Rastafari chef Izaba Rodgers, who was born in Amsterdam but raised in Guyana, lived for 27 years in Japan.
Five years ago he returned to Amsterdam with his wife Tomomi Rodgers after traveling to many countries round the world.
Expectations
After being vegan for 45 years, Rodgers came to Amsterdam full of expectations, but soon realized there was very little good vegan food available.
This inspired him to make nutritious, plant-based eats – ensuring traveling vegans ‘did not have to starve’.
Rodgers himself had experienced many difficulties over the years when it came to finding vegan options – and in his youth, would go days at a time without eating.
‘Flesh culture’
He was 19 when he decided to eat vegan – and not only did he have to leave a lot of ingredients behind, he also had to fight what he describes as Guyana’s ‘flesh culture’.
People did not understand him. He was the strange guy who lived outside walking barefoot, and just wanted to eat the things that, in his opinion, would bring him closer to nature.
Boutique
Back in Amsterdam, he opened his restaurant Terrazen Center – a small eatery with only one dining table.
He serves delicious vegan dishes, including rice with coconut milk, brown rice with black sesame seeds, four different types of vegetables on one plate, a combination of something cooked, slightly grilled and slightly raw, and sauces of mixed Japanese and Caribbean peppers.
Rogers designs these dishes with perfect balance in mind.
To find out more, watch the videohere
The interview was compiled by Cooking Today – a Dutch Food Story Platform.Find out more here
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