About
Inner Temple Foods offers small events catering, personal chef services, and intuitive cooking courses in the greater Bay Area. We are dedicated to providing seasonal, local fare crafted mindfully, with love and attention to detail. Our intuitive cooking courses and individual classes, inspired by the season, allow participants to explore the art of seasonal cuisine and celebrate the region's rich culinary heritage.
Paying homage to Northern California's bounty and beauty, we source ingredients from local farmers, artisans, and producers to forge a tight-knit community around good food. Our ever-evolving menus reflect the changing seasons and our commitment to fresh, inspired dishes.
At the core of our small, woman-owned business is a passion for serving producers and consumers, fostering a strong connection to the food we eat and the community that shares it.
Here are some of our values and belief about food and eating. You can find more in our Food Philosophy page.
01.EAT WELL
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“Healthy” food doesn’t have to be boring. It can be vibrant, soulful, connected, deep, and inviting. Eating well means enjoying. Find joy in the food you eat, no matter what it is. Find a connection to the ingredients in your food and assess how it supports you.
02. LIVE WELL
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Embrace the journey of discovery in the kitchen. Find humor in the mundane, meditation in the process, and mindfulness in your movements. Allow yourself to express through cooking, creating, learning, and embracing both successes and failures. Cultivate self-compassion and embodiment as you explore the art of culinary experimentation.
03. CREATE CONNECTION
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Where does this food come from, and what process has it undergone to get here? How does this food serve my life, goals, and visions? How do I connect to the land, ancestors, and myself through what I eat?
04. NOURISH COMMUNITY
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We believe in fostering fellowship through shared attitudes, interests, and goals. Community transcends familiarity; it's the connections with neighbors, engaging with a store cashier, or inviting strangers to share your garden's bounty. By embracing these small acts, we cultivate a vibrant, supportive community around us.
“By connecting to food, we can heal individually and collectively.”
chef melanie burkett | Founder
Herstory
Melanie Burkett, the chef and owner of Inner Temple Foods discovered her passion for cooking at a young age in Southern California. At 8, she began creating delicious and nutritious meals for her family. Diagnosed with severe endometriosis at 17, Melanie embraced a plant-focused, whole-food diet and found healing through food. This experience shaped her philosophy on food and cooking as she embarked on a lifelong journey into the world of healing cuisine. Over the years, Melanie has honed her skills as a chef, working in various roles, including an organic school lunch chef, a trained butcher, a culinary school graduate, and a chef at several cafes and restaurants in the Bay Area.
Melanie's mission is to connect mind, body, and spirit to food and nourishment. She envisions a community-minded brick-and-mortar marketplace in the North Bay, offering pre-made, locally sourced, vibrant meals while hosting a cooking school dedicated to home chefs. Melanie aims to empower individuals with knowledge and creativity that will inform their culinary choices throughout their lives, embracing seasonality and the abundance of unceded Coastal Miwok, Miwok, and Southern Pomo lands. Melanie is a multi-talented individual who enjoys playing music and has been a part of various Bay Area bands since the age of 19.
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