By Vivienne Pearson
How would you like to go to a dinner party with thirty of your best friends? It doesn’t matter that you haven’t met any of these friends before; that’s all part of the fun.
The bonus is that both the food and the space you’ll be eating in are yummy!
Yummy Nights are set to launch next Friday (24 Feb). They are the creation of Lara Yakimishyn, who will offer a three course Ayurvedic inspired banquet of organic vegetarian food.
The feast will take place in a new Byron space, Yummy Studios. Located in the Arts & Industry Estate (look out for the 67 painted on the building wall as there is no signage yet), Yummy Studios is a warehouse that has been lovingly converted into two spaces ideal for workshops, classes and events.
Yummy Studios is the new home of Lara’s work in cooking for events, cooking classes, workshops and individual wellbeing consultations – all based on Ayurvedic principles. ‘Tastes can inspire things in you,’ she says. ‘People have got used to food being predominantly sweet and salty; we’ve forgotten the other tastes – sour, pungent, astringent and bitter.’ Lara loves introducing people to how to eat according to the seasons and their unique body type.
The nights are billed as vegetarian but Lara will ensure that vegan options available. ‘Ghee, butter and milk are all big in Ayurveda,’ she says. ‘But I understand that there are growing numbers of people looking for vegan food.’
Yummy Studios are the combined creation of Lara and her partner, Ra’shiym Christos. Ra’shiym, who has previously been a professional polo player and horse stuntman in Hollywood, is now a teacher of The Divine University, the culmination of a lifetime of exploration and study after first being introduced to meditation at the age of 11. He is also handy with a needle, having created all the soft furnishings for the studios, the centrepiece of which is a crystal altar.
Ra’shiym has experienced the benefits of an Ayurvedic diet since meeting Lara (they met through her recently finished work at Santos Organics). ‘More conscious eating has cleansed my body and opened up my energy system,’ he says. He is also Lara’s biggest fan: ‘She infuses beautiful, loving intention into food.’
Lara makes her own ghee and spice mixes and will shop for the night at that morning’s farmers market. This first Yummy Night will be for the current season; full of light, refreshing and low-pungency dishes. It is an alcohol-free event, with fresh kombucha available.
The atmosphere will be further enriched by the music of Tim Stokes and the company will be provided by those friends whom you may or may not have met yet, meaning that you are fully welcome to come on your own.
‘It’s a place of coming together,’ says Lara of the Yummy Studios. ‘The food will be a catalyst to inspire great conversations.’
Yummy Studios: 1/67 Centennial Court (Arts & Industry Estate). Yummy Night: 24 February, 6–9.30pm, then likely monthly. Bookings essential: yummyLara-eventbrite.com Faceboook: Yummy Studios
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