One night, I found myself in a #Homefresh Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Food Lifestyle’s Dream! 
“Why or how was that?”, I “hear” you ask? 
As a “bigtime” carnivore (meat lover), I was quite surprised when throughout the night I dreamt about vegetarian, vegan and raw foods!
Does any foodie REALLY sleep at night?
Please tell me I am not the only one that eats, sleeps, dreams about food; which brings me to my #Homefresh Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Food Lifestyle’s Dream cooking class today! 
The Homefresh Adult Classes are held every Wednesday night; the classes rotate every five weeks with flavors covering 5 different cuisines; French, Middle Eastern, Asia, European and this Flavors of the Garden: Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Foods.
This #Homefresh Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Food Lifestyle’s Dream was “a food-lovers delight,” even for a carnivore like me! 
What the group and I loved on the night, is no previous knowledge or skills are needed and as you know by now, this is a “very hands on” Flavors of the Garden: Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Foods class.
Participating in prepping, chopping, dicing, sautéing and other “food tasks” is part of the fun while you get to meet “food strangers” that leave as “food friends.”
Chef Jean-Claude “reveled” in sharing stories that took us all through the Flavors of the Garden and explaining to carnivores like me what a Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Food’s Lifestyle consists of.
“Who is familiar with quinoa and pearled couscous and how to properly wash both?” Chef Jean-Claude asked the group.
“Who knows how to properly cut lemongrass and where it comes from?”
“Do you know how to “snap” an asparagus and know how to tell what parts are edible and what parts can be used at a later date in dishes such as risottos and stews?
Chef Jean-Claude is passionate about minimizing food wastage and he shared his “hints and tips” on not only how to properly store food, but how to have fresh fruits, herbs and vegetables from the garden last longer and how “creatively” one could reuse food scraps and food.
These were only some of the interactive conversations that too place and while the questions “seemed” simple, I always think if I have a question, than someone else might have the same question too!
The group had many questions for Chef Jean-Claude on the night; especially about coconut milk, coconut cream; what dishes to use both with and what spices combine best in pasta and rice.
The conversations over prep time was getting chatty until Chef Jean-Claude asked, “Does anyone know how to tell a male eggplant from a female one?”
Silence in the form of curiosity followed and while I had heard several suggestions on what to look for, I was not 100% sure I “actually” know a male from a female…eggplants we are still talking about!
“One” of the ways to tell a male eggplant from a female eggplant has to do with words like “round” and “elongated”, but I will let Chef Jean-Claude tell you!
With the eggplants, washed, prepared and “zebra peeled,” off to the oven to bake they did go!
Chef Jean-Claude “introduced” Organic Tofu to the class and questions were asked about Organic versus Non-Organic Tofu as well as types of tofu and oh, what would the secret ingredients Chef Jean-Claude would use on our roasted appetizer?
This Organic Tofu appetizer was delicious!
The texture was like biting into “pillows of yum” which is difficult to describe as the marinade (that was massaged into the Organic tofu) not only could be enjoyed throughout the tofu, but the coating “looked and felt” like it had caramelized…YUM!
I didn’t want to skew people’s opinions as I was mmmmmmmmmmm’ing, (these did come on skewers so pun intended ), but everyone LOVED this and were yearning for more; the rest of the meal was quietly simmering and baking, awaiting our “tantalized taste buds.”
I can’t give away all of Chef Jean-Claude’s secrets of this Flavors of the Garden: Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Foods class, but I can tell you, that night the aromatic flavors that were roasting, baking and being sautéed made for the most remarkable
#Homefresh Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Food Lifestyle’s Dream that night!
“Where’s the sauce?” I could “almost” hear Manu ask me in my mind?
“Don’t you mean Chef Jean-Claude?”, I “hear” you asked?
No, I meant Manu Feidel.
For those readers overseas who “may” not be familiar with Manu Feidel, he is a French celebrity chef who lives in Australia, had his own restaurant but currently is most popular in being a judge on an Australian reality television food show.
For our appetizer and main course, a “beautiful, well balanced” macadamia nut sauce was prepared that “packed a little bit of zing!”
It must have been the…..
Oops….I “almost” gave Chef Jean-Claude’s secret away!
I’m such a food ingredient tease!
For Adelaidians or tourists coming from interstate or overseas looking for something “different” and “unique” with The Real South Australia food feel, then these series of classes is for any foodie!
Homefresh Experience cooking classes with Chef Jean-Claude is a part of Tasting Australia; the largest food and wine festival in the Asia-Pacific Region.
With prep work completed, the Flavors of the Garden salad was prepared and Chef Jean-Claude shared how to prepare and what to look for in taste with a “balanced dressing.”
I know this might sound like a simply Chef Jean-Claude’s “hint and tip” but do YOU mix the salad before guests arrive?
If so, then this #Homefresh Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Food Lifestyle’s Dream class is for you to find out why you should not do!
There were many secrets surrounding cooking of the rice!
And what to prepare when a guest has a special dietary need?
Blanching tomatoes?
Have you ever done?
With Chef Jean-Claude’s simply “hints and tips,” he made peeling tomatoes like child’s fun!
Another tip was provided with “minimizing food wastage of the peels.”
Do YOU know what spice is used for “the blessing of the four corners?”
I love learning all things new about foods and spices.
I love history behind the foods and in finding out our dish tonight was a favorite and presented to the King of Jordan many years ago, true!
I could listen to Chef Jean-Claude’s life stories, travel and food stories for many hours!
But just like there are so many hours in a day and so many hours to have a #Homefresh Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Food Lifestyle’s Dream , this
Flavors of the Garden: Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Foods class time “flew” on the night!
If someone could let me know where time went?
Have you ever been on holidays trying to photograph a “delicious food dish” or in a #Homefresh Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Food Lifestyle’s Dream and your dish “may” not have been the prettiest dish but the flavors were beautiful leaving your yearning for more; not in food portion, but in the experience?
They say one needs to go before they return!
I can tell you on the night from the group’s comments, returning is what they all yearn to do!
I do hope you enjoyed this Flavors of the Garden: Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Foods class with me.
Perhaps one day soon your “smiling foodie face and food passion” Homefresh Experience and Chef Jean-Claude will see!
For now, I will close my eyes and drift off into the “Land of Wink and Nod” aka sleep and look forward to reliving my #Homefresh Vegan, Vegetarian and Raw Food Lifestyle’s Dream!
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Photo Courtesy of Homefresh Experience