Lauren Von Der Pool visits CEA

On January 15, 2015 CEA was honored to have renowned celebrity chef, Lauren Von Der Pool give a healthy cooking demonstration for the children in the Cooking and Edible Garden Mastery Groups! Together they may fruit smoothie parfaits, seasoned popcorn, and a beautiful kale salad with homemade dressing! Afterwards, Lauren spoke to the Middle School about her journey to become a celebrity chef. Thank you to Lauren and her wonderful team for taking the time to visit us!

About Lauren Von der Pool

Lauren’s hunger for healthy living began in Washington, DC. Where she grew up in a food desert—an environment totally lacking fresh, healthy options. When lauren realized that the food disparities in her own community were symptoms being felt on a global level, she began to educate herself, her community, and the world about healthy living!

By age 17, Von der Pool was selling her handcrafted vegan meals to students on Washington, DC college campuses. While selling her food in front of Howard University in 2003, she met her first influential client: Westley Howard, founder of Egyptian Magic Healing Skin Cream. Von der pool’s clientele and confidence grew rapidly as a result of that chance encounter, and she began to realize what she was capable of achieving.

While attending Le Cordon Bleu school of culinary arts in Pasadena, California, Von der Pool realized she had found her destined career. In 2007, von der pool decided to work a major catering event which soon led to a storied, fruitful relationship with Wolfgang Puck. While continuing her studies at le cordon bleu and working with the Wolfgang Puck team, von der pool decided to spread her message by forming her company, Von der Pool gourmet and healthy living services.

In 2014 Von der Pool competed on a widely viewed episode of the food network’s chopped, further advancing her vision of culinary artistry. A passionate humanitarian and artist, Von der Pool dedicates her life to raising awareness about living a conscious, creative, green life.