Madison chef releases new plant-based cookbook
After writing recipes for her restaurants and receiving requests from her clients and customers, Lauren Montelbano decided to give cookbook writing a try.
February 8, 2021 5:00 PM Erica Krug
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Local Chef Lauren Montelbano just released her first cookbook, Grounded: Conscious Plant-based Cuisine.
Chef Lauren Montelbano, formerly of Surya Cafe, is the reluctant author of a new cookbook, “Grounded: Conscious Plant-based Cuisine.”
“Honestly [writing a cookbook] was never anything that I personally wanted to do!” Montelbano says with a laugh. “I hate quantifying recipes. I really just enjoy the creative freedom of cooking and the personal expression. I am not culinary school trained I learned from many women around the world and they didn’t use recipes either. ‘A handful of this, a pinch of this…’ to quantify that to me was kind of my worst nightmare.”
Check out
Colectivo‘s Valentine’s Day specials, which include a cherry cordial cappuccino, available through Feb. 16; a San Valentín limited edition coffee blend, available through Feb. 14; a cherry coffee cake box or a cookie kit (place your order by Feb. 11); or a treat from the coffee shop’s Troubadour Bakery, including a pink raspberry almond croissant, a conversation heart shortbread cookie or a cherry coffee cake muffin all available Feb. 10-14.
Vegan or Steak Dinner, Plus Other Goodies
Christine’s Kitchens‘ Valentine’s Day options include everything but the kitchen sink. Preorder (by Feb. 11) a New York strip steak dinner for two, or a vegan dinner for two featuring butternut squash stuffed shells as the main. If you’re not looking for a full dinner, check out the Kitchens’ many other offerings, including keto chocolate strawberries, a beer lovers gift box, a sweet and savory bits board and a ton more.
Your guide to gluten-free options in Madison
Gluten-free friends, stop compromising and fill your bellies at these spots.
January 21, 2021 8:55 AM Sam Jones
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Poke bowls from Miko Poke
In traveling the world and working in the restaurant business for more than 10 years, chef Meagan Lombaer of Surya Cafe has seen a thing or two. Quite a few of them include watching her fellow chefs rely on processed ingredients in order to make tasty meals a challenge experience for the whole foods enthusiast.
“I just saw so much butter, so much fat and way too large of portions of meat … and I was just like, ‘You can’t be feeding your body this,’ ” Lombaer says. “So I love being able to provide something that I believe in and that I would eat myself.”
As we approach the end of 2020, many of us are itching for a bit more freedom. With telework on the rise and winter on the way, there has never been a better time to spread our wings and migrate south to the subtropical haven of Okinawa. From picturesque beaches to that laid-back island vibe, it’s the perfect place to balance wellness and work. Take your time to unplug and relax, knowing that you are never far from the nearest plug for when you have to take that unnecessarily long video conference call. Starting from either Okinawa Main Island or Ishigaki both of which have convenient direct flights from Tokyo here are just a few options for your winter workation.