Larissa Quaak

Larissa Quaak — Vegetarian/vegan chef

Larissa’s life path has never been very straight, well thought-out, or paved. As a young girl, when people asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would always simply reply, “happy.” That ambition led Larissa to study fashion and design, international publishing, and cultural anthropology, yet none of them truly felt like… her. She wanted to do something more creative with her love for people, cultures, and the flavours of the world. For the past decade or so, cooking has become that path, and she feels deeply grateful for this new chapter in her life.

Larissa gained her practical kitchen skills by cooking in restaurants and on film sets, but it was only after entering the retreat space that everything truly fell into place for her. There is so much magic in feeding people in a group setting filled with deep inner work and play, over the course of several days. Sharing nourishing, healthy, and delicious food has a way of bringing people together—making bellies and bodies happy, feet grounded, souls soothed, and hearts open. Food then becomes part of the journey and the growth, another source of inspiration to take home.

The more Larissa cooks, the more she realizes how important it is to do so in a holistic, healthy, and sustainable way. This, however, should never mean a lack of taste, variation, presentation, or satisfaction. Life is too short for such compromises. She truly believes it is possible to enjoy fantastic food that nourishes both people and the earth, and she loves proving this on a plate. 

Click here for Larissa’s website.