Introducing
California Vegan: Inspiration and Recipes from the People and Places of the Golden State
California culture has always been pioneering — and its vegan movement is a delicious example. With dozens of bioregions, year-round produce, and a mellow blend of global food traditions, the Golden State has always been a playground for plant-based explorers.
Their creation? A fresh, casual and healthy vegan cuisine that celebrates the best of everything plants have to offer.
Happily, you don’t have to be a Californian to enjoy this consciously chill style of eating. You’re my guest, so let’s get celebrating!
Join me on an edible tour of my home state, filled with local lore, sun-drenched photography and over 100 oh-so-California plant-based recipes.
Everyone’s welcome. Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or a plant-based dabbler, you’ll find inspiration, clear directions, and new favorite foods you’ve never heard of before. You’ll learn to bring California veganism to your kitchen, and then adapt it to your own region and lifestyle. Along the way, you’ll feel like you’ve dropped right into the scene as my special guest.
So, grab a picnic bench, dust away the oleander blossoms, and don’t mind my dog. I have a glass of wine, a stunning view, and a great meal cooked up just for you.
The California Vegan Vibe is for Everyone
Plant-based eating is a growing trend, with a recent Yale survey showing 94% of Americans are interested in eating more plant-based foods. There are a lot of reasons why people choose to eat vegan or just add a few more plants to their diets: Health, animal welfare, the environment, cost. And California veganism embraces all that and more. But here’s the one big thing it adds — celebration.
You see, you can help your body and the world by cooking up a pot of beans, for sure. But you can help your soul when you start to see the world of food like a California vegan. Instead of focusing on what you’re giving up, suddenly you see the joy of what you’re getting.
Ruby strawberries kissed by coastal fog.
Creamy sweet artichokes drizzled with tree-ripened oil.
Pungent foraged mushrooms melted on handmade toast.
Everything savored slowly, in the company of friends.
To a California vegan, food is a revelation. And it’s best when shared.
My new book will help you catch this vibe.
What’s Included
The Tour
A luscious road-trip through 16 California regions, from coastal vineyards to a hidden Shangri-la. I highlight ingredients, techniques, and how each area shaped the good vibes of vegan culture here and around the world.
The Eats
Over 100 stunning plant-based recipes that seem to step straight out of a California farm stand and on to your table with very little fuss. Each dish is photographed to inspire your own plant-based creations.
The Lifestyle
Membership as a California vegan. Okay, so there’s no card, but you can join the plant-based scene that’s changing the world. All it takes is a little plant love and some creative practices that bring California veganism to your corner of the world. I show you how inside!
Catch the Vibe
California Vegan: Inspiration and Recipes from the People and Places of the Golden State
Featuring over 100 plant-based recipes with full nutritional information and illustrated with my original photography, California Vegan welcomes Californians into veganism and people all over the world into California.
How Californians Do Vegan
Sourcing the Best
With 10 distinct bioregions that support hot and cool weather crops year-round, California vegans can source everything from tender greens to world famous wines directly from the grower. Learn how to make friends with the farmers and specialties of your region and fill your table with fresh new favorites.
Honoring Diversity
Did you know there are over 140 nationalities represented in LA alone? Whether it's savory street corn or exotic treats like bibimbap, the California Vegan scene features ingredients and techniques drawn from the finest plant-based food traditions from around the world. And you can too!
Supporting Sustainability
California does sustainability like no other place. Foraging, grow-your-own, farm-to-table and ultra-local share the same scene as high-tech systems designed to help replace the animal food industry. No matter where you live, you can embrace this open-minded approach and help preserve our planet.
Powering Health
From the famous 100-year-old vegetarians in California’s Blue Zone to tech workers who surf and climb all weekend, Californians power their outdoor lifestyles with abundant produce. Their choices also affect the health of countless animals, as well as precious soil and water systems. This eating style can fuel you to live large well into old age.
Savoring Relationship
California boasts a Mediterranean climate…and some of the Mediterranean way of life has come with it. Our favorite meals are savored with friends, often until well after the sun has set. Cook up a big California Vegan meal and share the health and laughter with those you love.
