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The Kripalu Kitchen

Our Doors Open: August 19

With joy, excitement, and overwhelming gratitude we are announcing that our doors will be open to you on August 19, 2021.

Nourish your body and spirit with the Kripalu Kitchen. While our dining hall operations might be different than you remember, know that our food philosophy remains the same and that Executive Chef Jeremy Rock Smith is still working behind the scenes to deliver meals full of love.

Upon opening, our Dining Room is open only to registered R&R guests. Learn more about Kripalu Retreat & Renewal here.

COVID-19 Dining Updates

We will be monitoring all updates to federal, state, and local guidelines on a daily basis. We anticipate these guidelines listed here to evolve. Our priority is ensuring a safe and healthy experience for our community. Check back for updates.

The Kripalu dining staff has always been devoted to creating a clean, safe space and that dedication has been built on in accordance with FDA and CDC guidelines and with guidance from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and our local health department.
Before we get to your meals, there are a few things we would like you to know about how we will be operating in preparation for your arrival and while you are here on the property.

FACE MASKS

  • Guests must wear face masks while in the dining room except for when actively eating and drinking.
  • Kripalu Staff will be wearing face masks at all times.

SEATING & FOOD SERVICE

  • The proper social distancing between tables will be enforced. The dining room has been reconfigured to allow for the proper distance between tables, we ask that you do not move the tables and chairs.
  • Our buffet is no longer self-service. All meals will be served cafeteria-style from the buffet by Kripalu Staff.
  • Kripalu Staff greeter will ascertain how many in your party and guide you to a table that is appropriate for your group.
  • Guests may sit for a maximum of 90 minutes at mealtimes if eating inside.
  • Outdoor seating is available to all guests.
  • Kripalu Staff will take care of removing dishes and cleaning your table when you have finished eating.
  • Due to the change in service style, it will be necessary for guests and staff to communicate verbally while constructing their plates. With that in mind, our traditional Silent Breakfast will sound different when we return. We encourage any guest looking for a completely silent dining experience to eat their breakfast in one of our alternate dining rooms or outside on the beautiful Kripalu grounds or possibly your own guest room.

CLEANING PROTOCOLS

  • Our cleaning and disinfecting protocols will comply with all FDA guidelines using approved sanitizing products.
  • All dining tables, chairs, and condiment caddies will be sanitized and disinfecting between each use.
  • Hand sanitizer stations will be placed throughout the dining room for guests and Kripalu Staff.
  • Stringent hand-washing practices will be enforced, and Kripalu Staff will be required to wash hands every 20-minutes or in between tasks.


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Read the full Kripalu COVID safety protocol and guidelines here.

Contact our Registrations Team with any questions here.

Upon opening, the Kripalu Dining Hall is open to registered R&R guests only. Learn more about Kripalu Retreat & Renewal here.

Kripalu is hiring! Please see our available positions and learn more about working at Kripalu here.

Dining Hours & General Information

Your meals at Kripalu are prepared by people who care deeply about the health of the planet and our bodies—and they are passionate about creating engaging, flavorful food.

The Kripalu Kitchen uses high-quality, all-natural ingredients to offer an array of nutritionally sound choices at every meal. Whole grains, fresh vegetables, and legumes form the backbone of the menus, with fresh poultry, fish, and dairy products as optional protein sources.

Meals are served by our staff at cafeteria styled lines. Fresh salad fixings and a selection of delicious salad dressings are always available, as are our famous freshly baked breads. Additionally, the Ayurveda-influenced Buddha Bar offers simple preparations of legumes, grains, vegetables, and an assortment of balancing condiments.

Meal Times

Breakfast 7:00–9:00 am
Lunch 11:30 am–1:30 pm
Dinner 5:00–7:00 pm

Breakfast provides a time for silent dining (other spaces are available for conversation). At other meals, there is a room available for silent dining.

The Kripalu Cafe

7:30 am–9:00 am
11:30 am–2:30 pm
5:30–8:30 pm
Organic coffee and tea, cold beverages, snacks, and our famous bakery items.

Kripalu Nutrition and Food Philosophy

At Kripalu, we believe it is possible to transform your health through deepening your awareness and understanding of food and nourishment. The Kripalu approach to nutrition combines knowledge gained from current research with the wisdom of the yogic tradition, which views food as a source of prana, or life force. Our nutrition and food philosophy is grounded in four elements: quality, discernment, intention, and connection.

Quality

We encourage you to select the most nutritious, least processed, freshest foods—local, seasonal, and organic—whenever possible. These foods, as part of a flavorful plant-based diet, create more energy and vitality for you and your loved ones, and align you with the rhythms of nature.

Discernment

We support diverse dietary choices, and we believe that you have the ability to be the best source of wisdom for your body’s unique needs. The instincts that guide you toward healing and balance naturally arise when you approach eating through the practices of mindfulness and compassionate self-observation.

Intention

When we bring gratitude, joy, curiosity, and love to everything we cook and eat, we are reminded that food is a powerful medicine and a source of life-giving energy. The act of eating becomes a celebration, and we are inspired to share this with others.

Connection

As we become aware of the ways our food choices and consumption affect our relationships with the environment, society, and the people closest to us, we strengthen our sense of interconnectedness with the planet and our fellow human beings.

Kripalu Kitchen Recipes

Our recipes are created and offered by the Kripalu Kitchen and often include information on the health benefits of select ingredients. Our new Kripalu Cookbook by Kripalu Executive Chef Jeremy Rock Smith, is available for purchase on amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, ibooks, Indiebound, and in the Kripalu Shop.

Learn more about our first cookbook. 

Special Dietary Needs

Our mission in the Kripalu Kitchen is to offer delicious meals to our guests that help to create health and vitality within each individual and for our planet. We understand that the foods that create health and vitality will be slightly different for everyone, so we strive to offer many options to choose from.

Our menus are posted on the Information Boards at Kripalu as well as at the entrance to the Main Dining Hall, please take a moment to look them over when you are here to help you plan your stay. All of our meals are served cafeteria style and every dish is labeled with a complete ingredient list. While we ask that you be responsible for reading labels to identify any potential food allergens, we want you to know that we have a special awareness around several specific food requests. We work hard to balance our choices to include options for our guests with some of the most common food sensitivities, including gluten, dairy, and nuts.

What We Serve
In addition to a cafeteria style line that offers all-natural poultry and fish products at some meals, we always offer an exclusively vegetarian line. The lines include soup and an entrée plus grain, bean, and vegetable side dishes. There is also an extensive salad bar with raw vegetable options, cheeses, seeds, and specialty made salads. All of our salad dressings are homemade and most feature extra virgin olive oil.

Gluten Sensitivity
For guests coming who have a sensitivity to gluten you will be assured to know the steps we take to ensure your dining pleasure: we use only wheat free tamari (soy sauce), our miso is also gluten free, all of our herbs are gluten free, we offer gluten free hot and cold cereals every morning and a 100% gluten free area. While our bakery is not a gluten-free bakery, we do offer a gluten-free bread option at all meals.

Our Staff

Your meals at Kripalu are prepared by people who care deeply about the health of the planet and our bodies—and they are passionate about creating engaging, flavorful food.

Kripalu is hiring! Please see our available positions and learn more about working at Kripalu here.
 

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