January 7, 2008

The Year Of The Vegan

by IsaChandra

Why is there a picture of a quiche here?

I can never remember how to make oatmeal.

It’s embarrassing, and it’s not just a one-time embarrassment that I can work out in therapy, it’s an every other morning embarrassment where I stand immobilized at my kitchen counter in complete disbelief that I really need to read the goddam oatmeal container again. So it’s always weird to hear myself talking about food.

This interview with Weekend Edition’s LeAnn Hanson, featuring me and the uncharacteristically chatty Terry, was really fun! Terry and I got to walk through the hallowed halls of NPR and sip on their filtered water. After it aired yesterday, 2 out of the 3 top cookbooks on Amazon were vegan ones. That would be Skinny Bitch in the Kitch (big ups to Rory and Kim! You guys should be our frenemies!) and Veganomicon. And the third one wasn’t even a cookbook, but it does have a chapter on veganism*. So I would say that the score board for 2008 looks like veganism: 1, meat: 0.

My muscles are pretty permanently clenched when I think of the rest of the year, on both a personal and political level or if you want to be feminist about it, what’s the difference? We’ve got the elections coming up and I am sure that president Kucinich would have retroactively declared this the year of the vegan if he hadn’t gotten the boot, so now I guess president Obama will have to carry the torch. Do you remember the carefree nineties, when the president was able to declare things “The Year Of…” Now every year is pretty much the same what with the war and torture. Not that the nineties were all that awesome, but they were better. I feel like all plans are on hold until November, which is pretty much how I felt in 2004.

However, the world still needs vegan cookbooks no matter what happens and so I am thrilled (well, as thrilled as someone who is sitting on her couch in bra and pajama bottoms at noon can be) to announce mine and Terry’s upcoming projects, some together and some separately. Not because we don’t love each other, but because we would like to continue loving each other.

Spring 2009: The Crack Of Noon – A Vegan Brunch Book by me!
Fall 2009: Vegan Cookies (title TBA) by Terry and me!
Fall 2010: Vegan Latina (title TBA) by Terry Hope Romero!
Fall 2010: Vegan Entertaining (title TBA) by me and maybe by Terry a little bit, we shall see

I know those dates sound crazy. “2010? We’re not going to have a 2010. ” But it will come faster than we think and if I get this time machine working, even faster still. Thanks for all the love and support, everyone. For seriously.

*That would be Professors Who Hunt Boar And Justify It Because They Think It’s Awesome And Thrilling To Hang Out With Non-Academics In Any Capacity But Especially A Manly One by Michael Pollan.

45 Comments
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  • January 7, 2008 at 1:45 pm: harmony

    yay!
    looking forward to all of them.
    xo

  • January 7, 2008 at 2:44 pm: djkp

    “*That would be Professors Who Hunt Boar And Justify It Because They Think It?s Awesome And Thrilling To Hang Out With Non-Academics In Any Capacity But Especially A Manly One by Michael Pollan.”

    You’re hilarious.

  • January 7, 2008 at 2:56 pm: erica with a "c"

    Can’t wait to see what exciting new ideas you and Terry have to offer the vegan world with your upcoming duo and solo cookbooks!!!!!

  • January 7, 2008 at 2:57 pm: Vegan_Noodle

    Woohoo!! Can’t wait for 2010 now….

  • January 7, 2008 at 3:28 pm: jd

    I have to pee, and this was hard to read and not wet myself.

  • January 7, 2008 at 3:56 pm: AsstroGirl

    2010! Aren’t we supposed to have flying cars to go with our cool new vegan cookbooks? So much to look forward to!

    Congratulations to both of you!

  • January 7, 2008 at 4:29 pm: Ash

    This is so exciting! So…um…are you by any chance looking for testers?

  • January 7, 2008 at 5:12 pm: Boober

    i’m so jazzed about 2010 now!

  • January 7, 2008 at 5:13 pm: Jillian

    SO. EXCITED. for the brunch book.

    I’d love to test for you (hint).

  • January 7, 2008 at 5:18 pm: Heather

    This is so awesome. I think that by declaring this the YEAR OF THE VEGAN, it shall be so. Power of positive thinking and all. Man, you guys are so awesome. Hm, can I think of anything more interesting to say…..? Um, no. You’re awesome. The end.

  • January 7, 2008 at 5:56 pm: Cherie

    If they were available for pre-order, I’d be right on it!

  • January 7, 2008 at 6:51 pm: Amy

    Ooh, congratulations on the interview and all your upcoming projects! I would also love to test for the brunch (best meal ever) book, but you probably already have a bajillion volunteers. If not, I am getting in line.

  • January 7, 2008 at 7:14 pm: Candice

    I secretly love Michael Pollan… veeeery secretly

  • January 7, 2008 at 9:13 pm: Veronica

    That’s exciting! And no kidding how fast projects and deadlines come up. Looks like I’ll have something more to look forward to other than graduation…

  • January 7, 2008 at 9:25 pm: Ellen

    I cannot WAIT for the brunch cookbook! I love brunch!!!!!!!!!! 2010…c’mon!

  • January 8, 2008 at 12:01 am: ruby red vegan

    I’m so excited that you do have future plans…. I was hoping Veganomicon wouldn’t be the be-all-end-all cookbook because of its awesomeness and then I was afraid you guys would just be done writing cookbooks for awhile. So yay! I am especially excited for the brunch and cookie books!

  • January 8, 2008 at 12:40 am: SeitanSaidDance

    Four books in two years. Amazing. Year of the Vegan indeed!

  • January 8, 2008 at 1:57 am: Kristen

    I have to say that I’ve got problems with the Skinny Bitch thing, so I’m very glad you guys are continuing to write and do good things! I’m merely an “always vegetarian, often vegan,” but I’ve loved everything I’ve made out of Veganomicon and Vegan Cupcakes. Keep up the great work!

  • January 8, 2008 at 2:21 am: Aubrey

    I loved your interview on NPR. It made me giggle.
    I am also happy, happy, happy about more cookbooks.
    I need more awesome cookbooks, cause what else am I supposed to read?

    Go Obama….

  • January 8, 2008 at 2:44 am: Teddy

    wait wait wait….
    why is the quiche there?!

    :)

    i’m looking forward to all of them as well…

    Teddy

  • January 8, 2008 at 2:56 am: vegetation

    Woo Hoo! More cookbooks!

    Plus I have that same issue, only mine is with semolina rather than porridge, sigh. I’m so over the semolina box it’s not funny.

  • January 8, 2008 at 5:38 am: Melisser

    Rounding out the decade with books of awesomeness! Hell to the yes!

  • January 8, 2008 at 5:56 am: susie

    Cheers!

    Its going to be so awesome when those books are real.

    “Remember back before everyone had turned vegan?” will be what we say in 2010.

    And I hope you pulled a few strings while you were at morning edition to finagle a vegan episode of Puzzle Master Presents.

  • January 8, 2008 at 12:28 pm: urbanvegan

    Can’t wait to hear the interview (*good times*)…and I can’t wait for your new books.

    It is the beginning of the decade and century of the vegan.

  • January 8, 2008 at 3:46 pm: Nicole

    If for some random reason you feel like ading another tester I would abslutely love to help you out. I mean, srsly.

  • January 8, 2008 at 3:52 pm: Sunny

    Wow! Congratulations!
    I’d really like to be a tester, too so if you’re still looking for one …

  • January 8, 2008 at 4:02 pm: Devery

    Isa,

    You and Terry were great on NPR. Your comment about Michael Pollan here made me pee myself.

    If you still want to support Kucinich through the primary (I am and doing some volunteering for the campaign) feel free to email me at devery@gmail.com.

    Thank you so much for teaching me how to cook.

    With gratitude,

    Devery

  • January 8, 2008 at 9:20 pm: pdx-nummers

    Terrific news about your future books, I can’t wait!

    The interview was great, and I’m hapy to hear about its effect on vegan book sales (especially yours!)

  • January 9, 2008 at 12:15 am: martha

    loved hearing you two on npr
    thanks for the most recent blog entries…i live in eastern montana (ultra- conservativeland) and your comments help me get thru another day here

    go girls go!!!!

    ps every recipe that i have tried from your web site has been wonderfully delicious!!!

  • January 9, 2008 at 3:00 pm: Dynah

    Loved the NPR piece. I had no idea it was pronounced ‘eesa’, I always thought ‘eye-sa’- ‘eesa’ is so pretty! Can’t wait for more scrumptious books. Not that I’d eat the books. You know what I mean.

  • January 10, 2008 at 1:49 pm: carolanne

    I’m very excited about this brunch book because I tend to wake up as late as possible on the weekends when it’s kinda too late for breakfast but I can’t justify a tofurkey sandwich being my first meal of the day.

  • January 10, 2008 at 3:04 pm: hatorisblindeye

    Wow. I’m really excited about the upcoming cookbooks. The Crack of Noon is an awesome title. That’s a constant joke between me and my brother, late sleepers both. I’m also excited about the cookie book. I’m such a sweets addict and I love making cookies. I’d love to be a tester for that one, when the time comes. Thanks for the great news. It’s raised my spirits.

  • January 10, 2008 at 4:44 pm: Dawn

    All the books sound great. I am especially looking forward to the latina one and de-glutenizing a bunch more cookies in 2010.

  • January 10, 2008 at 6:16 pm: Mary

    As someone closely affiliated with NPR (OK, really just with a lowly news/classical station in Birmingham, AL) I was so pumped that you guys were on! I have been cooking nonstop from Vegenomicron since Christmas.

    (Hmmm. How come we don’t have filtered water here??? I have to bring my own from home!)

  • January 11, 2008 at 11:54 am: walktopus

    What about the restaurant, hmm? Will that be opening within the Decade of the Vegan?

  • January 27, 2008 at 3:21 pm: Mari

    vegan latina will make a huge impact on generations of families. No more jokes about only being able to eat beans and rice. can’t wait!!

  • February 7, 2008 at 1:03 pm: Dana

    I got VWAV for Christmas and completely love it. My omnivore husband is also pleased although he says, “Please don’t get carried away and feed me vegan food EVERY day.” Maybe I should resist the veganomicon-temptation for a few more months… it might be too much vegan goodness!

  • February 10, 2008 at 3:34 pm: Laura

    There’s one more awesome thing about Veganomicon and VwaV that all the reviewers keep missing…and that’s that yours are the only cookbooks that understand the reality of how we young urban-ers (or young urban-er wannabes eat these days). Every review of your books harps on the “vegan question” and condescendingly mentions something about punk credentials or how you guys go for “bold flavors.” These people just don’t get it! Isa & Terry are the only cookbook writers that understand that my ideal diet consists of takeout from Jamaican, Chinese, Sushi, Thai, Ethiopian, Indian, etc, etc, etc establishments. No one else gets it! I’m soooo sick of cookbooks, vegan or omni, that present a falafel recipe with such fanfare and awe. Hello people, that is not exotic. Thanks, Isa and Terry for everything.

  • August 13, 2008 at 10:52 am: Kirstin

    “Not that the nineties were all that awesome, but they were better.”

    Um, yeah, Clinton doing nothing about the Rwandan genocide was great, huh?

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  • January 9, 2009 at 7:05 am: Althea Patrick

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  • June 25, 2010 at 5:23 am: Personal ISA

    Personal ISA