Chef Perla - Food for Wellness

🍊 The Visionary Orchard Dinner 🍊 A dream dinner under our citrus trees at @heart.seeds.orchard with women I deeply admire and respect. What began as a vision for an intimate evening of nourishing food, meaningful conversation, and connection in nature became something even more beautiful than I imagined 🥲 I’m endlessly grateful to every woman who said YES to being a part of this dream made manifest. Next week, on May 23rd I’ll be hosting one final orchard dinner for visionary women in this same format before we pause for the season. If you feel called to join us, comment YES below and I’ll send you the invitation details personally ✨ We have a few seats left!

The only sauce you need to know how to make. Recipe Below 👇🏼 & Tips in the comments! ✨TERIYAKI✨ (Prep all your ingredients FIRST, this is called your MISE EN PLACE) 1 cup soy sauce (I use tamari to keep GF) 3/4 cup mirin 3/4 cup sake 1/4c-1/2c brown sugar (If you like it sweeter go with 1/2c) 4 garlic cloves, smashed 2inch sliced ginger Slurry— 3 tbs cornstarch + 4 tbs water, whisk 2 tsp TOASTED Sesame oil OPTIONAL: add sesame seeds (in the video I’m toasting a biggg batch of white and black sesame seeds because I like having them on hand in the pantry to use in dishes, but you only need 2ish tbsp for this sauce recipe. It takes 3-4 min to toast sesame seeds, you’ll know it’s ready when its aromatic and slightly golden. Always pre-heat your pan when toasting ingredients. You can skip the step of toasting to save more time.) Put everything except the slurry and sesame oil into a pot, whisk and bring to a boil on medium high heat, you want to cook off the alcohol —boil for at least 6-8 minutes to boil off the alcohol—Stay close and whisk! If it bubbles up quickly, turn the heat down! Then add the slurry and whisk, this will thicken it, adding viscosity for a nice mouth-feel. Cook for another 3 minutes to cook off the starch flavor, continue to whisk. Strain carefully, its piping hot! Add sesame oil and optional sesame seeds. Tag me if you make this at home 😉 And if you want more recipes like this leave a 🔥 below!

Cooking hack to reduce your stress and elevate your eating ✨🔥 I get asked allll the time to share recipes and honestly I’m an open book and happy to share! Consider me a culinary resource for you 😘 Let me tell you one of the most important components when cooking delicious food is a good SAUCE!!! This sauce is one that I literally always have in my fridge for whipping up quick meals and amping up flavor. If you’re into it and want this easy recipe drop a 🔥 below! #cookingtips #sauceisboss #eatwelllivewell

I don’t think I’ve ever… ever… been so hyped about pumpkins 😂 But seeing all these INCREDIBLE COLORS AND VARIETIES 🎃 emerging from the farm has me inspired. What a gift to be able to watch these pumpkins grow from seed to harvest. Now we can turn them into something delicious and nourishing 🌱 Think sweet baked goods, pastries, pie (obviously) fall drinks, pancakes or savory dishes like curries, soups, oatmeal and roasted/baked side dishes. Or keep them on your table for fall aesthetics because they store well for MONTHS. If you’re into this pumpkin idea and located in SD or Orange County— LMK 👇🏼 and I’ll try to get one to ya! 🎃

Someone asked me recently… What the deeper mission was in the work that I do? As a chef and as a teacher… My deeper mission is rooted in connection — to land, to foods connection to our health, to the wellbeing of our families and beyond. Our eating choices create a ripple effect into our communities, environment, economy, culture… We have SO MUCH POWER at the end of our forks. I intend to use it and hope to inspire you to do the same. #regenerativefarming #farmtotable #chefwithpassion #foodactivism

This work goes deeper than just feeding people. It’s the conversations that rise around the table… the beauty that activates their senses… from how the ingredients are grown… to how it’s served… it’s about the way intention infuses the eating experience… When nourishment becomes connection… My mission is accomplished. 🙏🏼 #privatechef #retreatsforwomen #retreatlife #retreatchef #nourishmentforthesoul

3️⃣ Unexpected lessons I’ve learned from cooking with kids… I’m a chef and culinary educator teaching farm-to-fork cooking to kids with ingredients grown just steps from class @theecologycenter 🌱 I’ve taught more cooking classes than I can count with kids ages 4-17 and have picked up some lessons myself along the way 🌈 Helping them learn about the connection between food, health and the environment has become a part of my soul-work 🫶🏼 They inspire me every day and I learn just as much from them. #grateful #regenerativefarming #givemorethanyoutake #cookingclassesforkids #culinaryeducation #foodforlife

There are SO MANY differing opinions on the “right way” to eat. But I can tell you that nutritionists and health professionals can agree on ONE THING… Eat more fruits and vegetables. 🍉🌶🥕🍊🍌🍋🥒🥦🫐🍆🍇 🌈EAT THE RAINBOW! A variety of colors = a variety of vitamins and nutrients This is what I focus on for healthy eating and my approach when cooking for others. Which food above would you want to eat first? 1-7 👀 #eattherainbow #healthyeating #privatechef #sandiegowellness

Edible works of art. Grazing Tables are of my favorite ways to showcase a variety of fresh ingredients and expand guests flavor horizons ✨ Each grazing table-scape is customized with intention, elevated flavor and has a unique story to tell. I absolutely loved creating these grazing foodie experiences for #sandiego leaders and their communities! For Grazing Table inquiries 👉🏼  visit 🔗 in bio! #sandiegofood #sandiegoliving #privatechef #communitylove

This new way of looking at life is everything. Cooking to nourish others has taught me so much. But now, GROWING the ingredients on our family farm has deepened my appreciation for nature and all it’s wisdom. Lately, I’ve been thinking of life as a garden and a recipe: What seeds am I planting? What ingredients do I need for the life I want to create?” What about you? What seeds are you planting? What ingredients do you need for the recipe of your life? #farmtotable #foodasmedicine #garden #regeneration #recipeforlife

Wait til the end for what you should START doing/eating ✨🌱 If your body is lacking in a particular micronutrient, vitamin, mineral, etc… but you continue to eat the same things every day—you’re doing yourself a disservice. Your body needs OPTIONS to pull more nutrients from in order to function optimally. The more diverse ingredients we can experiment with in our diet, translates into our bodies having a buffet of different vitamins and nutrients we can pull from to feel our best. Let’s stop being basic and eating the same things every week. Time to switch it up. Start small. What new ingredients will you add into your rotation this upcoming week?

Creating meals that elevate your wellbeing and cultivate meaningful connections around the table 🌱 🧡 Chef Perla of Elevation Eating #retreats #privatechef #farmtotabledinners #grazingtables #transformationalevents