summer 2012

How many animals/pets do you keep? What are their names? (Our cats are Loki and Baby!)

I’ve got three kitties - Fizzle, Avocado and Kirby. I Instagram them constantly. And I have birdfeeders so I’ve got like 2 million birds.

Are you pleased with the progress mainstream outlets like the Food Network have made in terms of embracing/acknowledging veganism since you started the PPK? Hmm, not really? I don’t think that they are embracing or acknowledging vegan food any more than they were ten years ago, save for cupcakes. I’m not sure that they ever will, simply because the advertising isn’t there. I predict that there will be 20 more shows about ice carving, giant burger making and cakes shaped like president’s heads before they have one show about veganism. I’m a Food Network addict, it’s almost always on, and it’s great entertainment and but I don’t think that’s where the revolution is going to be happening.

What’s one food that you couldn’t stand before going vegan but have learned to love?

I don’t have a good answer for that because when I went vegan I still had teenage tastebuds so I had to learn to like absolutely everything that wasnít pizza or french fries. But as it stands today, I’ll eat any ingredient besides baby corn.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MISSING FROM THE VEGAN COMMUNITY AS IT STANDS NOW? It probably varies from place to place. I don’t think that there is one vegan community to speak of.

I think there just needs to be more of us! It needs to be as accessible as possible. More restaurants, more groceries, more sanctuaries, more vegans setting a positive example and being awesome.

WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE FOR SOMEONE WHO INSISTS THEY “CAN’T COOK”?

My best advice would be --- cook! Follow a simple recipe, something with the basics, like pesto pasta or lentil soup. Most people mess stuff up because they get impatient or distracted and end up not following directions or letting things burn. If you really want to learn, watch a friend that can cook make something, watch videos online, see how to chop onions, and mince garlic, read recipes from beginning to end. Immerse yourself in it for a month or so, pump your favorite tunes, try to make it fun. If you can’t make it fun, then do whatever it takes to make it through. And once you get some basics down and make some food that you love, you’ll see that the work is worth it. Above all, don’t be lazy! I sometimes have to whisper that to myself before diving into a lasagna, and it helps.

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