The Holistic Chef Academy is a vegan wholefood plant-based cookery school in Phuket, Thailand founded and operated by Jamie Raftery, The Holistic Chef.
Holistic Chef Academy will offer a variety of courses on the art of plant-based cuisine. The curriculum is modern, innovative, creative, playful and emphasizes the importance of finding joy and love in sourcing, preparing, cooking, and serving healthy delicious food.
Jamie founded The Holistic Chef Academy in 2015 with the underlining aim and intention to make a positive impact in people's lives through inspiring healthy food.
Whether you're a home cook wanting to advance your skills and be inspired, or a professional chef aiming to advance your career in the ever-growing business of health and wellness - The Holistic Chef Academy is a worthwhile investment for your health and well-being.
Jamie is a renowned holistic chef with 20+ years of experience in the culinary arts, having learned his craft with some of the top chefs in the world throughout his career. Read more about Jamie
Update February 2023: Phuket cooking courses for 2023 are sold out.
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- The Holistic Chef Academy - Phuket, Thailand
- Holistic Chef Academy Phuket Course Details 2023
- Level 1 Diploma – Foundation
- Level 2 Diploma – Intermediate
- Phuket Culinary & Cultural Tour
- How To Book
- Vegan Cookery Course Phuket Prices
- What’s included in the course fee?
- Do you need more information?
- More about Holistic Chef Academy Phuket
- Who are the courses suited to?
- What to expect?
- Why participate?
- Benefits of embracing a plant-based lifestyle
- Learn new recipes
- Testimonials from past students
- Be Inspired - Everything is possible
- Phuket Accommodation
- Other Activities in Phuket
- Get fit in Phuket
- Vegan Restaurants in Phuket
- What's in store for the future - 2023
The Holistic Chef Academy - Phuket, Thailand
We could not have dreamt of a more idyllic place in the world to be launching our first Vegan Plant-Based Cookery School.
Phuket - the jewel of the Andaman Sea, is a lush tropical island on the Southern tip of Thailand. Fresh ingredients grow in abundance with an ideal climate of sunshine, rain, humidity, and ocean breeze.
A vast array of tropical and indigenous fruits, vegetables, salads, grains, mushrooms, herbs, spices, nuts, seeds, shoots, barks, flowers, and seaweeds are readily available for creating some of the most delicious tasting and nutritious plant-based recipes on Earth.
The locals in Phuket are welcoming, friendly, and proud of their culinary heritage.
Thailand has a strong tradition of agriculture and permaculture. New Theory Farming System was developed in Thailand by Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1973, and King Rama XI carried on the developments with The Royal Project.
Holistic Chef Academy Phuket Course Details 2023
Our Vegan Cookery Courses are suitable for amateur cooks and professional chefs interested in developing their healthy plant-based cooking skills.
The curriculum will have a focus on Thai vegan cuisine, utilizing locally sourced ingredients. However, we aim to teach recipes and techniques that can be reenacted when you return home with generic and readily available whole food ingredients.
We have 2 different options for you to choose from:
Level 1 Diploma – Foundation
- Suitable for beginners and anyone keen to develop their plant-based cooking skills.
- A one-week in-depth course covering all aspects of vegan plant-based cooking.
- Courses consist of 10 modules over 6 days:
Level 1 Course Modules
- Introduction to plant-based cuisine and lifestyle
- Breakfasts of champions
- Raw food class – Salads & Appetisers
- Raw food class – Desserts & Sweets
- Wild fermentation
- Juicing & Smoothies
- Desserts & Bakery.
- Vegan cookery fundamentals
- Vegan Thai cookery
- Meal prep & planning
Level 1 Schedule:
Vegan-Cookery-Course-Phuket-Level-1-Schedule (Click To Download)
Level 2 Diploma – Intermediate
- Suitable for students who already have a good knowledge of plant-based cooking and want to take their skills to the next level.
- A one-week in-depth course covering all aspects of vegan plant-based cooking.
- Courses consist of 10 modules over 6 days:
Level 2 Course Modules
- Plant-based cookery fundamentals
- Plant-based cookery practical
- Raw food – Savory
- Raw food – Sweets
- Fermentation: Kimchi & Krauts
- Fermentation: Tofu & Tempeh
- Pasta, Noodles & Dumplings
- Baking, Desserts & Snacks
- Asian Cookery
- European Cookery
Diploma Level 2 Schedule:
Vegan-Cookery-Course-Phuket-Level-2- Schedule (Click To Download)
Phuket Culinary & Cultural Tour
On day 6 of the course, we will go on a cultural food tour of Phuket followed by a celebratory graduation lunch at a local vegan restaurant.
We have a wide network of suppliers, farmers, and growers throughout Phuket to introduce you to. We will take you on a culinary adventure of a lifetime!
How To Book
Courses for 2023 will sell out soon. You can confirm your participation by paying a 25% deposit now with 3 clicks. The balance can be split between two further installments or you can pay the remaining 75% balance in full.
After receiving your deposit we will be in touch to confirm all aspects and arrange a payment plan that suits you. We look forward to welcoming you to Phuket!
Book Level 1 Diploma
April 3rd - 8th 2023 (Fully Booked)April 24th - 29th 2023 (Fully Booked)August 7th - 12th 2023 (Fully Booked)
Book Level 2 Diploma
April 17th - 22nd 2023 (Fully Booked)July 24th - 29th 2023 (Fully Booked)August 21st - 26th 2023 (Fully Booked)
Vegan Cookery Course Phuket Prices
- 6-day Vegan Cookery Course Fee: €1200 (Flights & Accommodation not included)
- 25% Non-refundable deposit of €300 to confirm the booking.
- A business invoice provided after the 25% deposit is received.
- The remaining balance can be paid over 2 installments via international bank transfer: (€450 – 28th February 2023 / €450 – 31st March 2023)
- You may also pay the 75% balance in one payment via an international bank transfer.
What’s included in the course fee?
- Full professional tuition in a small group class so you will get individual attention.
- All recipes and techniques can be adapted to suit your ability and goals.
- Breakfast, snacks, refreshments, and lunch are included for the six days.
- Morning mindful jungle-bathing walk
- Yoga class
- One-hour Thai massage
- A culinary tour of Phuket
- Graduation lunch
- Course certificate
- One-year access to Life On Plants Meal Planning membership
Do you need more information?
Schedule a free call with Jamie to discuss your requirements
More about Holistic Chef Academy Phuket
Educate - Inspire - Empower
The Holistic Chef Academy is a vegan plant-based cookery school offering accessible and inspirational courses designed to empower you with the knowledge to learn new cookery skills and improve your health and well-being.
The signature Holistic Chef Academy 1-week diploma course consists of 10 modules. It is curated to give anyone with an interest in healthier cooking the chance to learn invaluable skills to elevate their cooking to new heights.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or a more experienced cook, this comprehensive course covers the essential skills and techniques relating to wholefood plant-based ingredients – raw and cooked.
All our recipes are free from animal products and are predominantly gluten-free. We will ensure you leave us with a renewed sense of confidence in your cooking ability.
You will have an array of delicious and nutritious recipes to reenact at home for your friends and family.
There is a great need for honest and authentic food education around the world. Change comes from within, we each hold the key but we struggle to unlock it.
Who are the courses suited to?
The Holistic Chef Academy Vegan Cookery Courses are suitable for all levels of cooks and aspiring chefs.
Classes are well structured and easy to grasp for people looking to expand their repertoire, eat healthier, improve kitchen skills, meet new people, overcome illnesses, lose weight, and boost energy.
Jamie provides individual support and feedback throughout the classes.
What to expect?
Our well-structured courses are informal, relaxed, and fun. Jamie will run through the procedure for the class ahead and start off by demonstrating the recipes of the day.
You will be clearly taken through the methods of each recipe and have lots of hands-on preparation and cooking as the class is divided into smaller groups or individually. Each group will make different recipes or you will make them on your own depending on the menu.
At the end of the class, you will have seen how all the recipes are made. Classes conclude with everyone sitting around the table to enjoy the food that has been cooked with a glass of wine or juice while discussing the variations that you can make at home.
All students will receive a certificate of course completion and a full recipe pack.
Why participate?
We each have a unique emotional relationship with food that has evolved throughout our lives. Many factors influence our decisions on what we choose to eat; advertising, social media, habits, memories, nostalgia, and travel are just a few.
In this modern fast-paced busy world, we live in; We've been convinced that we no longer have time to source, prepare and cook our own food. We've come to rely on food delivery services and pre-packaged ready-to-go supermarket meals for convenience.
This is all well and good from time to time, but what happens when we allow corporations and restaurants to cook our food? We put our health in the hands of others and lose touch with what we are putting inside our bodies and where our food comes from.
We lose sight of our connection with food, the earth, and nature.
Cooking is one of the most vital life skills we perform on a daily basis. Everything we choose to eat is an investment in our short and long-term health and well-being.
We are not only a result of what we eat - we are what our body can effectively digest from what we eat.
What we sow, so shall we reap.
Our miracle body can put up with a certain amount of bad investments, but eventually, it can break down.
We must choose to invest wisely, our health is our greatest wealth.
Benefits of embracing a plant-based lifestyle
- Re-learn how to eat and cook better foods.
- Take more responsibility for your own health and destiny
- Break down old food habits
- Lose excess weight in an enjoyable and sustainable way.
- Improve skin tone.
- Increase life-force energy and vitality.
- Help to prevent illness and dis-ease.
- Nurture your relationship with food.
- Become happier and more contented by connecting with nature and the elements by embracing a plant-based lifestyle.
- Save money – eating better does not necessarily cost an arm and a leg.
- Improve relationships and career prospects.
- Environmentally friendly - it's good for the earth.
- Ethical - no animals are subjected to cruelty to put food on your plate.
Learn new recipes
Be inspired by new recipes and learn new techniques to take your healthy cooking skills to the next level.
Testimonials from past students
I just followed a wonderful cooking session with Jamie at Leith Cookery School and was most impressed by his recipes as well as by the depth of his knowledge and experience. He also has a lovely and warm presence which made the session even more enjoyable.
Emanuelle Rio - Past student
Did a great session with Jamie at the imperial college with my exec chef Richard, on various fermenting techniques and the use of other healthy & nutritional ingredients in some product and recipe development. Jamie has a great depth of knowledge on health foods that are important in todays diet, allergy driven world.
Tom Aikens - Imperial Collage London
Jamie has been a regular guest chef at Leiths for 2 years, both on our dedicated nutrition course and one day raw food and fermentation workshops. Students are hugely receptive to his teaching style, knowledge and enthusiasm. He’s great to work alongside. Those of us here who are lucky enough to have taught with him always admire his professional and passionate approach. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Jamie!
Leith's School of Food & Wine
Be Inspired - Everything is possible
The choices we make about what we eat, where it comes from, and how it's prepared, have a direct and powerful impact on the health of individuals, communities, and the environment.
We are all at different stages of our life journey. By joining The Holistic Chef Academy you are investing in your future health, well-being, and happiness.
Developing your culinary skills is empowering you with invaluable knowledge to take with you for life.
I am looking forward to mentoring and supporting you on your culinary journey to becoming a competent and confident vegan cook!
Jamies plant-based journey
Read more about my animals to plants story. Discover how I went from a meat cook in one of the world's top restaurants; The French Laundry to plant-cook at Asia's top Sports & Health Resort, Thanyapura.
Phuket Accommodation
Discover and explore all Phuket has to offer. There is fantastic accommodation available to suit all budgets in Phuket. We have a list of recommended Hotels and Villas with a special rate for Holistic Chef Academy students.
Other Activities in Phuket
Make an unforgettable holiday of a lifetime while learning all about holistic plant-based cookery in Phuket.
Relax, refresh, and recharge after a busy morning and afternoon of cooking. Phuket has lots of fun, exciting and unique activities to experience.
Get fit in Phuket
Phuket is a sporting paradise. Whatever sport you are interested in, there is something for you.
From Yoga to Muay Thai, Phuket is an inspiring location to come and get fit. I have included some recommendations for you to explore.
Sports
Watersports
Culture
Entertainment
Vegan Restaurants in Phuket
There is a steady growth of vegan restaurants opening in Phuket. As the demand grows - the supply is increasing. Rawai, on the south of the island, is the most condensed area for vegan restaurants.
Here are some of my top favorite vegan restaurants in Phuket
- The Vegan Table
- Vegan Phuket
- Pure Vegan Heaven
- Healthy Mania - RAW
- Santosa
- Dok Bua
- Vegan Junkie
- Reach Plant-Based Kitchen
There are lots of Thai-style 'Jay' restaurants around the Island. Jay is the closest translation of Vegan in the Thai language. Jay food is a popular vegetarian style of eating in Thailand. You can get a plate of food for 50THB ($1.50).
I'm not a huge fan of Jay food as there are a lot of deep-frying and fake meats used. However, I have found a few nice Jay restaurants on my travels.
Throughout the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival, every October Jay food is eaten by all communities as part of this unique cultural festival.
Here is a concise list of vegan-friendly eateries in Phuket.
What's in store for the future - 2023
The Holistic Chef Academy - Thailand - Ireland - Europe - UK
If you are interested in partnering with Holistic Chef Academy please get in touch. Our aim is to develop ethical and sustainable win-win-win partnerships in all corners of the globe.
