Lentil Soup and Salad

The Chef: Chas

The Menu: A splendidly balanced, tasty soup and salad lunch. Chas anchored our healthful meal with a hearty bowl of green lentil soup teaming with potatoes, carrots, kale, onion, garlic, and a delightful mixture of herbs and spices. Chas also prepared one of his famous, fantastic salads complete with mixed greens, tomatoes, chickpeas, avocado, broccoli slaw, grated carrot, and cucumber marinated in Braggs Liquid Aminos, tarragon, olive oil, and rice vinegar. A side of marinated and steamed snap peas, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli added an extra dose of greens, and yes, Chas made sure we also had slices of bread to dip into our soup bowls.

The Goods: We're not sure how we survived before Chef Chas arrived at the VNHQ, and frankly, we're not asking questions. From plentiful pots of coffee to superstar lunches, we're pretty much the luckiest vegan magazine in town. Our fantastic, fresh lunch was made that much better by dining al fresco with our favorite weekly guest, VegWebmisstress Laura Beck. Over lunch Lyndsay regaled us with stories about her weekend trip to The Worldfest 2010 Earth Day Festival, an annual, veg-friendly event held in Lake Balboa, Calif. We were all delighted—and a little jealous—to hear about Lyndsay's celebrity sightings and opinion of new vegan desserts. Speaking of celebrities, subscribe now to receive our fabulous, star-studded July+August Anniversary Issue! To celebrate our 10th anniversary edition, world-famous artist Peter Max will be designing the cover of this collector's edition, which will be packed full of the most incredible vegan stories, personalities, and travel destinations.