Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Meet Ellie Lavender!


Greetings!

I’m an interior designer, vegan Mediterranean personal chef, caterer, culinary & wine pairing instructor and artisan chocolatier. 


Everyone has a story and mine is rather inspirational and worth telling. My wonderful journey to the creation of 
Lavender Design + Cuisine began in 2011 when I decided to leave a highly successful career in high tech sales spanning 20 years. It was time to pursue my lifelong dream. Since then, it has been an amazing and rewarding experience. I'm immeasurably grateful to do what I love thanks to my wonderful clients and students. They are the center of my work and a great inspiration. Click here to view their beautiful testimonials! 

I offer the following services throughout 
Santa Cruz County and the South Bay:

Interior Design with a focus on Feng Shui Principles

Staging a Home for Sale

Declutter Your Life Hands-on Workshops 

Personal Chef Services featuring the preparation of organic, seasonal, local and sustainable Vegan Mediterranean gourmet cuisine. I create healthy and delicious meals tailored to your personal taste right in your kitchen. 

Private In-Home Vegan Mediterranean Cooking and Wine Pairing Class for individuals, Couples and Groups (minimum 5 people, maximum 10), conducted in your very own kitchen consists of a 4-course meal: appetizer, entrĂ©e, salad and dessert, plus wine to pair with beautiful and exquiaite foods you made. I'll come to your home to guide you and your group, through a delightful afternoon or evening of cooking right in your very own kitchen. The 4-hour class fee is $150.00 p/p and includes all local organic ingredients. However, if you assemble a group of 5 or more, your cost as the host will be waived. And, you also get a lovely bottle of wine!

Chocolate Making Event for birthday parties for children 10 years and up (minimum 5 children, maximum 10). In this very hands-on event at your venue, children will make chocolate arts, which are organic, vegan and sugar free. They’ll get to try their chocolate arts and even gift wrap some of their lovely handmade creations in exquisite packaging provided by me. Parties start at just $175.00 for 5 children (each additional child is $25.00), which includes everything necessary to have a super fun time that is ideal for photo and video memories.

Culinary Team Building-Corporate Cooking Classes: Hands-on interactive culinary team building classes are a fun and effective way to create employee bonding experiences. The classes encourage teamwork, enhance communication, and foster camaraderie all in a delightful and delicious environment. I will custom design a menu to accommodate your goals and budget. 

Chocolate and Wine Pairing Events at local wineries open to the public in addition to exclusive cooking and wine pairing classes for wine club members eager for new experiences. These are fabulous occasions for chocolate enthusiasts, foodies and wine lovers to experience a delightful afternoon or evening sipping great wine while enjoying delicious gourmet cuisine.

Vegan Mediterranean Catering for all occasions (up to 25 people).


Please contact me to learn more about any of these featured services and to take the first step. 


Ellie Lavender 

Certified Feng Shui Practitioner
Interior Designer
Vegan Mediterranean Personal Chef
Culinary & Wine Pairing Instructor
LavenderDesign+ Cuisine

 

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

on upcoming chocolate, culinary & wine pairing classes, and special events! 

 

Copyright © 2020 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Decadent Rainbow Carrots Lyonnaise Recipe!


A Delicious, Beautiful and Healthy Plant-based Recipe to Start the New Year!

Delicious Rainbow Carrots Lyonnaise, a beautifully roasted colorful carrots with olive oil, sea salt, herbes de Provence, and sprinkled with skillet-toasted chopped almonds and pistachios, crushed dried freeze raspberries and a touch of fleur de Sel. This is my revised version of the French Carrots Lyonnaise recipe, originated from Lyon, France in 1846.

Perfect by itself as a healthy and delicious snack, as an appetizer or side dish, on a bed of arugula or mixed greens, with herbed-millet pilaf, on toasted bread/baguette with pesto and a slice of vegan cheese and with a glass of fruity pinot noir, even better. 

Ingredients (serving size 4):

1 Bunch rainbow carrots

1/4 Cup olive oil
1/5 Tsp. sea salt
1/2  Tsp. herbes de Provence
1/5 Cup slivered almonds
1/5 Cup pistachios
1/2 Tsp. freeze dried raspberries
 
Instruction: 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 
2. Peel carrots, wash and damp dry to remove moisture. 
3. Cut into 2 inch strips. 
4. In a bowl mix carrots, a pinch of sea salt, hebes de Provence and olive oil and toss them well with your hands or a spatula.
5. Spread the carrots  evenly on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and roast for about 15-20 minutes.
6. Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before sprinkling the crushed almond, pistachios and freeze dried raspberries.

A simple carrot dish can be absolutely extraordinary when you let your culinary imagination go wild! 

Enjoy & Happy New Year!

Chef Ellie Lavender 

Vegan Mediterranean Personal Chef
Culinary & Wine Pairing Instructor
Lavender Design + Cuisine

 

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive recipes and information
on upcoming chocolate, culinary & wine pairing classes and special events!
 
Copyright © 2020 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.