About

As a little girl, I remember how much fun it was to be in my grandmother's kitchen.  She entertained guests in her home often and I loved to spend the day in her kitchen as we prepared for a dinner party together. My grandfather grew a beautiful organic garden. I remember sowing rows of beet seeds in his garden and then later discovering how delicious a dish of tender young beet greens tasted.  We often ate an entire meal comprised of food from his garden.
These early experiences, as well as years of travel and living abroad, formed my relationship with food and over the years as my own unique food style and expression began to emerge, I gravitated towards working with beautiful whole organic food.
Eventually in the year 2000,  to share my love of cooking with others,  I created Serene Cuisine, a private holistic chef business. As a private chef clients often compliment me on the exquisite flavor combinations in my cooking creations.  I am happy that I can share some of those techniques in my classes, and with those cherished clients, and help them on their health journey.

Lisa Valantine, creator of Serene Cuisine and True Food Beauty has worked in the yoga community and as a private holistic chef, cooking, teaching, consulting, for nearly two decades. She has a wealth of information to share and her classes, which focus on local, sustainable food culture and community building, are life-changing and empowering. 

Drawing upon a knowledge of whole foods and ancestral wisdom, Lisa Valantine creates multi-dimensional and highly individualized healing systems that support health and wellness.  Lisa believes that health should be fun, that it should become a way of life, an art form that we practice every day. 

Look for Lisa at The Lands of Enchantment Herbalcon Confluence each May in Durango Colorado where she curates new classes each spring on subjects ranging from tonic herbalism to natural non-toxic beauty and skincare.

"Over a year ago, I decided to make some changes, I was having a lot of minor health problems and allergy symptoms. I was gaining weight and knew that I was not eating a balanced diet.   

I needed help and luckily had kept Lisa Valantine's business card from an event the year before. After meeting with Lisa, I knew her approach to health through whole food was the path for me. I needed to learn what to eat all over again.  

Through a combination of bi-weekly meal preparation by Lisa and periodic cooking classes, I have gradually learned how to cook really tasty "portable meals" that I take with me when I am out and about during the day. And now, I have food already prepared that I can just add to when I don't feel like cooking.  Because Lisa's food is so flavorful, I find that I am satisfied with less quantity. Plus, I believe that whole food is infinitely motor digestible and nourishing than anything processed.  

The bottom line is that I have lost 25 pounds over the last year and have no more allergy symptoms. I've added daily exercise to my routine and have never felt better. I feel now that I have gained a great deal of knowledge and insight into how food affects me and can honestly say I'm through with sugary drinks and flour products for good.  

Lisa's wonderful meals and cooking instruction has made this transition possible. I honestly don't think I would have figured it out on my own. She has been my constant cheerleader and I can't thank her enough. Should you decide to do as I did, you will not be disappointed. Get ready to watch the transformation begin."

-M.P.M. - Santa Barbara, California