Honoring Boo Simms
In January, we were profoundly and deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Lady & Larder’s Boo Simms. Boo was a beloved community member with an amazingly creative soul. She lived life in vibrant color and with pure joy. Raised in Carmel, Boo and her twin sister, Sarah, brought their cult L.A. eatery to Carmel Valley in late 2023 and immediately made an impact on the lives of so many.
Boo had the unique ability to touch the heart of every person she met, which is why we felt the best way to honor her memory was by sharing yours. In partnership with Good Grief, a newsletter bringing a creative perspective to conversations of grief, loss, endings, and, inevitably, new beginnings, we invited the community into a shared act of remembrance. The resulting What I Will Miss list is a testament to the power of one smile, one embrace, one glance, one word. Boo cherished the small moments that weave together to form our lives, and she taught us to do the same.
Boo’s final Instagram post, on New Year’s Day, captured her essence beautifully: “May we remember to wake up and dance. Listen more. Linger longer. Make gratitude our aesthetic. Go hard on the problem and soft on the person. Pick up the phone. Get our hands dirty. Mail more letters. Buy the hat. Sing louder. Surrender to the surprises. Go slowly. Follow what makes you feel. Be amazed by it all.”
"I will so deeply miss the way she painted the world in the brightest colors and kept such a reverence for the little joys and magic in each day."
—Sarah Simms
“Boo intercepted the mundane with magic. Her energy drew the best out of everyone. I will miss my friend but thankful she graced my life and changed it for the better.”
—Ada Fisher
“There are very few people in this world that will have a lasting impact on your life. While I did not have the opportunity to know Boo long, her warm presence and energetic soul overflowed. I’ll always remember the first question she asked in our first meeting: ‘What can we do for you?’ Boo represents living life through love and creativity. Her love for her community and this small piece of the world was mesmerizing.”
—Kirstie Woods
“Adronitis is a word in The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows that is defined as the frustration with how long it takes to get to know someone. That feeling didn’t exist with Boo. She was so real and present that there seemed to be an almost immediate reciprocal understanding and bond. I will miss just being near her energy.”
—Olivia Vannucci
“Sharing light, inspiration, and life through food, art, and motherhood.”
—Annelise Drange
“When I think of Boo, I think of one of very few women I know that was never scared. As someone who is always thinking of what ‘could’ happen, I always admired that Boo presented in life without fear. She was so inspiring to me in SO many ways—creatively, her fashion, her use of words and her fearlessness. She made me realize that things don’t have to be scary. Boo held herself so confidently and elegantly and without fear. She did everything that she wanted to do because she never let fear stand in the way. I love her and miss her so deeply, but will hold myself stronger because of her.”
—Ashley Streicher
“Boo will forever be one of the best friends I will ever have. I will miss her smile, her contagious laugh, her tight hugs, and the way she made me and my family feel so special. Always. She will continue to be magical and my inspiration. I will miss her handwritten birthday cards, her creative ability to put her mark on the world. I will miss her. Everything about her.”
—Lacy Maykus
“It’s truly impossible to encapsulate her magic, but I will forever miss her epic facial expressions, perfectly manicured nails and the sincerity and depth of her hugs every single time I saw her.”
—Amanda West Reade
“Boo had the best smile and the kindest heart. Her smile made you feel special and in her orbit, even if it had been a long time since you’d seen her.”
—Kelsey Cera
“I miss the little things, like her laughter, inside jokes, the way she understood me, her button nose, the countless memories we’ve created, and, most importantly, her presence in my life and community. I still see her everywhere and in everything. I love you 3000 Twin 2.”
—Spencer Reade
“Boo’s smile and passion.”
—Olivia Simms
“Wildly creative events together and sharing inspiration.”
—Leah Heffernan
“I was lucky enough to have Boo in my life for 12 years. So many incredible memories come to mind when I think of her. I will miss continuing our motherhood journey together. I will miss watching her create pure magic. I will miss her undeniably contagious laugh and her bear hugs.”
—Erika Morgan
“Her warm smile and her ability to never meet a stranger. She made fast friends with everyone she encountered.”
—Jenn Mckinney
“I will miss the way her warmth and creativity made the world feel more magical and full of possibility.”
—Amanda Sgheiza
“I miss Boo’s zest for life, her welcoming smile. I miss seeing her outfit when she walks into a room. I miss her handwritten notes. I miss how extremely passionate she was about the people and things she loved. I miss all the potential things she would create. I’m so grateful I was able to know her.”
—Alissa Bell Carnazzo
“When Boo would see you, her face would light up and her smile was like the sun hugging you.”
—Autumn Udell
“I will miss our conversations. She always helped guide me and I will cherish her and her advice forever.”
—Jenna Jones
“Boo was a magnetic soul who came into my life with such incredible force. I feel so very lucky to have known her, to have been in her orbit for the short time we had her.”
—Maggie Dahn
“We will miss her soulful eyes and big heart.”
—Andrew and Jordan Chugg
“Smiles and magic.”
—Michelle Rudolph
“The radiance and warmth that came from her sincere smile.”
—Annie Freeman
“The effervescence that exuded from Boo is the rarest of finds. Her presence was magnetic and her life so very inspired. I feel so fortunate to have befriended such a beautiful being and will always remain in awe of her awesomeness.”
—Jasmine Jones
“We met Boo & Sarah at Marmee’s last weekend opening in 2024. Boo’s instantaneous warmth, light, and a mile-wide smile was like being welcomed into someone’s home. Her hospitality was out of this world and the joy she expressed while we talked about homemade linguica is a fond memory we cherish. There is a special kinship between those who show their love through food. Boo embodied that.”
—Jill Shubel
“I will miss seeing her adventures and the wonderful places she was going and how much fun she was having with her beautiful girls. She created magic everywhere she went.”
—KC LeFevre
“The profound impact she continues to have on the cheese community.”
—Rachel deBerardinis
“Boo’s excitement and support for the littlest things, which made me feel comfortable when chatting with her.”
—Adam Silverstein of Silverstein’s Delicatessen
“I never met Boo, but she enhanced my life with the curated wonder of Lady & Larder. From the delightful design work to the delicious produce, sandwiches, wines and snacks, a trip to L&L is always a trip to my happy place. Seeing the love radiating between her and her family via her Instagram posts was pure joy too. Thank you for everything, Boo.”
—Lori E
“I began working for Lady & Larder during the COVID-19 pandemic and Boo and Sarah welcomed me with open arms. … I will miss working with Boo on special occasions such as Thanksgiving and Christmas early mornings. I didn’t get to see her often but when I did she was always happy and full of life.”
—Jessie Razo
“Beautiful, kind, creative. Boo was goals, all day everyday. She is so missed.”
—Annonymous
“I will miss her infectious smile and warmth to friends and strangers alike. I will miss being able to introduce her to our son who she was such a fervent cheerleader of.”
—Brittney Weinerth
“I did not know Boo personally, but enjoyed following her journey and return to Carmel Valley on social media. I felt her presence from afar, whether snacking on a spread created for Tancredi & Morgen, eating a thoughtfully-curated crudite plate at Bernardus Winery, or simply walking by the ultra-cool Lady & Larder shop. I grieve for her young family, and anyone that felt her grace on earth. Thanks for touching so many lives, Boo Simms, whether you knew it or not. Your legacy will definitely live on in the community that you left behind.”
—Beth Henshaw
“This beautiful soul left the planet. She and her twin were such fun to follow all the way back to school days at Carmel Mission and Notre Dame High School in Salinas. I’m heartbroken for her family and little daughters and what must’ve been the sweetest husband. Missing her already. You kinda fall in love with your kids’ schoolmates when they are especially sweet.”
—Debbie Humm-Bremser
IN LOVING MEMORY
If you’d like to honor Boo’s memory, consider supporting Lady & Larder through a cheese club membership (ladyandlarder.com/collections/the-gift-shop). Allocations ship monthly, nationwide.