TEDxTheHague - Kathy Voyles - Changing the World One Dinner at a Time July 22, 2011

Favorite:

Kathy Voyles, Cook, connector, food inspirer, gardener, local food lover, speaker and writer. I grew up on a dairy farm in the grasslands of New Zealand. My earliest memories are of my mother Patricia making picnics for the once weekly trip to "town". Those picnics featured egg and bacon pies, caramel meringue squares and of course, that staple of country life, a thermos of tea. I also remember my American dad Woody cooking up chili beans, pumpkin pies and churning homemade vanilla ice cream and our wonderful vegetable garden.

I graduated a long time ago as a School Dental Therapist (1982), responsible for the care of the deciduous and permanent dentition of children enrolled at schools in the far north of New Zealand. These clinics were referred to fondly as the "Murder House" by all New Zealand school children at the time.

Please do be assured that I used lots of local anesthetic while drilling and filling. While spending much time teaching preventive health care, giving lessons on nutrition and cooking skills, I began to see the joy that cooking and sharing food brings to both kids and grown-ups. We made loads of "Friendship Soup" with sacks full of sweet potatoes and homegrown produce. It was fun travelling around the wild north with its glittering black sands and giant Kauri trees. I enjoyed those postings immensely, even working in the caravan with the notorious "spit bowl" and portable drills.

For the last 20 years I have worked in media, with Human Rights NGOs, with the world vegetarian congress, ran a lunch catering service, completed many cookery courses and discovered a huge passion for food, gardens, and the environment (currently running an environmental NGO called Kids in the City). I am becoming increasingly fond of living in the wonderful international city of The Hague. I am passionate about creating wonderful food for everyone. I belief that the key to good food is excellent (and where possible, organic) ingredients and beautiful presentation. My hope is that all sports acilities, theme parks and restaurants in The Netherlands will offer freshly prepared, healthy food.

Videoproduction Edo van Santen / Talk&Do.TV
http://www.talkedo.tv

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