AT HOME WITH TARA
Q+A WITH HEALTH HUT'S FOUNDER
This fall, we sit down with Health Hut Founder Tara Miller to ask about this season’s skincare musts, get the inside scoop on Health Hut's newest product launch and learn where she's making her next dinner reservation.
HH:
After a summer full of travels and celebrations (we’d love to hear the highlights!), how are you settling into the fall?
TARA:
Summer is always a special time, however this one was particularly memorable. I spent the month of June in Europe, first celebrating my in-law's 50th wedding anniversary in the south of France, followed by a solo week in Barcelona, and ending with a friend's 40th birthday party in northern Iceland.
Reading for hours in the warm sun, long seaside lunches, and partying in 24-hour daylight at 2 am will be some of my top cherished moments of the trip, maybe of my life. The theme was slowing down and living. As someone who gets quickly caught up in work (which I also very much enjoy), it was refreshing and rejuvenating to refocus my attention on other pleasures around me.
As I return to a more regular pace of life and experience the change of seasons, I have tried to carry the joys of the trip and the long summer days with me into the fall. Having meals or coffee outside, more walks with the dogs, and carrying a book with me to catch a few pages between meetings have been nice reminders to enjoy the moments that seem to pass so quickly when we aren’t paying attention.
"The theme was slowing down and living."
HH:
Health Hut just launched its bestselling Hand Soap & Body Wash in refill pouches this September. This is undoubtedly one of the most requested products Health Hut has ever had — the entire HH community is lathering up!
Looking forward, what’s on the horizon for Health Hut?
TARA:
This was a surprise to me, but a wonderful one! I was overwhelmed by the interest in refills and reprioritized some projects to meet our customers' needs.
We have a few things planned for the upcoming months, including a new scent (!), the relaunch of our Bubble Bath (also one of our most requested products), and new candle sizes. Stay tuned.
HH:
As someone who has worked with skincare brands for over a decade, you have access to long-time bestsellers and the newest of the new.
We’re curious, what are you washing your face with this fall, and what products are catching your eye this season?
TARA:
I am quickly excited by newness, but ultimately, a creature of habit. I will be forever devoted to Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser. Close runner’s up: Vintner’s Daughter Active Renewal Cleanser or Monastery’s Rose Cleansing Oil.
Catching my eye this season is the Essential Moisturizer from LESSE (we just launched their facials, and wow!), and if we are talking body care too, Margin’s new Body Wash is freshhhhh!
SHOP TARA'S FALL PICKS
HH:
In the late afternoon, you’re often in conversation with the HH team about what we’re cooking, a new favourite restaurant in the city, and recipes we can’t get enough of.
What are some food favourites on your fall menu?
TARA:
Pasta, always. I have been making a mean Amatriciana - inspired by two of my favourites in the city, Enoteca Sociale and Bar Prima.
This past weekend, I had a delicious dinner at our neighbourhood local, Guilietta. We shared beef tartar, a gem salad, calamari, and the L’Amenta pizza with tomato, soppressata picante, fior di latte, garlic, and Sicilian oregano. Yum.
On the menu for a simple weekday dinner at home for me is roasted salmon, rice, and a big green salad with a salty (the key to a good salad imo), garlicky dressing.
SUMMER CELEBRATIONS IN ICELAND
NIGHTS IN THE GARDEN WITH DOLLY
HH:
You have a love and good eye for the fun things in life — design, food, books, clothes.
Who are you looking to for inspiration? What Toronto shops are you stopping in at? And where’s your next dinner reservation?
TARA:
For clothes, my friend Kaelen’s store Absolutely Fabrics is so fun. Some of the pieces and styles can feel intimidating to me, but she is great at picking out unexpected things that make you feel great. I also love Fawn on Queen and our style gal at the shop, Nat, introduced me to Gray’s on Dundas which is a great addition to the neighbourhood. Maguire for shoes.
Our neighbours Flying Books for my next read. I pop in for a quiet moment almost every day, often leaving with a book to add to my never-ending stack.
On my list for new local restaurants to try: Takja BBQ House and Mhel. And we have a reservation for Prime Seafood Palace (I have been wanting to go for years) to celebrate my 40th bday next month.
