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<p>&nbsp;</p><p>AMADI caught up with world renowned celebrity chef Lauren Von Der Pool to give tips on how to live a healthy lifestyle to start off the New Year.&nbsp; Her restaurant, Green Caf&eacute;, will be opening in Dupont Circle soon.&nbsp; In the meantime, she is using her non-profit organization, Von Der Pool Gourmet Health and Living Services, Inc to implement healthy living programs in the community.</p><p>From selling raw pies in front of Universities on the streets of Washington D.C. to catering to celebrities at the Oscars, Lauren Von Der Pool&rsquo;s journey through the world of gourmet cuisine is an amazing one.&nbsp; The 25 year old Northwest D.C. native, who turned her life around after a near-death experience in a fight at 16 years old, is now a vegan celebrity chef and CEO of Von Der Pool Gourmet, LLC and Von Der Pool Gourmet Health and Living Services, Inc.&nbsp; In a few short weeks, the chef who has studied at Le Cordon Bleu and worked alongside Wolfgang Puck, will celebrate the opening of Caf&eacute; Green in Dupont Circle as Founder, Senior Vice President, and Corporate Culinary Director.</p><p>Lauren is currently a private chef for recording artists Wale, UCB, and a host of A-list celebrities when they are staying in Washington, D.C.&nbsp; Lauren eats raw and vegan foods, but she cooks meals for all eating lifestyles.&nbsp; &ldquo;Wale likes for me to cook oxtails,&rdquo; she says for example. Lauren assures that no matter the eating lifestyle, everything she cooks is all organic.&nbsp; &ldquo;It&rsquo;s still very healthy and live raw foods are always included in the meals.&rdquo;&nbsp; Her cooking is nothing short of amazing.&nbsp; I have had the pleasure of indulging in a feast a la Von Der Pool, halfway helped her in the kitchen (i.e. washing and cutting), and she even taught me how to make lobster pizza.&nbsp; She used fresh, organic ingredients for the feast and even used edible flowers in the salad!&nbsp; And with the opening of Caf&eacute; Green, all of the D.C. area will be able to sample vegan and raw dishes prepared by Lauren and crew and take delight at a bar stocked with organic beer and wine.</p><p>The influence that Lauren Von Der Pool has on the community is astonishing.&nbsp; She was the youngest CEO attendee at the recent Clean Energy Economy Forum at the White House and her non-profit implements healthy living and eco-awareness to schools in statistically obese Wards in Washington, D.C.</p>