EcoChef Academy

10/07/2026

PACK THEIR PASSPORTS! Children and youth Greek Cooking Class is Friday November 6, 2026.
Calling all parents, we have a children and youth ages 8 + class coming up in November. Drop the kids off for a 3-hour Mediterranean culinary adventure Friday November 6, from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
Your kids will be inspired with the Greek kitchen as they:

Mix, knead, roll and bake a flat bread from scratch!
Grate and blend a creamy, traditional homemade Tzatziki sauce.
Cook prepared marinated meat
Practice safe knife skills to prep fresh veggies for their custom Souvlaki wraps.
Create a beautiful, sweet Greek Yogurt, Berry & Honey Parfait for dessert!

It’s 3 hours of flour-dusting, vegetable-chopping, delicious fun that builds real-life kitchen confidence.

When: Friday, November 6: 9:30 AM –12:30 PM
Cost: $75 per person
Ages: 8+

Spaces are limited and we need a minimum of 8 participants to get cooking, so grab your spot today!
👉 Click the link in our bio to book their station now!

https://ecochefacademy.ca/programs%2Fofferings/ola/services/greek-street-food-children-and-youth-class

Class Description: Send your child on a culinary journey to Greece! In this immersive, highly interactive 3-hour workshop, kids will learn the fundamentals of traditional Greek style street food from scratch. Your child will master the art of making a flat bread from scratch—including mixing, knea...

10/07/2026

We’re heading back to the kitchen tomorrow! 🍎
We are back in Port Alberni tomorrow with (Alberni Valley Food Security Society) for the 3rd class in our preserving series!
This week, we are digging into the ins and outs of preserving jams and jellies. During our last two classes, so many of you asked excellent questions about making low-sugar products—and I absolutely LOVE that curiosity!
To put that into practice, we’re taking the local bounty that AVFSS has in abundance from their gleaning project and cooking up a batch of delicious apple pie jam.
Can’t wait to see everyone in class tomorrow! Let’s get preserving.

10/03/2026

Comfort Food, Reimagined: The Low-Carb Ramen Secret!

Ever look at a steaming bowl of ramen and think, "I wish I could enjoy that without the carb-heavy slump afterward"?

That was me this week. A family member sent me an incredible photo of a traditional ramen bowl they made themselves for dinner and the inspiration in me instantly struck. I knew I had to get to work on my own healthy, low-carb adaptation!

At EcoChef Academy, I always say that while cooking from scratch can take time—but it doesn’t have to be complicated. The secret lies entirely in choosing the right swaps.

For this recipe, my absolute game-changer was swapping traditional wheat noodles for Konjac Angel Hair noodles. At just 25 calories a pack, it delivers that perfect noodle texture, entirely gluten-free and low-carb. I paired it with Cha's Organics Premium Coconut Milk to create a rich, creamy broth that packs a ton of flavour without compromising on health.

Topped with savoury crispy fried ground pork, perfectly marinated soft-boiled eggs, fresh greens, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds, this bowl proves you don't have to give up your favourite comfort foods to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is entirely possible to eat clean, scratch-cooked meals that taste like a luxury.

What is your absolute favourite comfort food that you wish you could enjoy guilt-free? Let me know in the comments, and maybe I’ll adapt it next! 👇

10/01/2026

Baking with Purpose: Mini Pumpkin Tarts & Big Climate Action 🎃🥧

Today was a busy but incredibly rewarding day in the kitchen! I spent the afternoon baking batches of mini pumpkin tarts and pies to donate to our local community.

As a home economist and the founder of EcoChef Academy, my goal is to teach the art and science of home management in a way that respects both your household and the planet. How we run our kitchens matters just as much as why we give back.

Here are 2 sustainable kitchen habits I used today to slash waste:
1. Ditching the Roll of Paper: Instead of tearing through sheets of single-use parchment paper, I rolled out my pastry dough directly onto my silicone OXO baking mat. It’s infinitely reusable, features built-in measurement rings for perfectly even tart shells, and prevents unnecessary household trash.
2. Efficient Ingredient Management: Keeping dough uniform means less waste. Any small pastry scraps left over from the tart cutouts were saved, re-rolled, and baked into rustic mini tarts so zero food went into the bin!

Giving back to the community is deeply meaningful to me, but empowering you with the practical skills to manage an efficient, eco-friendly kitchen is where the real transformation happens. ✨

Ready to level up your sustainable kitchen skills?
• Book a hands-on class with me (Let’s bake and learn together!)

Let's make an impact, one tart at a time.

What’s your favourite fall treat to bake at home? Let me know below!

09/30/2026

FROM GARDEN TO TABLE! 🎃

EcoChef Academy has been having a great time with Coombs Fair & Fairgrounds. The kids in the Coombs Fair Kids Farm-to-Table Cooking Classes have been hard at work getting ready for their Family and Volunteer Event this October!

Last night's class used fresh pumpkins grown right on the Fairgrounds Gardens; these amazing kids made over 60 pumpkin tarts completely from scratch! They worked incredibly hard, and the final results were absolutely beautiful. I am so proud of the progress they have made in class over the past 3 classes.
Of course, they had to do a little quality control! They were thrilled to sample their creations, and the rest of the tarts have been safely frozen, ready to be enjoyed on our big day next month.
Thank you to our hard-working students! We can't wait to share the fruits of your labour with your families and volunteers soon.

09/30/2026

What an incredible morning in the kitchen for our Apple Harvest workshop! 🍏We had a great crew of eager participants today. Together, we dove into the versatility of apples, discussing all the ways we can use them in both sweet and savoury applications while focusing on practical ways to reduce food waste.
Thanks to beautiful local apples provided by PQB Fruit Tree Project, every participant went home with a container of homemade applesauce, a fresh apple crisp, and a dozen delicious apple pie muffins!

A massive thank you to the Island Crisis Care Society for having us and for making our local veterans feel so welcome. We are already looking forward to our next hands-on cooking class together next month!

Thank you, as always, to United Way British Columbia and the Government of Canada for funding and supporting these free community workshops.
Veterans, keep an eye out for next month's workshop details and secure your spot on the Island Crisis Care Society Eventbrite Page. See you all in the kitchen next month!

09/29/2026

For some reason I find myself looking at apple presses. What a great end to the first ever summer farmers market PQB Fruit Tree Project . The garden was packed, the chickens were doing their business with the bingo card and tummies were fed with corn. I will miss the meandering
Around the garden and vendors, picking up some produce from
My favourite vendors and saying hi to my garden people. A great end to the season. Well done Dan and all
The volunteers that make this garden and fruit picking possible.

09/28/2026

Alberni valley food secure does amazing work in the valley making sure to rescue as much food as possible- great work by an amazing team of staff and volunteers

09/28/2026

Getting ready for a sweet and savory morning in the kitchen!
I am thrilled to be teaching the Apple Harvest workshop tomorrow morning for the Island Crisis Care Society! We will be hosting this hands-on cooking class specifically for our local Veterans. From making fresh applesauce and delicious apple crisp to exploring savory dishes, we will be diving into great food while learning practical ways to reduce food waste.
Where: The Bradley Centre Sept 29th | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

A huge thank you to the Island Crisis Care Society, United Way British Columbia, and the Government of Canada for making this funded, free workshop possible.

Veterans, you can register or view future workshops via the Island Crisis Care Society Eventbrite Page.
Photo credit: Island Crisis Society
See you in the kitchen tomorrow!

09/27/2026

🍎 Preserve the Harvest Safely! At Eco-Chef Academy, I spend a lot of time researching the most up-to-date food preservation information. Food safety standards evolve, and my goal is to make sure you are equipped with the absolute safest tools, methods, and kitchen confidence to handle your seasonal abundance! Are you unable to make it to one of my scheduled hands-on classes? Don't worry! You can still access incredible, safe Canadian preserving resources online. I highly recommend checking out https://harvestguide.ca/, a fantastic Canadian resource packed with evidence-based tips on water-bath canning, pressure canning, fermenting, and more.
Would you like to learn with your own crew? If you have a group of friends, family, or coworkers who want to learn how to preserve together, I can tailor a custom class just for you! We need a minimum of 8 people to get a private class running. We can focus on the basics or dive deep into specific methods like jams, pickles, or fermentation. If you want more resources, have questions, or want to book a private group session, shoot me a message or PM me for details!

Let's get preserving!