Tassajara, May 16-20

Who’s free from May 16 through May 20? Wanna join me at the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, one of California’s greatest gems? For the past few years, I’ve been leading cooking workshops for the chef-monks at this stunningly beautiful zen monastery in the Ventana Mountains, southeast of Big Sur/Carmel Valley, to “wake up” their summer menus with some breakaway vibrancy. This year though, we decided to do something different: good friend and zen priest extraordinaire Dana Veldon and I will lead a workshop for guests (you!) on cooking and mindfulness.

We’ll be exploring the many ways that food and cooking awaken our senses and play huge roles in all of our lives. We will be doing plenty of cooking demos, hands-on participation, and experiential exercises, but we’ll also be just sitting in the zendo (meditation hall), taking walks, relaxing in the baths (Tassajara has some of the nicest baths I’ve ever encountered), eating delicious vegetarian food, and just hanging out in this surreally gorgeous spot. Visits to Tassajara tend to change the perspectives (and even lives!) of almost everyone who goes. I can’t recommend it enough.

Spaces for the workshop are necessarily limited, but you can try booking here. Accommodations range from pretty spartan to pretty luxe, and all have wabisabi in spades! None have electricity but, trust me, you won’t miss it. Info on rooms can be found here. Rates include three great meals a day and use of all facilities (the baths alone are worth it!). There is a separate charge for the workshop.  I’ll try to answer any questions, either here or in email.

Hope to see you there!