Introducing Sam Switzer – culinary wizard

In 2007, I started a new job at a retreat center just outside of Leavenworth as Event Coordinator. I was still relatively new to Leavenworth, having moved to town in the fall of 2005.

Looking back, although I only worked at this retreat center for about 8 months, there were several changes that were precipitated by my time there – for one, it was while I was there that I returned to teaching yoga at the invitation of the Executive Director of the Retreat Center. This kicked off my yoga career as we know it – even though I had taught previously in Massachusetts, I had made a career shift to hospitality when I moved to Leavenworth. The ED convinced me to teach a few classes for the community and that got me back into it.

I also came to know Sam Switzer who was working in the kitchen. Being that it was a small retreat center, as Event Coordinator, I would sometimes get pulled into washing dishes or helping out in the kitchen in other ways. Sam and I became friends.

I very quickly resonated with Sam's warm personality, her ability to listen without judgement and her curiosity about the people around her.

When I began leading yoga retreats a few years later, I reached out to Sam as I was looking for a caterer. Little did I know that this would become a collaboration that would last decades. We are fast approaching 20 years of working together.

During that time, my appreciation for Sam and our deeping friendship has grown. I have often said, “Sam, when you decide to retire from cooking, I'm retiring from leading retreats!”

If you have had the good fortune to come on a retreat where Sam is cooking, you know what I am talking about. Not only is Sam a wonderful gem of a human being who loves what she does, who knows the power of food to heal (physically and energetically) but she is very very good at what she does.

When I met Sam, she specialized in cooking vegan and vegetarian food because the retreat center served very little animal products as part of its mission. Since that time, Sam has expanded her repertoire, working with a James Beard nominated chef in fine dining as well as becoming known for being able to cook delicious, tasty food for the growing number of special dietary restrictions.

Sam was diagnosed a few years ago with celiac so cooks entirely gluten-free – although you might not even notice or miss it if it wasn't named – her food is so deeply nourishing. She continues to study as a “food nerd” the ways in which we can use what we eat to heal ourselves.

We have now been through a lot together professionally, leading an average of three retreats a year over 18 years – that's 54 retreats. We have served at least 650 people – probably more.

And personally, we have been through breakups and new/renewed relationships, through her sons growing up, through jobs starting and ending, through COVID, through deaths, through successes and failures. We have shared many joys and many sorrows, as only long-time friends can.

I count her as one of my best friends and a trusted collaborator. When Sam is cooking, I know it will be a good retreat. Like a true gem, she is able to transform energy from negative to positive, through each smile and hug, through each bite of food lovingly prepared for retreat participants.

Deep bow of gratitude.

Sam is available for catering events locally and can travel.
Reach out to her at [email protected]