Sacred Chef Caters Neo-Humanistic Education Conference
At the River School in Maleny.
Sacred Chef rattled the pans over the Easter long weekend for a 4 day conference for 45 held at the River School. Didis and dadas from around the world, emblazoned in orange and often beaming great big smiles, joined a healthy throng of lovely human beings, who were all there to share in the discovery of a better way to educate our kids. A more appreciative audience for my food would be hard to find.
It was a bit of a stretch this event for the Sacred Chef, last minute organising increased the perceived pressure but it was in the end another opportunity to let go and surrender to the perfect nature of life. Back to back jobs meant less time to work with the whole concept but despite a challenging site and equipment the conference was a great success. Wonderful quality produce from Shane, the local vegie providor, proved to be a vital ingredient. Remarkable support and back up from my partner Suzy was probably the biggest factor in pulling off a big job – 360 meals for a sentient patronage over 4 days, and it did not stop raining for the entire week, and with only one working domestic fridge on the site. Wow what a muddy juggle it was but like the lotus we flowered despite the slippery sludge underfoot.
I pulled out my big saucepans, not used for many a moon but with a deep clean they came up all gleaming stainless steel. I remembered that I used to have wooden spoons the size of small oars for these babies. I cooked without garlic or onions, like walking the tight rope without a safety net for an old cook like me, and still I created some really delicious food. Zucchini and tarragon soup; pesto and goat’s cheese pizzas; Thai pastries with cucumber dipping sauce; eggplant moussake; spinach and ricotta lasagna; coriander and tumeric pan breads with mint raita; cashew and sweet potato curry; smoky tofu stroganoff; apple strudel; honey nut slice; poached pears and more.
I worked like a dog but in the end I felt alive!
Sacred Chef Catering at White Eagle Lodge
Sacred Chef spent a delightful week feeding the attendees at the “Working with Angels” retreat, 4-9 April 2009, at the stunning White Eagle Lodge in Maleny. Chief White Eagle’s Lyn Edwards and Gay Robinson engaged the Sacred Chef to create a week of delicious lunches and dinners for the live-in retreaters. What a beautiful and appreciative group of people they were and it was a real pleasure to create a menu that added to their joy at being on retreat.
Tumeric and coriander pan breads with mint raita, samosas, and kumera and lemongrass curry began the culinary proceedings on the saturday evening and a sumptuous dessert of organic cocunut, date and almond slice with honeyed yoghurt left a sweet taste in their mouths. Gay and Lyn joined the retreaters for the welcome feast and smiles were seen around the table, as the group enjoyed their victuals.
Cooking for a retreat is an especially satisfying gig, as you get to really see and hear the appreciation of people really enjoying your food. Much better than restaurant work, which is rather fleeting and incognito. It is also a time when the retreat attendees are returning to the basics of their existence – food, sleep, walking, talking and the magic of life.
Good food is healing of course and to be a part of a wonderful retreat in a beautiful temple is what the Sacred Chef is all about.
Thank you.
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