We’re excited to welcome Chef Nick Bovenzi of Natural Oasis to this year’s Rochester VegFest!
Natural Oasis, is a vegan restaurant and health food store located in Rochester, NY. Since 2009, Mr. Bovenzi has been known for maintaining the pre-existing Ethiopian lunch menu and expanding dinner service to a tapas style menu. Its focus is global flavors interpreted using french techniques, Indian ayurvedic principles, and American ingredients and concepts..
Mr. Bovenzi has become a prominent figure in the Rochester vegan community, frequently appearing as a speaker for the Rochester Area Vegan Society and conducting food demonstrations at events like Rochester VegFest. His cooking philosophy focuses on health and inclusivity, ensuring that even those with restrictive diets or allergies can find satisfying meals.
Catch Chef Nick Bovenzi at Rochester VegFest 2026
🍽️ 12:00–1:00 PM – Live Culinary Demo at the Food Demo Tent Watch Chef Nick Bovenzi demonstrate his unique style and delicious plant-based recipes!
Dr. Jim Loomis & Chef Caryn Dugan Where Science Meets the Skillet: Your Prescription for Plant-Based Health
The Doc & Chef is a dynamic wellness duo featuring Dr. Jim Loomis, a board-certified physician specializing in internal medicine, and Chef Caryn Dugan, a nationally recognized plant-based culinary educator. Together, they are transforming how people think about food and health through their engaging video series, live events, and educational outreach.
Meet Dr. Jim Loomis
Dr. Jim Loomis is the Medical Director of the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and has served as team physician for the St. Louis Rams and St. Louis Cardinals. He is featured in the documentaries Forks Over Knives and The Game Changers and is an expert in lifestyle medicine, using evidence-based nutrition to prevent and reverse chronic disease.
At Rochester VegFest 2025, Dr. Loomis will speak about the power of plant-based nutrition to transform personal and public health—sharing clinical insights, practical guidance, and stories of healing through food.
Chef Caryn Dugan, also known as “STL Veg Girl,” is the founder of the Center for Plant-Based Living in St. Louis—the first plant-based culinary and nutrition education center in the U.S. After losing her father to cancer and battling her own health crisis, Caryn dedicated her life to teaching others how to thrive through plant-based food.
Join Chef Caryn for a live cooking demo at RVF 2025, where she’ll share a flavorful, approachable plant-based recipe that’s perfect for both seasoned vegans and newcomers alike—proving that eating for health can be delicious and doable.
Together, The Doc & Chef blend cutting-edge medical research with approachable, delicious recipes to help people take control of their health—one meal at a time. Their mission is simple: to make healthy living practical, evidence-based, and irresistibly tasty.
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