I just got back from the 22nd annual Tastes of the World Chef Culinary conference at the University of Massachussetts at Amherst, headed by Executive Chef Ken Toong, with the theme:
“FOOD IS MEDICINE FOOD IS LOVE”
I was so honored to be invited and came back so inspired by it all!
My husband, Dr David Katz, wrote an article recapitulating the take-away message of the conference and his thoughts on it here-–Powerful stuff, I highly recommend it!
Legendary Alice Waters, owner of Chez Panisse and founder of the Farm-to-Table movement in this country, was the keynote speaker and shared her wisdom passionately yet so gently in an interview with TV celebrity Chef Joanne Weir. It was a real moment for me!
My husband also spoke and roused the audience with his magnificent eloquence and genuine devotion to human health and that of our planet. I was so proud of him, as always!
Greg Dresher, vice-president of the Culinary Institute of America also spoke beautifully, as did so many other luminaries in the culinary world.
…And of course, there were some amazing cooking demos on stage by top chefs from all over the world.
If you have the time and opportunity to sit back and want to witness this amazing conference first hand, here is the link to the live stream for the whole duration of the conference, so enjoy!
You’ll find:
My talk and cooking presentation on Sunday June 5 (0:45 mn in). I inserted my segment below at the bottom of the page.
David’s talk on Monday June 6, right at the beginning (0:13 min in), first presentation in the morning.
Christopher Gardner’s talk on Monday June 6 toward the end (4:26 mn in –he is the guy with white hair and a wonderful enthusiastic style!).
Alice Waters’s interview on stage (5:13 mn in, living room style) on Monday June 6, last presentation.
It was just AMAZING and I wish David and I could have stayed for the whole conference, but, thanks to the live stream which they will leave up to watch again, I won’t miss anything!!!
The 2 recipes I presented on stage and later served at their evening buffet dinner were my Vegan Burgers (they did them slider style–so cute and so yummy) and my Vegan Crème au Chocolat…and they were both a hit, they kept on having to refill the trays!!! I can’t believe they called me “chef”!
In the following 2 minute video, I offer a couple words about the take-away message:
Here is the recipe for the salad in this video:
Hi!! I just watched your presentation and was so excited to watch your demo on the creme au chocolate…..however, i absolutely cringed when you added tofu…and i hate to say that because i enjoy your website and think that what you are doing is very inspiring. Tofu is not good for the human body. Not only is it goitrogenic, it is a phytoestrogen, wrecking havoc on men and women’s hormones. It is the most damaging crop to the planet…depleting the soil and not giving anything back. Not to mention that almost all, if not all, is GMO. …And coconut milk not being “good for you…but not really bad, either?” Coconuts are one of the healthiest foods on the planet…full of medium chain fatty acids, lauric acid, and vitamins/minerals. It helps with digestion, helps prevent and treat alzheimer’s, lose weight, and is a great energy source for those suffering from any mitochondrial insufficiency that can’t fully metabolize glucose. Fantastic food!! Just because a food may be fatty or from an animal doesn’t make it a bad food. Just because it comes from a plant doesn’t make it a health food…..(don’t get me started on grains:).
Keep up the good work!!
Hi Janel,
I appreciate your comment very much, as I can tell you are passionate about the environment which is so important.
As you can well imagine, I put a lot of thought into my recipes and do not make my comments lightly. I didn’t have the time, nor was it the place to elaborate at the cooking demo. So, let me reiterate my reasoning for merely accepting coconut but not lauding its health benefits (as I do for healthy fats from nuts,seeds,avocado and olives) with a commentary from my husband who is the nutritional expert behind the inspiration for all my recipes:
https://cuisinicity.com/verdict-canola-oil/
As for soy, this brief video, will answer your question about my view about its health benefit. https://www.vidoyen.com/questions/are-organic-soy-product-dangerous-to-our-hormonal-balance-and-health/answers/david-l-katz-m-d-m-p-h
As for soy’s impact on soil, environmentalists widely cite beef as the worst food for the environment in every way, and soy is often a replacement for beef, making it a MUCH better choice. But you are indeed correct, that it doesn’t mean endless acres of nothing but soy is ideal. That is one of the reasons soy or tofu is not a staple in my cuisine.
As for the health benefits of wholegrains, the evidence is clear and they are consequently one of the staples of Cuisinicity.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-katz-md/whole-grains-and-halfwitt_b_6139292.html
yes I hope so! you really deserve to have a show on TV, you are so funny when you tech us how to cook ! everything seems so easy to make it and ….it is easy! I just bought bananas to make the smoothie that your son devores! I will too! thanks and tell me when you’ll be on TV ! good luck and confidence!!! have a good day! martine de France
Thank you again so much Martine for your unwavering belief in me! It means so much to me!! 🙂
I agree with Greg! Thanks to ” help the world become so much more healthier” !! you could have a show on TV so a lot of people could share it too! it would be so nice , you ‘re so funny in your videos! and we learn a lot ! it helps us day by day! it helps us a lot! what meal would we have to-day? let’s see what does Mrs Cuisinicity suggest to us ? this is it! …thanks Catherine and have a good day !martine de France
WOW Martine what a LOVELY thing to say!!!! Your English is superb! I didn’t realize you were fluent!!! MERCI de tout mon coeur pour vos belles paroles, elles me vont droit au coeur!! Who knows, maybe I will do that TV show someday and I’ll have people like you and Greg and all my wonderful fans on cuisinicity to thank!!! 🙂
You should be so proud – your whole family is doing so much to help the world become so much more healthier!!
Thank you Greg!! 🙂
..ooopps, I just forgot to tick the little follow-up box at bottom!
No problem, I replied a little earlier so I think you will be notified but just making sure! 🙂 🙂
Incredible Catherine! Now that I am on holidays, I have that extra time to browse and take a look at what interesting people are doing. Your presentation for the conference was humble, natural and filled with passion and love for your family. You are changing the world, one recipe at a time. You have accomplished so much and I am so proud to say that I know you through our cooking!! :-)) Yes, you definitely deserve the title “Chef!” Kind regards, Julie
Thank you so much Julie for such a beautiful note! It went right to my heart! Really, I feel the same way about you and I do feel we know one another through our common love of cooking, and what a special bond that is!! 🙂
Chef Catherine!
I just watched your entire talk and cooking demonstration from the Culinary Conference at UMass. You are always so inspiring, encouraging, witty and sincere in your wellness education. Your point about how plant-based foods form the foundation of all diets is motivational, and can guide us forward as a nation (or planet)–no matter the dietary mantra. My favorite line from you was, “Loving food that loves you back is not just about human health; it loves our planet back.” True! Okay, that and I could listen to you say “when you want a crème au chocolat you want a crème au chocolat “ over and over again! Ha!
Anyway, I am teaching my nutrition course for UMass this summer and can´t wait to share the video with my students! Thank you, Catherine!! – Denine
P.S. I love that you were wearing your gorgeous Cuisinicity apron!
OH my goodness, Denine, thank you so much for your kind words! I am truly honored by them coming from you and absolutely delighted that you’ll be sharing it with your students at UMass this summer! You made my day!!! 🙂
I was at the conference too. Catherine was great! Her husband was memorable also-fork, feet and fingers.
Oh my goodness Gail, thank you! It was such an honor to meet you and to have the pleasure of seeing you again at the Menus of Change! In fact, I just e-mailed you because I would love to connect with your chef at Cornell! 🙂
Amazing!!! I love the pictures of the little crème au chocolate and the vegan burgers!! It’s so wonderful to see that others are able to recreate your recipes for all to enjoy! <3
Thank you my sweet Natalia!!! I was so excited to see them come to life in such a large venue and they ere really devoured!! Very gratifying!! 🙂 🙂
bravaaaa ! formidable! très jolie présentation dynamique et explicative! belle continuation au nouveau chief! et vive cuisinicity, une bien belle réalisation qui suivra certainement un très joli chemin!! tous mes vœux Catherine!! Martine de France
MERCI MERCI Martine!!! Je vous entends d’ici! J’adore votre enthousiasme!!! 🙂
Wow Catherine what a fabulous opportunity for you, and OF COURSE they should call you Chef! You are a wonderful chef and your recipes are exquisite and filled with love. I can’t wait to watch the streams of the conference, and your takeaway video. Thanks once again for your dedicated service to us, who want to love the food that loves us back. <3
Thank you Donna!! What a lovely thing to say…it went right to my heart!!
Congratulations Catherine! It sounds like a successful and inspiring conference. I love the energy boost you get from inspiring events like this, the new ideas and contacts. Your unbaked version of the vegan Chocolate mousse is my go to desert for pot luck dinners. Everybody loves it and they are usually shocked when I reveal your recipe and link to your site. My girl often gets it for her lunch box or as suggested by you as an after school snack. We no longer add dates, but eat sweet (no sugar) black cherries with it. Yummylisious!
Thank you Sybille! Yes indeed, being surround by all these amazing chefs really energized me even more and they made me feel tight at home! It was a great experience! I love that you use my creme au chocolat routinely and especially that it goes in your little sweetie’s lunch box! FANTASTIC!!! 5 hearts and more for you, Mama!!!