Premdas Ghirla

Kitchen Manager, Head Chef & Hatha Yoga Teacher

Premdas Ghirla

Premdas is the Kitchen Manager, Head Chef at The Expanding Light and Hatha Yoga Teacher. He has an extensive background in the culinary arts, having enjoyed a notable 30 year career in the hospitality industry. Premdas has been the restaurant/food and beverage manager at several 4 and 5 star establishments, including The Four Seasons Hotel, The Fairmont Hotel, and the Pebble Beach Corporation. Premdas was also the Director of the California Culinary Academy's Sommelier Academy, where he lectured publicly, gave class instruction and consulted with restaurants and wineries throughout the United States.

Since 1992 he also has been an Ananda Hatha Yoga Teacher and he was the Ananda Meditation Group leader in Carmel, California before serving in Ananda's Palo Alto and Assisi, Italy communities. Presently, both he and his wife live in Ananda Village and serve at The Expanding Light. Premdas' enthusiasm for sharing life's blessings is contagious! Of Italian heritage, he brings a joyful flair to the kitchen, particularly on Pizza night, where he can be found singing along to Italian music!

Premdas says:

"It is an honor to greet, feed and bless the great souls who visit The Expanding Light. All our kitchen staff cooks understand the wonderful opportunity we have in cooking for spiritual seekers and devotees. Versed in yoga, service and healthy vegetarian cuisine, we are committed to serving our guests as God; our food is Prasad, filled with God and Guru's grace! The cook, the food, the guest; All is God!"

From a Vegetarian Cooking student:

“The Ananda Vegetarian Cooking class fulfilled my expectations for a lifetime! The wealth of spices, natural ingredients, cooking creation possibilities are endless. Premdas taught me most to cook with heart, soul, and Spirit. I arrived at the class with an open mind and an open heart. I left not only with a mind full of knowledge and a heart filled with more love, but also a stomach filled with delicious, joy-filled food! Premdas not only shared his wealth of cooking experience and expertise, but also shared his loving spirit and delight for all that he does.”

– Jeanine, Daly City, CA