So you’re probably wondering who I am! Yes I am a chef from NYC, and yes I specialize in plant-based cooking. But you may be surprised to learn that I was once a front desk receptionist at Luna Yoga. We go way back! Well, at least back to 2013. I worked at Luna for a little over a year and it became my home away from home as an American in Canada. I felt a sense of community and comfort working there and practicing yoga. I even started to teach yoga towards the end of my time at Luna (and in Canada).
During this time I was also studying Ayurveda at the Ayurvedic Institute of Montreal, and completed the level 1 Ayurvedic practitioners course. Ayurveda focuses A LOT on food: how we eat, when we eat, where we eat, what we eat… it can’t be stressed enough how important it is. This resonated with me, as I had personally struggled with a multitude of health issues - ones that I was only able to resolve once I took a hard look at my diet. I was, essentially, able to heal myself with food (after trying everything else). Ayurveda taught me that every human is different, and that every body type requires a catered diet to enable it to flourish.
Enriched with the knowledge of Ayurveda, I was hungry to apply it. When I moved back to NYC, I decided I NEEDED to go to the Natural Gourmet Institute of Culinary Arts. It's one of the rare schools that really focuses on natural, whole, traditional, real foods. It was all about health and sustainability. Armed with a culinary degree, I found ways to creatively apply my Ayurvedic knowledge for health-conscious cooking. It became a deep passion of mine, and it brought me so much joy to help others through the power of food. I started teaching classes and private cheffing for individuals with specific health needs or dietary restrictions.
The challenge of cooking with clean, healthy ingredients while making delicious dishes was so exciting for me. I knew I wanted to reach more people, and this drive was the foundation of my company. I founded Fabalish alongside my husband on a mission to spread clean, healthy, plant-based, delicious foods. It’s shocking how overly processed grocery foods are, and it doesn’t have to be that way! Although we’re a young brand, I’m so proud that we can contribute good foods and play a role (even if small) in this important mission. I can talk for days about Fabalish and the food industry, but let’s not go down the rabbit hole here.
Looking back at it all in now, it’s amazing to me how my journey began with a passion for yoga (which led to Ayurveda, which led to food, which led to culinary school, and so on and so forth…) Sometimes we really don’t know how things will unfold, and that’s part of the beauty of life. What’s important is that you trust in the process and in your instincts. So here I am now, getting ready to teach you all tips and tricks around vegan cooking that can help promote your health and lifestyle in a fun and satisfying way. I’m so looking forward to it!
- Jessica