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Ellen DeGeneres Portia de Rossi Chef Roberto Martin

Written by Vegetarian Star on Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 in Chefs, Food & Drink, Videos.

Ever wonder what the story is behind the man who makes Ellen DeGeneres‘ vegan tacos, roast and pot pie?

Roberto Martin is the kind of man every woman wants–because he knows how to cook a good veg meal!

Martin, the youngest of 15 children, originally wanted to dice the Obamas and Gores of the world instead of onions.

He studied political science at Cal State Fullerton.

He later studied at the Culinary Institute of America and found himself cooking for celebrities shortly thereafter.

Cooking for a family with a diabetic child was Martin’s motivation to switch to plant based cooking.

“Now that I cook exclusively vegan meals for Ellen and Portia, I’ve learned that the variety of experiences in my life has helped me along the way,” Martin says on Ellen’s website. “I know what it’s like to change your habits, to remove animal protein from your diet, and I plan on sharing my experience with you. Even if you start with just one meal a week, you can learn to cook healthy and delicious vegan meals without having to make a big change.”

In case you’ve forgotten how good Martin does his thing, watch the clip showing him demonstrating a vegan pot pie.

And grab some of his other recipe ideas here.

via scouseveg

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Rick Bayless Restaurants Had Illegal Meat

Written by Vegetarian Star on Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 in Chefs, Food & Drink, Not So Vegetarian.

Rick Bayless. Credit: Joshua M. Thompson on Wikimedia Commons

Rick Bayless. Credit: Joshua M. Thompson on Wikimedia Commons

Something smelled bad at PBS chef Rick Bayless‘ restaurants in Chicago recently–the smell of uninspected meat!

An Illinois Department of Agriculture inspector found 80 pounds of bacon without an inspection mark.

“The only product (Illinois restaurants) can have are either ones with an Illinois or federal mark of inspection,” said Colleen O’Keefe, a division manager of food safety and animal protection at the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Whether or not this meant unsafe meat made it to the patrons of Mr. Bayless’ restaurants is unclear, but with the knowledge of the health risks of tainted meat, one would think Frontera Grill, Topolobampo and Xoco would follow every regulation meant to provide a safer product to the public.

A helpful hint to customers of Bayless’ eateries–skip the meat altogether and order a veg meal instead!

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“Top Chef” Finalist Carla Hall Cauliflower Vegetable Soup (Recipe)

Written by Vegetarian Star on Sunday, December 27th, 2009 in Chefs, Food & Drink, Recipes.

2009 Fresh Air Fund Salute To American Heroes

Top Chef finalist Carla Hall was scared to death of making a vegetarian dish for the judges during the reality TV show competition, but thankfully, she’s being a little braver now that the heat isn’t so intense in the kitchen.

NPR gave Carla the challenge of cooking something using a seasonal vegetable and Carla chose cauliflower.

Unfortunately, Carla also chose to put chicken stock in the original recipe, but she says vegetarians can substitute either vegetable stock or almond milk.

Carla allowing substitutions in her soup explains her stance on following recipes.

“You just have to be present, and let the process be a little organic and not be so rigid with the recipe, because you have to feel it. For instance, if I’m doing this soup in season it’s going to taste totally differently than it would if it’s not in season. You have to honor the produce; maybe you have to add something else in it.”

You can listen to Carla talking to NPR while making her soup and grab the recipe for Cream Of Cauliflower Soup With Roasted Cauliflower Florets, Toasted Walnuts And Brown Butter at npr.org.

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Danielle Konya Vegan Treats “The 10! Show” Appearance (Video)

Written by Vegetarian Star on Monday, December 21st, 2009 in Business, Chefs, Food & Drink, Videos.

Danielle Konya appeared on The 10! Show along with her scrumptious vegan desserts.

If you’re trying to fight off sweet cravings, this clip may send you into relapse.

The owner of Vegan Treats is a fave among stars like AFI’s Davey Havok and Gwyneth Paltrow.

And Alkaline Trio‘s drummer Derek Grant even wrote a song as a tribute to Danielle and her goodies…ahem..her vegan dessert goodies, that is.

“Vegan dessert was something that was really lacking,” says Danielle of her decision to start her business.

Watch Danielle demonstrate how to make Chocolate Peppermint Dreams.

This lady needs her own Food Network Show!

via supervegan.com

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Meatless Mouthful: Tal Ronnen On Affordable Vegetarian Diet

Written by Vegetarian Star on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 in Chefs, Meatless Mouthful.

“When you look at a grocery bill, the most expensive part is usually meat. Vegetables are never going to be as expensive as meat. Part of the responsibility is not just the companies that sell the food, it’s up to consumers to make better food choices. The more that people demand better and organic food. The more economically viable it will be in the future.”

The Conscious Cook chef Tal Ronnen, giving his thoughts on how families living on a budget can still eat veg.

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Bethenny Frankel “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” PETA Ad

Written by Vegetarian Star on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 in Chefs, Fur, Reality TV.

Bethenny Frankel "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" PETA Ad

Bethenny Frankel "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" PETA Ad

Bethenny Frankel‘s long awaited “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” PETA ad has finally arrived.

This is what every real housewife should be wearing.

Not long ago, Bethenny felt the need to cover up–with fur.

Then an encounter with some anti-fur protesters made her rethink her fashion decisions.

“Since then, I have really been against it. I’m cleaning out my closets–trim, everything.”

Is it time to clean out your own closet from all things cruel, including fur and leather?

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Ellen DeGeneres Chef Roberto Martin Makes Vegan Pot Pie (Video)

Written by Vegetarian Star on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 in Chefs, Food & Drink, TV Hosts, Videos.

Mmm…The smell of comfort food is in the air!

Ellen DeGeneres‘ personal chef Roberto Martin was recently on her show to demonstrate making a faux chicken pot pie.

Roberto uses Gardein faux meats, a brand also popular with vegan chef and The Conscious Cook author Tal Ronnen.

“I’m crazy about this product,” Roberto says of the Gardein (TM) Chick’n Scallopini.

Watch the clip and your job of finding a Holiday meal for the fam will be done.

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“Dirt Candy” Amanda Cohen On Bad Vegetarian Reputation

Written by Vegetarian Star on Friday, December 11th, 2009 in Chefs, Food & Drink.

Amanda Cohen of Dirt Candy

Amanda Cohen of Dirt Candy

Moby‘s prodigy from Teany has been named 2009 Chef of the Year by Metromix.

Although they love Amanda Cohen, Metromix isn’t too keen on the vegetarian food she cooks at her restaurant, Dirt Candy.

Just take a look at these two questions they fired at Amanda during an interview.

Does vegetarian food get a bad rap?
It does, and people can’t look behind what vegetarian food is about and not what it’s not about. The reality is that most people probably, at least once a week, have a meal that doesn’t have meat or chicken or fish in it. They just don’t call that meal “my vegetarian meal of the week.”

And then they just get real honest about it.

Well, we gotta say it: Most vegetarian food is pretty terrible.
That’s a hard thing for me to agree to [laughs]. But I think vegetarian food has a built-in audience, and [people] don’t necessarily have to try to go outside of that audience. So whether or not that makes the food good or bad, it has its audience. …There’s very few restaurants in this city where they’re expected to state their politics before you even walk in the door. But that onus is put on vegetarian restaurants, and I think it creates a world where it’s hard for vegetarian restaurants to necessarily make exciting and different food.

New Yorkers, what do you think?

Does Dirt Candy change the reputation of vegetarian food, for Metromix and everyone else?

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