Holistic Eating + Cooking with Ayurveda @Kara’s Kitchenware
Using Food as Medicine for Mind-Body Wellness
With Chef Brandy Berlin (brandyberlin.com)
The classes also emphasize the importance of mindful eating, encouraging participants to slow down, savor each bite, and connect with the nourishment that food provides. By cultivating a deeper awareness of their eating habits, participants can make more conscious choices that contribute to their overall well-being.
What is Ayurvedic Cooking?
Beyond recipes, the classes delve into the principles of Ayurveda, such as the three doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha) and the six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent). Through hands-on cooking sessions, participants experiment with different combinations of flavors and ingredients to create meals that are not only delicious but also support their specific health needs.
In this holistic learning environment, participants not only acquire culinary skills but also gain a deeper understanding of their bodies and the power of food to promote health and vitality. These cooking classes are an invitation to embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation, where the kitchen becomes a sacred space for nourishment and healing.
We will spotlight the golden elixir—ghee—the key to Ayurvedic cooking and show you how to use it to create meals your family will love. See how ghee is made and explore the versatility and enormous health benefits of using ghee from both an Ayurvedic and western perspective. Learn how to turn your food into medicine and unlock a world of flavor, deep nourishment, and true health with this magic fat.
Classes are 6-8pm, classes are $99.00 each and if you complete all 6 of them, you’ll will get a $50 gift card to Kara’s Kitchenware.
Each class will start with a 15-minute overview of Ayurveda and the role ghee plays in achieving optimal health. As participants sip their drinks, this introduction will set the stage for understanding the transformative power of Ayurvedic cooking and eating. As each dish is prepared and eaten, you will receive guidance on how to both cook and eat to optimize digestion and nutrient absorption. We will spotlight the golden elixir—ghee—the key to Ayurvedic cooking and show you how to use it to create meals your family will love.
Participants will leave class with an understanding of how to apply simple Ayurvedic cooking principles to easily prepare recipes and recommendations for eating.
Attend all 6 classes and get a $50 Kara’s Kitchenware Gift Card in April on completion
October 22
“Holistic Eating and Cooking: Ghee From Scratch!”
Join Chef Brandy for a Ghee me From Scratch! Making and Cooking with Ayurveda’s Golden Elixir class.
Ghee is one of the world’s most sacred healing foods with unparalleled therapeutic properties – and yet many have not heard of it. Come learn the history, uses and benefits of this golden elixir from a western medical and Ayurvedic perspective while eating and learning to cook everyday meals. This superfood is like butter baby, but better, in how it nourishes the body, mind and spirit of you and your family. You will learn to make your own ghee at home and leave class with an understanding of how to apply simple Ayurvedic cooking principles to easily prepare recipes.
Menu: Ayurvedic Latte, Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Herbed Butter, Fresh Paneer and Broccoli, Date Shake
November 4
“Holistic Eating and Cooking: Ghee Me Some Breads and Soups!”
Roll into the Fall season by discovering the warmth and nourishment of these easy-to-make comfort foods. In this class, we’ll explore hearty soups and wholesome breads, perfect for the cooler months ahead. Each recipe is designed to be simple yet satisfying, filling your kitchen with delightful aromas and your meals with dosha-balancing nutrition.
MENU: Golden Milk, Roasted Romaine Soup and Ginger Carrot Soup, Chapati Bread Variations, Ginger Vanilla Saffron Cookies
January 21
“Holistic Eating and Cooking: Ghee Me Some Kitchari!”
Dive into this beloved dish of Ayurvedic cooking—kitchari. An Ayurvedic staple, kitchari is deeply nourishing and is perfect for someone not feeling well. We will begin, as always, with ghee and spices, to prepare this simple, easy-to-digest, one-pot meal. We will make two varieties of cooktop, Instapot and show you how to make thermos kitchari for travelers. We will discuss the ojas, our vital essence, and how we both deplete and can cultivate it with specific foods and ways of eating.
MENU: Ayurvedic Latte or Yogurt Lassi, Simple Kitchari and Vegetable Kitchari, Honey Tahini Miso Sauce, Date Cups and Rose Ojas Milk
February 18
“Holistic Eating and Cooking: Ghee Me Some Breakfast/Dessert!”
Get your day started right with an Ayurvedic breakfast! This class focuses on using ghee in making warm porridges (that can double as delightful desserts) and stewed fruits (perfect as a light breakfast or a nourishing snack). Ghee is key to unlocking the medicinal benefits of the spices in our morning grains and fruits, and you’ll get a chance to make and try several options.
MENU: Ayurvedic Latte, Kunyi – THE Ayurvedic Go-To Breakfast, Date Pecan Porridge or Cinnamon Pearl Barley “aka Sugar Smacks”, Toasted Coconut Rice Porridge or Cardamom Rose or Lavender Porridge, To Go: Stewed Apples or Pears with Raisins, Cinnamon, Ginger, Clove, Cardamom and Vanilla options
March 18
“Holistic Eating and Cooking: Ghee Me Some Balanced Bowls!”
Learn to use ghee to unlock the healing qualities of Ayurvedic spices, laying the foundation for cooking delicious vegetables and savory rices and legumes into an Ayurvedic masterpiece. The Balanced Bowl where a 60% augmenting portion sustains and builds the body, supporting its vital functions while a 40% extractive portion cleanses without disrupting digestion, creates harmony for our digestion and our mind.
MENU: Hydration Drink, Roasted Beets and Brussels & Fennel Rice and Mung (& Homemade Paneer) OR Ginger Carrots and Spinach & Rice and Sesame Mung,
Calming Cookies and Spiced Milk
April 15
“Holistic Eating and Cooking: A Ghee Tea Party! Ghee Me Some Biscuits and Cookies!”
Travel into wonderland in your maddest hat and outfit, and join us for a playful cooking adventure where the magic of ghee transforms ordinary treats into extraordinary delights. We will indulge in a tea party like no other while we bake the magic of ghee into biscuits and cookies and learn to pan fry delicious flatbreads. These are also the creations that make the best travel food! This is not just a cooking class; it’s a celebration of friends, flavor, creativity, and the golden gratitude we feel for ghee. You will learn to make:
MENU: Ayurvedic Latte, Savory Biscuits, Carob Lime Bites, Coconut Macaroons, Date Cups
More than just cooking classes; these holistic learning experiences focus on the principles of Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of medicine, to offer a transformative approach to cooking and eating.
At the heart of Ayurveda is the belief that food is not merely sustenance but also a powerful tool for healing and maintaining balance within the body. These classes explore the concept of “ahar,” which encompasses not only the physical act of eating but also the entire process of choosing, preparing, and consuming food. Participants learn how to select ingredients that are in harmony with their unique constitution and how to cook in a way that preserves their vital nutrients.