Over the last couple of years I have shared many of Anna’s totally delicious plant based recipes and have also spoken about how amazing her cooking classes and foraging experiences are, the one I attended in Muriwai was so much fun and I learnt a huge amount about the abundance of nutritious so called ‘weeds’ that are just about everywhere.
In April 2025 Anna has an East Asian Cooking Class coming up at her home in Kaeo, Northland with a shared meal from the dishes you make!
Anna Valentine @theveggietree is a chef, recipe creator, cookbook author, food photographer, forager, plant medicine maker, mother and passionate plant-based foodie! She is a master at creating the best ever plant-based recipes suited for most dietary requirements.
From Anna ….
Need some new ideas & inspiration for plant-based meals or how to make your vegetables more exciting? You are in the right place! The Veggie Tree Cook Schools are hands on, informative classes that cover a wide range of skills and cuisines. The cook schools have been running here in Kaeo for five years and I have had over a thousand people attend.
I am a trained chef and have been a vegetarian for 30 years, I draw on many years of eating, cooking and researching a plant-based diet to bring you these classes. Kids Classes are from Ages 5-12, the other classes are suitable for ages 12 and up. Tap on Contact Us on the menu bar to contact directly if you are interested in a private cooking class, for group bookings or travelling food tourist packages.
Anna’s East Asian Cooking Class & Meal
Sunday 13th April 1 – 5pm
32 Leigh Street, Kaeo, Northland
Fresh, light, and oh so delicious I just love the vitality of food from this region. Together we will make my spin on the classic Thai salad Pacific Som Tum, then head to Malaysia for a spicy coconut creamy steaming bowl of Laksa.
Pad Thai is a staple dish on any menu from Thailand and in my version we have all the options with a little more veggies than usual and the options to make it fully plant-based without scrimping on protein and the finale Pisang Goreng which are moreish as they come, deep fried bananas with locally grown Northland Bananas | $90 per person includes food and drink, recipe file to take home and chefs hints and tips | Vegan and/or gluten-free on request
Reviews
Once again thank you so much for the Seaweeds and Edible weeds workshop – it was absolutely amazing! I enjoyed everything about it. Not only the knowledge you have transmitted but also how you have done it. Additionally, everything was enshrouded by your energy that is full of warmth and joy. Plus, of course, the dishes, which were a true feast for the buds and a total revelation. I plan to repeat them all in my kitchen. I am on a mission now trying to find a good place for weed foraging – almost there. I am being soooooooo inspired by your book too. I have already made hummus & crispy chickpeas, soba noodles (gluten-free option) and miso baked aubergine. All fabulously yummy!
Aggie Plappally
Wow! Fabulous! Awesome! Fun!
I have been to 4 of Anna’s Cook schools since moving to Kaeo – they are all amazing – but this one was the absolute best! In a world where we are striving to make our lives plastic free and as natural and healthy as possible – this workshop is definitely it!
Such beautiful, simple, aromatic products with no toxins or yukky things in them – pure heaven for us and our bodies. Anna is not only Mrs Veggie Tree – she’s Mrs Inspirational, Mrs Knowledgeable, Mrs Medicinal, Mrs Sharing, and Mrs All Things Awesome!
Thankyou so much!
It’s so cool that you live in Kaeo!
Lisa Baldock
Chef and Cook Book author Anna Valentine creates the most amazing, delicious and nutritious plant based food that I have ever tried! She is a constant source of inspiration and creativity, which is why we booked an exclusive anniversary dinner at her place! She prepared an absolutely beautiful 5 course meal based on our discussions and went above and beyond – wowing us again and again! Will definitely be back and we can’t wait to get our hands on your cookbooks! Thanks Anna!
Asha Jade
We have done cooking schools all over the world but never in NZ. So on a trip North we tried out The Veggie Tree in Kaeo. Anna didn’t have any scheduled events that matched our timing so she offered a 4 hr hands-on class for the 2 of us. Must admit that when we arrived we wondered if we had the right address as it was an ancient house up a steep drive. However as soon as Anna welcomed us into her home kitchen we knew we had made the right decision and over the next 4 hours we made a wide range of dishes mostly from fresh ingredients that Anna had grown or foraged. We aren’t vegetarians but it was great to learn some new flavour combinations and really helpful tips. Better yet was then we ate it all for lunch, the orange and almond cake was worth the trip on its own plus stocking up with lots of Anna’s preserves. If you love good, healthy food then go and visit Anna.
Peter Dickinson
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