Marc Lesser 14 Lessons From a Zen Monastery Kitchen

'My first week as head cook of Tassajara was exciting and challenging. I had completely underestimated how much food it took to feed one hundred and forty people a day. By my fourth day on the job we had almost completely run out of food. (Tassajara is two hours from the nearest food store.) I looked through the walk-in refrigerator, trying not to panic, and noticed that the only vegetable we had in any quantity was cabbage. 

Since there was not going to be another trip into town for two days, we found many creative ways to prepare cabbage — cabbage casserole, cabbage seaweed grill, and cabbage soup. I learned the importance of projecting inventory needs as well as making due with what was at hand, two skills that have served me well.' 


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Cures from the Kitchen

 

'We live in a time in which so many things compete for our attention such as our career, our finances, our relationships, etc., so that attending to our health often ends up last on our priority list. As a cancer survivor, I have been inspired to educate cancer patients to utilize food as a tool in order to improve upon their condition. I firmly believe that we have to take an active role in keeping our body healthy. We can no longer afford to relinquish the responsibility for our health to the medical industry. It is our duty to preserve and keep our body healthy so... lets get cooking!'

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7 Herbal Remedies You Already Have in Your Kitchen

 

'Many people have asked me if I eat differently since writing "Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen: Recipes from the East for Health, Healing, and Long Life" with Chinese medicine experts Yuan Wang, L.Ac., and Warren Sheir, L.Ac. The answer is "Yes, but not always in the way you might imagine."

Some formerly exotic foods have become familiar (Lotus root? Bring it on!), but a larger shift involves the way I look at many of the ingredients that were already on my kitchen shelf.

Here are seven familiar foods and spices that I have come to appreciate for their therapeutic properties in the 3000-year-old East Asian tradition of treating -- and preventing -- physical ailments through diet.'

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