Empowering Food Choices Through Plant-Based Living

I’m Vanessa— an educator, chef and, community organizer, helping to embrace and inspiring a more sustainable and healthful lifestyle with cooking classes, nutrition workshops, community events, hospitality services, consulting and more.

About Vanessa

SERVICES

  • Cooking classes

    Cooking has many benefits for your health, whether you're a beginner in the kitchen, aspiring to elevate your culinary skills, seeking a memorable experience with your pals, or transitioning to a plant-based diet, I'm here and eager to share my knowledge with you. Let's embark on this wonderful journey together—I promise, we'll have fun while learning! Classes available for one-on-one, couples, groups, schools, community centers, and more. Virtual or in person.

    Click here to learn more

  • Food For Life Classes

    Food for Life is an award-winning nutrition education and cooking class program that provides an innovative approach to diet-related chronic diseases. Since 2001, Food for Life has been a pioneer in delivering hands-on information about the direct role of plant-based nutrition in health and disease prevention to communities around the world. To learn more about this program click here

    If you are looking to provide classes in your location contact me!

  • Plant-based culinary skills

    With a culinary background in the plant-based world in New York City, I offer menu creation, recipe development, catering, and my participation in your events or pop-ups

  • La Bakeria

    The first Colombian-inspired Vegan bakery in the USA.

    Bringing you a little bit of our Colombian corners and more in our plant-based version.

  • Personal chef services

    Are you looking a chef for your private event or special occasion? I provide customized plant-based personal chef services, including meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking, and clean-up. My goal is to create delicious, nutritious meals tailored to your preferences while ensuring a stress-free experience.

    Click here to learn more

Let's Work Together!

Throughout workshops, classes and community connections we learn the wisdom of whole foods and plants to nourish ourselves!

Join my Calendar

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

  • “Vanessa, also known as Alegria Vegana, has been delighting attendees at events hosted by Barrio Collective with her cruelty-free cuisine. She has treated our neighborhood to a delectable array of vegan pastries, skillfully recreating Colombian classics with plant-based ingredients. Through her culinary creations, Vanessa actively advocates for the rights of animals and emphasizes the importance of good nutrition in relation to physical and mental health."

    Barrio collective

  • "I'm grateful to find a teacher that loves what she does. I loved to learn in a dynamic way with hands on practice in a very welcoming environment."

    Susana Velez

  • "I loved the class, I was able to learn and solve all the standing questions I had. It was very hand on and easy to follow. Loved the snacks and the tips. Thank you for creating spaces like this✨🤘Barriga llena corazón contento🙏"

    Diana Hernandez

  • "Vanessa’s workshops offer a delicious mixture of nutrition education, community mental health, and accessible cooking techniques! She is highly knowledgeable and meets people where they are to sprinkle healthier practices into their own lives."

    Gianna Plum, Climate Café Member - New York Chapter

  • "Thank you for a great class! I had so much fun learning how to make pizza dough from scratch as well as a salad and dessert. I love that Vanessa tried to be mindful of the environment throughout the class (and her life) by composting, not using harsh cleanings or synthetic products in her home and not using any single use plastic/paper during the class. The backyard was a beautiful place to cook pizza as well as relax after the class to eat together and enjoy them! I’m looking forward to taking more classes in the future"

    Lisa Distasi

  • "La clase de cocina vegana con Vanesa fue una revelación. En un ambiente íntimo y personalizado, aprendí a manejar el cuchillo con confianza y descubrí algunos secretos de la cocina vegana. Cada corte para lograr un plato fue un aprendizaje valioso. Al final, degustamos lo que preparamos, y fue simplemente delicioso. ¡Una experiencia culinaria que recomiendo a tod@s!"

    Ana María Pedraza

  • “We loved the pizza class! The toppings (particularly the truffle mushrooms) were to die for - fresh, excellent, if unexpected combinations with the pizza itself. The value of the class; the easy to follow recipes; and the kind teachings of Vanessa are absolutely worth it.”

    Indira Rambarran

  • "Vanessa is a creative and efficient personal chef! She skillfully created menus using what we had available in our kitchen from week to week and left us with a fridge full of delicious meals for our family."

    Lianna Levine Reisner

  • "Vanessa was a generous and enthusiastic cooking instructor who quickly created a warm and open class atmosphere. I learned more than I expected and ate more than I expected too. Feel encouraged in eating with your values."

    Rachel S.

LET’S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM!

This is how brunch catering looks: ● Kale Ceasar Salad. Kale, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, eggplant vacon, ceasar tahini dressing, hemp parm, and croutons ● Breakfast Potatoes. Oven baked with rosemary and garlic ● Tofu scrambled. Tomatoes, red pepper
Hola! Hello!! ✨️ The day has come, and after dreaming with organizing a bake sale for Palestine with vegan folks, it will take place tomorrow!!! I am so excited and motivated because of all the support and enthusiasm of those who are involved 🙌🏻
Home Swap Stories: Passive House Takeover We're taking over a Passive House condo building – exhibiting the importance of SUSTAINABLE LIVING! Join us for a multi-unit event showcasing how eco-friendly choices can make a significant impact on o
Behind the scenes of your virtual classes 💕 Cooking and teaching are my passions, and I'm so happy that both are part of my professional path 🙌🏻 Thank you to all for your support and love through all this journey 💜 and thank you to mi detras d

Nourish yourself with sustainable, Whole Food Plant-Based (WFPB), and transformative living 〰️

Nourish yourself with sustainable, Whole Food Plant-Based (WFPB), and transformative living 〰️