Chef Toni Fiore
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In Toni’s own words:
As the host of a vegetarian cooking show on national television, I’m frequently asked why I decided to become a vegetarian. How old was I when I made the change? How do I subsist on seeds and grass? What are my protein sources? Where did I learn to cook?
I wasn’t raised as a vegetarian and looking back, I realize I had the same difficulty at first in visualizing meatless meals. A big part of my enjoyment in being the host of Delicious TV’s "Totally Vegetarian" is knowing how much I can relate to our viewers, those who may not be vegetarians but are interested in learning how to cook healthy meals.
Recently I embarked on a new adventure and authored my first cookbook. Totally Vegetarian (the cookbook) takes its inspiration from the television show and goes further in offering practical advice, sensible solutions, and best of all, more of my signature extra-easy recipes and proven techniques to take the mystery out of new ways of eating and cooking. The experience of writing the book over the past nine months was an incredible, exciting whirlwind and I’m already thinking of new vegetarian themes to explore in the next one.
In Italy, where I first nurtured my love of food and cooking, wine and conversation are as important to the meal as the food. I have always embraced this philosophy and found joy and satisfaction in the preparation of simple, fresh food. And it is perhaps one of my greatest pleasures to cook for people who aren't convinced that vegetarian food is both satisfying and complete. I love the looks on their faces when they taste the food – inevitably I hear, “Wow, I can’t believe there isn’t any meat in this!”
I didn’t graduate from culinary school. Instead, I’ve always been content to find my own trial and error path to a finished dish. Mistakes are how you find your way to success. Mistakes taught me how to develop my own style, how to indulge my own tastes, and how to gain confidence in the kitchen. For me, cooking is a passionate pursuit.
From the feedback "Totally Vegetarian" (the show) receives, we know that accessible home cooking is something every person craves. It’s how many of us grew up, or perhaps wished we had. The goal of the show is to help people make everyday healthy cooking as tasty, fun, and effortless as it can be. Delicious TV"s "Totally Vegetarian" is for everybody who loves to eat and wants to eat healthier.
And don’t forget my mantra:
Buy Locally
Eat Seasonally
Buy Organic
Use Your Intuition
Everything In Moderation
