The Esalen Kitchen

This film was made during the Spring of 2012 in the Esalen Institute kitchen, to portray how the department works at that particular time. It does not represent the official opinions or views of the Esalen Institute as an organization.
The people in the video are extended students, chefs, staff and workscholars who work together to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to an average of 300 people all year round at the Esalen Institute. What is special about this kitchen is that it is an educational kitchen while it maintains a high production and quality level. This kitchen has weekly process, in which work and personal issues are processed in a group setting with a facilitator, supporting a more relational environment. It serves daily the produce harvested by the Esalen Farm and Garden, complementing it with other organic and local sources.

[@kenjigriffen584]

hate the current politics @ Esalen, but.... I LOVE THIS VIDEO. I did a workscholar month in the kitchen. I feel fondness & love the whole kitchen gang. Bravo

[@nanieas]

I worked in Esalen's back around 1986-1988. I started as a dishwasher (D.U.C.K.S) later I worked on food prep. One time, or top cook got some really bad news and I ended up doing the cooking. That was one really exhausting night. I have great respect for the staff who work hard getting three meals a day. P.S. It's nice they finally got rid of that pink paint.

[@zengirl9]

Now I am hungry! Esalens kitchen crew serves up the best food ever! You have the amazing ability to tap into the "psyche of the moment" of what is going on in the workshops and supply just the exact thing we need to get us through some deep process work. God Bless the brownies last summer! :)

[@SeattleFocusBlue]

One of the most intriguing videos I've seen. Thank you so much for putting together. I feel a spiritual connection with the video and the place where it is just watching it. There is a dedication and devotion in all those in the video and through learning about their individual jobs and what they talked about.

[@flowersafeheart]

Thanks so much for making this video!! Have wanted to visit famous Esalen for years and I love healthy food growing/prep alone or with great teams. I bet working there was very special and memorable for people there in gorgeous Big Sur area!

[@jscoffey]

Beautiful. Thank you to all that put their love and tears into the Esalen meals

[@kidbarcelona]

Great video, beautiful people. Cool to step inside that world for a little while.

[@drcory]

Way to capture the essence of the Esalen kitchen and all that it is. Amazing job Laia and Dave. Hope I get to play with you more in the kitchen next time around...

[@Rizneyland]

Bravo - great job! Always with love - continued blessings and THANK YOU!

[@julius-sumner-miller]

Looks like a blast!

[@JDubeta]

I CAN NOT WAIT for August 2015! My first work study! :D (p.s. props to the makers of this vid! Love the fact that you guys used "Miura" by Metro Area on the soundtrack at @ 14:00mins). Peace and Love!

[@chiquezoz]

I remember my Esalen kitchen experience very fondly.... :)

[@andreasmarinogarcia]

Thank you! 🌎✌🙏⚘⚘⚘

[@theadventuregoddess]

Great video.... Thank you for making it. Love it!

[@SeattleFocusBlue]

I was glued to this....

[@websurfer5772]

I wish I could've worked there back in the days before 2020.

[@ThePerlalbarran]

best meal ever thank you Esalen!

[@jeffgarmon1]

The entire kitchen staff & crew do an excellent job. The food looks delicious! Hopefully you all can source raw organic dairy and 100% grass-fed beef & pasteured chicken. Thank you all! P.S. I didn't understand why the connection was made between the amount of chicken consumed and the number of humans killed by hippopotami (sp?). Interesting though.

[@bluetoad2001]

local food organic 💐🌸🌿🥝🥬🥦🌶🌽🥦🍋

[@chensien75]

This place should serve vegan food given the spiritual awakening

[@85mdawg]

c'mon esalen the american beauty music? couldve played something better, maybe grateful dead...

[@Talentedtadpole]

Ha ha ha I suspect it's a telling choice. Dodgy film.

[@sunnybenton]

Based on listening to this I'm pretty sure I couldn't work with any of these folks.