Sedona, Arizona
Culinary Retreat and Core Program

Sedona Creative Life Center
333 Schnebly Hill Road
Sedona, AZ 86336
www.sedonacreativelife.com

The Sedona Creative Life Center, nestled in 15 secluded acres just minutes from the heart of town, is once again the breathtaking site of our 2008 Arizona cooking retreat.  This spacious state-of-the-art facility includes a gourmet kitchen, open air dining patio, beautiful sculpture gardens, secluded outdoor areas, and warmly designed meeting rooms—perfect for our evening lecture/workshops and morning yoga/movement classes.  Plan to extend your stay before or after the retreat to fully experience the destination voted one of the most beautiful vacation spots in America!

“The Conscious Gourmet program blends theory and practical application into a delectable learning experience that left me energized and eager to learn more!”  Lori, Woodside, NY

Be sure to visit The Conscious Gourmet photo gallery to view previous Sedona retreats!

Yoga/Meals

Most mornings begin with yoga/movement class followed by a whole foods breakfast buffet.  All cooking classes include a delicious full course organic meal.  Dinners are provided Saturday and Wednesday evening. 

Culinary Classes

Daily four-hour demonstration and hands-on cooking classes include the orchestration and preparation of delicious health-supportive meals from soup to dessert using the highest quality, organic ingredients available—free of the most common allergy producing  foods such as wheat, dairy and refined sugar.  Menus include both raw and cooked foods.

Before each of the five cooking sessions, we’ll practice a quick and easy exercise to center and focus the group.  Diane will review the daily menu and together we’ll create a master plan or map to guide you through the menu preparation, plus the time saving steps for your success in the kitchen.
 
We’ll go over each recipe in detail introducing you to their health-supportive ingredients such as grains, beans, natural sweeteners, high quality oils, condiments and a variety of staples--why we use them and the resources available for stocking your own pantry.  Then we’ll head for the kitchen where you’ll begin cooking in small groups under Diane’s expert guidance.

In each session, we will also practice:

• honing your knife skills
• the art of seasoning
• fundamental health-supportive culinary techniques for preparing delicious organic meals including:
• appetizers
• non-dairy “creamy” soups
• salads and vinaigrettes
• grain, bean and pasta dishes
• seasonal vegetables 
• calcium rich greens
• and mouth-watering desserts

Lecture/Workshops

In these eye-opening workshops, you’ll discover a whole new way to think about food and how to make conscious food choices that support your personal goals.

You’ll discover how to:

• connect the dots between the food you eat and what you experience physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually
• use the Three Levels of Food Consciousness, the use of Intention, and how to become a conscious gourmet
• understand a variety of diets and how they apply to your particular constitution
• use both Eastern and Western models of nutrition such as expansive/contractive, acid/alkaline and Five Phases from Chinese Medicine to identify and eliminate food cravings; the connection between food and mood; and how to create menus that maintain a healthy Ph for maximum nutrition and weight maintenance
• prepare meals that balance YOU and leave you free of cravings and food binges
• break the food allergy/addiction cycle and eliminate the toxic bloat we call fat that accompanies it
• identify the underlying health conditions that often sabotage our best efforts to maintain a health supporting diet
• select and use high quality fats and oils, and the use of Omega 3’s
• use the ABC’s of menu planning for creating both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals and how to use leftovers creatively
• use both local and Internet resources for health-supportive foods, condiments, staples and more!

You will receive a Conscious Gourmet apron and binder filled with recipes, numerous handouts and resource lists to support your continued learning.  Knives are supplied for your use during class and will be available for purchase.

Free Time

Most afternoons are free to explore your vacation destination’s unique offerings on your own or with the group.  There's an abundance of hikes for all experience levels to unforgettable vistas such as Soldier's Pass and Broken Arrow, and pink jeep tours that take you deep into Red Rock Country, There are world-renowned galleries, spas and New Age shops to explore, schedule a massage or simply relax as you choose. Wednesday afternoon will include an optional group tour of geographical and vortex sites such as Cathedral Rock and Airport Mesa, followed by dinner in one of Sedona’s fine restaurants.

• $200 discount for 2 people registering together ($100 each)

Note:  only one discount applied per registration

A non-refundable $250 deposit reserves your space.  One-half the remaining program fee is due 90 days before the retreat start date, with the remaining balance due 60 days before retreat start date. Registration 59 days or less before the start date requires payment in full.

The 6 day, 5 evening Program Fee includes the following:

• Orientation and Welcome dinner
• Knife skills class
• 1 demonstration cooking class and complete meal
• 4 hands-on cooking classes with complete meals
• 4 lecture/workshops
• Conscious Gourmet breakfasts (except Wednesday)
• 3 yoga/movement classes
• Conscious Gourmet apron
• Binder with recipes and lecture/workshop handouts

Plus the fun and camaraderie of like minded people
enhanced by a retreat setting!

Not included

• Airfare
• Car rental or shuttle/taxi services
• Accommodations
• Meals or beverages other than listed above

Additional tours or services are available at the participant's option and expense. If you choose to participate in activities outside of the group itinerary, no deductions, allowances or substitutions will be made.