The 8th Annual World Vegetarian Day Celebration in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, sponsored by the San Francisco Vegetarian Society and In Defense of Animals will take place September 29, 2007.

Attention Graduates!

New T-shirt at Living Light

This all-inclusive series of courses takes students to the next level of confidence and expertise: exploring world cuisines, developing and writing recipes, transforming traditional cooked dishes into health-promoting gourmet raw cuisine, hosting large events, and learning about the science of raw food nutrition. You'll go home empowered and confident in your ability to produce incredible new dishes at any time-without the need for recipes. You will also learn to write recipes suitable for publishing.
Once the three-part Associate Chef and Instructor Training course is completed, the following subsequent courses may be taken in any order, as long as they are completed within two years:

Ethnic Flavors in Recipe Development is an exceptional 5-day creative course that teaches how to create the flavors and textures of the most popular world cuisines. Travel around the world to exotic places like Italy, China, Thailand, Mexico, France, and India. Each day, students explore two different world cuisines, reaching for new levels of creativity, as they learn to develop exciting new recipes. The grand finale is a dessert extravaganza.

RawFusion Gourmet Spa Cuisine & Recipe Development is a 5-day creative course that explores the light and luscious fare we serve at our exclusive retreats in exotic locations. Every day an entire feast is created using a small number of ingredients with various textures and flavors to produce an unlimited assortment of dishes. High in fruits and greens, this deliciously light yet satisfying cuisine is a favorite of the Living Light staff.

Raw Event Catering and Elegant Entertaining is a 5-day course that teaches how to plan and organize events from intimate appetizer parties for ten to elegant weddings for one hundred or more. Learn to create stunning buffets and elegant sit-down meals as you gain invaluable hands-on experience catering actual raw events. Menu planning, organizing, budgeting, pricing, negotiating contracts, and managing your catering team are a few of the topics you will explore. Discover secrets of plating and presentation that you can use for beautiful everyday meals or elegant dinner parties!

The Science of Raw Food Nutrition is a 2-day course with The Raw Food Doctors™ Rick and Karin Dina covers topics in raw food nutrition including raw vegan sources of iron, calcium, protein, vitamin B12 and essential fatty acids, as well as blood sugar regulation, pH balance, how cooking affects foods, anti-inflammatory nutrition, and weight management. This is a great course for chefs, health educators, or anyone else who wants to have the knowledge base to achieve optimum health by gaining a greater understanding of the science behind raw food nutrition.

Living Light Culinary Arts Institute is looking for a few good angels! Would you like to learn what it takes to work in the kitchen during one of our Chef and Instructor trainings? Would you enjoy being in the kitchen with our raw food chefs and instructors? Are you a dedicated, good-natured individual, who appreciates learning by doing a variety of kitchen tasks? Do you enjoy working in a community of people who are passionate about raw culinary arts? Are you willing to get up at 7:00 AM for breakfast and stay after dinner to help clean the kitchen? Are you able to work long hours, lift 40# boxes of fruits and vegetables; wash produce; keep the floors clean, the refrigerators organized, the kitchen tidy, the food deliveries received and inventoried? Can you take from a week to 6 weeks or more to spend in pursuit of an opportunity that could change your life for the better?

If your answer to all these questions is YES—you are invited to apply for a kitchen angel position at Living Light. The cost for the program is $20 per day and includes organic meals on days worked and the opportunity to watch two demos each class day. Kitchen Angels do not receive certification. The benefits each angel receives are directly proportionate to the energy and enthusiasm they bring to the experience. Your assignment—should you choose to take it—kitchen angel in the world's premier gourmet raw vegan culinary school!

Here is what one of our Kitchen Angels had to say about her experience, "Thank you so much for the opportunity of being a Living Light Kitchen Angel. I am not one to learn well in the classroom, but I love hard work in the kitchen and being in the thick of things. This was perfect for me. I especially loved interacting with all the staff. I am grateful beyond belief and would do it again, anytime!" ~Former Kitchen Angel

Upcoming Opportunities for Angels:

October/November

Entire Training 10/17 through 11/19 (33 days)
Shift 1
FUNdamentals of Raw Living Foods and Essentials of Raw Culinary Arts
10/17 through 10/26 (10 days)

Shift 2
Raw Culinary Arts Associate Chef and Instructor Training
10/25 through 11/9 (12 days)

Shift 3
Raw Event Catering and Elegant Entertaining and New Holiday Traditions
11/12 through 11/20 (9 days)

Angel dates are not based on class start dates and usually start a few days before class begins. Weekends are off, with the exception of FUNdamentals of Raw Living Foods and New Holiday Traditions which fall on a weekend.

We've included some wonderfully delicious new items on our updated menu, including delectable new desserts: Lemon Tartlet with macadamia coconut crust, fresh Coconut Ice Cream, and Black Forest Cherry Brownies. We now offer seven fantastic soups daily, including one cooked soup, and our new Russian Borscht (recipe inspired by two of our amazing Russian students!) New "Creamy Delights," include a Pina Colada smoothie made with almond milk, pineapple, young coconut, and agave, and Chai Spice Mate Latte or Cocoa Latte. We're also offering Sprouted Cinnamon Oatmeal with almond milk, Kamut Walnut Scones with raspberry jam, and cooked grain of the day, plain or with mushroom vegetable gravy or almond milk. In the "Pleasing Patés and Delicious Dips" department we are including a lovely Pesto Almond Torte, and we've added a Sweet 'n' Spicy Tahini Dip. Bon Appetit!

If you've dreamed of working at Living Light, now is the time to submit your application. There are several job opportunities available as we continue our growth phase. Positions currently available include:

Living Light has two positions open for professional, committed staff members to join our dynamic team.

All positions include opportunities for advancement

Learn as you earn!

A perfect, balmy Indian summer evening set the stage for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House at Living Light Inn on Wednesday, September 5 from 5:00-7:00 PM. A tent on the lawn and white draped tables set with flowers added to the evening's festivities with a delightful menu supervised by Alisa Davis, our café manager, and prepared by the wonderful Living Light Café staff along with guest angel and renowned raw chef Felix Schoener. Menu included zucchini hummus with crudites, mini pizzas with almond cheese and marinara, pesto almond torte medallions wrapped in zucchini on tomato slices, and delightful lemon cups with meringue topping. Organic and biodynamic wines were poured by the lovely Caroline Frey from Frey Vineyards. The Inn looked beautiful and polished as usual, with extra loving care added by resident innkeeper Maureen Yuskova. Guests chatted on the lawn, won wonderful prizes donated by Living Light Marketplace, and generally had a fantastic time. Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce CEO Debra DeGraw was on hand as owners Dan Ladermann and Cherie Soria performed the official ribbon cutting ceremony. The "official" welcome to the latest business in the Living Light International family was followed by a full-page article on Sunday, September 16, in the San Francisco Chronicle Travel Section. Besides the general public, our students are the biggest fans of Living Light Inn, citing the sense of community, which is greatly enhanced by the social aspect of staying at the inn, and getting to know each other on a whole new level! If you are attending classes at Living Light, be sure to book your reservations at the inn early, as spaces fill up fast!

2-day Science of Raw Food Nutrition I
Join Rick and Karin Dina, the Raw Food Doctors™ from Vitality Wellness Center for a comprehensive, enlightening course on the science of raw food nutrition. This 2-day, 12-hour course covers hot topics including raw vegan sources of iron, calcium, protein, vitamin B12 and essential fatty acids, as well as blood sugar regulation, pH balance, food changes from cooking, anti-inflammatory nutrition, weight management, anti-aging and longevity, and much more. The Raw Food Doctors™ are known for their ability to make complex scientific concepts entertaining and easily understandable for the non-scientific person. This is a great course for chefs, health educators, or anyone else who wants to achieve optimum health.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the experts! This class is offered 9 times a year. See our 2007 and 2008 class schedule or phone 707-964-2420 for dates.
 
When: Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with a 1-hour no-host lunch break on both days (December course is Thursday and Friday.)
Tuition: $325

NEW! 5-day Science of Raw Food Nutrition II
This comprehensive 5-day Science of Raw Food Nutrition II course covers essential information on raw food, living food, vegan and plant-based diets, and is a prerequisite for the 2-day Benefits of Raw Food Nutrition Educator Certification Course immediately following. It builds on the knowledge base learned in Science of Raw Food Nutrition I and introduces many new topics that are essential to understanding the big picture of raw and living food nutrition. Offered only once a year!

Prerequisites: Science of Raw Food Nutrition I
When: Sunday, December 2-Thursday, December 6
Time: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm with a 1 1/2-hour no-host lunch break every day
Tuition: $945
Early bird discount: $50 off when paid in full by September 1

NEW! 2-day Benefits of Raw Food Nutrition
Educator Certification Course:
This is a 2-day class immediately following Science of Raw Food Nutrition Level II that prepares students to present fundamental raw food nutrition information with authority, accuracy and confidence. It is highly recommended for health educators and raw food chefs who plan to teach the benefits of raw and living foods in an articulate and easy to understand manner.
In this class, students will learn how to utilize information learned in both Science of Raw Food Nutrition I and II to deliver an interesting and comprehensible presentation that is appropriate for a variety of audiences.
All participants will receive a CD containing two turn-key power point presentations on the benefits of raw and living food nutrition.  The first is a 20-minute introductory presentation designed to be a free talk to invite participants to attend the second, more comprehensive two-hour raw food nutrition class. This class is designed to be presented on its own, or in conjunction with culinary demonstrations.
The Benefits of Raw Food Nutrition Educator Certification Course will also cover techniques on searching for and objectively evaluating raw food and vegan nutrition information. This will give students the tools to continue learning in a clear and accurate manner long after this course is over. This class is offered only once a year. Class is limited to 12 students, so register early!

Prerequisites: Science of Raw Food Nutrition levels I and II.
When: Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8
Time: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM with 1 1/2 hour no-host lunch break each day
Tuition: $495

Call Living Light for further information about these informative and empowering classes with the Raw Food Doctors™ Rick and Karin Dina.

Recipe by Cherie Soria
Serves 6