Eli (pronounced "Ellie") is a Natural Foods Chef and Holistic Health Counselor who specializes in health-supportive nutrition with an emphasis in vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and kosher cuisine. She has recently relocated her business from St. Louis, where she was in demand as a personal chef, caterer, and teacher to St Louis-area families and organizations. Invigorated by local, seasonal, and sustainable cuisine, Eli is passionate about working to make more nourishing food choices available for individuals, families, and communities. Her past experience includes
- Graduate, Natural Gourmet Institute for Health & Culinary Arts in New York City – nation’s premier culinary school focusing on healthy, whole-foods cuisine
- Graduate, Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City – nation’s largest nutrition school focusing on changing the way America eats
- Intern, Green Zebra – Chicago's premiere vegetarian restaurant
- Volunteer, James Beard Foundation
- Fellow, Adamah Environmental Fellowship – organic farm in northwest Connecticut
- Contributor, The Jew & the Carrot; Naturally Kosher; and My Jewish Learning
- Teacher, St Louis Whole Foods Markets
In 2007, Eli attended Hazon’s Food Conference at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center. She learned of a community of progressive thinkers and doers who were changing the world “one pickle at a time.” And thus began Eli’s path into sustainable, healthy cuisine. Eli has been very involved with Hazon over the past few years – she was on the executive committee for the 2008 Food Conference in Monterey, CA, and was on the food committee in 2009. She is chair of this year’s 2012 Conference. She taught a workshop on lacto-fermentation at the 2008 conference and subsequently as an elective class at The Natural Gourmet.
Eli’s love for food dates back to childhood – her mother cooked extensively for her family, but because her mom was such a good cook, she never really got involved, except to watch and eat. It wasn’t until she was living in Vienna, Austria during her study abroad experience in college that she began to wander the streets and markets and finally learned to cook for herself, using Mollie Katzen’s Moosewood Cookbook, the vegetarian classic, as her guide.
A graduate of Northwestern University, Eli holds a bachelor's degree in flute performance. She worked in the department of artistic planning for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 2005-2008. During her time with the CSO, she worked with many of the world's greatest musicians and composers, including cellist Yo-Yo Ma, conductor Riccardo Muti, and composer Osvaldo Golijov.
Eat with Eli is fully licensed and insured. Eli is a certified ServSafe food handler.