Kripalu Yoga Center- Whole foods cooking by Jeremy Smith

I visited Kripalu, http://www.kripalu.org/ the Center for Yoga and Wellness this past weekend. While reviewing the course offerings over dinner and trying the tofu and vegetarian food, I sat down next to a volunteer who looked at my course schedule and suggested I take a whole foods cooking class. She said it was like a comedy show, not to be missed. Having come to Kripalu in part to study the nuturitional importance of whole foods, I listened to her advice.

I followed the stairs into the basement kitchen area. The class was well organized with two cameras, one showing the cooking equipment and the other the cutting board. Our instructor Jeremy Smith is the head  chef at Kripalu, a western styled buddhist retreat with excellent whole foods. Jeremy used to work at Canyon Ranch and when he put on the microphone and began to speak I thought I was in a Seinfeld show, and Jerry was off speaking about his latest adventures with food as the lubrictor. From trying to impress the hot french waitresses by the way he tossed his broccoli in the pan, to after hours bar adventures when the kitchen closes down, Jeremy brought us into the world of being a proffessional chef in the finest restaurants in the world. He explained that when meeting new girlfriends  the parents would be unimpressed at his cooking calling. However, now having chefed around the world, and transorming his calling into an art form to the likes of a rock star, the parents are now impressed.

He taught us how to slice our vegetables with speed, accuracy and safety. He explained how to shock our rice, so that it can be frozen for days. He explained how to cut an onion without breaking out into tears. He taught us how to read a recipe and estimate portions. He taught us how to purchase only what we need from the grocery store. He showed us how to maximize the flavours by keeping the sauce thick, and adding water later. He described quality requirements for pans and he brought the drudgery of cooking into a hybrid of sport and art.

If you are ever in Kripalu and want to explore the behind the scenes of their food that taste so good, check out Jeremy's class. BTW you will only see him at silent breakfast, so that he cannot really hear if there are any complaints.


Namaste,


The Adventure Guy

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