Dining Facilities

All the food served at Yokoji Retreat Center is vegetarian. We use fresh, and often local and organic ingredients to create our simple, yet nutritious and delicious menus. A balance of vegetables, grains and proteins (such as beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, seitan, nuts, seeds, dairy and eggs) support our community year round. From steaming hot whole grain, bean and vegetable soups in the winter, to cool and refreshing salads and fruits from our orchards in the summer months - the seasons dictate how our food is prepared and served.

We have a dining hall which is kept warm in the winter months with a wood-burning furnace, and picnic tables outside for the warmer months. We also maintain a supply of coffee and hot water for tea from early in the morning until supper time.

The Tenzo is one of the most important figures in the Zen community. The title simply means "head cook" in Japanese, but it is a position that carries weight and responsibility. The kitchen of a Zen Center is a place of practice, where the tenzo will mindfully prepare meals according to their environment - the food available, the weather outside, the requirements of the guests. This is why we cannot provide sample menus, as the food changes throughout the year. What does remain constant, however, is the effort to ensure the food is healthy, appropriate for the needs of the group, and is enjoyed by all!