Making Love in the Kitchen

Jan 23rd, 2010 by Meghan Telpner

I am in agreement with the ladies who joined me in St. Lucia when I say that meals on the retreat were definitely a highlight. We were getting our food fresh off the land for the most part- tree, vine and ground ripened- and brought to our table the same day it was harvested. That is pretty rock-on awesome.

But I do believe there was another very important factor. This one…

The meals were eaten together and in the spirit of celebration. They were prepared with conscious care and attention to the detail of presentation. Love is in the details.

For most of us, these days, our meals are eaten alone, often in front of the computer or TV, sometimes in the car, usually with little love, care or attention to either the food we’re eating and how we are consuming it.

For me, one of the best treats of the week was not only getting to chit chat and get to know all these amazing women, but that every meal we shared together. We ate in anticipation of the day ahead, glowing post yoga, following a day of adventure, following a nutrition lecture or perhaps winding down the day. We ate slowly, enjoyed the amazing healthful food, and there was never a single conversation around calories, body weight, negative comments on personal appearance or negative feelings around food in general. We ate well, and we felt great.

I can’t help but wonder now, especially given that this was a group of young women, many of us prone to digestive upset, if the quality of the food is only a part of the healthy eating equation. Perhaps equal to if not greater than the actual healthfulness of the meals we shared, was the sweet joy and positivity that surrounded the relaxed eating environment. Simple enough- giving ourselves time to eat, time to rest, to digest, and doing so at a great big table with other like-minded, positive people.

If I could bottle that health building magic and sell it as a supplement, well, I might find myself out of a job soon. Alas, I can’t. What I can do though is offer that same vibe in my kitchen. So… come by and learn, cook, eat, laugh and rest to digest with me!

I am heading home from St. Lucia this weekend- Fresh new tropical inspired posts coming on Tuesday!

Cooking Programs and Individual Classes

Location: 26 Noble Street, Unit 6 (Queen and Dufferin area)
Time: 6:30-9:30 pm unless otherwise indicated
Class Capacity: 8-12

Think of those beautiful tables set in the Tuscan country-side. Great big long tables laden with the most delicious of food and the table surrounded by a group of amazing, creative, interesting and diverse people all with a passion for great food, health and an open mind. Now transfer that table to a brilliantly vibrant artist’s loft in downtown Toronto. Welcome to the Love In The Kitchen Academy!

These cooking classes invite a hands-on cooking experience with the opportunity to play in the kitchen, making and enjoying great food with like-minded people. These groups serve as social gatherings where you get to meet new people and sit down together to a delicious, nutritious and healthful meal from an appetizer right through to a sweet and healthy dessert.

Once the cooking is done, we sit down together to enjoy the amazingly delicious and healthful meal.

6- Week Cooking Program

Topics Covered Include:

Low Glycemic Eating and The Glycemic Index
Benefits of Whole Foods for Whole Health
Holistic Principals of Comfort Food
Health Benefits of Herbs and Spices
Vegetable Based Proteins
Sprouting and Soaking Grains and Seeds
Health Benefits of Sea Vegetables
Health Benefits of Fermented Foods
Cooking with Whole Grains
Cooking with Lentils
Cooking/Baking with alternative and gluten-free flours
Grain-Free Meals / Flour Alternatives
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet
Health Benefits of Raw food
Basic Raw food preparation

Thursdays: February 18th – March 25th
$390 for 6 Classes

4-Week Cooking Program

Topics Covered Include:

Low Glycemic Eating and The Glycemic Index
Benefits of Whole Foods for Whole Health
Holistic Principals of Comfort Food
Health Benefits of Herbs and Spices
Vegetable Based Proteins
Sprouting and Soaking Grains and Seeds with Demo
Health Benefits of Sea Vegetables
Health Benefits of Fermented Foods with Demo
Cooking with Whole Grains
Cooking with Lentils
Cooking/Baking with alternative and gluten-free flours

Class 1 – Whole Foods / Low Glycemic
Class 2 – Healthy Comfort Foods, Health benefit of Spices
Class 3 – Vegetable Based Protein / Sprouting
Class 4 – Asian Inspired / Use and Benefit of Fermented Foods

4 Thursdays: February 18th – March 11th
$260 for 4 Classes

2-Week Cooking Program

Class 1 – Grain-Free
Class 2 – Raw Food Feast

Thursdays: March 18th and 23rd
$135 for 2 Classes

Single Unique Cooking Classes

Simple From Scratch

This basic intro class is a great way to get a foundation in the ease of preparing whole, nourishing meals from unprocessed, natural ingredients. This is a great class if you are new to the kitchen and aren’t quite ready to commit to a full 4 or 6 week program, and also if you did the extended programs and just need a little refresher or some kitchen inspiration. This class will provide a basic understanding into the importance of whole foods as, together, we create a complete meal from starter to dessert.

Saturday, February 20th: 11:00am – 2:00pm
$70.00