Dosti दोस्ती, pronounced 'dostee': Friendship
Based out of Toronto, Daniel Bezkool is a private chef and health and wellness aficionado with a knack for storytelling through various mediums. He shares his passion for being one's best self through his work at manaryu eleven, and through every conversation and interaction that he engages in. Living passionately and embodying self-love is something he prioritizes and encourages those around him to do. After all, what is life without love?
AT THE CORE, WHO IS DANIEL BEZKOOL?
Hmmm, at my core, I'd say that I'm someone who is passionate about life and all of its motions. I am someone who wants to live a full and healthy life—in every way. I love ingredients and flavour, wellness and self-care, beauty, storytelling through food, colours, textures and more, and brand marketing—I know people don't talk about their career when they talk about identity sometimes, but I honestly love what I do. I love taking all the pieces of a puzzle and presenting them as one holistic piece. I'm passionate about everything I do.
At a point in my life, I didn't always love myself. I was self-conscious and couldn't bring myself to see who I was deep down. I used food as a bandaid in those moments; it was a comfort I needed. And now that I have been doing the work needed to love myself and give myself the chance to be the best me, I use food to feed my soul and share that with people around me.
It's not a patch fix, it's a love language.
DO YOU USE GHEE?
Oh my god, I do. And I LOVE IT! It's a clean and bioavailable fat source, has an incredibly complex flavour and brings life to everything you incorporate it into. I, of course, love using it in place of oils or butter—it just works beautifully in almost every dish, from vegetables to grains and beyond. I'm also really into the concept of "bulletproof coffee" with ghee and put my own spin on it.
And then, of course, Ghlee. I'm obsessed with the fact that this powerhouse superfood ingredient is now layered into skincare. I always walk with my Ghlee Lip Balm, spreading the word like it's my life's calling! I honestly can't wait to see what else the brand launches... 👀
WHAT DO SELF-CARE AND WELLNESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
To me, self-care and wellness are synonymous with healthy living and self-love. You cannot take care of yourself in the way that you need it if you don't love yourself. And you can't fully love yourself if you aren't committed to the health and wellbeing of, well, your being.
So, whether it's taking the time to indulge in my skincare routines, make myself really delicious and healing meals or meditating to give my imagination the space to be and breathe, it all stems from the absolute appreciation and adoration of self. I'm at the point where if it doesn't feed my soul or bring me happiness, I'm off it.
In all this, balance is essential. Nourishment and making healthy choices are key, yes. But so is treating yourself luxuriously. Like, buy that bag or that cream girl. But say yes to that green juice, too.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT SKINCARE ROUTINE?
I love trying new things, and I love treating myself to the little luxuries in life—from botanical face oils to soothing eye creams, masks and more. My routine is layered, but it ultimately depends on my skin needs. So I guess in that way, it's not really a routine, per se. Either way, I commit to it.
WHAT ARE PRACTICES ROOTED IN YOUR FAMILY OR CULTURE THAT YOU'VE EMBRACED AS AN ADULT?
I think this also falls under the skincare routine question: a really good Rosewater. She is that girl. I love using it for the gorgeous scent and also the skincare benefits. It's a great clearing and anti-inflammatory ingredient that gives you supple, bouncy, glowing skin.
HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR TIME?
I am constantly studying and gaining more knowledge on my craft—marketing and brand, as well as food and beverage. As a private chef who also works as a brand and marketing consultant, I think it's incredibly important to keep my finger on the pulse. The industries and spaces I navigate are everchanging, so I need to ride the waves as much as I go with the flow. But that's also the case with life, isn't it?
It's always in flow and always in motion.
Find Daniel at manaryu eleven to connect with him!