Albert Einstein did it. Leonardo De Vinci did it. Now Moby, Ellen and Joaquin are doing it.  Vegan isn’t just a diet, it is a lifestyle. No leather, no fur, no  animal testing are the mantras of vegans worldwide.  The impact of the switch to a plant based lifestyle is positive. Being vegan can save the planet. Eating Vegan can be the single biggest way to positively impact the earth.  Oxford University Study concluded that eating vegan can reduce your carbon footprint by 73%. Few know that eating a half pound of beef generates the same amount of greenhouse emissions as driving 9.8 miles while a half pound of potatoes is equivalent to .17 miles. 

The plant based diet craze is catching like wildfire with a 600% increase in the past three years. Not only is is saving the planet, it’s saving lives.  Eating an animal free diet reduces the risk of Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes. Best of all vegans are making the world a happier place. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine discovered that people who at a whole plant foods over a five year period, had fewer symptoms of depression.  Complex Carbohydrates increase the feel good hormone serotonin in the brain.  

As an event planner, I am thrilled to highlight how fabulous a vegan menu can be. In my home, we have six totally different diets ranging from vegan to meat centric. Over the years, I have been able to curve what were once full on carnivores, to a plant based diet simply by letting them taste the alternative variation. There have even been times when my husband has dipped a tasting spoon into a pot cooking on the stove, sighed with delight, then teased others that they can’t eat the (insert meat dish here) only find out the pot he just dipped his spoon into the vegan version.

I love bringing my vegan / vegetarian cooking skills into the events world. Often I even consult with the chef’s to teach them vegan hacks. For example, you can substitute one egg with 1 Tbls Flax seeds and 3 Tablespoons of water. As chef’s explore the culinary secrets to cooking amazing plant based menus, they too find their everyday habits changing. They soon begin to incorporate black salt to add the egg flavor and nutritional yeast for nutty enhancements to their recipes. The Golden Globes had huge success in 2020 by serving a plant based meal at their awards show. 

As an event planner, I have had huge success winning over the heart of carnivores at our formal feasts made with love, not animals.  For Kat Von D and Prayers wedding ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel, I worked directly with the chef to create an extraordinary meal.  At first, the hotel wasn’t use to creating vegan meals, so the selections offered were filled with soups, salads and tofu.  After directing the chefs to please study the menus at Au Lac and Crossroads, the hotel came back with a mind blowing menu.  

Our final  menu for Kat and Rafa’s vegan feast exceeded our anticipatory dreams . We kickstarted the affair with tray passed hors d’oeuvres featured blue corn potato tacos with avocado mousse, cucumber & avocado sushi rolls, heirloom tomato tartar cones drizzled in aged balsamic and the fan favorite coco-not shrimp with spicy peanut sauce.  The first course of our very formal sit down dinner, treated guests to spicy corn empanadas. The second course served a farmer’s market citrus and baby beet salad.  The pasta course boast4d fire-roasted corn, pepper and leek Tortellini in a creamy vodka sauce.  The entree was a comforting veggie seitan roast with toasted marshmallow sweet potato gratin. A sweet treat of flaky pastry, sweet cashew cheese and fresh fruit with minted coconut milk.  The  final indulgence, a red velvet wedding cake towered above the guests, served to full bellied, happy sweet toothed fans.  

The Vegan wedding craze continues.  Just a few months after Kat’s wedding which earned international acclaim and was featured in Veg News, guitarist John 5 from Rob Zombie tapped us to create his vegan wonderland wedding renewal. For this wedding we worked directly with Celestino Drago’s catering team to help direct their classic Italian hit dishes into new vegan indulgences. We directed the chef to reinvent their classic dishes. The risotto with truffle was made with vegetable broth.  An eggplant timbale with tomato coulis highlighted the feast.  Rock star vegan Tommy Lee were thrilled to have an entire meal created by a celebrity chef featuring an entirely plant based menu.  

On Valentine’s Day we worked with chef Denise of Alchemy Organica to create an elevated five course vegan feast with wine pairings. All wines were from www.veganwines.com.  Many curiously or sarcastically ask, “Aren’t all wines vegan.” The surprising answer is no.  Many wines are made with fining agents which are processing aids used during thee wine making process  which include milk protein, egg whites, gelatin and even fish bladder. Using a resource like vegan wine club @myveganwines introduces vineyards that cultivate their wines that are animal friendly.  

The trend continues new products are popping up with beyond beef and impossible burgers.  For the first time carnivore are curiously adventurously trying the new faux meats and are happily surprised. For the first time a faux burger is actually juicy.  Impossible meats actually uses beets to create a red juice.  Guests can even order their meat to be cooked to their preferred temperature. As people commit to meatless Mondays to explore meat alternative driven meals, the public is recognizing that eating vegan can be delicious and filling.  

The trend toward a vegan lifestyle is constantly growing.  Events offer the opportunity to introduce guests to delicious creative menus. Compliments pour in as amazed guests brag about how delicious the food is.  A trend has an expiration date. Soon vegan adventures will evolve from meatless Mondays, a great start, to more vegan feasts sought out by environmental, health conscientious foodies.