This program is being hosted in-person. To register, please click the RSVP button above or email programs@smithcenter.org.

With Chef Kara Garrett

We’re thrilled to announce that our Young Adult Supper Club is back! Join other young adult cancer survivors (in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s) and friends around the table to share a delicious meal and good conversation in Smith Center’s healing kitchen. You will assist Chef Kara with making fresh pita bread to enjoy alongside a Middle Eastern-inspired dinner menu. You will learn how to make a quick pita dough*, roll, and watch your pita puff as you learn to cook them in the oven or on the stovetop. You will then use your fresh-made pita to make a delicious apple stuffed dessert. You will even get to take home pita dough to make at home! The best part of the evening is coming together to enjoy the fruits of your labor along with a full menu provided by Chef Kara. The menu includes:

  • Beet Hummus
  • Babaghanoush
  • Yogurt Dip with Herbed Garlic oil (contains dairy)
  • Fattoush salad
  • Vegetable Maqluba (“upside-down” layered rice)
  • Stuffed Pita Pies

Partners/Caregivers/Friends are welcome to attend. BYOB. The supper club will have a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 14 participants. Please RSVP no later than Tuesday, March 5th to confirm attendance. When registering, please indicate any guest(s) that will be joining you. If you are interested in assisting Chef Kara prepare the meal, please contact us at programs@smithcenter.org or 202.483.8600.

Note: This program is open to young adult cancer survivors in their 20s, 30s and early 40s. 

*Please contact us in advance to accommodate gluten restrictions, as well as any other dietary allergies or preferences. Menu subject to change based on ingredient availability and class size. Every individual’s needs are unique. We aim to offer a variety of health-promoting options for each individual to consider, but do not prescribe the specific dietary content of any program for anyone.

Address: 

Smith Center for Healing and the Arts

1632 U Street NW

Washington, DC 20009

Suggested Donation: $15


About Chef Kara Garrett

Kara Garrett Cancer Support Program Coordinator

Kara Garrett is a health-supportive chef based in Washington, DC. Following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2013, she embraced the challenge of finding a balance between her foodie lifestyle and eating well with cancer. Kara is a graduate of the Chef Training Program at Natural Gourmet Institute in NYC, trained under Chef Lillian Chou at The Ananda Ashram Yoga Society of New York, and completed a graduate certificate in Developing Healthy Communities: Nutrition, Behavior, and Physical Activity from Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She is passionate about working with others to encourage healthier food choices and develop sustainable food relationships that energize the body and the soul.

This program is being hosted in-person. To register, please click the RSVP button above or email programs@smithcenter.org.

With Chef Kara Garrett

We’re thrilled to announce that our Supper Club is back! Join other young adult cancer survivors around the table to share a delicious meal and good conversation at Smith Center’s Friendsgiving. Chef Kara will present traditional holiday flavors with a healthy spin in easy-to-follow recipes that can be used to impress friends & family. You will learn how to make fresh pasta* dough, roll out sheets, cut, and assemble your own pumpkin ravioli. We will enjoy your ravioli creations along with a full menu provided by Chef Kara. This year’s menu includes:

  • Pumpkin Ravioli
  • Warm Wild Rice Salad with Curry Roasted Squash
  • Maple Roasted Carrots with Golden Cashew Cream
  • Spiced Apples with Quinoa Nut Crunch

Partners/Caregivers/Friends are welcome to attend. BYOB. The supper club will have a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 14 participants. Please RSVP no later than Tuesday, November 1st to confirm attendance. When registering, please indicate any guest(s) that will be joining you. If you are interested in assisting Chef Kara prepare the meal, please contact us at programs@smithcenter.org or 202.483.8600.

*Please contact us in advance to accommodate egg or gluten restrictions for pasta, as well as any other dietary allergies or preferences. Menu subject to change based on ingredient availability and class size. Every individual’s needs are unique. We aim to offer a variety of health-promoting options for each individual to consider, but do not prescribe the specific dietary content of any program for anyone.

Address: 

Smith Center for Healing and the Arts

1632 U Street NW

Washington, DC 20009

Suggested Donation: $15


About Chef Kara Garrett

Kara Garrett Cancer Support Program Coordinator

Kara Garrett is a health-supportive chef based in Washington, DC. Following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2013, she embraced the challenge of finding a balance between her foodie lifestyle and eating well with cancer. Kara is a graduate of the Chef Training Program at Natural Gourmet Institute in NYC, trained under Chef Lillian Chou at The Ananda Ashram Yoga Society of New York, and completed a graduate certificate in Developing Healthy Communities: Nutrition, Behavior, and Physical Activity from Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She is passionate about working with others to encourage healthier food choices and develop sustainable food relationships that energize the body and the soul.

This program has been cancelled. Please email programs@smithcenter.org to learn more about other upcoming cooking programs.

With Chef Kara Garrett

We hope you can join Chef Kara as she returns for our first in-person cooking class in Smith Center’s Healing Kitchen in over 3 years! She is excited to be in the kitchen with you again.

As the weather starts to cool and fall sneaks upon us, many varieties of delicious apples are available in our area. Chef Kara will teach you about different common apple varieties and their versatility, and will share knife skills and cooking tips to boost nutrient intake without sacrificing flavor. Together, we will prepare a cancer-fighting, vegan meal of Curried Apple & Carrot Soup, Apple & Chickpea Salad, and Baked Apple Tarts. We will end class by enjoying our yummy lunch together and discussing any food challenges or questions. Please be sure to let us know in advance if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions.

Address: 

Smith Center for Healing and the Arts

1632 U Street NW

Washington, DC 20009

Suggested Donation: $15


About Chef Kara Garrett

Kara Garrett Cancer Support Program Coordinator

Kara Garrett is a health-supportive chef based in Washington, DC. Following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2013, she embraced the challenge of finding a balance between her foodie lifestyle and eating well with cancer. Kara is a graduate of the Chef Training Program at Natural Gourmet Institute in NYC, trained under Chef Lillian Chou at The Ananda Ashram Yoga Society of New York, and completed a graduate certificate in Developing Healthy Communities: Nutrition, Behavior, and Physical Activity from Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She is passionate about working with others to encourage healthier food choices and develop sustainable food relationships that energize the body and the soul.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org

With Chef Cathryn Pethick

Ayurveda and the Seasons

Winter Flows to Spring – Time to Flourish!

Spring is coming! Winter’s cold and heaviness is almost behind us. From the Ayurvedic perspective, it’s Kapha season up ahead! Time to invite in all the joys of uprising spring warmth and new growth. We adapt our heavier winter diet to revitalize and support our body-mind with a Kapha-balancing menu.

Join Chef Cathryn Pethick for a cooking demonstration featuring foods that will lighten and refresh our energy for the season of flourishing!

Suggested donation: $15

About Cathryn Pethick

Chef Cathryn Pethick

Cathryn Pethick, AA, AYS, C-IAYT is a certified yoga therapist and teacher, Ayurveda specialist, and professional chef- whole foods cooking and nutrition instructor. She shares those skills with private clients through her own Well-Being, founded in 2012, and is on staff with Maryland University of Integrative Health’s Masters in Nutrition degree program. At Smith Center, Cathryn teaches cooking and nutrition classes, gentle yoga, and contributes to Smith Center’s wonderful  integrative cancer support retreats as chef and yoga therapist. She has decades of experience in diverse culinary settings, practicing/teaching yoga from a therapeutic perspective, meditation, and the study of Ayurveda, diverse spiritual  and philosophical traditions, and Oriental healing/martial arts. Cathryn shares the intention of nourishing well-being for us individually and as a collective with yoga, meditation and food-as-medicine, by cultivating the healing power of balance, optimal nutrition that supports our vitality, and compassionate presence that nurtures us all.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org

with Chef Kara Garrett

Join Chef Kara for an informative and interactive hour where she will prepare 2 side dishes & 1 dessert to use in your upcoming Thanksgiving meal.
Chef Kara will demonstrate helpful cooking tips & techniques for these easy recipes to expand your culinary expertise.
Stay tuned for the menu items!

This is an interactive class and you are welcome to simply watch for new ideas or to choose which of the items you would like to prepare along with Chef Kara.

Suggested Donation: $15


About Chef Kara Garrett

Kara Garrett Cancer Support Program Coordinator

Kara is a health-supportive chef based in Washington, DC. Following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2013, she embraced the challenge of finding a balance between her foodie lifestyle and eating well with cancer. She has adopted a flexible diet plan that focuses on plant-based, sustainable whole foods, but does not restrict indulgences of things she loves. She is passionate about working with others to encourage healthier food choices that energize the body and the soul.

Kara graduated in August 2017 from the Chef Training Program at Natural Gourmet Institute in NYC and spent one month as the sous chef at The Ananda Ashram Yoga Society of New York in Monroe, NY. She is currently enrolled in the Developing Healthy Communities: Nutrition, Behavior, and Physical Activity graduate program at Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org

with Chef Cathryn Pethick

Soothe Seasonal Change with a Harvest Feast! An Ayurvedic Approach to Autumn:

Balancing Vata: As summer’s heat and humidity fade, Vata’s transition arises with autumn; it’s qualities of cool, dry, windy, rough, mobile and subtle begin to rule the days. The air is so clear, leaves swirl, their colors rich and mellow.
Our autumn menu balances this season of Vata dosha with the richness of sweet roots, vivid late season leafy greens, earthy lentils, and sweet, astringent tree fruits. Rich soups, stews and warming spices soothe our senses, encourage us to pause and savor the tastes, scents and sights of beautiful autumn. What looks, smells and tastes like autumn to you? Roasting squashes, apples, plums; rich lentil soups; the perfume of pumpkin bread just out of the oven, redolent with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger…Join the Feast! Recipes will be shared, and we will look in depth at our best practices for soothing this transition into Vata-dominant season.
Suggested donation: $15

About Cathryn Pethick

Chef Cathryn Pethick

Cathryn Pethick, AA, AYS, C-IAYT is a certified yoga therapist and teacher, Ayurveda specialist, and professional chef- whole foods cooking and nutrition instructor. She shares those skills with private clients through her own Well-Being, founded in 2012, and is on staff with Maryland University of Integrative Health’s Masters in Nutrition degree program. At Smith Center, Cathryn teaches cooking and nutrition classes, gentle yoga, and contributes to Smith Center’s wonderful  integrative cancer support retreats as chef and yoga therapist. She has decades of experience in diverse culinary settings, practicing/teaching yoga from a therapeutic perspective, meditation, and the study of Ayurveda, diverse spiritual  and philosophical traditions, and Oriental healing/martial arts. Cathryn shares the intention of nourishing well-being for us individually and as a collective with yoga, meditation and food-as-medicine, by cultivating the healing power of balance, optimal nutrition that supports our vitality, and compassionate presence that nurtures us all.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing programs@smithcenter.org

with Chef Kara Garrett

Join Chef Kara for an informative and interactive hour where she will bring beautiful fall produce into your kitchen.
As the temperature cools off, our bodies crave warm, nourishing foods and we still have access to a bounty of wonderful produce growing in the region. Soups & stews are perfect make-ahead meals to sustain you for the week or to freeze for quick, healthy meals with minimal planning.
Chef Kara will share her favorite one-pot, easy-to-prepare meals packed full of cancer-fighting nutrition. She will demonstrate helpful cooking tips & techniques for these easy recipes to expand your culinary expertise.
Menu items will include Italian Mushroom Barley Soup, Moroccan Chickpea & Sweet Potato Stew and a bonus quick & easy sweet treat! 

 

This is an interactive class and you are welcome to simply watch for new ideas or to choose which of the items you would like to prepare along with Chef Kara.


Shopping List

Menu Items:

Dark Chocolate Tofu Mousse

Fall Mushroom & Barley Soup

Moroccan Sweet Potato & Chickpea Stew


About Chef Kara Garrett

Kara Garrett Cancer Support Program Coordinator

Kara is a health-supportive chef based in Washington, DC. Following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2013, she embraced the challenge of finding a balance between her foodie lifestyle and eating well with cancer. She has adopted a flexible diet plan that focuses on plant-based, sustainable whole foods, but does not restrict indulgences of things she loves. She is passionate about working with others to encourage healthier food choices that energize the body and the soul.

Kara graduated in August 2017 from the Chef Training Program at Natural Gourmet Institute in NYC and spent one month as the sous chef at The Ananda Ashram Yoga Society of New York in Monroe, NY. She is currently enrolled in the Developing Healthy Communities: Nutrition, Behavior, and Physical Activity graduate program at Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.