Meet Amanda
Born in Connecticut and now rooted in Santa Fe, Amanda discovered her passion for cooking in a search for deeper health and wholeness. Over time, this passion has blossomed into a prayer of nourishment—for herself, for women, for families, and for the circles she serves.
The kitchen is a sanctuary, the table an altar—an ancient place of gathering where food becomes both sustenance and connection. Cacao and Rose was born in Sedona, Arizona in 2021, sparked by a Cacao and Rose cake crafted with love for a private dinner, and has since grown into a vessel for healing, beauty, and reverence.
Cacao and Rose themselves have been two of Amanda’s greatest teachers—medicines that helped heal her own heart. Cacao, with its grounding warmth, symbolizes nourishment, openness, and connection, while rose carries the energy of tenderness, beauty, and protection. Together, they represent the balance of strength and softness that lives at the center of her work.
Amanda creates meals in rhythm with the seasons, sourcing from the land and weaving herbs, flowers, and intention into every dish. A devoted plant medicine maker, she infuses her food with the healing presence of the plants themselves—transforming meals into nourishment for both body and spirit. Working with plants is also her way of staying deeply connected to the earth, and she loves to share this presence with others through workshops that guide people in making their own medicines and self-care creations. Music is another thread in her medicine. As a musical medium, Amanda channels songs as living prayers—melodies that arrive to soothe, uplift, and open the heart. In retreat spaces, she often shares vocal activation workshops for women, inviting them to explore the power of their own voices as pathways of healing, presence, and joy.
Passionate about supporting women through life’s sacred transitions, Amanda offers care for fertility, postpartum mothers, and the cyclical nature of womanhood. Retreats hold a special place in her heart, allowing her to witness profound transformation while offering food as medicine for body, mind, and soul.
Whether cooking for a retreat, preparing an intimate dinner, teaching a workshop, or offering seasonal support, her mission remains the same: to nourish with joy, reverence, and the quiet power of plants.
