Contributors
M A G N U S M U M B Y is a UK based chef where he’s best known for enabling diners to easily and inexpensively create healthy and delicious dishes. Because of this, Magnus has become the go-to chef for developing recipes for everyday people and celebrities alike who want to enjoy eating while doing something good for their bodies and their wellbeing. Magnus was awarded the Top Ten New Chefs of the Year award by Esquire magazine, among numerous other accolades.
Magnus began cooking natural foods for patients of his father’s natural medicine and food allergy clinic while still in his teens. Guided by his father’s expertise in health and nutrition, Magnus learned, hands on, the healing power of food and experimented with ingredients and preparations. In his more than 20 years of crafting healthy, delicious recipes, he has travelled the world learning local cuisines, presided over the kitchens of some of Manchester’s and the UK’s most renowned establishments and developed an expertise in helping people enjoy eating healthful foods.
East Meets West
Ready to fulfill his nomadic spirit once again, Magnus is off in Marrakech! Magnus promises to capture photos of his adventures in the bazars to keep us posted here at Garden Eats. With no shortage of Wi-fi from the internet cafes abroad, stay-tuned to get the latest of Magnus’ food and travel news!
2013 will be full of adventure for Magnus as he continues his travels, and finishes up the culinary therapy cook book project with Garden Eats creative editor and chief contributor, Christine! Ready to whip up one of his tasty, nutritive dishes? Visit Magnus’ site, Healthy Nutritious Recipes to make one of his favorites yours!
“Cook with style, eat with pleasure, and live long and healthy
with the right food!” – Magnus Mumby
Follow Magnus on Twitter.
Say hi to S H A N N O N U N G E R, our new business development specialist and travel writer. After trotting around Central America last year, Shannon recently returned to the States to re-immerse herself into the heart of our country’s food culture, the restaurant industry. Today you’ll find her developing new relationships to introduce to the Garden Eats test kitchen. Follow Shan around to learn a bit about her waste-not, want not food prep mentality and essays on food democracy.
A Happy Hello From Shan
Growing up, food always brought my family together. In good days and bad, on normal Sundays and on special occasions. Today, I carry that with me, entertaining and cooking for family and friends whenever possible!
My passion for food & entertaining extends from my personal life into the professional. While in Boston I was part of the lovely team at EVOO- one of the city’s favorite restaurants that supports sustainable farming practices. EVOO offers fresh, seasonal food from local farms, all while being conscientious of their environmental impact. I’m looking forward to sharing the experience through future interviews, not only exploring approaches to cooking, but also new ways to approach business and what it means to operate a sustainable, profitable company.
It has been my experience that the comfort found in food transcends cultures & religions, bringing people together regardless of race, beliefs or economic status. I just returned to the States from a six month journey through the countries of Central America. I’ve glimpsed how even those who are lacking come together around food; finding comfort & joy in the simplicity of what they do have. With a changed perspective, I seek to reintegrate simplicity back into our otherwise hectic lives! Simple ingredients and simple techniques can be combined to create amazing, healthy dishes!
My travels have also reminded me of why it’s so beneficial to support local, sustainable businesses, to eat fresh, clean foods and to reduce our footprint on the environment wherever possible. Check out my guest post at Reaching Beyond Now for a glimpse of why you want to know more about the origins of your food.
Now living and working in New York for the winter, I’ll be learning how to work with root vegetables and other winter produce found here in the blustery North East. Any advice? Please share!
Follow Shannon on Twitter and see what she’s up to on Instagram.
B R Y A N T D U R S T is originally from Colorado. He has lived in California for almost eight years, spending four of those in San Diego and the last four in Los Angeles. He is an avid sports nut who likes to do almost anything outdoors including football, golf, basketball and scuba diving. When relaxing he has his nose buried in a book- Bryant has been known to read multiple books in a week. He has also recently gotten into the food writing scene with his new blog, The Cooks View.
Bryant started his career in San Diego in fine dining beginning at Soleil @K in the Gaslamp Marriott. From there he moved to LA with his new wife, Jovelyn. Upon arriving in LA Bryant started work on the hit TV show Hell’s Kitchen. He has also worked at some of the top restaurants in LA, including Spago Beverly Hills, The Tavern in Brentwood and STK. Of Bryant’s many talents he has also been involved in catering and private chefing. Ready to savor one of Bryant’s creations? He is currently a Sous Chef at the Capital Grille. Stop in and tell him Garden Eats sent you!
Follow Bryant at Twitter and Instagram @afullplate
The famous quote by Socrates “Thou shouldst eat to live, not live to eat” never sat well with L A U R A S E E R Y. The California native was raised in the notoriously epicurean San Francisco Bay Area and grew up trailing her father around the kitchen, learning from his culinary successes (and failures!). She grew up grazing on the West Coast’s great multicultural bounty, from dim sum in Chinatown to down-to-earth gourmet fare at Chez Panisse.
Laura graduated from the University of California, San Diego, and took her passion for fine cuisine, along with her writing and marketing skills, to work for Culinary Concepts, a leading special event caterer. As a 6-year veteran of the catering industry, Laura is an authority on creative menu design, food trends and entertaining. Her heart lies in seasonal cooking, inspired by fruits and vegetables at their ripest and sweetest, and choosing organic and locally grown ingredients whenever possible. Laura’s favorite gastronomic topics to explore include unique and unexpected spice and flavor combination’s, Asian/Californian-fusion and good old fashioned ‘one pot meals’.
Laura resides in San Francisco, California. When not making a mess in the kitchen, she can be found jogging on the colorful landscape, practicing yoga or rummaging through vintage treasures at local thrift stores.
Follow Laura on Twitter
