Bangalow Cooking School

Leah Roland is the Founding Principal of the Bangalow Cooking School and has had a passion for food from a very young age. Born to a large Greek and Lebanese family where food was a huge focus and a lot of education happened in the kitchen and around the dinning table. Leah is a visual artist with a BA in Visual arts. Before moving to the Northern Rivers region she ran a catering business in Sydney catering mainly for the corporate sector. Clients include international dignitaries, HPM industries, Insight and many private clients. She has implemented health and lifestyle cooking programs at “the Buttery”, a world known drug & alcohol rehab facility in Binna Burra, has taught dietary approaches in cooking classes at many health resorts. She is currently chef and cooking presenter at Gaia Retreat and Spa, Brooklet (Byron Hinterland). As a food writer Leah has many published articles in both local and regional newspapers. For the Northern Star as Northern Rivers Food Writer (largest regional newspaper 65, 000 circulation) she has published over 80 articles alone. A mother to three primary age girls, Leah is currently working on a children’s cook-book which looks at empowering kids to make choices on how and what they eat in a fun way and for schools to use as a teaching tool. Her approach to food is underpinned by health in mind, seasonality, authenticity and explorations of cultural approaches, use of local produce and ingredients at hand.