Lelani Lewis
Lelani Lewis is a visionary cookbook author, chef, and passionate food activist redefining the culinary landscape through her commitment to sustainability, food justice, and global food traditions. With over a decade of industry experience, Lelani believes that food transcends borders, offering a powerful means to bridge differences and unite communities.
Her culinary journey began in London, where she was a self-taught chef running popular pop-up events. Later, in Amsterdam, her curiosity for sustainable food sourcing and cultural foodways deepened, inspiring her to use food as a catalyst for positive change. She crafts dishes with profound respect for ingredients, cultural heritage, and the environment, and has become a dedicated advocate for mindful food practices.
Lelani has worked with organizations such as Unilever, Deloitte, FoodHub, and Food Cabinet. She presented her motivation behind her work on the Code Noir platform on the Ted X Amsterdam Salon stage.
She promotes food sustainability, connecting farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators to drive conversations around a more sustainable future. As a sought-after speaker at conferences and culinary schools, she shares her insights and inspires others to view cooking as a practice of connection, culture, and care for the planet. For Lelani, food is not only nourishment—it is a profound vehicle for cultural connection and environmental stewardship.
Lelani is mostly known as a skilled moderator for events, facilitating meaningful discussions on various topics.
Using food as a tool to reconcile history, Lelani Lewis at TEDxAmsterdamSalon