Chef Tanya Petrovna founder of Native Foods California Vegan restaurants tells you what's going on in the world of California vegan cuisine, what adventure she's on, and of course she'll let you know what the cause of the week is.
For some reason since a child I've loved animals and have been blessed to have had animal friends through my years. I was raised by European parents who were in the gourmet food/restaurant business, of the old school trained European fashion. The saying was that my mother's cooking made Julia Child look like a Taco Bell commercial, it was that spectacular, and mom cooked my every meal.
A world traveler at an early age and a biology major at UC Santa Cruz I met people in these places which enabled me to expand and develop my knowledge of international food culture and understanding of the basic laws of science and nutrition. And from a lovely landlady I learned how to make tempeh and seitan.
I had been criticized through the years for my vegetarian habits and relentless teased for taking the food away from poor starving rabbits. I took the criticism well but then I decided to fight back.
That fight it is called Native Foods and it has taken to the streets. A fight for the rights for all to live peacefully and eat peacefully. You gotta know though it's a really fun fight and the stories and scars are delicous, so I ask you, "put up your forks and get in the ring."
