Interviews

Angel McNall: Creator of Vegan Gourmet Alternative Cheese.

How long have you been vegan?
Since 1996.

Why did you go vegan?
Not wanting to harm animals, my husband and I had been vegetarians for years. As we began to learn more about factory farming and the intense pain inflicted on other beings for the sake of dairy products and eggs, we could no longer be part of that chain. After making the switch we felt so good spiritually and physically, we knew it would be a lifelong commitment.

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Tell me about EarthKind Kitchen. What do you do there?
I started Angel's EarthKind Kitchen in 1995 as a small (vegetarian) meals to go business from my home. I had a menu and people would call me to place orders for pick up or delivery. It eventually grew into cooking classes and private lessons.

How often do you offer cooking classes?
These days all of my time is spent working on our product, Vegan Gourmet Cheese Alternatives. I love giving cooking classes and hope to offer them again, soon.

Tell us about Vegan Gourmet line of cheeses.
Known by many of our local, long time customers as "Angel's Cheese," Vegan Gourmet Cheese Alternatives are now being produced by Follow Your Heart. We currently offer two flavors, Nacho and Caraway Jack. Sometime in March, we will be debuting our long awaited Mozzarella. Our "cheeses" are 100% dairy free ( no casein!), they taste great, and they melt. Our website www.imEarthKind.com offers more info, recipes, and melting tips.

What other products have you developed? Or our thinking about developing?
So far I've just been working on the cheese. I've been working closely with Bob Goldberg (one of the founders/owners of Follow Your Heart, and creator of Vegenaise) on the development/improvement of the cheese. Through my association with him I've gained a true love of product development and am looking forward to future products.

As far as what's next - definitely expanding our line with more cheese flavors. Beyond that it's strictly confidential! ;-)

Are you going to put out a cookbook with your recipes? If so, when?
I would love to do a cookbook, and so far I have about half of my recipes written down. "When" is a good question!

What are your favorite dishes to cook?
Anything with a lot of vegetables! Vegetables are gifts from the Earth, coming in so many beautiful colors, tastes, and textures. I get really excited when I go the Farmer's market for my vegetables, I can hardly decide what to make first!

What advice do you have for parents who want to cook healthy and delicious vegan meals for their kids?
Get your kids involved in the kitchen as often as you can and teach them the value of their food, it will help them eat healthy (and hopefully vegan) when they get older.

What is the most satisfying aspect of your work?
When people choose vegan meals they are healthier, and the Earth and animals don't suffer. If I can help that happen, it's very satisfying.

What would you most like your consumers to know about you?
I would like them to know that I am committed to quality and to being vegan. I want to make the best vegan products I can without compromising the quality of the ingredients I use. I am lucky to be working with Follow Your Heart, as they share the same vision.

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