About Me
Kristy B!
I have a enduring and strong relationship food. Cooking is my life’s passion. There is nothing more satisfying to me than feeding the people that I love with food that I have loved. I have been a vegetarian for five years and recently have taken the next step into veganism. I will graduate in December from Naropa University, a small Buddhist inspired school with a strong emphasis on contemplative education. Through my Traditional Easter Arts Degree: Yoga I have studied the ancient philosophy of Ayurveda and the Doshas with their relationship to the 8 limbs of Yoga and sacred texts. In my Bachelor of the Arts in Environmental Studies I have investigated the politics of food systems, local food economies, genetically modified foods and their consequences, how cultural diversity and biodiversity is inextricably linked to food traditions, sacred foods and food rituals of many religions, and the interconnection between evolutionary biology and food culture.
The most important food experience I have is my practice of obento or the Japanese art of lunch. Over the years bento has developed into my daily contemplative practice. It is important to be quiet, deliberate in all movements, clean, and respectful of the space that one is working in and that one is creating. Bento has become a huge part of my yoga practice. It has helped me become very aware about what I eat and the consequences of what I put in my body. Overall my love of bento has made me conscious of what foods have the most energy. My bento practice imbues the act of cooking and eating with a strong sense of intention and undoubtedly allows the food I consume to alter my consciousness in new ways and bring a greater paradigm shift in human consciousness, starting with myself.
I would like to develop my skills as a cook so I can bring the healthiest and most nourishing (physically, emotionally and spiritually) foods to the public. It It is an aim of mine to fully participate in the local community bringing healthy food as an act of community outreach, service and as a means of contemplation. As a strong supporter of the re-localization of our food supply, I would like to develop intimate relationships with farmers and help them sustain the American tradition of family farming.
The goals I have for a career as a chef are endless and will take a lifetime to actualize. I would like to start a restaurant that is a leader in generosity and community service. One of my goals is to start a program based on a Denver not for profit called SAME café: So All May Eat. This wonder organic café serves food to whoever enters the doors. Payment for the food is anonymous. People pay what they think the food is worth and for those that cannot afford meals they are allowed to pay what they can, if anything at all, so to keep their dignity and privacy.
I would also like to bring organic gardening to religious communities and churches. My idea is to ask them to convert their usually expansive lawns and property into gardens and to provide that food to homeless shelters, prisons, and schools. As a spiritual person myself I would like start a dialog considering food as a religious practice, tradition, and means of maintaining a closer relationship to whoever/whatever that person may worship. It is a dream of mine to initiate programs that bring healthy food to schools lunches, teach children to farm, can be used in nature based therapies as a means of healing the earth thus healing yourself, assisting prisoners reintegrate into the community and reduce their risk of other offenses.
Regardless if I attain any of these intentions my greatest goal, professional and personal, is to offer food as a means of achieving peace. Food can sometimes be a contentious issue between cultures. It can be used as a means of environmental racism, political tyranny, genocide, oppression, and fear. My one hope is that through sitting people down at one table, even just in one room, that I can facilitate communication between people with opposing world views. I am convinced that food is a catalyst for non-violent communication and can be a catalyst to the realization that no matter what differences we might have as humans we will always have more in common: the hope for safety of our families and children, shelter, food, dignified work, happiness, peace and love. In my opinion food is the foundation for the shift in consciousness that will bring our world into a more sustainable healthy place for all living creatures.
The most important food experience I have is my practice of obento or the Japanese art of lunch. Over the years bento has developed into my daily contemplative practice. It is important to be quiet, deliberate in all movements, clean, and respectful of the space that one is working in and that one is creating. Bento has become a huge part of my yoga practice. It has helped me become very aware about what I eat and the consequences of what I put in my body. Overall my love of bento has made me conscious of what foods have the most energy. My bento practice imbues the act of cooking and eating with a strong sense of intention and undoubtedly allows the food I consume to alter my consciousness in new ways and bring a greater paradigm shift in human consciousness, starting with myself.
I would like to develop my skills as a cook so I can bring the healthiest and most nourishing (physically, emotionally and spiritually) foods to the public. It It is an aim of mine to fully participate in the local community bringing healthy food as an act of community outreach, service and as a means of contemplation. As a strong supporter of the re-localization of our food supply, I would like to develop intimate relationships with farmers and help them sustain the American tradition of family farming.
The goals I have for a career as a chef are endless and will take a lifetime to actualize. I would like to start a restaurant that is a leader in generosity and community service. One of my goals is to start a program based on a Denver not for profit called SAME café: So All May Eat. This wonder organic café serves food to whoever enters the doors. Payment for the food is anonymous. People pay what they think the food is worth and for those that cannot afford meals they are allowed to pay what they can, if anything at all, so to keep their dignity and privacy.
I would also like to bring organic gardening to religious communities and churches. My idea is to ask them to convert their usually expansive lawns and property into gardens and to provide that food to homeless shelters, prisons, and schools. As a spiritual person myself I would like start a dialog considering food as a religious practice, tradition, and means of maintaining a closer relationship to whoever/whatever that person may worship. It is a dream of mine to initiate programs that bring healthy food to schools lunches, teach children to farm, can be used in nature based therapies as a means of healing the earth thus healing yourself, assisting prisoners reintegrate into the community and reduce their risk of other offenses.
Regardless if I attain any of these intentions my greatest goal, professional and personal, is to offer food as a means of achieving peace. Food can sometimes be a contentious issue between cultures. It can be used as a means of environmental racism, political tyranny, genocide, oppression, and fear. My one hope is that through sitting people down at one table, even just in one room, that I can facilitate communication between people with opposing world views. I am convinced that food is a catalyst for non-violent communication and can be a catalyst to the realization that no matter what differences we might have as humans we will always have more in common: the hope for safety of our families and children, shelter, food, dignified work, happiness, peace and love. In my opinion food is the foundation for the shift in consciousness that will bring our world into a more sustainable healthy place for all living creatures.
