Larissa Quaak

Vegetarian/vegan chef

My life path has never been very straight, well thought-out or paved. As a young girl, when someone would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always just replied ‘happy’. That ambition had me study fashion and design, international publishing, and cultural anthropology, but none of them truly felt like… me. I wanted to do something more creative with my love for people, cultures and flavors of the world. For the last decade or so, cooking has become this thing, and I feel so very grateful for this new chapter in my life.

I got my practical kitchen skills from cooking in restaurants and on film sets, but it is really only since entering the retreat space that all things fell into place. There is just so much magic in feeding people, in a group setting full of deep inner work and play, for several days. Sharing nourishing, healthy and delicious food has this way of bringing people together, of making bellies and bodies happy, feet grounded, souls soothed and hearts open. Food then becomes part of the journey and growth. Another inspirational thing to bring back home. 

The more I cook, the more I realize how important it is to do so in a holistic, healthy and sustainable way. But that should never mean a lack of taste, variation, presentation or satisfaction though. Life is too short for such compromises… I truly believe it is possible to enjoy fantastic food that nourishes both people and the earth, and I love proving this on a plate!