Food Yogi featured chef at Bogota Food and Wine Festival

Q: What is Food Yoga?

Food Yoga is connecting with food in such a way as to nourish our body, mind and soul. I explained this essence of Food Yoga to the audience while preparing my raw vegan chocolate mousse and toasted granola. Many in the audience said the talk was the highlight of the event.

As the Food Yogi, I was chosen as one of the special guest chefs to present vegan food at the Food & Wine festival in Bogota, Colombia, from August 27-31. The Food & Wine festival is held in cities all over the world, and Bogota has hosted its own edition for the last 3 years. Of the 40 international chefs invited to this prestigious culinary festival, I was the only Australian chef and one of only two chefs presenting a vegan dish across all 4 days of the event.

On Saturday, the main day of the festival, over 200 of Bogota’s luminaries came out to have breakfast made by Crepes and Waffles founder, Beatriz Fernandez, Dr-Cow Pablo Castro and then myself.

The event kicked off with Beatriz Fernandez welcoming the attendees and sharing her philosophy on intentional cooking and the importance of preparing meals with love. She pointed to me and told the audience how happy she was to have me there and that she was looking forward to hearing about food yoga. Next Beatriz demonstrated one of her restaurant’s signature wraps. Pablo Castro, known as “Dr Cow,” followed her presentation with a demonstration on how to make a raw vegan granola and sesame milk. Then my fiancé Juliana Castañeda and I took the stage, and while Juliana translated, I prepared a raw vegan chocolate mousse and toasted granola for the crowd and explained the essence of Food Yoga: connecting with food in such a way as to nourish our body, mind and soul.connecting with food in such a way as to nourish our body, mind and soul. The audience was immensely pleased with my Food Yoga talk, and many said it was the highlight of the event.

Source with more PHOTOS: http://www.ffl.org/2014/director-of-food-for-life-a-featured-chef-at-bogota-food-and-wine-festival/

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where was the Food & Wine festival in Bogota held?

The Food & Wine festival took place in Bogota, Colombia, from August 27-31. The festival is held all over the world and had been held in Bogota for the last 3 years. I was chosen as one of the special guest chefs for this prestigious culinary event.

How many chefs took part, and what made my participation stand out?

There were 40 International chefs participating in the festival over the 4 days. I was the only Australian chef among them. I was also one of only two chefs presenting a vegan dish during the entire festival.

What happened at the Saturday breakfast event?

On Saturday, the main day of the festival, over 200 of Bogota’s luminaries came out for breakfast. It was prepared by Crepes and Waffles founder Beatriz Fernandez, Dr-Cow Pablo Castro, and then myself. Beatriz opened by sharing her philosophy on intentional cooking and the importance of preparing meals with love, then demonstrated one of her restaurant’s signature wraps.

What dishes were demonstrated at the breakfast?

Beatriz Fernandez demonstrated one of her restaurant’s signature wraps, and Pablo Castro “Dr Cow” showed how to make a raw vegan granola and sesame milk. I then presented a raw vegan chocolate mousse and toasted granola. My fiancé Juliana Castañeda translated while I cooked and spoke.

What is Food Yoga?

Food Yoga is connecting with food in such a way as to nourish our body, mind and soul. I explained this essence of Food Yoga to the audience while preparing my raw vegan chocolate mousse and toasted granola. Many in the audience said the talk was the highlight of the event.