Thank You Buffalo Rising from Eat Well Buffalo

January 1, 2025- This article appeared in Buffalo Rising. Thank you!

Sue, Ciara, and Sally look forward to seeing you at the upcoming cooking classes and events at HER Kitchen.

Instructors:
Sue Morreale – HER Kitchen
Ciara Morreale Lucas – HER Kitchen
Sally Gower – Eat Well Buffalo

HER Kitchen, located at 1442 Hertel Avenue, has added a new culinary convenience to its regimen. Located in the back of the shop is a relatively new kitchen, where cooking demonstrations are held. What is uniquely different about HER Kitchen’s classes is that they are plant based, which means that they are not only delicious, they are healthy. 

For years, the mother/daughter team of Sue and Ciara Morreale have been bringing all sorts of wellness initiatives to North Buffalo via HER Kitchen, HER Story, and HER Sanctuary. Their ever-evolving concepts are based on the notion that it is possible to live happy, healthy lives if provided with the right resources. And by teaming up with Sally Gower of Eat Well Buffalo, they have created a super fun and healthy plant-based kitchen where people can learn all about best cooking practices, many of which are based on the ideals of Blue Zones. 

Although the term “Blue Zones” was first used by Michel Poulain and Giovanni Mario Pes in 2000, while studying longevity in Sardinia, it was later expounded upon by author and explorer Dan Buettner who, along with a number of scientists, traveled the world in search of lands with the most centenarians. The team further documented the lifestyles led by those who were living the longest. They studied social habits, environments, diet, disease rates, etc.

Sally Gower from Eat Well Buffalo recently traveled to Ikaria, Greece, one of the Blue Zones, for a retreat, to experience the lifestyle first hand.

The term “Blue Zone” came about because of the blue pens that the scientists used to designate the areas in question. Blue Zones include Okinawa Prefecture, Japan; Nuoro Province, Sardinia, Italy; the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; and Ikaria, Greece.^[1] 

Now, the instructors at HER Kitchen are intent on sharing what they have learned about Blue Zones, by offering classes that are based on the practices. A Blue Zone lifestyle not only incorporates healthy eating habits, it’s also based on one’s lifestyle and alcohol consumption, among other factors. 

“We really want to bridge the gap between wellness, and the joy of cooking,” said Ciara Morreale Lucas. “Our mission is to help people excited to get back into their kitchens, and not feel like it’s stressful to have to cook something healthy (and not just a salad!). And to help them find what that looks like for them and their lifestyle.”

“Something that definitely sets us apart is that not only do we talk about the culinary aspects about food but we talk about the health benefits as well,” added Sue Morreale. “Being someone that has been 18 year breast cancer survivor. I truly believe that food is medicine and it is helped me on my healing journey.

For more cooking classes at HER Kitchen, click here. 

HER Kitchen | 1442 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 14216 | 716.886.6457 | herkitchenbuffalo@gmail.com