My life as a culinary witch doctor Being a culinary witch doctor has been an extraordinary journey, where I have combined my passion for food with my interest in alternative medicine. This unique profession has allowed me to explore the healing power of food and herbs, and to create dishes that not only taste delicious but also nourish the body and mind. As a culinary witch doctor, my main goal is to promote health and well-being through the food I prepare. I believe that food has the power to heal and that by making conscious choices about what we eat, we can prevent and even reverse many health problems. One of the main principles of my practice is that food should be natural and unprocessed. I aim to use organic and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, as these are typically higher in nutrients and free from harmful chemicals.
Chamomile: not just for calming nerves, this tea contains anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties that help to ease indigestion and bloating. (1)
The book sold out multiple printings within the first year of publication and consistently ranked amongst the best sellers at major distributors across France and the United States. I hope to share my recipes and knowledge to help you feel a little more empowered, healthy, Liberated, and happy, and your life imbued with more magic.
I aim to use organic and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, as these are typically higher in nutrients and free from harmful chemicals. I also avoid using artificial additives and preservatives, as these can have negative effects on our health. In my kitchen, I work like a wizard, using a variety of herbs and spices to create flavorful and healing dishes.
Food, Family, and Witch Doctor?
Today was our culture orientation, and wowee, did we learn a lot. So many new ideas, new concepts, new values, just a whole different way of life that I find so fascinating. We began with food and lunch. So first off, much of the time Senegalese eat on the floor with a huge communal bowl. You first wash your hands in a water basin. Then you come and sit at the mat without shoes. You wait for the host to give the signal that it is okay to begin eating. There’s always certain foods in the middle that’s there to share, like a whole fish, or a big carrot. You must share those. You can take some, but you must put it back. Now you eat with hands a lot of the time. With my family, we eat with spoons, but you do eat with hands. So we ate with our hands, and it’s so weird. You make balls of rice and fish and carrot and cabbage and just stuff it in your face. Remember, no left hand! By the end of the meal, my hand was actually burning from the habañero juice. And I had food all over my face. It’s a lot harder than you think. The rice isn’t like asian rice. It’s not sticky, it’s greasy. I can’t wait to come home and cook this and have an actual Senegalese meal with you guys!
After lunch, they enjoy tea. It’s not cups, it’s like shots of tea. It’s SO sweet and caffeinated. But it’s just a shot of it. You enjoy three shots of tea, with at least 3o minutes in between. It takes around 2 hours, and you can do things in between. But they generally enjoy at least 2 cups, if they don’t have time or if they’re trying to cut back on costs.
Then we moved into Senegalese values. La Famille was the first. The idea of family here is wholly different from ours. We think of our mother and father and siblings. But here, it’s a network. It’s a huge huge network of friends, families, neighbors, anybody really. When there’s a marriage, it ain’t about the couple whatsoever. For example, Victoria’s host family just had their daughter married. But the daughter was in France and her husband, Italy. The two families must send their men to the mosque for the actual ceremony. And then the women prepare and have a huge party at their house. It’s a gendered celebration, one that doesn’t even have to include the couple. The idea of family is essentially, if one’s in need, then you gotta help them. The saying goes “Nit, nitay garabam”, meaning “A person is another person’s best medicine.” Essentially, no man is an island. It’s a beautiful concept. That’s why their divorce and suicide rates are so low. Always have family around.
There’s Kersa and Teggin. Kersa is respect and Teggin, social status. Kersa is just the value of respect for other people. For example, women curtsy when meeting somebody. Teggin is the idea the older you are, the wiser. There’s also Fayda, the concept of self-respect. There’s a point where you can be so respectful, that you have nothing left. You have to be able to balance Kersa and Fayda. The saying goes, “Fayda mooy jaay doquar.” It’s about a street vendor who let’s people try his product, but by the end, he has nothing to sell. Gotta make sure you got them apples at the end. Teranga is one of my favorite ideas. It’s hospitality. They have a belief that when one visits you, that person is choosing your house, out of all their friends, to visit. THEY’RE giving YOU a gift by visiting you, so you must deserve for them to visit you. That’s why the Senegalese are so hospitable. There’s Muña, which is patience or acceptance. Their idea is essentially don’t dwell. Just let it be.
Once you let it be, your at ease and your happy.The next part is one of my favorites. It’s their superstitions. They believe in what they call Dëmm. It’s a witch or sorcerer. They identify sorcerers when somebody, say, compliments you on your watch. And then it breaks. Then they suspect you of being a dëmm. They’ll avoid you from then on. But the worst thing that could happen is if somebody openly accuses you of a dëmm. You are then forever shunned, and your children shunned. They believe that the mother passes it onto their child. They believe in spirits called Jinne, both good and bad. That’s why after compliments, they always say “karr” or “mashula”, which is their version of “knock on wood.” They have Rabs which are animal totems that protect you from bad Jinne. They also carry a gris-gris, which is an amulet. And NOBODY can touch your gris-gris, or it loses it’s effect. If you do have bad luck, you can go to a serigne (wolof) or a marabout (french). It’s a witch doctor. They may even perform an exorcism. But there are actually three types of marabouts. They have the witch doctor, a Quranic teacher, and an Muslim brotherhood leader. This is what I find most fascinating. Remember how I said there were a lot of child beggars? Most of them aren’t actually beggars. Their Quranic teacher puts children on the streets to beg to show them what it’s like, to teach them humility. I find that so fascinating. And if you see an older beggar, they may be begging for their brotherhood. It’s a truly fascinating concept.
Okay, I know this is a lot of culture. But last one, my favorite, polygamy. So like I said, my host father is a polygamist. It’s fascinating since he has another family. The way polygamy here works is that you can have up to four wives, but no more. You HAVE to spend equal time with all wives, have sex with them the same amount, or the wives can cite negligence and get a divorce. Many times, the wives live in separate places. My host family’s counterpart lives in another neighborhood. But sometimes they do live on the same complex. A lot of the times the wives don’t get along. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they’re considered as part of that “family” network I was telling about, sometimes they’re just ignored. When they have children, they’re all considered siblings, not half siblings. I found out my host family is actually pretty complicated. So the mother, Saly was actually previously married. She had two of her oldest sons that no longer live at home, and then Adja. Then she had Jatu and Amadou with El Hadj. But then all the children have more siblings from El Hadj’s other wife. They all seem pretty fine with the idea, and Saly is actually the second wife, and has been for over 2o years.
It’s really fascinating to see how polygamy can function, can work, so well within Senegalese culture. When you think about it, family and love is such a big part of their ideals, that polygamy actually seems to fit into their lives. Even though perhaps I don’t believe in polygamy, I can wholly accept it and understand it within context of Senegal. You never know, I might just come home with four wives.
I have an extensive collection of herbs, each with their own unique properties and benefits. I carefully select herbs and spices based on their healing properties and use them to enhance the flavor of my dishes. For example, turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to reduce pain and swelling. I often incorporate this spice into my dishes to add a warm and earthy flavor, while also providing a boost to the immune system. Another staple in my kitchen is garlic, which is not only delicious but also has numerous health benefits. Garlic has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for various ailments, including high blood pressure and heart disease. I love using garlic in my cooking to add depth and complexity to the flavors, while also promoting cardiovascular health. One of my favorite parts of being a culinary witch doctor is creating customized meal plans for my clients. I take into consideration their specific health concerns and dietary restrictions, and design a menu that addresses their individual needs. This personalized approach allows me to tailor the healing power of food to each person's unique situation. I am grateful every day for the opportunity to be a culinary witch doctor. It allows me to combine my love of food with my passion for holistic health, and to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Through my unique perspective, I have been able to help people discover the healing potential of food and empower them to take control of their own health..
Reviews for "Nourishing the Body, Mind, and Spirit: My Life as a Culinary Witch Doctor"
- Michelle - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "My Life as a Culinary Witch Doctor" as I love cooking and magic. However, I was quite disappointed with this book. The recipes were overly complicated and required ingredients that are not easily available. The author also seemed to focus more on their personal life rather than providing a comprehensive guide to culinary magic. I was hoping for more practical advice and techniques but instead, got a lot of fluff. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book to others.
- Peter - 1 star - "My Life as a Culinary Witch Doctor" was a complete waste of money for me. The author didn't seem to have a clear direction in their writing. The book lacked structure and jumped from one topic to another without proper explanation or transition. The recipes were impractical and didn't have clear instructions, making it frustrating to follow along. I was hoping for a fun and informative read, but this book fell short on both fronts. Save your money and find another book on culinary magic.
- Lisa - 2 stars - I found "My Life as a Culinary Witch Doctor" to be lacking in substance. The author spent more time talking about their personal experiences and beliefs rather than delving into the actual practice of culinary magic. The recipes provided were overly basic and didn't showcase any unique or innovative techniques. I was hoping for a more thorough exploration of the subject matter, but this book felt more like a memoir than a guide to culinary witchcraft. I was left wanting more and wouldn't recommend it to those seeking practical advice.