**1. Miyoko Schinner’s Background and Career Journey:**
– Born as Miyoko Nishimoto in Japan, moved to the US at age seven
– Became a vegetarian at 12 and self-taught in cooking
– Graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy
– Transitioned to a vegan diet in Japan for health reasons
– Founded Madam Miyoko selling vegan poundcakes
– Started Now and Zen Restaurant in 1988, gaining popularity with Unturkey
– Founded Now and Zen Natural Foods Company in 1997
– Authored three vegan cookbooks
– Launched cooking shows like ‘Vegan Mashup’ and ‘The Vegan Good Life with Miyoko’
**2. Contributions to Vegan Cheese Industry:**
– Published ‘Artisan Vegan Cheese,’ a seminal cookbook in vegan cheesemaking
– Founded Miyoko’s Kitchen in 2014, later known as Miyoko’s Creamery
– Expanded market to Canada and Australia in 2019
– Prevailed in a lawsuit against California Department of Food and Agriculture in 2021
– Produced two vegan cookbooks listed among the best by various publications
– Parted ways with Miyoko’s Creamery in 2023, leading to legal disputes
**3. Awards, Recognition, and Influence:**
– Named in Female Founders 100 for 2022 by Inc.
– Inducted into the Vegan Hall of Fame
– Received the 2019 Leadership Award
– Featured in various media outlets like Forbes and Eater
– Active on social media platforms and podcasts
– Listed among the 37 creative chefs shaping the future of vegan food
– Impactful presence in the vegan culinary scene
**4. Animal Rights Advocacy and Legacy:**
– Founded the animal sanctuary Rancho Compasion in 2015
– Described as a vegan rock star and pioneer in vegan cheese production
– Featured in lists like ’28 Women Changing the World Right This Second’
– Promoting sustainability through vegan food choices
– Fostering a community of like-minded individuals advocating for veganism
**5. Miyoko Schinner’s Impact on Culinary Industry and Plant-Based Diets:**
– Contributions to the popularity of vegan cheese
– Inspiring a new generation of chefs and entrepreneurs
– Shaping the narrative around plant-based diets
– Making wine country vegan-friendly
– Inspiring chefs and food enthusiasts to explore plant-based options
Miyoko Schinner (née Nishimoto, born 1957) is an American vegan chef, cookbook author, cooking show host, vegan activist, and social entrepreneur, who appears in the 2024 documentary, You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment. She is currently the host of the YouTube cooking show, The Vegan Good Life with Miyoko, and is working on her next cookbook, The Vegan Creamery, which will be released in 2025.
Miyoko Schinner | |
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Born | Miyoko Nishimoto 1957 Japan |
Occupation | Vegan cookbook author and cooking show chef social entrepreneur |
Alma mater | St. John's College (Annapolis/Santa Fe), B.A. Philosophy |
Subject | Vegan cookbooks |
Notable works | The New Now and Zen Epicure: Gourmet Cuisine for the Enlightened Palate (2001) Artisan Vegan Cheese (2012) The Homemade Vegan Pantry: The Art of Making Your Own Staples (2015) The Vegan Meat Cookbook: Meatless Favorites. Made with Plants (2021) |