frequently asked questions
currently I am living in Los Angeles. Prior to that I was based in Toronto, Ontario Canada.
I use a Vitamix and prefer the smaller canister. You can purchase your very own here.
since Jan 1, 2010. I made a 2 month transition from an omnivores diet leading up to that date. I was also vegetarian from the age 12 to 19.
what camera equipment do you use to shoot your photos and videos?
the YouTube videos are shot on a Canon 70D with the Canon EF 24-70mm lens. I shoot food photos on a Canon 5D Mark 1V with the same lens. I’ve also got 2 LEDGO Bi-color LED lights on Manfrotto stands in the kitchen for video and always use natural daylight for photos. I do all the video editing in Adobe Premiere Pro.
who shoots your YouTube videos?
John was doing it from the start until spring 2017. After that I worked with a lovely and talented camera op named Alex Dale until fall 2019. Now I kinda do it myself or get various people to help out.
how can I work with hot for food?
If we’re hiring we’ll usually make an announcement on social media. But if you feel really compelled you can send your resume with unique skill sets and an intro email to hotforfoodblog@gmail.com. It goes without saying but only serious inquiries only and we currently don’t take on paid or unpaid interns. If you’re a brand or company looking to collaborate please read the info here.
why is there no nutritional information listed with your recipes?
Since the start of 2024, I've been slowly adding nutritional info to the recipe cards because Google likes that. So you might come across some recipes where it's listed, but I can tell you I won't be going back and updating every single post. This function is automated through the plugin that I use called Word Press Recipe Maker. I tell you this because it probably isn't accurate and this is probably the case with most food blogs. It's far too time-consuming to make sure it's entirely accurate, especially here at hot for food where I couldn't care less about nutritional information. I believe in eating a balanced plant-based diet free from negative emotions and societal standards or perceptions of what a vegan is “supposed” to be! Sometimes I want to eat a hearty, healthy salad, and other times a big ‘ol burger. It’s all about balance. I also believe in listening to your body when it comes to making food choices. I’m not concerned about calories and have certainly never counted them! I eat the food I make for the blog or channel and continue to have a healthy body image while remaining fit and healthy.
what advice do you have for anyone who is veg-curious or wants to go vegan?
I always recommend a transition that is done at your own pace! No one expects you to go full level 10 vegan overnight. It would be impossible and if you attempted it you would probably fail. When transitioning to a vegan diet start with one meal a day and replace the animal products with plant-based alternatives such as veggie bacon, tofu, veggie burgers, non-dairy milk(s), yogurts, and vegan cheeses. There are lots of great products on the market and recipe ideas on this blog! From there work at replacing more of your favorite foods and meals with vegan options. You’ll probably notice you won’t crave cheese and meat as much over 2-3 weeks. And while you’re transitioning if you slip up and eat a piece of birthday cake that’s not vegan or say you felt compelled to eat a chicken wing… don’t sweat it. There is no vegan police force! But you’ll probably start to notice how your body reacts to eating animal products after making these changes to your diet and we’re pretty sure you won’t like it.
I also have my own YouTube channel where I address a lot of vegan queries from hot for foodies and veg-curious humans! WATCH IT HERE.
what kinds of changes can I expect by adopting a plant-based diet?
I can’t make any promises, but you could experience clearer skin, weight loss, more energy and overall vibrancy, a clearer mind, better sleep, healthier nail and hair growth, better digestion, easier bowel movements, a feeling of connectedness to mother earth, and a better understanding of universal magic!
what are your favorite vegan restaurants?
let’s stick to the ones in my hometown of Toronto since there are so many great restaurants! My favorites include Fat Choi, Planta in Yorkville, Tori’s Bake Shop, Copenhagen Cafe, Fresh Restaurants, Apiecalypse Now!, Through Being Cool Vegan Baking Co., The Hogtown Vegan, Bloomers, Hibiscus Cafe, and more! For a full listing of vegan-friendly restaurants in the Greater Toronto Area, check out this list! You can also watch a ton of traveling what I ate vlogs on my .
what vegan brands & products would you recommend?
There are so many products on the market and only some of these are available in Canada where I live. Others I’ve tried while traveling throughout the USA. Keep in mind I haven’t tried all there is to offer, but the products listed below are ones I have tried and enjoy! Follow my other YouTube channel for what I ate vlogs and travel adventures where I’m always trying the local offerings!
vegan mayos – Earth Island (Follow Your Heart), Wild Wood garlic aioli, Hellman’s vegan
vegan butter – Earth Balance buttery spread is preferred, and Becel Vegan is more widely available in Canada at every grocer. I’ve recently started using Country Crock plant butter since I was in the USA.
vegan meats – Beyond Meat hot italian sausages are THE BEST! Gardein chipotle lime crispy fingers, Gardein gluten-free black bean burgers, Gardein beefless burgers, Gardein beefless ground, and basically ALL Gardein products are A-OK by me! Field Roast sausages I used more before Beyond Meat arrived but the apple sage ones are great for festive recipes. Yves veggie meatless ground, Yves veggie pepperoni, and Tofurkey deli slices are a fave as well. And I’m fond of the good ‘ol days when PC Blue Menu vegetarian chicken breasts were available. These are a Canadian only product that’s currently off-market 🙁 WHY WON’T THEY BRING THEM BACK?!?!?!
vegan cheeses – Follow Your Heart cheese slices and shreds, Violife slices, feta and hard parm, Field Roast Chao cheese slices, Daiya cheese blocks, Daiya’s new cutting board collection cheese shreds are a million times better than the original kind that’s still available for some reason? Kite Hill soft fresh truffle dill chive, Treeline Nut Cheese herb & garlic or scallion.
other favorites – Coconut Bliss dairy-free ice cream, Silk non-dairy beverages and coffee creamer (carrageenan free!), Yoso plain unsweetened coconut yogurt, Coyo coconut yogurt, JUSTEgg, Califia Farms unsweetened coconut cream, and almond milk coffee creamer.
what are some other essential kitchen appliances and tools that you use?
In addition to the Vitamix high-powered blender I recommend the following useful items and you can find even more ingredients and tools on the hot for food Amazon shop!
Lemon Citrus Juicer – BUY NOW IN CANADA / USA & INTERNATIONAL
Lime Citrus Juicer – BUY NOW IN CANADA / USA & INTERNATIONAL
Microplane – BUY NOW IN CANADA / USA & INTERNATIONAL
Non-stick Ceramic Pan – BUY NOW IN CANADA / USA & INTERNATIONAL
9 cup Food Processor – BUY NOW IN CANADA / USA & INTERNATIONAL
You can check out this video for more info on these products, why I like them, and how they’re used.
what resources do you recommend if I want more information on the vegan lifestyle?
documentaries: Cowspiracy, Forks Over Knives, Food Inc., Earthlings
books: Eating Animals (Jonathan Safran Foer), Skinny Bitch (Rory Freedman & Kim Barnouin), Living The Farm Sanctuary Life (Gene Baur), The Omnivores Dilemma (Michael Pollan), The Kind Diet (Alicia Silverstone)
* there are lots of blogs and great cookbooks as well that will be helpful. Just google “vegan” and so many options will come up! Honestly, we just haven’t spent a whole lot of time on other people’s blogs, nor do we use vegan cookbooks, since we’re in the business of developing our own recipes!