Diane Carlson, Founder, Owner and Chef Instructor

Diane Carlson always had a passion for food, but her life and her food choices were severely challenged when she experienced numerous health conditions including high blood pressure, food sensitivities, Candida, a stomach hemorrhage, perforated ulcer and environmental/chemical sensitivities. She became aware of the connection between her health and her diet while enrolled in a traditional Chef’s Training Program in Minneapolis in 1981. Her life experience changed dramatically when she turned to holistic medicine and a whole foods style of eating to regain her health.

Diane's journey led her to study with Annemarie Colbin, founder of the Natural Gourmet Cookery School in New York City in 1987, and began teaching in the Institute's public classes before graduating. In late 1988 she returned to Minneapolis to open her own business, Five Seasons Whole Foods Cookery and Education Center , offering cooking and theory classes, catering, private cooking, and whole foods home parties. She taught throughout the five-state area and developed a Teacher’s Training Program in natural foods cooking.

In 1993 she returned to the Natural Gourmet where she was Co-President , Director and Chef Instructor at the Institute for 11 years. She resigned to begin The Conscious Gourmet , focusing on the cooking retreats and her enriched (upcoming) Teacher's Training Program. Diane now resides in Connecticut and also teaches local classes.

Along with Diane, students have had an opportunity to study with some of the leading whole foods authors and chef/Instructor’s such as:

Myra Kornfeld is a chef, culinary instructor, consultant and the author of The Voluptuous Vegan (Clarkson Potter Publishers), a book featuring 200 sinfully delicious recipes for meatless, egg-less, and dairy-free meals. She teaches both natural food and classic cuisine at numerous schools around the country, including The Natural Gourmet’s Chef Training Program and the Institute’s vocational classes. Myra teaches private cooking classes, writes frequently for magazines such as Natural Health Magazine, Vegetarian Times and Organic Style, gives cooking demonstrations and consults for restaurants. A specialist in natural foods, she worked for six years creating innovative vegan cuisine at New York’s premier vegetarian restaurant, Angelica Kitchen. She is the co-creator of two videos, Absolutely Tofu 1 and Absolutely Tofu 2.

Peter Berley, Chef Instructor Former Executive chef at Angelica Kitchen in NYC, Peter is a private chef, caterer and author of the award winning, The Modern Vegetarian Kitchen, and Fresh Food Fast, A Modern Vegetarian Guide to Seasonal Menus in Minutes. Previous owner of the Fire Pond Restaurant in Blue Hill, Maine, Peter has been active in the natural foods movement for over 25 years. His food has been featured on TV Food Network, Chef du Jour and Martha Stewart. Peter is a private chef and teaches vocational classes at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Health.