IRRESISTIBLY VEGAN GOURMET DINING

Born in Spain, one of the culinary centers of Europe, Elvira was passionate about food from a young age. She grew up in a family of experienced and talented cooks.

One of her first memories of cooking is proudly wearing an adult apron, sitting in her grandparents’ kitchen in front of a bucket—twice her size—filled with freshly picked tomatoes. Engulfed by the exhilarating aroma of the tomatoes, the scent of fresh herbs, and the palpable joy in the kitchen, she helped can tomatoes for the winter season.

Still today she marvels about her grandmother’s traditionally prepared village food: authentic, rustic, and earthy. Country flavors that are hard to match.

Even stronger is her recollection of her mother’s impeccable and exquisitely detailed cooking. The moderation of seasonings, the precision in timing, and the superlative and extraordinary festive dishes prepared with joy and care are some of Elvira’s most treasured memories. When she was eight, Elvira started cooking dinners herself, with her mom’s guidance, slowly venturing into culinary cultures other than her own.

Food—quality food—was always at the center and heart of the home.

Elvira has been a vegetarian chef for more than thirty years (vegan for the past five years). Her culinary career includes the ownership of restaurants, cafés, and catering services. She cooked professionally in Germany, Italy, and the USA. In Germany, she co-owned one of the first vegetarian restaurants in Cologne. For years she catered special events and provided meals for a wide variety of retreats. In the USA, she co-owned a popular café in Sedona, Arizona.