Catalina Yoga Retreat Part I

Photo Credit: Ramin Sharifi

    When one of my favorite yoga teachers, David Ezekiel, asked me if Food For The Mat would cater his yoga retreat, I didn't hesitate to say, ‘Yes!’ It hadn't occurred to me that I wouldn't be cooking in a kitchen, never mind the fact that I had no catering experience whatsoever. Still, I was confident that I could do it.

     I don’t easily turn down new experiences, and I had cooked for large dinner parties before, how different could this be? So when he told me that I would be cooking for up to 20 people at a campsite on the remote side of Catalina Island, you might think I would have a change of heart, but I just smiled and agreed to dive in.  I thought, “I’ll have fun with this,” and I knew it was testing my confidence.

    Two months later, it was the day before the retreat and the reality was setting in. I had driven down to San Diego to do my prep work in my sister’s kitchen. I knew I would need her food processor in addition to the comfort and kitchen assistance she provides. Here’s a brief glimpse at the timeline of the day:

• 6:30am – Wake up and go to my sister’s for her house keys
• 8am – Cashing my check from David to buy all the food
• 9am – Leaving Whole Foods with all the specialty/hard to find items
• 10am – Leaving Trader Joes with a spontaneous purchase of two insulated bags
• 11am – Leaving Sprouts with the final bit of produce
• 11:30 am – Picking up a breakfast burrito when my sister calls to tell me that she’s    locked out of her house because I have the keys
• 11:45am – Picking up my sisters kid from school
• 12pm – Begin unpacking my groceries

 At this point I’m feeling behind. It’s already noon and I haven’t cooked a thing. But Suzanne comes over with her baby and keeps me company as I get an extra batch of granola in the oven and start roasting the bell peppers.

    By 6pm, most of the roasting was done, so I went into town to pickup dinner. My first official break. By then, my sister is home to takeover so I can eat. Together we finished the pesto, hummus, lemon bars, and butternut squash. We got everything labeled and ready to be packed quickly into coolers in the AM. At 11:30pm, the kitchen was clean and we sat on the couch with a glass of wine, reveling in all that was accomplished. My prep-work was done. All there was to do now, was survive the next three days.

    In the morning, my brother-in-law helped me pack the coolers into my car, along with some borrowed camping gear. It was raining, and I was about 20 minutes behind schedule but I made the decision to stop for coffee anyhow. The rain wasn't a problem at first, but it didn't take long for accidents to break out all over town leaving the freeways essentially at a standstill. I’ll admit that I was worried I wouldn't make it to the port in time, but I used every possibility I could to weave ahead of traffic.

    I parked at the port roughly 30 minutes before boarding; A close call indeed. But the bulk of my hard work was over and I felt a wave of calm come over me as the fairy pulled away from the dock. I turned off my smartphone and officially let the retreat begin.

    By 6pm, most of the roasting was done, so I went into town to pickup dinner. My first official break. By then, my sister is home to takeover so I can eat. Together we finished the pesto, hummus, lemon bars, and butternut squash. We got everything labeled and ready to be packed quickly into coolers in the AM. At 11:30pm, the kitchen was clean and we sat on the couch with a glass of wine, reveling in all that was accomplished. My prep-work was done. All there was to do now, was survive the next three days.

    In the morning, my brother-in-law helped me pack the coolers into my car, along with some borrowed camping gear. It was raining, and I was about 20 minutes behind schedule but I made the decision to stop for coffee anyhow. The rain wasn't a problem at first, but it didn't take long for accidents to break out all over town leaving the freeways essentially at a standstill. I’ll admit that I was worried I wouldn't make it to the port in time, but I used every possibility I could to weave ahead of traffic.

    I parked at the port roughly 30 minutes before boarding; A close call indeed. But the bulk of my hard work was over and I felt a wave of calm come over me as the fairy pulled away from the dock. I turned off my smartphone and officially let the retreat begin.

    I parked at the port roughly 30 minutes before boarding; A close call indeed. But the bulk of my hard work was over and I felt a wave of calm come over me as the fairy pulled away from the dock. I turned off my smartphone and officially let the retreat begin.

Photo Credit: Ramin Sharifi

    Once we landed in Catalina, a truck took care of our luggage as we carried ice and propane up the ½ mile hike to our campsite. Once the tents were set up, I would prepare lunch; My first official test.

Would these yogis like my food?Would David be happy with his choice to hire me?Stay tuned to find out….