Featured Vegan Chef: Melody Polakow

Our featured vegan chefs series introduces both established and emerging talent in the world of vegan cooking and baking. We're excited to share the voices and stories behind some of the delicious recipes in the WholeSoy Vegan Recipe Collection.

Melody Polakow is a passionate vegan chef and photographer with over 20 years of experience in the food industry. She shares her daily stories on her blog Melomeals: Vegan for $3.33 a Day and is currently writing her first cookbook. Melody feels strongly that it is possible to eat healthy and delicious food on a budget and has a lot of fun creating recipes that don't sacrifice flavor and are accessible to both the home cook and professionals alike.

Melody was kind enough to share her story and thoughts on vegan cooking and living...

How did you first become vegan?
I  heard rumors that you could make cheese out of nuts. That fascinated me as a chef and cheese lover, so I began researching. I ordered the book Vegan Vittles back in 2004 and read the forward about factory farming. As a lifelong vegetarian, I was horrified and saddened to realize that I was supporting such abuse of animals.

What inspired you to pursue cooking/baking?
I have been creating in the kitchen as long as I can remember. My first job was in a kitchen and it has been a fun and exicting adventure. When my kids were little, I had a cookie business I ran out of my home. It allowed me to stay home with them and was a lot of fun.

What are your favorite resources for new vegan inspiration?
Definitely The Post Punk Kitchen, Vegnews Magazine, and of course, all of the amazing vegan bloggers who invite us into their kitchens.

What's your favorite flavor of soy yogurt?
I like plain soy yogurt the best, because it's so versatile for both sweet and savory dishes.

Try Melody's Featured Vegan Recipes

	Scallion Flatbread A simple recipe for a savory flatbread - perfect for soup and dips! Show Details »
	Cranberry Chutney Crostata This sweet and savory crostata features cranberry chutney and homemade almond cheese. Show Details »
	Red Pepper Soup This velvety and flavorful soup is a delicious and colorful addition to the dinner table. Show Details »
	Chocolate Mint Cupcakes Delicious and easy to make, these chocolate mint cupcakes are sure to be a holiday hit! Show Details »

To learn more about Melody, her photography and vegan recipes, visit melodypolakow.com.

Thank you for sharing your story and recipes with us, Melody!