At the heart of the Spoon & Soul Mini-Retreat is a belief that nourishment goes far beyond what’s on your plate—it’s about connection, creativity, and the simple joy of preparing food with intention. Chef Ofri Gilan, the founder of Asheville Mountain Kitchen and co-creator of this transformative retreat, embodies that philosophy in everything she does. With roots in a rural, self-sustaining community and a deep appreciation for seasonal ingredients, Ofri brings both soul and system to the way she teaches. In this interview, she shares the inspiration behind her culinary journey, the wellness values that guide her, and why Spoon & Soul is more than a cooking class—it’s a reset for your whole self.

Intro & Personal Background

  1. Can you tell us a little about your journey with food? How did you come to love cooking?
    I grew up in a small self-sustaining community and we all cooked. I loved it from day one. Later on, I used it to support myself as a student and worked for catering and restaurants.
  2. What was your relationship to food growing up—and how has that shaped your cooking style today? I grew up in a rural area and since we grew all of our produce and raised our meat, I was used to eating a very clean diet fresh, yet full of flavor.
  3. What inspired you to start Asheville Mountain Kitchen? I love how food connects and brings people together, it’s the quickest way to reach a person’s heart. With my architectural practice there was so much stress and I wanted to do something I really truly love.

Philosophy & Cooking Style

  1. What does “nourishment” mean to you beyond the ingredients on the plate? Eating together affects us on a personal as well as a social level. It connects us to ourselves and others. If we take the time and pay attention to what we eat, it will nourish us emotionally on all levels.
  2. How do you approach creating meals that are both simple and soulful? You can do so by using an optimized system for meal planning that takes away the dinner prep stress and simplify your life by having a flavorful, healthy (anti-inflammatory) dinner waiting for you when you get home. Spend less then 2 hours per week and enjoy it all week.
  3. What role does nature or seasonality play in your cooking? Nature and seasonally informs the type of ingredients we have available as well as creating menus that are suitable for different seasons. In the winter we usually crave soups, stews and slightly “heavier” flavors and in the summer we may with to have lighter fare, such as salads, quiches, etc.

Retreat Focus

  1. What excites you most about the Spoon & Soul Mini-Retreat? Transferring all my knowledge to the participants in an organized manner, so they can easily and affectively practice everything at home. It is a “one stop shop” for wellness!
  2. How is this retreat different from a traditional cooking class? Cooking class only teaches a few recipes. It doesn’t teach a system of wellness.
  3. What do you hope participants take away—not just from the kitchen, but from the experience as a whole? I hope they can continue to take care of themselves past the retreat and practice all the mindfulness methods as well as continue to use my cooking method.

Creativity & Connection

  1. How do you see cooking as a creative practice? Once you get good at it, its fun to mix and match ingredients.
  2. What’s one of your favorite memories of cooking with others—either at a past retreat or in your own kitchen? In the last cooking class I had a family participate. It was great to see 3 generations connect, help each other, collaborate and laugh together.
  3. What’s your favorite moment during a retreat weekend? Talking to people one on one and hearing their stories.

Rapid Fire (for fun!)

  1. Sweet or savory? Sweet.
  2. Go-to comfort food? Soup.
  3. Your favorite kitchen tool? A knife.
  4. A dish that always brings you joy to make? A delicious salad with lots of textures and ingredients.

Whether she’s guiding a cooking class, leading a retreat, or simply sharing a story over tea, Chef Ofri brings authenticity, warmth, and wisdom to the table. Her approach to food is grounded in simplicity, but layered with meaning—and that’s exactly what participants can expect from the Spoon & Soul Mini-Retreat. As she says, this weekend isn’t just about learning new recipes; it’s about building a sustainable system of self-care, one soulful meal at a time. We can’t wait for you to meet her, cook alongside her, and walk away with a full belly—and a fuller heart.

Book the retreat here: https://meadowlarkmotel.com/spoon-soul-retreat/