Elizabeth Falkner ICE Food Waste Event

Lior and Elizabeth Falkner are presenting together for the Zero Waste Food Conference at the Institute of Culinary Education at the end of the month. Here we get her thoughts on food waste, a recipe, and what she's up to next!

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions! We're excited to be collaborating with you.

What's your philosophy when it comes to minimizing food waste?

I value the energy it takes on a biological and universe level as well as the human energy to cultivate ingredients and distribute them, so I don’t over purchase and I try to use everything for something. It is something I constantly am talking about with different audiences and in recipe development.

The problem of food waste is slowly but surely getting the attention it deserves. Any tips for restaurateurs and for home cooks?

Can you please share a recipe for something you like to cook at home?

I have been making a cool dish with farro cooked in carrot juice with roasted and raw carrots, seeds and nuts with carrot seed lassi (other spices used in the dish are cardamom and black pepper with the lassi and cinnamon stick, turmeric, cayenne and ginger in the farro) and finished with mint, cilantro and parsley.

Chilled Farro, Cashew, Honey, Carrot Top Lassi Salad

Serves 4

Farro Mixture:

• 1 C. farro
• 1 TB. olive oil
• ½ stick of cinnamon zest of one orange
• 1 C. carrot juice
• 1 tsp. minced ginger
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp. turmeric
• 2 C. water
• 1 tsp. Kosher salt

Lassi Mixture:

• 1 C. plain Kefir or yogurt
• 1/2 C. blanched carrot top leaves
• 2 TB. honey
• ½ tsp. cardamom seeds
• ½ tsp. Kosher salt a few grinds of black pepper
• 2 tsp. orange flower water
• A couple tablespoons of water to liquefy, depends on if using Kefir or yogurt

To Finish:

• 1 C. grated raw carrot
• ¼ C. roasted cashews squeeze lime juice mint, parsley and cilantro leaves

Place olive oil in a saucepan with heat on high. Add the farro. Cook for two minutes stirring a couple times. Add the orange zest, cinnamon stick and carrot juice and turn heat on medium and bring to a simmer for five minutes without stirring. Add water, salt and spices and simmer another ten minutes. Cover and set aside off heat for a few minutes. Pour mixture into a dish and cover and chill.

In a blender, combine the Kefir or yogurt, honey, carrot leaves, cardamom, salt, pepper, orange flower water and a little water and blend to consistency desired. Keep chilled. Spoon a large spoonful of the farro mixture in bowls. Pour a little lassi in the bowl. Finish with the nuts, grated carrot, lime, and herbs. Serve immediately.

Do you have a favorite spice or blend?

I love the combination of cumin, urfa and aleppo chilis together. Love on chicken, lamb and fish. I also use fennel seeds in many dishes.

Any upcoming projects or news you'd like to share?

Paradigm, a collaboration with my brothers Ryan and Jason Falkner, multi sensory- food-audio-visual art installations. A few will be launching this year in galleries and festivals.

Follow Chef Falkner for more updates