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May 19, 2015 by Fran Costigan 1 Comment

California Fun and Yum

California Dreaming: Eating Vegan & Google

I was super excited with invitations to do Vegan Chocolate book events at two of Google’s California offices. The first was as a Zagat’s Guest Chef at YouTube Google Headquarters in San Bruno, CA, to be followed the following week by an Authors@Google chocolate dessert demo at Google-LA. What I didn’t know at the time was how much more exciting my trip to California would be, thanks to special vegan happenings around the Google dates. I was super busy and very well fed, from the minute I landed at SFO, May 28th.

 

Day one: The Plant Cafe Organic

The Plant Cafe Organic

My friend Cathleen, a vegan friendly omnivore and culinary professional, picked me up for an early dinner. We decided on The Plant Cafe Organic in nearby Burlingame. All of The Plant locations feature organic, sustainably grown foods and the vegan options are many. The host, Sarah, greeted us very warmly. We got chatting about vegan cuisine and I gave her my business card. Cathleen and I choose a couple of starters and salad mains, which we thoroughly enjoyed with some California white wine.

 

Fran and Cathleen at The Plant

We had decided against dessert until sous chef Amiel Baesa came out of the kitchen with a slice of a heavenly raw berry cheesecake. Coincidently, executive chef, Sasha Weiss has been one of my student at the Natural Gourmet Instiute, way back in the 90’s when I was a CTP instructor. Sasha Weiss, who was off that night, has a very impressive resume that includes executive pastry chef at San Francisco’s famed Millennium restaurant.

 

Chef Ameil of Plant Cafe Organic

After dinner, we wandered into the big indie bookstore next door. I gave the manager, Earle, my card (Lesson here: carry your business cards!) and he said, “see you tomorrow, Fran, at your YouTubeGoogle event with the books.” Now I felt even more comfortable.

 

Day 2: YouTube Google Headquarters, San Bruno

YouTube Google

I was given a tour of the two YouTube Google buildings, plus the kitchens and cafes and snack corners that are everywhere. I noticed that all of the food, even the fruit, was labeled quite specifically. (Bananas: Rainforest Certified.) Trent Page, the director of culinary, said it is a mission of the company to educate the “Googlers” about ingredients, ethics, and even why taking just enough food is the way to go. With so many people to feed several times a day, plus snacks, Google has enough buying power to make a difference. I felt really good about Google “voting with their very big fork.”

Fran at YouTube Google

The pastry department made twenty beautifully glazed Chocolate Tortes to Live For (two were Gluten-Free) and served the cakes with Vanilla Pastry Cream during lunch. I answered questions about ingredients, about vegan desserts in general and signed lots of books. I was having the best time ever, but when I saw my cookbook video, plus others of my YouTubes (including one with Grant Butler for Oregonian and an oldie with Caryn Harglass) on multiple screens, well, that was a thrill.

Chocolate Torte at YouTube Google

The day just kept getting better. While I was having lunch, I saw that a friend from another time, long ago had entered the café. And so it was that the former executive vegan chef educator at Google at Mountainview, Elizabeth Schindler and I were reunited after almost 30 years. Now, Elizabeth and I would have a chance to catch up on the drive to the acutal Miyoko’s Kitchen, where the atisan vegan cheese is made, aged, hand-wrapped and sent out.

To be continued…

 

Related

Filed Under: Chocolate, Events Tagged With: Authors@Google, Chocolate Torte to Live For, Fran Costigan, Good Cakes Fran, Google LA, Google YouTube, The Plant Cafe Organic, Vegan California, vegan chocolate


The next Esssential Vegan Desserts Course starts course starts June 14, 2022! See the syllabus, FAQ, recipes and videos here. 

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Want to learn to make the best ever vegan desserts? Of course you do! Sign up now for my Essential Vegan Desserts Course with Rouxbe.
The next 90-day online course starts June 14 2022. Check out the very cool video, too.

Rouxbe is recognized by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation as a quality program.

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Featured Books

MORE GREAT GOOD DAIRY-FREE DESSERTS NATURALLY

MORE GREAT GOOD DAIRY-FREE DESSERTS NATURALLY

Even if you're a novice baker, you'll be able to make rich, moist cakes, delightful cookies, and flaky pie crust--all cholesterol free.

More info →
Buy This Book Online
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MORE GREAT GOOD DAIRY-FREE DESSERTS NATURALLY
Buy now!

Vegan Chocolate : Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy-Free Desserts

Vegan Chocolate : Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy-Free Desserts

It can be difficult to find truly indulgent vegan desserts—especially chocolate. But for the first time, chocolate cakes, brownies, truffles, puddings, ice creams, and more are within reach: dairy-free, organic, fair-trade, and sublime.

More info →
Buy This Book Online
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Vegan Chocolate : Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy-Free Desserts
Buy now!

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