Originally posted 17/8/2017 A myriad of claims feed contemporary society that clean eating can make you live longer, decrease cancer risk, or boost energy. There is a long history of marketing products that capitalize on teaching people to eat right, which itself transcends the dietary advice itself. Teaching people to eat right can alleviate their morals, improve their characters and solve some of the most pressing social problems facing them at the time. The goodness of good citizenship … [Read more...] about The hijacking of nutrition
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Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy Gowings Food Health Wealth, Byron Bay Cooking School and Tweed Cooking School (ABN 86142062293) reserve the right to alter, amend all or any of the arrangements contained within events, cooking classes, consulting and mentoring programs. No refunds. A replacement may be nominated. We cannot accept responsibility for students' or delegates’ late transport or non-arrivals due to delays. … [Read more...] about Cancellation Policy
The science of detoxification
Back in my nutrition student days, circa 2000, I used to jest that it was all uptox-downtox, retox-detox. Primarily because I was still living in Melbourne and hanging with the nicest, if not the wildest people! Our late night antics seemed as though they went for days. A hangover from my former life as a publican desperately trying to understand the concept of balance that people speak of. As a hedonist, this paradigm was as foreign to me as my trip to Zanzibar, however over time and eight … [Read more...] about The science of detoxification
Beaching to the converted
When you live in a tourist town it is easy to take the landmarks for granted. When it comes to cooking, you’re only as good as your last dish, or for the diner it's the memory of what you recently ate and where. Think about the last café or restaurant meal you visited and then check in with your upstairs brain to see what you recall. For me, it was my beloved tarragon chicken at The Rails last Saturday because it was the best I’ve had. It was late in the afternoon, the pub was not busy and I sat … [Read more...] about Beaching to the converted
The Healing Feeling
An excerpt from my book The Healing Feeling first published 2012. My voyage across the nourishing waters toward the healing arts began when I was a teenager. I broke my leg riding my little green motor scooter on a crisp autumn Melbourne morning. I don’t really remember how the accident happened, but clearly I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or was I? Everything happens for a reason and the memory of the impact is deliberately dim. I blacked out but then I saw the light. My … [Read more...] about The Healing Feeling
The Kitchens Resident Chef Sam Gowing
We sat down with the resident chef of The Kitchens, Samantha Gowing and asked her about all things food! Sam gives two demonstrations per day on The Cooking Stage at 11am and 1pm every Thursday, most Saturdays and the occasional Fridays. So before you go see her cook up a storm, read all about the woman behind the food! Why did you become a chef?I’ve been cooking since I was six years old. I grew up sitting around the tables of my Dad’s first restaurant in Melbourne, and … [Read more...] about The Kitchens Resident Chef Sam Gowing
Aloha – Well into the future
The rosy fingered dawn illuminates the snow capped mountain peaks beyond my villa window. The crisp morning air bristles the back of my neck as I hustle along the marigold lined pathway to the panoramic yoga room for the first of two ninety minute yoga practice sessions each day. As the spring sun burns off the overnight cloud that drapes the mountain range, our internal hara ignites through yogic breath work and asana unpacking busy minds and releasing tight hamstrings and constricted tendons … [Read more...] about Aloha – Well into the future
Why I practice Bikram yoga
Surprisingly, it's almost three years since I wrote this blog post, which means I have been a member of the melting set who thrive in the hot room for just as long. Time flies when you're burning up. This morning I returned to the practice. Unlike many devotees, I cannot practice this form of yoga in the intense humidity we endured here in Byron Bay for at least five months over summer. So when it cools down and my gammy leg aches, my waist expands and my hormones rage - this is where I go. It … [Read more...] about Why I practice Bikram yoga
Otherhood
A road less travelled The old girl from Ongerup half-choked on a yabby at my confession. Wide eyed, jaw on the floor, she sat by the 40 gallon drum fire in outback Australia. Speechless. A silence so awkward that anyone would think I'd confessed to have been Charles Manson's wing man. Her hubby shuffled up joyfully with a swag of marron we helped catch from his abundant dam and soon we were chowing down on those mud lovin' dwellers with the enthusiasm of kids on a carousel. A feast before a … [Read more...] about Otherhood
Liver a little longer
Function, Fad or Fashion - How to turn your scepticism into belief when it comes to healthy eating. The thing about common sense is that it’s not very common. Take Michael Pollan’s healthy dose of wisdom, ''Eat food, not too much, mostly plants'', for example. It couldn’t be more straightforward yet year after year the pandemic of obesity and diabetes rises incrementally. The evidence is out there, but so too is the easy access to highly processed convenience foods. Sadly it’s more cost … [Read more...] about Liver a little longer
Open Garden Mawallok
Along the sprawling Golden Plains of Victoria rises the historic Western District property Mawallok. Resplendent with a 2.5-hectare garden designed by renowned landscape architect William Guilfoyle in 1909, the garden features serpentine paths, sweeping lawns and impressive vistas across the lake designed by Sir John Monash. When my ol' school buddy of 41 years Zarby Mitchell below posted she was opening the family home at Stockyard Hill as part of the wonderful Open Gardens Victoria I … [Read more...] about Open Garden Mawallok
Gut and Polish.
In through the out door Finding the right mindset to write this little piece of peace has been a challenge until I found myself with a loose end. Be warned, the next few paragraphs might be filled with more bad jokes and a rare teaspoon of crass. Oh, and you will need to pass me a swear jar. You see, just a week ago I received a letter from the Australian Government announcing rather rudely in black and white that the result of the 50th birthday present they gave me - a Bowel Cancer Home … [Read more...] about Gut and Polish.
What is the pineal gland for?
Gland To Meet You The Pineal Gland – The Glad Eye The pineal gland has long been regarded as the location of the Third Eye and even has its own rods, cones and interior retina. It is thought to be a natural hyper-gate or trans-dimensional access point throughout the ages. The ‘third eye’ is considered by Indian mystics as our antenna or junction point where energy all energy comes together. When the pineal becomes fully activated the chakras are united and have access to those higher … [Read more...] about What is the pineal gland for?