The First Bite
A cthulu looking V-con Seitan Picatta from Asstrogirl on flickR
Fittingly, publishing cookbooks is a lot like cooking for a crowd. You do all that work, marvel at the finished dishes, and wait with bated breath for guests to arrive. You have a sense of accomplishment having completed the dinner but really you can’t fully exhale until everyone has taken their first bite, and good or bad at least you know what’s up.
So basically I am here in front of my computer way more often than I should be, watching everyone take their first bite. My favorite part is the photographs. On blogs and on flickR, it’s such a rush to see the dishes come alive in the kitchens of our readers. Sometimes, despite my gothic instincts, I am compelled to clap when something comes out right. Of course I cringe when it doesn’t and sigh when I thought it wouldn’t and then it ultimately does.
Today we got our first feedback from the mainstream press- a Publishers Weekly starred review. For cookbook authors that’s like being in Junior High and the guy that you’re in love with (the one with the tail and the cool Reeboks) nods your way in the hallway.
From Publishers Weekly:
“While most vegan cookbooks are anemic, underfed volumes—some no-brainer pasta recipes, a few things to do with tofu, maybe some oddball desserts—this slam-bang effort from vegan chefs Moskowitz and Romero (Vegan with a Vengeance) is thorough and robust, making admirable use of every fruit and vegetable under the sun, without once asking readers to make do with fake meat products and egg replacements. Instead, the eccentric authors offer dozens of novel, delicious ways to get excited about eating meat-, dairy- and egg-free. Take Southwestern Corn Pudding, a winning casserole rich with coconut milk and an unexpected dash of maple syrup—a likely MVP at your next Thanksgiving (whether it’s centered around turkey or tofu). Almost as addictive are Rustic White Beans and Mushrooms, which get their bite from fresh herbs, and Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions and Spiced Pita Crisps, a transcendent Middle Eastern comfort food. Vegan breakfasts get overdue attention: sitting in front of a hot stack of velvety Blueberry Corn Pancakes and hearty Blue Flannel Hash, who’s going to miss the bacon? Best of all is the wide selection of terrific desserts: everything from Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies to decadent Caramel-Apple-Spice Cupcakes boldy fill the space where most eggless, milkless and butterless cookbooks fear to tread.”
Zomigod.
November 5th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Awesome!
November 5th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
yay! thats so great!
November 5th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
CONGRATS! That is so awesome.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
wow! that is seriously great!
November 5th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
I think some of us are right there with you, watching and waiting and hoping for the best - just because you’re so awesome and we care. You rock!
November 5th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Ooooh congrats on the good review! The first of many, I am sure!
November 5th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
You makea me so prouda you.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Woohoo!
November 5th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
You and Terry make me ‘Klever in the Kitchen’ - honestly i was not ‘this good a cook before your books’
(and even without a blog - I posted my own comment about my bean balls on Flickr so that you could know what i thought)
It’s GREAT to see you get some of the recognition you so much deserve.
And then knowing that your ‘post punk’ souls are not for sale to Colgate-Palmolive or Proctor & Gamble
… Priceless
November 5th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
YAY!! The first of many to come…
November 5th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
It’s about time more people started catching on to you two rock stars!!!
November 5th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
I agree with Cherie. I think a lot of us take what people have to say about you fine ladies somewhat personally. We’re so excited to see others sing your praises!
November 5th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Congratulations!
November 5th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Congratulations on the review! I’m sure it will be the first of many, each more glowing than the last. Well-deserved and I’m so glad you two are getting the attention you deserve.
(This post is not about me, but thanks for posting my pic up there! I’m extremely flattered.)
Thank you for being eccentric. It makes all my meals better. Truly.
November 5th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Fantastic and well deserved praise!!!!
November 5th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Awesome!
All the pictures and talk of the ‘Nomicon is unbearable for me. I can’t wait till my ‘Nomicon is here! I will drop everything till I have read it cover to cover. (you got my email with my address, yes?)
November 5th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Congratulations on the GREAT review! It shows that what you & Terry have done is much more than assembling a cookbook… you’re actually reaching people “out there”, and changing outlooks on WHAT to eat (both in the AR sense and the cuisine sense)… thanks!
November 5th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Yay!!!!
November 5th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
That is a fantastic review! You both have inspired me more than I could ever say. And for that, I could never thank you enough. Congratulations on the great press!
November 5th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Awesome! What a well-deserved review. You can exhale in relief now.
November 5th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Congrats! Such an awesome review!
November 5th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Thanks everyone!
sweetshop: have you not gotten your book yet?
November 5th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Congrats, you oddball eccentric vegans!
I am so pleased the lentils and rice have been officially recognized.
November 5th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Congratulations! VERY much deserved!
November 5th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Yay Isa and Terry!
I’m so excited for you. 
November 5th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
woooooo!!
congrats to both of youse!
November 5th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
That is awesome! A review doesn’t get anymore glowing than that.
November 5th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
The best part is that it’s all true!
November 5th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Woo hoo! You should be most flattered by the label “eccentric”.
November 5th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Congratulations! That review is MOUTHWATERING!!!
November 5th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Way to go!! That is a glowing review if I ever saw one.
Oh, and since sweetshop mentioned it, I haven’t gotten my book yet either. I was going to PM you when the boards were back up. I thought my creepy neighbor might have grabbed it…because he makes a point to grab every package he sees in front of my door…but he hasn’t been in town.
November 5th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
wow! now that has to feel good! really though, isa. you & terry have definitely inspired tons of people, including myself to feed ourselves and our families better! best kind of outreach there is.
November 5th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
WHOA! totally deserved.
how’re you going to celebrate? you’re going to celebrate, right?
November 5th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Congrats!
I agree completely. Your books are what I show people who ask me “what the hell CAN you eat?” as if I’m deprived or something. Vegetarians and omnis alike are wowed by the stuff I make them.
You guys make veganism easier than it probably should be…
P.S. the forums are STILL down? Damn. I have gotten a suprising ammount of work done the last few days, though… I never knew food porn took up so much of my time…
November 5th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Congratulations - completely deserved.
November 5th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
My mouth is watering…if only the books would arrive already!
November 5th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Wow! That’s really a great review. Congratulations
November 5th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Awesome review! Congratulations.
November 5th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Congrats on a great review. Totally deserved. It’ll be one of many, no doubt.
My testimony to the wonder of your work is that it’s killing me that I can’t try many of the recipes. I moved into my new place last week but my husband and most of my kitchen won’t be here for three more weeks. I’m kind of camping, kitchen-wise.
I read the Veganomicon, sighing wistfully, and stroke the pretty pictures.
Beans and rice is nice (once, twice, or even thrice!) and simple stews go a long way, but with the Veganomicon RIGHT THERE, it all pales.
November 5th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Congratulations…that review was so awesome it almost brought tears to my eyes!!!….btw everything I’ve made so far has been delicious and I love the instructions on the really basic stuff, like baked tofu and roasted red pepper…In theory I know how to do these things but the instructions have helped me out a lot. Thank you for being awesome!
November 5th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Nope, no Nomicon yet. I just got back from checking my P.O. Box. Maybe the postal workers couldn’t resist it and took it and now are going to go vegan.
November 5th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Congratulations - that is well-deserved praise! I love that it’s reaching out to vegans and the unenlightened as well!
November 6th, 2007 at 3:07 am
congrats! i am so happy for you both and the future of veganism.
November 6th, 2007 at 9:25 am
Congrats, you two!
If we are, as some people say, in a new mature, evolved age of vegan cooking, it has a lot to do with you, so thank you, and cheers!
Oh, and publisher’s weekly is so much hotter than the guy with the tail… it’s like now we’re in high school, and he’s the really sensitive guy who listens to the Cure and wants to talk about his feelings. Swoooon.
November 6th, 2007 at 9:59 am
People of the world, listen to me! I just got Veganomicon in the mail yesterday. I want to cry, it’s such a perfect cookbook! I totally agree with the Publisher’s Weekly review. I’m totally excited for you, Isa and Terry, and most importantly, THANK YOU!!!! I want to leave work now and cook all day! -
November 6th, 2007 at 10:27 am
I thought you would be interested in this, the girl is vegan:
http://www.bodytwo.com/blog/2007/11/04/claire-is-sweet
November 6th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Congrats on the big classy book. I love it already and haven’t even had time to cook anything really yet. I have been reading it before bed for vegan dreams. Finally get to mess it up good this weekend (You should see my copy of VwaV! At least I know should there ever be a famine I could eat for days off the stuff I’ve spilled on it). Great review! I am so glad that they said “who’s going to miss the bacon?” Lots o’ luv to youse two and all involved with this new delight. Thanks for all the past and future good eatin’! Keep them coming, babes!
November 6th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Congrats on the review! I don’t have Vegenomicon yet - I am anxiously waiting for Christmas. I almost bought it on the spot when I found the “Not”ella recipe but somehow managed to leave the store without it - I have to save something for Christmas.
In the meantime I am still new to VWaV and cooking many recipes from that one. I recently made Apple Pie Crumb Cake Muffins which were delicous - I even added ground flax seed to the crumbs for extra nutrition. My 5 year old daughter loved them and has not stopped asking me to make more. Another new favorite is Chipotle, Corn and Black Bean Stew. My entire family loved it - especially with a little Tofutti better than sour cream on top! I toned down the spice by adding just one chipotle, minus the seeds, so that my daughter could handle it and substituted lemon juice for lime as that is what I had on hand. Very filling - no substitutes (yeah!) and everyone loved it. I have yet to be disappointed by a VWaV recipe and I imagine the same will be true for Veganomicon.
Counting the days until Christmas!!!!!
November 6th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Congratulations ladies! Seriously, that is a great review.
IMHO, the book is awesome. I had no idea what to expect and when I started flipping through, I was blown away. Soooo many recipes… I actually emailed 3 friends and told them to go buy it right away.
My first two recipes turned out perfectly. The chickpea cutlets and pumpkin sag, big thumbs up!
November 6th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Congrats on the well-deserved review! I picked up my copy this week and fell in love…a wonderful book! I’m dying to try to Jamaican shepherd’s pie with yuca topping - I plan on trying it this weekend. I’ve been waiting and waiting for the forum to come back online but it’s down, so I’ll ask here: how spicy is this dish and how can I eliminate the heat without sacrificing flavor? My mouth is super heat sesitive - what’s mild to you is hot to me. Will the method of scoring the scotch bonnet still burn my wimpy tongue? If so, any alternative ideas are welcome! Thanks!
November 7th, 2007 at 1:41 am
oh my oh my, i made the pumpkin saag too, and let me tell you………. deeeelish.
i have to say to all the people, Herbivore has 150 copies of Veganomicon and Foodfight has the same amount….we’ll get ‘em out to you right away, promise! (though we won’t have ours on our site until tomorrow, foodfight’s are up there now)
Don’t wait! Buy from an independent re-seller and feel good about your damnself. yeah.
love.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Congratulations! I LOVE the book. I have a question. I am dying to make the chickpea cutlets (and have been ever since I saw the photo on your lj). But this week I’ve banned wheat. I know that the gluten is probably really important to the texture, but can you think of a substitute? Would chickpea flour work? I love it in the Fronch toast from VWAV.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Erin, I don’t think it’s the same thing without the wheat, people WF people on the forums are discussing it.
http://www.postpunkkitchen.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=39458&p=1
November 11th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
how awesome! veganism, and you & Terry both deserve some recognition! I wasn’t sure where the article was going when I read the first sentence, I thought it was too good to be true. congrats on making yet another fantastic book! I’m busy trying to figure out what to make next from V’con!