart of everything I do. I see the way it creates connection between people, the way it turns experiences into lasting memories.” – ADS
Fun Facts About Me
Current Coffee Order
Americano w/ coconut milk
Hosting style
Warm + unfussy
Go-To Dinner
salmon w/ cucumber salad
Kitchen Soundtrack
Indie folk + blues
Favorite Place
Near the water
Pantry Staple
Flaky salt
Hospitality, Made Simple and Meaningful
Whether you’re planning a cozy brunch, hosting a crowd, or simply trying to get dinner on the table with a little less fuss, The Host Notes is here to support you with recipes, rituals, and not-so-subtle reminders that hosting should nourish you, too.
If you want to:
- Host more often, but don’t know where to start
- Make cooking for friends and family easier and more enjoyable
- Learn how to accommodate different dietary needs
- Create meaningful moments around the table
- Get out of your cooking rut
- Bring a bit of hospitality into your everyday life
… you’ve come to the right place.
Here you’ll find: Simple Recipes & Joyful Hospitality
- Make-ahead appetizers and crowd-pleasers to simplify hosting
- Flavor-forward, seasonal recipes designed to be joyful to make and share
- Brunch ideas, main dishes, sides, and sweets that are as delightful as they are doable
- Hospitality how-tos, checklists, and real-life hosting advice you can actually use
A Commitment to Continuous Improvement (in and out of the kitchen!)
I’m committed to learning from the best—continually refining my skills so the recipes and guidance shared here are thoughtful, and well-informed. In addition to years of hands-on kitchen experience, I’ve completed culinary courses ranging from sourdough baking to classic French techniques, and recipe-writing seminars through Tastemaker Conference, the world’s largest food publishing community.
Here are some of the culinary and hospitality resources I’ve learned from and recommend:
- Belfast Cookery School – Belfast, Ireland
- Seawolf Bakers – Seattle, Washington, US
- King Arthur Baking School – Skagit County, Washington, US
- Culinary Immigration – Snohomish, Washington, US
- Dubuque Bakery – Snohomish Washington, US
Featured In
Amber Dawn and The Host Notes has been featured in Pacific Northwest food and lifestyle publications, including Snohomish City Lifestyle, Kirkland Lifestyle, Bellevue City Lifestyle, Welcome Magazine and local product campaigns, and small business storytelling outlets.
Events & Experiences
The Host Notes has been commissioned for select private events including private chef services, hospitality workshops, retreats, and intimate cooking experiences throughout the Greater Seattle Area and beyond. Inquiries are welcome! Reach out to [email protected].
Let’s Stay Connected!
Subscribe to The Host Notes newsletter for inspiration delivered straight to your inbox —seasonal recipes, real-life hospitality tips, and personal anecdotes to remind you to savor, connect with joy, and host yourself well. I’d be so delighted to have you there!