25 Day
Raw Food Chef Residency Program
Professional Raw Food Chef Certification Training Course
Raw Food Chef
Residency Program
Professional Raw Food Chef Certification Training Course
Become an Internationally
Certified Raw Food Chef!
Join us for our most comprehensive Plant-Based Nutrition and Living Foods Chef Training! In 25 days, you’ll really feel what it is like to take your plant-based nutrition education to the next level and practice stepping into the role of a confident Raw Food Chef. By the end of this training, you will feel confident to create delicious gourmet meals and know how and why certain foods contribute the optimal health.
Our 25-day Raw Food Chef Residency Program is held once a year in Nicaragua on the island of Ometepe at Hometepe Holistic Sanctuary. This inspirational nutritional and culinary adventure will take you from the beginning – taste balancing and the building blocks of plant-based nutrition education – to the advanced – learning how to create and refine your own signature recipes and dive deeper into specific health concerns and which whole foods can help. Explore advanced culinary themes and develop your unique style as a chef. This immersion is for the passionate foodie, beginner entrepreneur and seasoned plant-based expert. Join us in the plant based revolution and give back to the community!
Register Online Today!
Retreat - 25-Day Raw Food Chef Residency (2023)
Our trainings are for...
the stay-at-home mom
the nutritionist
the Chinese medicine doctor
the new retiree
the red seal chef
the professional athlete
those looking for a new career
those looking to enhance their nutrition intake
the fresh out of high school
The seasoned entrepreneur
… and many more. All these types of people have taken Pachavega’s Raw Food Chef Certification Course.
What we have in common is a desire to create healthy whole food recipes for our families, loved ones, clients and ourselves. We want to know how to help our body do what is designed to do, heal itself.
This course offers an in-depth study into a whole foods, plant-based lifestyle as a means to heal your body and ignite your spirit of adventure and passion to get you into the kitchen and experiment and in turn, improve your health and wellbeing for life.
- 25 Days: January 8th – February 3rd, 2023
- Module 1: Intro to a Nutrient Dense Plant-Based Lifestyle
- Module 2: Flavor Balancing
- Module 3: Knife Skills
- Module 4: Sustainability and Ethical Choices
- Module 5: Soaking, Sprouting and Growing Greens
- Module 6: Digestion and Gut Health
- Module 7: Cleansing and Detoxification
- Module 8: The Magic of Fermentation and Cultured Foods
- Module 9: Nut-free Cuisine and Food Allergies
- Module 10: Seaweeds and Algae
- Module 11: Fitness Foods and Nutrition for Athletes
- Module 12: Healing Spices from Around the World
- Module 13: All about Dairy and Healthy Alternatives
- Module 14: Cooked Comfort Foods to Drool Over
- Module 15: Gourmet Cultured Foods and Other Ferments
- Module 16: Master the Crunch of Dehydrated Foods and Snacks for the Road
- Module 17: Food Photography for Social Media
- Module 18: Plating Presentation and Saucing Techniques
- Module 19: Raw Desserts and Superfoods
- Module 20: Medicinal Mushrooms and Ancient Adaptogens
- Module 21: Building Your Wellness Business
- Module 22: Mindful Menu Planning
- BONUS Module 23: Foods for Fertility, Pregnancy and Childhood
- BONUS Module 24: Essential Oils in the Raw Food Lifestyle
Raw Food Chef
25-Day Residency and International Certification
Sunday ARRIVAL DAY – Jan.8
2:00 Airport/Border Pick up
3:30-4:00 Arrival (orange juice and energy bites)
6:00 Dinner: Romaine Lettuce Fajitas (module 3)
Evening: FREE
****
DAY 1 – Monday – Jan.9
6:45 – 8:00 Yoga/Movement/Meditation
8:00 Breakfast: Green Beauty Smoothie and fresh fruit bowl
Class (Module 1 and 2)
12:30 Lunch: Bean-Free Chili with Cashew Sour Cream and Microgreens, Cebollas encuraditas
1:00- 1:45 Break
2:00 Class (Module 3)
5:00 Dinner: Living Pad Thai
Evening: FREE
***
DAY 2 – Tuesday – Jan.10
6:45- 8:00 Yoga/Movement/Meditation
8:00 Breakfast: Grawnola, fresh nut milk and fresh fruit bowl
Class (Module 4)
12:30 Lunch – Noodles, 3 ways – Cilantro Pesto, Mac and Cheese, Zesty Marinara and Gazpacho
1:00- 1:45 Break
2:00 Class (Module 5)
5:00 Dinner – Energy Soup, Sprouted Lentil Salad with simple spiced vinaigrette
***
DAY 3 – Wednesday – Jan 11
6:45- 8:00 Yoga/Movement/Meditation
8:00 Breakfast: Choco-Cardamom Smoothie, grawnola and stewed fruit
and Class (Module 6)
12:30 Lunch: Build your Own salad (share/taste each other’s creations), The Gut Shot
1:00 – 4:00 FREE
4:00 – 6:00 Breathwork in Yoga Shala with Solage and Rachel
5:00 Dinner: Portobello Mushroom Stack with Swiss Chard Chimichurri, Mediterranean Red Peppers and Truffle Cream Cheese with Salad Crackers
Fire Pit on the beach after dinner
***
DAY 4- Thursday – Jan 12
6:45 – 8:00 Yoga/Movement/Meditation
8:00 Breakfast: Tangy Ginger Kelp Noodle Detox Soup
Class (Module 7)
12:30 Lunch: Juices
1:00- 2:00 Break
2:00 Class (Module 8)
5:00 Dinner: Drunken Noodles with Chinese Garlic Sauce with Kimchi
After dinner: Turmeric Pulp and Wheatgrass Facemasks
***
DAY 5 – Friday – Jan 13
6:45- 8:00 Yoga/Movement/Meditation
8:00 Breakfast: Fermented Pineapple Yogurt Milkshake and Grawnola
Class (Module 9)
12:30 Lunch: Tapas – Pineapple Lemongrass Salsa, Goji Berry Curried Relish, Pesto Kalamata Tapenade with the Juice Pulp Crackers
1:00- 1:45 Break
2:00 Class (Module 10)
5:00 Dinner: Kale Caesar Salad and Rawkin’ Rollies
Evening: FREE
***
DAY 6 – Saturday – Jan 14
6:45- 8:00 Yoga/Movement/Meditation
8:00 Breakfast: Huge Fresh Fruit Bowl with tahini and honey
Class (Module 11)
12:00 Lunch: Protein Power Bowl
12:00 – 4:00 Market and El Pital Tour and Cacao Ceremony
6:30 – Dinner: Tropical Chia Pudding
Evening: FREE
***
DAY 7 – OFF Sunday – Jan 15
***
DAY 8 – OFF Monday – Jan 16
(private one on one coaching)
***
DAY 9 – Tuesday – Jan 17
6:45- 8:00 Yoga/Movement/Meditation
8:00: Breakfast: Julia’s Overnight Oats
Class (Module 12)
11:15 Lunch: Cucumber Cups in Spicy Walnut Pate and Kaffir Lime Carrot Soup
1:00- 1:45 break
2:00 Class (Module 13)
5:00: Dinner: Huge Salad (beets, carrots, microgreens, Smokey Pepitas with unfermented nut cheese and Mesquite Coconut Latte Evening: Work on L1 Final Exam as a group
***
DAY 9 – Wednesday – Jan 18
6:45- 8:00 Yoga/Movement/Meditation
8:00 Breakfast: Sesame Banana Mylkshake
Go over Quiz Questions
12:30 Lunch: Ginger Butternut Squash Soup
1:00- 1:45 Break
2:00 -5:00 Prep for Final Projects
5:00 Dinner: Fully Loaded Baked Sweet Potato and Nice Cream Creations
6 PM Evening: Prep for Final Projects
***
DAY 10 – Thursday – Jan 19
6:45- 8:00 Yoga
8:00 Breakfast: Huge Fresh Fruit Bowl with Fresh Coconut
Prep for Final Presentations – Demo Pesto Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Lunch: Marinated Moroccan Cauliflower Steaks with Dreamy tahini
1:00 Graduation Presentations
4:00 Photos of final projects
5:00 Potluck
***
DAY 11 – OFF – Friday – Jan 20
No morning movement class
Breakfast: Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Level Two: Raw Food Chef Certification
*****
DAY 12 – Saturday – Jan 21
6:45- 8:00 Yoga
8:00 Breakfast: Superfood Smoothie
Class (Module 15)
12:30 Lunch with fermented nut cheese, fresh veggies, sprouts, kimchi and crackers (Charcuterie Board)
1:00- 1:45 Break
2:00 Continue
5:00 Dinner: Falafel and Herby Salad
6 PM Evening: Plan Final Project and Signature Dessert
*****
DAY 13 – Sunday OFF or 5 Rhythms Dance – Jan 22
*****
DAY 14 – Monday OFF – Jan 23
(private one on one coaching)
*****
DAY 15 – Tuesday – Jan 24
6:45- 8:00 Yoga
8:00 Breakfast:
Class (Module 16)
12:30 Lunch: Raw Pizza
2:00 Continue
5:00 Dinner: Beet Borsht with Rosemary Walnut Bread, Radiant Rainbow Noodles
Evening: Plan Signature Desserts
*****
DAY 16 – Wednesday – Jan 25
6:45- 8:00 Yoga
8:00 Breakfast: Banana Cinnamon Buns, Pancakes and Fresh Fruit
Class (Module 17)
12:30 Lunch: Kimchi Collard Wraps
3:00 Class (Module 18)
5:00 Dinner: Lasagna, Ravioli and Tempeh Skewers with Entremets
*****
DAY 17 – Thursday – Jan 26
6:45- 8:00 Yoga
8:00 Breakfast: Real fruit Roll-ups with carob Newtella Cream
Class (Module 18)
12:30 Lunch:
3:00 Prep Unique Crunchy Topping and practice photos
5:00 Dinner: Lasagna and Ravioli
*****
DAY 18 – Friday – Jan 27
6:45- 8:00 Yoga
8:00 Breakfast: Mason Jar Maca Carrot Cake
Class (Module 19)
12:30 Lunch: Royal Tea Latte, Shiitake Pho Noodle Soup and Iced Alchemy
1:00- 3:00 Break
3:00 Continue – Prepare Desserts
4:00 Present Final Desserts
6:30: Dinner: Herbs and Truffle Mini Quiche, No Bones Broth and
Evening: Plan Final Project
*****
DAY 19 – Saturday – Jan 28
6:45- 8:00 Yoga
8:00 Breakfast: Mexican Enchiladas with Fermented Salsa, Tempeh Crumble and Guac
Class (Module 20)
12:30 Lunch: Mushroom Burgers with Ketchup and Mustard
3:00 Class (Module 21)
5:00 Dinner: Beautiful Buddha Bowls
*****
DAY 20 – Sunday OFF – Jan 29
*****
DAY 21- Monday OFF – Jan 30
(private one on one coaching)
*****
DAY 22 – Tuesday – Jan 31
Teams of 3, each is responsible for a meal, provides a demo and serves us.
8:00 Breakfast: Team 1
9:00 Class (Module 22)
12:00 Lunch: Team 1
3:00 Free Time
5:00 Dinner: Team 1
*****
DAY 23 – Wednesday – February 1st
6:45- 8:00 Yoga
8:00 Breakfast: Team 2
Class (Module 23)
12:30 Lunch: Team 2
Break – Free Time (packing)
5:00 Dinner: Team 2
*****
DAY 24 – Thursday – Feb 2nd
8:00 Breakfast:
9:00 Yoga Shala Closing Circle, Graduation Ceremony
10:00 Photos with Certificates, Good Byes and testimonials
11:00 Lunch: Student Meal from everything that is in the fridge. Get into teams and decide what (sauce, salad, soup, etc) – Last meal together.
After Lunch: Prepare for Community Dinner (local Nicaraguans and expats – blended, donation based- proceeds go towards the scholaships for local womens Cooking course.
Free evening – Dinner next door
*****
DAY 25 – Friday – Feb 3rd
Departure 5:00AM – first ferry
Or Checkout 10:00AM
Internationally Certified Raw Food Chef Certification (CRFC)
- As you go through the course, you’ll want to do the following to make it easy to apply for international certification with the Raw Food Chef Alliance and become officially Certified:
- Make all recipes in all Modules for both L1 and L2
- Complete all Bonus Modules (14, 23 and 24)
- Keep a journal – outline what worked, what didn’t, did you use substitutes, did you improve the recipe, change the procedure?
- This will be submitted for review before you receive your certificate
- Once complete, you will schedule a private ZOOM call with Danielle Arsenault to review and critique your work
- Includes life-time membership with the Raw Food Chef Alliance and Certified Raw Food Chef accreditation (CRFC)
What You Will Learn
- Foundation Staple Foods
- Nutrient Dense Plant-Based Nutrition
- Knife Skills
- Flavor Balancing
- How to Stock your Kitchen
- Soaking and Sprouting
- Cultured and Fermented Foods, Kimchi and Kraut
- Sustainability and Ethical Choices
- Nut-Free Cuisine and Food Sensitivities
- Detoxification and Your pH
- Healthy Digestion and your Gut Microbiome
- Foods the Promote Digestion
- Tips and Tricks for Healthy Detoxification
- Healing Spices from Around the World
- Gourmet Raw Vegan Meals
- Healing Foods for Fertility, Pregnancy and All Life Stages
- Healing Herbal Soups and Adaptogens
- Raw Desserts and Superfoods
- Raw Food and Essential Oils that Heal
- Dehydrated Foods
- Gourmet Cultured Foods
- Medicinal Mushrooms
- Vegan Cheese Making
- Plating Presentation and Food Photography
You will Make Simple as well as Gourmet Recipes
All of our recipes are made with gluten-free, plant-based ingredients that are designed by nature to build health
What's it like to be a Raw Food Chef with Pachavega?
- Dive into the health benefits of the food that fuels us
- Train in valuable basic, intermediate, and advanced kitchen skills
- Master the art and intricacies of flavor balancing
- Discover how to creatively sauce, plate and present striking dishes
- Deep-dive into the health benefits of the food that fuels us
- Create nutritional powerhouse meals and culinary masterpieces that anyone from age 0 to 99 is bound to enjoy and benefit from
- Learn the art of effective menu construction and design
- Acquire a compassion-centered approach to nutrition that supports individual needs and goals
- Utilize your nutrition and culinary knowledge and skills as the foundation of a holistic wellness lifestyle
- Turn your newfound-insights and mastery into a revenue-generating venture
- Have an encouraging feedback and support system from Pachavega educators and students
Kind Words about our Courses
What our graduates are saying about us!
Introducing Your Teacher...
Danielle Arsenault, founder of Pachavega Living Foods Education, is a passionate Raw Food Chef and Plant Based Nutrition Educator. In 2011 a near-death rock climbing accident changed her relationship with the world and life as she knew it. It gave her the realization that we are truly blessed to be alive. After she healed her body with food, she made it her life’s purpose to educate the world about the healing power of plant-based whole foods and a healthy lifestyle rooted in compassion for the planet.
Danielle is a professional educator, internationally renowned chef, published author of 7 cookbooks and an award-winning vegan influencer. She is a best-selling co-author and has been on the TedX stage. She has also been featured in over 40 podcasts, 50+ magazine articles, several online summit series and catered over 50 retreats, including almost 30 in-person Raw Food Chef Certification Trainings.
Her professional career includes a stint as a college professor, a Raw Food Chef and Nutrition Consultant at a tropical wellness resort and designing and teaching over 350 students, online and in-person, through her Online Culinary Arts Institute and in-person Holistic Wellness Retreats. She lives on the island of Ometepe, Nicaragua and frequently donates her time and passion to teach healthy cooking skills within her local community.
As Seen In:
Location
hometepe Holistic Sanctuary
Our home base on the Island of Ometepe, Nicaragua – a conscious, plant-based, health and wellness retreat center for holistic events and private functions.
Pay in Full or in instalments - Register Online Today!
Retreat - 25-Day Raw Food Chef Residency (2023)
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