After opening A Fig in the Sun cafe at Burnside in June 2020, Lisa Wiedrich has branched out to host intimate themed dinners which offer diners a taste of cuisines from around the world.

“Last year was such a strange and unsettling time and I think there are a lot of people who have keenly missed the freedom and opportunity to travel and connect with others,” Lisa said.

“Our first dinner last year was a Thanksgiving dinner and it seemed particularly apt to bring people together to enjoy food cooked with love. I felt we had so much to be thankful for.”

The next event on the list was a Christmas dinner and last month, Lisa prepared a sumptuous Sicilian meal for her guests.

“I love being able to showcase different cooking styles, as I’ve been personally inspired by my travels, to explore the dishes of different cultures,” Lisa said. “I am so fortunate to have exceptional fresh local ingredients to play with. Our local suppliers are outstanding and their fresh produce brings these dishes to life.”

But cooking is only one string to Lisa’s bow. A certified Wellness Coach and Meditation teacher, Lisa brings an holistic approach to cooking. “My other business, Soul Food Journey, is where my passions dovetail,” said Lisa. “I am particularly inspired by research into the study and concept of ‘Blue Zones’.

Blue Zones have been identified as areas  around the globe where people live the longest, and are healthiest. These include Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece, and Loma Linda, California.

“The criteria that qualify a region as a Blue Zone are simple but profound,” Lisa explained. “These include eating fresh, seasonal local produce, eating together, coming together for a common purpose as a community and having a well defined sense of purpose. These are the philosophies that our dinner events strive to embody.”

Lisa has a background in corporate performance coaching and hosting wellness retreats and is planning a retreat in the Hinterland in June/ July this year.

“I am excited to dip my toes back into retreats because they offer such a wonderful opportunity for people to take time away from their busy lives and reconnect with themselves and learn techniques to achieve optimum health and longevity,” she said.

On offer will be Balinese cooking classes, meditation, yoga, Hinterland Hikes, cooking evening meals together with an Aperol Spritz and wine, using local produce, mindfulness and well-being sessions to reconnect to your inner wisdom and guidance and top tips for health and longevity as researched in the Blue Zones.

“Winter is a magical time in the Hinterland, with sunny days and cool nights perfect for long walks and fire side circles at night. It is the perfect time to come together and experience these principles.”

• For more information, contact Lisa via her Facebook page @SoulFoodJourneyMe or her website www.lisawrich.com.