A warm and inviting portrait of Chef Laura Theodore holding a plate of chocolate cupcakes to the backdrop of piano keys gazes out from the cover of this musical cookbook. As if Chef Laura is having an intimate sit-down with a friend, her Tenth Anniversary Edition of Jazzy Vegetarian feels uncannily familiar and almost conversational.
In this mellifluous, 211-page unassuming paperback, Chef Laura touches on more than just vegan recipes. As if lovingly speaking to her younger self, she imparts a wealth of knowledge about ways to cook and shop more intentionally for the health and well being of oneself and the planet. Jazzy Vegetarian touches on everything from how to cook with anti-inflammatory spices used in Ayurveda, oil-free cooking, human rights concerns regarding the cacao industry, and even the importance of purchasing products in recycled packaging. Jazzy Vegetarian weaves together vegan cooking and lifestyle tips in a unique way, encouraging the reader to practice not only new ways of cooking, but also of being.
The 112 breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and drink recipes in this book use basic ingredients easily purchased at any grocery store, proving that variety doesn’t demand complexity and healthy vegan cooking does not require access to an expensive urban health food store. Jazzy Vegetarian is rounded out by a collection of mostly simple, uncomplicated recipes, encompassing a variety of cuisines, including Italian and Southwestern-inspired recipes. Ever present is Chef Laura’s keen awareness of the ongoing modern day struggle to create work-life balance. With this in mind, Jazzy Vegetarian features helpful cooking advice or “jazzy tips,” a glossary of vegan ingredients, a table of equivalent measures for easy reference, and best of all, 12 pre-set multiple-course themed menus complete with accompanying music selections for entertaining guests!
Our favorite takeaways from Jazzy Vegetarian are the delectable Reuben-Style Sandwiches and Summer Peaches and Lemon “Cream” Tart recipes, Chef Laura’s themed menus for easy entertaining, and the clean eating tips sprinkled throughout the book. We hope that future iterations of Jazzy Vegetarian include more raw vegan recipes and explicitly state the time commitment required to prepare and execute each recipe. We also hope to see references to local vegan organizations doing work on the ground so that readers can connect with mentorship opportunities and learn more about initiatives to combat human and non-human animal abuses.