FRAN COSTIGAN

Queen of Vegan Desserts

  • FRAN COSTIGAN
  • MEET FRAN
  • APPLAUSE
  • SERVICES
  • EVENTS
  • BOOKS
  • RECIPES
  • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • RESOURCES
  • CONTACT

May 22, 2015 by Fran Costigan 1 Comment

California Dreaming with VegNews Magazine

CA from San Bruno Google to miyokos Kitchen

 Friday after leaving YouTube Google. Elizabeth and I drove to Miyokos Kitchen.

Miyokos KitchenWe met the Miyokos Kitchen team, and donned our hairnets and clogs to tour the kitchen and cheese aging room. The scent of real cheese was in the air, creating for me a somewhat surreal experience. After two decades of being vegan, aged cheese that is dairy-free is a relatively new phenomenon. I wasn’t hungry after the big veggie lunch at YouTube, but production manager Sheila was toasting bagels, the better for us to taste the brand new cream cheese. Kyle, shown above, also a production manager and the father of infant twins, developed this recipe which I hope will come to market soon. Had you been there, you’d have seen us eating this miraculous vegan cream cheese that tasted like my childhood, by the spoonful. I have only two recipes in Vegan Chocolate that use vegan cream cheese. With sweeteners and flavorings added, the cheeses work well. But now, all I could think of was CREAM CHEESE COOKBOOK. Then, as Miyoko is always a step ahead, out of the refrigerator came two – what else – New York Style Cheesecakes, chocolate and vanilla. Does anyone besides me remember the creamy yet heavy traditional NY cheesecakes? This is it. More tasting followed as we nibbled two special edition cheeses, Sweet Cream Strawberry – Fleurs de Mai and Napa Valley in a Brandy Cured Fig Leaf. Cheese heaven that just happens to be vegan is a fact. Both were excellent.

Miyokos SoupI stayed at Miyoko’s lovely home. She said dinner would be simple. I said – dinner? In the kitchen we seee on Vegan Mashup, I watched Miyoko make a silken soup and fresh green salad. We went to bed early, and in the morning, after some freshly ground coffee and homemade muesli, I got to work making chocolate cakes, ganache glaze, truffles and crostini for the next two events. Jill Nussinow, The Veggies Queen stopped by for a quick visit and stayed for lunch.

I brought Orange Sesame Truffles and Chocolate Crostini to Friday night’s San Francisco Vegetarian Society Benefit, and Chocolate Torte To Live For and Ganache to the Vegan Cheese and Chocolate Soiree held at VegNews on Saturday.

Friday Night: San Francisco Vegetarian Society Benefit. Do Bay Area Vegans have more fun?

CA SFVS Miyoko CheesesThis party was held at a beautiful apartment with an outdoor space. The Bay Area vegans are very active group that were warm and welcoming. They definitely know how to do a party. That’s LaVonne with the spirally  glasses and Laura with the heart on hers. Such nice people!

 

Saturday Afternoon: Food Empowerment Project Birthday Party

Food Empowerment 3Vegan Chocolate went to press before I knew about this organization, but I always point to Food Empowerment Project as the best resource for up to date information on slavery free chocolate and other ingredients. I had a chance to thank FEP founder Lauren Ornelas for her vision and work, meet some people I’d met only virtually before, as well as friends and colleagues who live in the Bay Area. The day was gorgeous and the food was plentiful and delicious and, of course, it was all vegan. Pictured are the two Colleens: Patrick Goudreau and Holland, and Theresa Perez of LoveBaked, the pastry artist who made the cake, and Lauren.

 

Saturday Night: The Relaunch of VegNews Magazine – The Cheese and Chocolate Soiree! 

VegNews 2It was a real treat to see the actual office space of my favorite vegan lifestyle magazine. It is light and airy and even has a terrace. A lot happens behind the scenes at cooking classes and events, and while Miyoko and I set up with help from our assistants Elise, Olivia and chef Elizabeth, guests were treated to cocktails and vegan cheese nibbles. VegNews Publisher Colleen Holland knows how to throw a party!

Our guests went home goodie bags filled with treats from the following companies.

  • Wholesome Sweetners
  • Theo Chocolate
  • Rescue Chocolate
  • Go Max Go Foods
  • Pacari Chocolate
  • Bob’s Red Mill
  • California Olive Ranch
  • Miyokos Kitchen

After a very big day, we once again crossed the Golden Gate Bridge back to Miyoko’s home. I left for L.A. on Sunday morning. This last part of the trip would include a visit with my son and his family and later in the week, a Vegan Chocolate Demo at Google LA in Venice Beach, as well as a visit to the new Matthew Kinney Culinary Academy & Restaurant.

To be continued…

Photo of Fran, with Theresa and Lauren by Michelle Cehn. Chocolate cake photo from the VegNews Soiree by Hannah Kaminsky.

Related

Filed Under: Book Tour, Chocolate, Events Tagged With: California, Food Empowerment Project, Miyoko's Kitchen, San Francisco Vegetarian Society, vegan, vegan cheese, vegan chocolate, VegNews


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

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

SaveSave

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

ENROLL FOR CLASSES


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 July 19, 2022. Check out the very cool video, too.

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

Subscribe to Fran’s newsletter

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
Buy from Amazon
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
Buy from Amazon
Vegan Chocolate : Unapologetically Luscious and Decadent Dairy-Free Desserts
Buy now!

Upcoming Events

Jun
14
Tue
all-day Fran Costigan’s Online Essential... @ Rouxbe Online Culinary School
Fran Costigan’s Online Essential... @ Rouxbe Online Culinary School
Jun 14 – Aug 15 all-day
Fran Costigan's Online Essential Vegan Desserts Course at Rouxbe_ June 2020 @ Rouxbe Online Culinary School
The next session of Fran Costigan’s Online Essential Vegan Desserts Course at Rouxbe starts June 14, 2022 (my birthday!) but you can sign up at any time and start when you like. The early registration[...]
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML

RECENT POSTS

  • Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies Made with Vegan Butter
  • Hannukah Latkes
  • Dreena’s Nanaimo Bars – Dreena’s Kind Kitchen (Giveaway)
  • Rouxbe Culinary Courses Summer Flash Sale
  • Orange Dreamsicle Bars from Super Vegan Scoops by Hannah Kaminsky

SPECIAL OFFERS



Main Street Vegan Academy

RECIPES

beverages
cakes & cupcakes
cookies & bars
frozen-desserts
fruit desserts
muffins & breads
pies & tarts
puddings, mouse & creams
savory dishes
truffles and confections

Subscribe to Fran’s newsletter

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Tumblr

Privacy Policy

SEARCH

Top 30 Vegan Baking Blogs Winner
Vegan Baking Blogs

Copyright © 2022 Chef Fran Costigan — Site by KAPOK STUDIO

Cookies

This site uses cookies: Find out more.