Kitchen News
Stay Informed.
Check out the latest happenings at Tree House Kitchen and explore our diverse history of events and engagements.
Check out the latest happenings at Tree House Kitchen and explore our diverse history of events and engagements.
Explore, Grow, Nourish, Connect with Tree House Kitchen — Watch This Video!
in NewsJanuary 2018
Much like the end of summer and the changes that come with fall, there is always a flurry of growth and renewal happening at Tree House Kitchen, and we couldn’t be more excited. Get ready to change the way you think about food!
At Tree House Kitchen, through our cooking events and partnerships, we have always nurtured and celebrated the connection between food, good health, community, family, and our sense of peace and well-being. Our greater purpose as chefs and teachers is clearer than ever: to take a fresh look at the important role food plays in our lives, and share our new work with you.
The evolution of Tree House Kitchen: We create and publish inspirational resources, develop recipes in our test kitchen, and implement new teaching mediums. It’s our vision to continuously meet the needs of our ever-growing audience and provide opportunities to share our work broadly.
Some of the research and teaching forms we have or are exploring (See an idea you like? Let us know!):
Cooking blog | Cooking articles with how-to videos, downloadable recipes and chef-perspective storytelling.
Video teaching resources | Cook with Tree House Kitchen chefs from the comfort of your own home kitchen, anywhere and in any weather, in our fun and informative YouTube videos. Have a specific cooking question? Ask A Chef and we may use your question on camera!
The Tree House Kitchen Potager | Watch as we transform our no-mow yard into a tapestry of sustainably-grown heirloom vegetables, fruits, edible flowers, and herbs. Our eating gardens grow on the foundations of everything we learned while creating the certified Pollinator Paradise wildflower and prairie meadow garden at the previous Tree House Kitchen location.
Foodie social shares | Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter (X) and see all the culinary action from the test kitchen come to life. Post your thoughts and questions in the comments, and share what you love.
IHH integrative wellness cooking coaching | Learn how to nourish yourself as part of your holistically tailored program for hormonal balance and healthy weight management. In partnership with the Institute for Hormonal Health, Oakville, Nancy delivered integrative wellness cooking coaching and articles about eating thoughtfully for hormonal balance.
Hamilton Public Health food literacy advisory | On the city’s Food Advisory Committee, Chef Nancy Henley helped improve food literacy, food security, and food-delivery systems. Through the development of the Hamilton Food Strategy, positive changes will come to our community!
Creation involves change…
Just as we encourage you to explore and grow, we do too! Creating never stops at Tree House Kitchen as we find new ways to help you have your best food experiences. Let’s step forward together, into the ever-expanding, colourful and flavourful world of chef-inspired cooking and eating, with a curious mind and a steady chopping hand.
Chef Nancy Henley is Featured in Defyeneurs Magazine Top 50 Wellness Tips
in NewsAugust 2016
Chef Nancy Henley was asked by Dr. Kristy Prouse of Institute for Hormonal Health to contribute an inspiring tip to Defyeneurs magazine.
Nancy’s tip is featured on page 10 of the publication which showcases the top 50 health wellness tips.
Closed in July For Summer Break as the Season at Tree House Kitchen Ends — Try This Lamb Recipe!
in NewsJuly 2016
With the arrival of summer and the close of the Tree House Kitchen cooking season, I prepare for a creative interlude during the month of July during which Tree House Kitchen will be closed.
In the meantime, check out Nancy’s Notes on Grill-Roasting a Rack of Lamb and Searing Lamp Pops. Try it out this summer. 🙂 Have a happy summer exploring new ways to unleash your inner chef—it’s easier than you think!
I gratefully look back on this past year. It’s been a busy and satisfying year with food and recipe testing; dinner party cooking classes; community speaking, teaching and advocating events; and food writing. Teaching and getting to know so many of you who share my passion for food, wellness, community, and sustainability is a blessing. Thanks to each and every one of you!
The Globe and Mail Interviews Chef Nancy Henley
in NewsFebruary 2016
On January 30, 2016, The Globe and Mail Metro (Ontario Edition) published an article titled “Cooking with kids: Playful meets healthful in the kitchen.”
The article included several of Chef Nancy’s healthful philosophies and tips for engaging children in the kitchen.
“Sensory engagement and exploration in the market and kitchen are ultimately more fun,” shared Nancy. “It also develops neural pathways, self-reliance and skill — this is beneficial long term.” Read more here.
Cable 14 Visits Tree House Kitchen to Film Chef Nancy
in NewsNovember 2015
Danielle de Graauw of Cable 14 visits Tree House Kitchen to discover Chef Nancy’s nourishing family cooking recipe systems and techniques, and shares video segments on Cable 14 Hamilton Life.
Chef Nancy Henley Shows How to Cook the Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner on CHCH TV
in NewsOctober 2015
Lori DeAngelis of CHCH Morning Live visits Tree House Kitchen to get some tips from chef Nancy Henley on cooking the perfect turkey and all the delicious elements of a Thanksgiving dinner.
Watch and learn Nancy’s chef secrets and how to reduce Thanksgiving stress by preparing a perfect meal ahead of time.
See the Indoor Tree – Open House at Tree House Kitchen
in NewsAugust 2015
I’m excited to announce my first open house at Tree House Kitchen. Please join me on Sunday, September 20, 2015, 2-4pm for a welcoming, tasty, and cultured break.
Meet-and-greet
Meet me and my team. A red seal chef with more than 20 years of professional experience, I’m an enthusiastic teacher; sharing my skills and recipes through radio, video, and print. The stunning Tree House Kitchen indoor tree garden, intimate dine-in teaching kitchen, and beautiful event space will be your backdrop for this afternoon. Meet friends and make new acquaintances as you increase your culinary knowledge.
Art exhibition
Browse delicious art by French fine artist Eric Ranveau. His pieces – available for purchase – celebrate the beauty of landscapes, food, and wine through figurative and abstract expression.
Tea tasting
Sip on a variety of exquisite loose-leaf teas served by Certified Tea Sommelier, Tracey Carr Snyder. Learn about tasting methodology and the history of tea. Sample and bring home your favourites. Packaged tea and Artisan Ontario Maple Syrup will be available for purchase.
Live classical music
Relax in uplifting musical ambiance provided by a delightful classical strings group featuring mother Jenn Brasch and her talented children – Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra alumni and members.
I’m excited to welcome you into my Tree House Kitchen on this special occasion. See you soon!
Speaking Out Against Hamilton Health Sciences’ Non-Local Outsourcing of its Hospital Food Service
in NewsJuly 2015
Hamilton Health Sciences was faced with the decision to either continue feeding patients with a percentage of locally- and home-made meals, or with trucked-in, 100 percent microwaveable foods in plastic containers provided by a non-local, multinational food company, Compass Group Canada.
Switching to the latter would mean closing in-house hospital kitchens and replacing their services with a 100 percent outsourced, 10-year contract.
On Thursday June 25th at 3:00 pm, Chef Nancy Henley—volunteer, citizen, food expert and owner of Tree House Kitchen—addressed the packed house of the HHS Board of Directors, and reminded them of the HHS vision statement “Best Care For All.” Nancy’s expertise is grounded in being an Interprovincial Red Seal Chef, having a Bachelor of Commerce in Hotel and Food Administration from the University of Guelph (which includes institutional food administration) and being a food educator with a specific interest in food literacy that connects people to nourishing foods. Along with her speech and a visualizing exercise, Nancy submitted this letter.
Sadly, the HHS has since approved the new contract. They did note that Nancy’s presentation had board members discussing anew contractual quality assurances, performance measures, and cancelation terms should quality be of concern. The Hamilton Spectator reported on the issue, citing Nancy.
With firm roots in our community, Chef Nancy and Tree House Kitchen have plans to examine (1) specific ingredient and sourcing lists in the new foods; (2) HHS and Compass’ definition of local sourcing; (3) leaching of microwave plastics into the foods; (4) the recycling process of the plastic containers; and, (5) patient satisfaction surveys. Findings and conclusions from these studies will be shared with HHS and made public.
It Has Been Such a Fun and Rewarding Teaching Season at Tree House Kitchen!
in NewsJuly 2015
From Lily (guest child foodie of Tree House Kitchen Kids Cook Locally V1), Chef Nancy and Nancy’s kitchen team, at the close of our teaching season, we wish everyone a joyous summer of kitchen adventures exploring, growing, nourishing and connecting!
Countless meals and memories have been hand-created in Tree House Kitchen since October 2014. What a full and nourishing Fall/Winter/Spring teaching season we had.
In August, Tree House Kitchen will post a wide variety of classes with all-new menus and favourite world cuisine classics that will run from September 2015 to June 2016.
We are a small business with a lot of heart! During these past nine months
We look forward to hearing about your summer food adventures! Connect with us at our open house featuring artist Eric Ranveau, a live classical quartet, and a tea tasting Sunday September 20 from 2 – 4 pm. Details about this special event and RSVP information will be shared soon.
Lauren Charman Writes About Behind-the-Scenes Recipe Testing at Tree House Kitchen
in NewsJanuary 2015
In preparation for Chef Nancy Henley’s Asian Fusion cooking class dinner party, Lauren Charman joined Nancy in recipe testing to make sure dinner and recipes would be their best ever.
In her blog,” Lauren shares the nuances of this testing process; balancing limes, heat, sweetness and acidity.
Lauren Charman is an excellent food blogger and photographer who fills a niche in the food blogging world by describing her real experiences as a chef in training.
Happy New Year!
in NewsJanuary 2015
Enjoy the season’s fun and stay fired up this year with nourishing family meals.
This year in Tree House Kitchen, you can enjoy these amazing cooking class experiences:
Nourishing Knife Skills
Chinese, Cajun, Moroccan and Spanish Global Soups and Stews
(Fine artist Eric Ranveau will be in attendance to gather impressions of the emotions of enjoying food and wine. His resultant paintings will be displayed at an upcoming exhibition at Tree House Kitchen on Sunday, September 20, 2015.)
Parent and Child Family Fun
A Celebration of Spring
Spa Cuisine
BBQ Bonanza
Several recipes are worked through as a class in a fun, relaxed manner. The delicious results are served family-style or plated in three to six (class-dependent) filling courses. View class details and dates (they sell out quickly!) and then register. See you at your favourite classes!
Bay Area Restoration Council Invites Nancy to be a Blog Contributor
in NewsOctober 2014
Recently, Nancy was invited to be a blog contributor to Bay Area Restoration Council.
BARC is a community non-profit group that assesses and promotes cleanup projects in Hamilton Harbour and its watershed.
Nancy is a mother of three, a chef, a cooking teacher and a nature lover. They all go hand-in-hand in her life.
Momentum Fitness Club Features Chef Nancy Henley’s Recipes
in NewsApril 2014
Momentum Fitness Club is a beautiful, boutique-style gym in the heart of historic downtown Dundas, Ontario.
The Momentum staff and Chef Nancy Henley share a common goal of changing how people think about improving their health and nourishing their lives.
“What’s great about Nancy’s recipes is that they are all predicated on her four-tiered approach to living a nourished life,” states Craig Spear, owner of Momentum. “Nancy is a brilliant chef and we are so excited to have her share her knowledge with us! We highly recommend you ‘like’ her Facebook page, check out her blog/website.”
WOWTV Features Chef Nancy Henley in a Wellness Series
in NewsMarch 2014
In March 2014, WOWTV released its Hormonal Health series by Rocky Mountain Analytical.
Among other well-being and women’s health experts, Chef Nancy Henley’s story was featured with a cooking demonstration.
Nancy shared her expertise for using food to nourish mind and body as she demonstrated the making of Chinese Hot Pot Soup.
Mountain News Features Nancy’s Tasty Holiday Desserts
in NewsJanuary 2014
The Hamilton Spectator Visits Tree House Kitchen
in NewsOctober 2013
This month, I was joined by Dan Kislenko, Food Editor, The Hamilton Spectator, here at Tree House Kitchen.
After the interview, Dan published his review, describing my teaching kitchen as “a very down-to-earth tree house kitchen.”
I truly enjoyed expressing my passion for healthful, pleasurable food and making it easier to prepare than people expect. To see what else Dan experienced, please view a video and the online version of one article, at The Hamilton Spectator website. You can also view Dan’s two printed articles in full.