The Culinary Institute of America

Seizan Dreux Ellis is the executive chef of Cafe Gratitude in The Arts District in Downtown LA. He shows us a popular salad called, “I Am Liberated” made with kelp noodles, arugula, basil hempseed pesto, cashew ricotta, Kalamata olives, green olives, heirloom tomatoes, and brazil nut parmesan. Chef Ellis gives all of the dishes positive affirmations for names, such as “I Am Confident,” and “I Am L...

Seizan Dreux Ellis is the executive chef of Cafe Gratitude in The Arts District in Downtown LA. He shows us a popular autumn and winter dish called, “I Am Confident” — a roasted cauliflower steak served with almond romesco sauce, coconut yogurt, hazelnut dukkah, and a tapenade of sundried tomatoes, kalamata olives and green olives. Chef Ellis gives all of the dishes positive affirmations for names...

Seizan Dreux Ellis is the executive chef of Cafe Gratitude in The Arts District in Downtown LA. Here he talks about the origins and objectives of Cafe Gratitude, their approach to plant-based cuisine, how to best bring out flavors in produce, and naming all of their dishes with positive affirmations. He also addresses the benefits of a plant-forward diet, from health and wellness, to the environme...

Iliana Loza is the sous chef at Kismet Restaurant in Los Angeles. Here she demonstrates a vegan dish: eggplant stuffed with walnuts and a Fresno chile sofrito, topped with a black mint condiment and preserved mandarin oranges. She loves how the soft creamy eggplants pair so well with the crunch of the walnut filling and floral mint topping for an unexpected and beautiful dish.  Watch the full docu...

Sarah Hymanson is the chef and co-owner of the restaurant, Kismet, in Los Angeles, known for its dishes layered with Middle Eastern flavors and plant-forward, local ingredients. She demonstrates a chocolate persimmon salad with shallots, lemon, fried capers and fried rosemary. Watch the full documentary and find plant-forward recipes here !

Chef and Co-Owner of Kismet, Sarah Hymanson, and Sous Chef Iliana Loza, discuss plant-forward cuisine, sustainability, and the future of cooking. They also discuss finding those deeper flavor profiles and how to make vegetables shine. Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson are the chefs and owners of the popular Los Angeles restaurant, Kismet. They were named the 2017 Chefs of the Year by Eater, only two...

Randy Leon was the Head Chef at Little Pine Restaurant in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. Here he demonstrates a dish with aromatic root vegetables with green goddess dressing and pickled red onion, garnished with fennel pollen and chervil. He calls the dish Umbellifers, which is a family of plants that make umbrella-shaped flowers, and includes carrots, celery and parsley. Watch the full documentary an...

Randy Leon was the Head Chef at Little Pine Restaurant in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. Here he demonstrates how he makes cabbage rolls stuffed with apple “sausage,” with a parsnip purée, three-bean salad, and garnish of crispy parsnip chips. The vegan sausage is made with jackfruit, caramelized apple, caramelized fennel and fennel pollen. When ground up, the jackfruit’s texture closely resembles grou...

Randy Leon was the Head Chef at Little Pine Restaurant in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. Here he demonstrates a fresh pasta with wild oyster mushrooms, tomato confit, and white wine butter sauce, garnished with chives and fresh parmesan. Watch the full documentary and find plant-forward recipes here !

Randy Leon was the head chef at Little Pine Restaurant in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. He demonstrates his signature dish of Jerusalem artichokes that are roasted and fried, coated with white sage powder, and served with citrus crème fraîche, agave and a garnish of pomegranate arils. Chef Randy loves the potato-like texture and artichoke flavor of the Jerusalem artichokes, also known as sunchokes.  W...

Chef Wolfgang Puck and Chef Hiroyuki Fujino demonstrate some vegetarian sushi from the menu at his newest restaurant, Merois in West Hollywood. This vegetable sushi is no cucumber roll! Chef Hiroyuki Fujino shows us how he makes crispy sushi rice topped with braised eggplant, shiitake, carrots and beets brushed with a sweet soy miso sauce. This unique offering has become a popular dish at Merois. ...

Wolfgang Puck and Chef Tetsu Yahagi demonstrate some playful and beautiful vegetarian sushi from the menu at his newest restaurant, Merois. Chef Tetsu Yahagi prepares the sushi “omakase style,” meaning that the guests are in the hands of the chef and receive a seasonal, elegant, and artistically crafted meal using the best ingredients available. All of his vegetable sushi preparations are a play o...

Wolfgang Puck talks about what inspired the vegetarian sushi on the menu at his newest restaurant, Merois in West Hollywood. He also talks about the first time he tried the produce at Chino Farms, the importance of supporting local farmers, and how there’s nothing better than fresh, local vegetables. His restaurant, Merois, sits perched atop Pendry West Hollywood, and features a sophisticated menu...

Inside the Plant-Forward Kitchen: LA and Bay Area is the first edition of a new video education series from The Culinary Institute of America and Unilever Food Solutions, a first-of-its-kind video reference library documenting the best of plant-forward cuisine. In this volume, we explore the markets and farms, kitchens and restaurants of Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. We talk to Wolfg...

Fresh fruit tops this creamy, rich and delicious tapioca made with rice milk and sake. Sake is a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from home-grown fermented rice. It can be enjoyed hot or cold and is also a delicious seasoning and is an indispensable part of the Japanese kitchen. This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture a...

This Summer Caprese Steak Salad features the classic caprese ingredients of tomato, basil and mozzarella paired with tender grilled wagyu beef. Japanese Wagyu beef is characterized by its tender texture, marbling, concentrated flavor, and its sweet, full-bodied aroma. This salad is an ideal recipe to use wagyu beef, which pairs nicely with the creamy mozzarella, sweet tomatoes and tart vinaigrette...

This gluten-free roti is a delicious accompaniment to curry or other saucy dishes. Roti is an Indian flatbread usually made with wheat flour. Rice flour makes this version of roti gluten-free. Breads and cakes made using Japanese-produced rice flour have a faintly sweet aroma as well as for their unique texture —crunchy on the outside and springy on the inside. Its unique milling technology makes...

In this recipe, we give the classic po' boy an umami boost by adding miso to the mayonnaise spread and a delightful crunch by using fried Japanese scallops. The po' boy is a classic Louisiana sandwich, filled with fried seafood, tomatoes, shredded lettuce and mayonnaise—a perfect canvas for customizing with unique ingredients. Japanese scallops taste like they come from the sea without being fishy...

Looking for a light, flavorful dish? Ceviche is a Latin-American dish celebrated the world over made from fresh raw fish “cooked” in lime juice. In this recipe, fresh raw yellowtail is paired with orange and lime juices, avocado, onion and corn. Yellowtail has been gracing Japanese dinner tables for centuries, particularly in sashimi, carpaccio, poke, and ceviche. This video was produced by The Cu...

This vegan alfredo sauce featuring miso, a traditional Japanese seasoning, is just as rich and creamy as traditional alfredo sauce. Replacing the heavy cream and eggs with a puree of cauliflower, rice flour, rice milk, and white miso paste gives the sauce a thick and creamy mouthfeel and umami flavor. Miso's deeply savory, umami flavor forms a foundational basis for much of everyday Japanese cooki...

Try this deliciously fresh Green Tea, Apple and Pear Gazpacho for a healthy and refreshing chilled soup. Bread, almonds, garlic, pear, apple, and olive oil are pureed with green tea for a perfect combination of earthy, sweet, tart and savory. Among the many varieties of Japanese tea, Matcha is especially unique. While most Japanese teas, such as sencha and gyokuro, retain the shape of the tealeave...

This recipe for Blackened Yellowtail is inspired by the classic Cajun dish, Blackened catfish, where fish fillets are coated in spices and pan-fried in a hot skillet. Take the fear factor out of preparing fish at home with this quick, easy, and tasty dish. Yellowtail has been gracing Japanese dinner tables for centuries in preparations including sashimi, carpaccio, poke, and ceviche. The fish is a...

Try a hot take on a cold dish by making beef tartare with high-quality waygu. Tartare may seem intimidating, but Chef Rebecca Peizer from The Culinary Institute of America has some tips for success. Beef tartare is a classic dish made with raw ground or minced beef often mixed with onions, capers, Worcestershire sauce, and topped with a raw egg yolk. In this version of the recipe, wagyu beef tende...

Just when you think you’ve seen every possible variation of avocado toast, a new combination springs up. That’s due, in part, to its versatility. This avocado toast is topped with grilled corn, sweet tomatoes, and a savory shoyu balsamic glaze. Shoyu, or soy sauce as it is best known, is a Japanese condiment and kitchen staple made from fermented soybeans, wheat, and salt water. This video was pro...

Try this soy and whiskey veal rib eye with grilled Asian pears, bacon bread pudding, and ginger honey -roasted carrots to you’re your guests a meal they won’t find elsewhere. The tender veal rib eye is gently cooked sous vide in soy sauce, whiskey, and pineapple juice before getting seared in butter for service. This video was produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service to...