About The Warrenton Wellness Kitchen and Cooking School
Personal Chef Venus Bazan Barratt has always felt both excited by and at home around food. Once a publishing director by day, she fed her passion by teaching herself the culinary techniques used by chefs and foodies from around the world. Venus steadily built her repertoire while caring and cooking for her own family, and eventually became a personal chef in answer to her love of gastronomy.
Venus received training in culinary technique at L’Academie de Cuisine in Maryland. She also studied professional baking at the Culinary School at Northern Virginia Community College, and continues coursework in plant-based cuisine at the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City, all to prove to herself what she already knows—that food and cooking are her passions, and that the kitchen is her happy place. Her true niche, though, became clear with the overlap of two significant events.
When a close friend was diagnosed with cancer, Venus began preparing nutrient-dense broths and meals intended to nourish and strengthen his body for the challenging time to come. It wasn’t long before more clients in need of healing and nourishing meals began contacting her when their physicians and nutritionists advised adapting this type of nutritious diet.
Venus also became an avid follower of Rebecca Katz, founder and director of the Healing Kitchens Institute at the Commonweal Retreat Center in Bolinas, California. From the start, Venus studied Katz’s culinary teachings, which have acted as a catalyst in the exploration of the science behind food and the body’s ability to defend against illness when fed properly. Venus fully embraced this notion, and enrolled in Katz’s “Cancer-Fighting Kitchen” course to further her hands-on training in the field of eating for one’s health.
When Venus realized how many people could benefit from stronger bodies through better nutrition, the Warrenton Wellness Kitchen was born. Today, Venus possesses a nurturing and soulful style that she brings to each aspect of her business, which includes a personal chef meal service, a planned dinner service and a cooking school where you can learn how to cook for health and, of course, for fun.
By becoming a part of this small but vibrant culinary community, you will not only eat healthy and flavorful food prepared by loving hands; you’ll also learn why it makes a difference to eat well.
“Something I know for sure is that where our food comes from matters. We all need to choose wisely.”