About the Founder
Zizania founder Dominique Hoffman is a nutritionist and chef who was raised on a traditional Mediterranean plant-based diet. Since her childhood in France, Dominique gravitated towards wholesome foods that nourished her body and spirit.
Many years later, as an American at a high-pressure job, she found that her eating habits had changed drastically. Like millions around her, she was eating foods packed with everything but the nutrition her body needed. Dominique left her job and began researching the causes and cures for the American diet.
“We are feeding ourselves a lot of food but receiving little nourishment and little energy” Dominique says. “I saw an opportunity to help people in need.” While the population that Dominique serves is not generally considered needy, the average American can have serious self-nourishment problems. “We eat for many different reasons, but not usually to nourish ourselves properly.”
Dominique studied at the Ecole de Boulangerie et de Pâtisserie in Paris, France. She has taught cooking courses for the Fairfax County Adult and Continuing Education Program. She also serves as the in-house nutritionist for Fitness Together in Chantilly and Dunn Loring. Dominique has served as an Executive Chef at Vespucci Fine Italian Dining and has created an innovative Zizania menu to add to their traditional cuisine. Most recently, Dominique was named Nutrition Program Director for Whole Health Medical Centers in Alexandria, VA and New York, NY.
Zizania is the result of Dominique’s fusion of traditional recipes, modern nutritional advances, Parisian cuisine, and her experiences with designing diets to meet doctors’ instructions. Zizania is Dominique’s wish for everyone. Enjoy eating again and live a long, healthy, productive life.
