I’ve had requests for more info to be available online about the raw/plant-based food workshops and demos that I’m running. Very very soon…apparently…the www.nibl.co.nz website will go live, and everything you need to know should be there (added November 2013: it’s alive and kicking now! Head on over there for all of the up-to-date info about what’s coming up). But in the meantime, here goes: 
Upcoming events: Intro to Extrawdinary Food Demonstration When: Wednesday 2nd October 7.00 – 8.30pm or Wednesday 30th October 7.00 – 8.30pm Where: Taste Nature, 131 High St, Dunedin – Dunedin’s wonderful organic store and eatery Cost: $35 per person
The introductory demonstration runs for 1.5 hours and costs $35 per person. You will see me make at least five delicious things, all vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, gluten-free, processed sugar-free and utterly fabulous. You get five recipes to take away and you get to taste everything. The response to previous workshops has been overwhelmingly positive. Here’s a sample of the feedback: “I loved the food!” “I liked your principle of finding innovative ways of incorporating more raw food into meals.” “A great night and one that has inspired my weekly menu.” “Thanks for sharing your recipes, your knowledge and what you have learnt since getting into the art of un-cooking.” “Fantastic! Can’t wait to try the recipes at home. Definitely keen to come to other sessions.” “Great presentation and very informative. Loved the passion and enthusiasm from Nicola and partner.” “All the food was absolutely delicious! It was a most informative, interesting, but still relaxed workshop. I really enjoyed it! Thank you for all of your work!” We also run longer workshops – where you get to see more, taste more and take away more recipes. You also get to have a bit of a play with the techniques and equipment, if you want to! Upcoming workshops are: Super Snacks Learn how to make crackers out of seeds (this one isn’t raw – we’ll have to branch out and switch the oven on for this one!), a gorgeous plant-based dip/spread, a divine breakfast smoothie, energy bars and more! Lots of great family-friendly ideas for energy to go! When: Sunday 13th October 12.00 – 2.30pm Where: Taste Nature, 131 High St, Dunedin Cost: $55 per person 
Rawcous Desserts A wide range of amazing desserts can be made entirely out of plants! Impress your friends and colleagues at the next potluck dinner, or simply treat yourself and your family. In this workshop, you will learn to make instant ice cream, cashew cream, a delicious seasonal fruit tart, and a fabulous treat for afternoon tea! When: Sunday November 10th 12.00pm – 2.30pm Where: Taste Nature, 131 High St, Dunedin Cost: $55 per person 
Frequently Asked Questions Who might be interested in these demos/workshops?
- anyone who would like to add more variety to their own and their family’s weekly menu with some fast, easy, delicious recipes
- people who are interested in optimising their use of wonderful plant ingredients
- anyone who needs to learn some new food preparation techniques and ideas due to dietary restrictions, allergies or health issues
Please note that these demos and workshops are not suitable for people with nut allergies, as a number of these recipes incorporate nuts. If you have nut allergies but would like to come to a session, please contact us directly and we’ll sort something out for you! Is this all about making salads? Absolutely not! There are so many amazing snacks and meals that can be created entirely out of plants – gluten, dairy and processed sugar-free – but to make them, it helps to learn how to use ingredients in ways that you may not have thought of before. Most of your favorite dishes can be re-created entirely with plants…once you know how. These demos/workshops show how versatile plant-based ingredients, and un-cooking techniques, can be. You will be amazed at how quickly many of these dishes can be created! Do you only eat raw food? No, and these sessions are not about cutting foods out; they are all about adding more fabulous plant-based food in! Information about good nutrition can be quite confusing, but consistent messages that we hear time and time again are that we can all benefit from eating more variety in terms of fruit and vegetables, more locally-produced food, more unprocessed food, and more seasonal food. That’s the philosophy I have embraced and in these sessions I aim to provide inspiration for incorporating these principles, while producing truly delicious food. Why come to a workshop when I can get the recipes from your blog? So much more can be taught, and learnt, in person. I have learnt lots of little tricks along the way, and I share a lot more information in workshops – about how to get the absolute most from your ingredients and equipment, where to source the ingredients locally, and how to eat really well on a budget. Also, most of the workshop recipes will not be showing up on the blog. Sorry if that’s a bit unfair to those of you who don’t live nearby (although Dunedin is a wonderful place to visit!). One day there will be a recipe book – but I wouldn’t start holding your breath for that just yet. How do I book a place in a workshop/demo? You can email me at: nicola@nibl.co.nz or leave a message on: www.facebook.com/niblonthis Get in quickly if you are interested in booking – spaces are limited and some sessions are filling quickly. Please also let me know if you have any other questions – I’m about to take off for three days of raw food chef training in Auckland – woohoo! – so I won’t necessarily be able to answer messages immediately, but I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Well Ms Brown this all looks mighty impressive. I wish I could go to your workshops, they look amazing.
On a different note, I found myself thinking about you this week because I went to Gardening with Soul, which I enjoyed immensely. What I did not enjoy so much was the person down the row from me whose cell phone went off 4 times during the film. The person did not want to be seen going into their bag to turn it off and identify themselves, so they just allowed the joy to be shared, 4 times.
Hmmm, is forebearance the only option in this case do you think?
Oh Mary Nanna that is sooooo irritating. Forebearance? Possibly. I imagine that is exactly what you exhibited on the outside, while internally seething (particularly the fourth time around!). Hopefully it didn’t spoil your enjoyment of the film.
I have been the person in the front row of a plenary session at an enormous conference, whose phone rang. The presenter glared right at me as I ducked to switch it off: I was the colour of a beetroot for the rest of the session, but at least I knew it wasn’t going to happen again.
You would love the workshops; they are right up your alley. Feel free to come to Dunedin for one! I know you love to come back here, although you moan about the weather. (Hey, on that note, I was in Auckland this morning, and the weather was rubbish. Then I flew to Dunedin, where it was just like summer. Hmmm, just thought you’d like to know.)