Today, we’d like to introduce you to Janay Laing.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story started years ago as a young vegetarian who wanted to enjoy meat without the ethical complications.
I developed a passion for innovating food and making delicious meat, dairy, and eggs from plants. This led me to work in local restaurants, including The Vegetarian Restaurant by Hakin and Choices Cafe, which specialized in crafting amazing vegan cuisine.
From them, I received a lot of inspiration, tips, and techniques for making creative plant-based dishes without relying on animal products. I took that knowledge, wrote a cookbook, and started teaching cooking classes.
Since 2022, I’ve hosted over a dozen cooking classes at Miami-area schools and libraries, and the response has been amazing. These classes are consistently popular with non-vegans and get great reviews, which shows there is a strong demand for this cooking knowledge.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I’d say the biggest struggle was working in the restaurants themselves -the food business is a lot of hard work and doesn’t pay much. I had a lot of stressed-out days!
But I chose that path because I wanted to learn – and that’s exactly what I got. I received a full education in flavor, ingredients, special cooking techniques, and so much more.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your work next?
I’m a chef specializing in plant-based flavor – I teach the 4 Essentials of vegan flavor: Seasoning in Layers, Umami, The 3 B’s (Butter, Broth & Bouillion), and Creaminess. Through classes and my new business, Janay’s Flavor Kitchen, my mission is to show people how easy and delicious plant-based food really is.
I have a book called”Make Plants Delicious” that is all about mastering vegan flavor. I’m also known for cheesecake – people really love my cheesecake and can’t believe it’s vegan.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I have a degree in English Literature, and I originally wanted to work as a marine biologist. But my life’s path led me to plant-based food, and I’m very happy about it!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/janaysflavorclass
