Lavender Design + Cuisine: October 2023

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

The Art of Cooking & Baking with Culinary Lavender!

Culinary Lavender

Greetings Lavender Lovers!

My students often ask what distinguishes the organic, culinary-grade lavender I use for baking and cooking from the varieties found in gardens and nurseries. Let's explore the unique properties of this amazing herb and distinguish it from others.

Lavender History

Dating back 2,500 years, the mint-family plant known as lavender is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean, Middle East and India. It is prized for its beauty, sweet floral scent and versatility.

Lavender Varieties

Lavandula Angustifolia (English Lavender): An endemic plant found in the central and western Mediterranean, including parts of Italy, France, and Spain.

Lavandula Latifolia (Lavandins): This group includes Lavandula x intermedia, a hybrid often called lavandin or French Lavender. While these varieties are aromatic, Provence lavender is the specific type commonly used for cooking and baking.

For the ‘Provence lavender experience’: To get the authentic Provence flavor, look specifically for this culinary variety of lavandin.

Tips for cooking and baking with culinary lavender:

Unlock a layer of sophisticated flavor with a whisper of lavender. This powerful herb has a uniquely elegant floral and herbaceous profile, so a light touch is all that's needed to transform creations from ordinary to extraordinary. With its versatile character, it is the perfect companion for both sweet and savory recipes. Use it to enhance the vibrant flavor of fruits add aromatic depth to dark chocolate ganache, or lend a delicate perfume to syrups, elixirs, cocktails, tarts, galettes, gateaux, madeleines, macarons, crème brûlée, panna cotta, lemon-lavender shortbread cookies, sablé cookies and more.

Summary: Hand-harvested, pesticide-free and aromatic culinary lavender is perfect for cooking and baking and will give your favorite dish an unforgettable taste.

My passion for cooking and baking was sparked at a young age, where I experimented with different vegetables, fruits and culinary lavender to master my craft.

Happy Cooking & Baking with Lavender!

Chef Ellie Lavender
Plant-Based Mediterranean Chef
Culinary & Wine Pairing Instructor
Event Caterer
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive recipes and information

on upcoming cooking & wine pairing classes and special events!

A Chef's Delicious Journey!

Mediterranean Cuisine Vegetables & Herbs

My journey into the culinary world started with a single, surprising declaration. At just seven years old, I announced to my bewildered parents that I was a vegetarian and, from that day forward, would only eat vegetarian food. My mother, with a stroke of genius, didn't argue. Instead, she handed me a life lesson: ‘It’s time for you to learn how to cook so that you can make any kind of dish that you like.’

That moment set me on a path to a classic Provençal vegetable stew—Ratatouille. My first dish was a vibrant blend of seasonal vegetables, capers and olives, a meal that first originated in Nice, France. I still make that dish today, using organic produce and fresh herbes de Provence from my own garden. It's a taste that always feels like coming home.

That early passion has since evolved into a rich, culinary niche: plant-based Mediterranean cuisine.

My cooking is a celebration of organic, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, which I transform into delicious, farm-to-table foods for my personal chef clients, catering events and, of course, my family and friends.

The joy of being in the kitchen and experimenting with new flavors and recipes hasn't faded. I know that the best dishes are only as good as the ingredients you start with and I'm still just as excited to create something new as I was all those years ago.

Happy Cooking!

Chef Ellie Lavender
Plant-based Mediterranean Chef
Culinary & Wine Pairing Instructor
Event Caterer

Plant-Based Mediterranean Culinary Services

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive recipes and information
on upcoming chocolate, culinary & wine pairing classes, and special events!