I love farmers markets more than any other market or store. I love carrots more than karats! Knowing the people who grow my food is important to me. I love weekly visits with the farmers from our area. Seeing the farmers’ pride and joy for a job well done caring for the land and their crops enhances the flavor and nourishment of what I buy from them. I love tasting the delicious fruits of their labor that were just picked and grown under their care to support their families. I buy as much of the best produce as I can! I come home with the best and freshest fruits, vegetables, herbs and even organic local mushrooms. I am so excited about how I am going to prepare these gems.

My current use for all this produce is the work I’m doing for “The Candle 79 Cookbook.” This cookbook is going to be extraordinary thanks to talented chefs Angel Ramos and Jorge Pineda, and the entire Candle 79 Team led by Benay Vynerib and Francesca MacAaron with the support of Mark Doskow. It really does take a village to do what we do, especially to meet our lofty goal of changing the world. We need to support each other, so we can support good people doing good things, and the efforts of those good people can grow that much greater. By the people in my local community supporting growers and their sustainable practices, I’ve recently seen my local health food store decide to carry only organic produce. It’s so exciting to see the commitment of a community come to fruition. As Bart and I always say, and firmly believe, “When you commit, providence will provide.”

Do you know the story of how Bart and I have experienced this in our own lives? I tell this story all the time, so skip over it if you’ve heard it already. On Friday, Aug. 13, 1993, Bart and I won the New York State Lottery. We didn’t win millions, but we won what we needed: $53,000. That was the seed money that allowed us to open what is now Candle Café. It must have been meant to be that Candle Café was to be born and become a vehicle to feed millions wholesome, plant-based foods.

Home from the market and from the health food store with an incredible array of fresh and delicious food, I’m getting hungry. It’s time to whip up something good to eat. I love to create magic from the farmers market. First I prep the greens – gorgeous greens. I am so excited by dark leafy greens. I want to make them lemony and garlicky. Then I cut some onions and leeks to do a stir-fry with them as my base. What next? I think I’ll add the mushrooms and this beautiful red and green cabbage I have. I also will add toasted sesame seeds and raw hemp seeds before finishing it off with fresh herbs and a cayenne kick at the end. It’s so exciting to create a meal you love for yourself and loved ones. I can feel sad or be in a funk, and when I start to cook it makes me feel better. I think it is because I am actively creating a healing meal that nourishes my body, mind and spirit.

Over 26 years ago Candle Café was one of the first restaurants to use the expression “food fresh from farm to table.” That has been our day-to-day mantra ever since. No “virtual” farms, just incredibly hard-working men and women growing and picking the crops that have appeared on our daily menus ever since. I find it so inspiring that we can share this commitment with our now fourth-generation client base that have shown by their loyalty that they too love and respect our mission of serving fresh organic vegan food every day. Live, love, laugh and cook.

Photo Credit: M. Gibion

The Food Revolution has begun, and we must all participate if we want our children and our planet to survive and thrive. Our consciousness is being raised by many inspirational people: T. Colin Campbell, Alicia Silverstone, Tal Ronen, Rory Freedman & Kathy Freston, to name a few, all best-selling authors with a message and passion for creating a healthier culture and planet. Also, let’s acknowledge the passionate Jamie Oliver, who is taking a stand in what I call a “food intervention” in Huntington, West Virginia after his successful ventures in England. He clearly identifies that lack of fresh food is a matter of life and death. As a nutritionist, I am overjoyed by Jamie’s candor and care for people’s health, happiness and culinary satisfaction. I share his triumphs and failures as I have spent the past 4 years working with the NY Coalition for Healthy School Food and The New York Department of School Food in the Future Leaders Institute (FLI) School, a charter school in Harlem. There have been plenty of tears of frustration and yelps of joy over the past years, as we have worked on the front lines of change within the New York City school food system. The challenges are many, but the importance of feeding our children quality, plant-based foods has never been more apparent. The time is now, and we must ask for what is our children’s birthright: GOOD CLEAN FOOD.

I have been a nutritional consultant for 20 years (which is hard to believe since I still feel I am in my twenties). I have studied food and its impact on mood, health and self-esteem, and I am convinced that by feeding our children well we can heal so many health concerns—childhood obesity, asthma, diabetes, and heart disease, among others—while fostering a happier, healthier, and more productive society. It is awesome that we now have the support of our First Lady, Michelle Obama. Her support could be the seed for a team of powerful change agents and activists who are unstoppable in their commitment to the health of our children and the future of our food supply. I could not be happier that Michelle Obama’s focus is on this issue. What a blessing!

Over the past four years, Candle Cafe and Candle 79 have been partners with the NY Coalition for Healthy School Food, cooking plant-based meals for the children at the FLI School and three other schools in the same building. We have been on the front line, in this case the lunch line, talking with the kids and guiding them as they learn that there are delicious, healthy alternatives to the fat-, salt-, and sugar-laden status quo. Our progress, although at times discouraging, has been a transformational experience for all of us. As I would walk up and down the lunch line to inform the kids what would be on the tray when they got to the front of the line, I was so ecstatic to be sharing my excitement about the food that was being served as the healthy choice that I would literally be singing and dancing! I empowered them all to be food critics and try new foods. Although they love the word YUCKY, I would ask for a more detailed description of their food preferences. The children’s most common critique was that the food was not sweet or salty enough—proof we have work to do to retrain their taste buds from the adulteration of sweets, fat, and excessive salt bombarding their palates! I have seen kids in baby carriages being fed Coke for breakfast. Trying a new food is commendable, but I always reminded the kids of the statistic that it can take ten times to try a new food before you know whether you actually like it. Education is a powerful tool that has allowed for change.I get very emotional when I see what our kids eat and drink, because I know the negative impact on the body, mind and spirit.

We have developed recipes for the NY Department of School Food with the support of Chef Jorge Collazo and Stephen O’Brien that meet standards and taste delicious. We also have empowered the kids to write and submit their own recipes so that they could actively contribute to the recipes used in New York schools. The recipe contest was held at the James Beard House, where we tasted and chose a winning recipe to be served in school. The excitement and maturity of the students who participated was heart-warming and life-changing, and the recipes they created captivated our taste buds.

What an honor to be able to sit with the kids and their parents to talk food and its many powers. One moment I will never forget was when a young mother jumped up on the table and did a spin around and said, “Look at my body, 15 pounds lighter and no more asthma or blood sugar problems!” She was so proud of her accomplishments. She took control of her eating with new recipes from our food demo portion of family dinner night. It was brave of her to open up to the new information she was learning, to move beyond the fear of change and the worry that it would be too expensive for her to choose healthy foods for her family. The truth is, it is too costly not to make healthy choices! This is an obstacle we can help people overcome, but only if we demand change from our government and institutions, commit to healthy foods in our nation’s schools, and demand support and funding for school lunch programs and local farms instead of industrialized food production and factory farms.

The issue does not end in the lunch room; it is in our homes as well. Teaching our children and their families where their food comes from and how to create delicious and nutritious meals is an ongoing education. At Candle Cafe, we are feeding a fourth generation of clients who have embraced our food and our mission. Kids are choosing us for their birthday parties and other celebrations, and bringing their parents to dine with us. What a thrill to see children seek out our food and the compassionate, green, and sustainable mission behind the food. Food Fresh from Farm to Table is our mantra, and it’s what motivates us. As my partner Bart Potenza would say, “It is easier to change people’s religion or politics than it is their food habits.” So, we have our work cut out for us! As a result of passing the junk food habit through generations, we have compromised our immune systems, but healing happens on a profound and far-reaching level when we “begin at the beginning” and start with our children. We must change the story—we must change the world of food. We must demand change from our leaders and vote with our consumer dollars and forks, supporting local farms and farmers’ markets, choosing organic, fresh, healthy plant-based foods. Change starts with you! Join me in a food revolution!

Much love, health, peace and veggies,
Joy

Photo by Mimi Giboin

It is such an honor to be a voice among the powerful and compassionate individuals in the blog posse. As I share my experiences with you, my hope is that we can grow together (pun intended) and enlighten countless others to join in our “effort” to make this a healthier planet for each and every human being and the millions of creatures, domesticated and wild, with which we share the land, air, and water. The impact of our food choices is profound and we have an opportunity to make a difference.

Bart Potenza, my partner, inspired and shared my passion for nutritious food. From the beginning, we were committed to growing and sharing our knowledge, mission and cuisine. Providence provided the seed money to open Candle Cafe when on Friday the 13th, 1993 we won $53,000 in the New York State Lottery.

I am continuously inspired by miracles and crazy sexy people like Kris Carr and Kathy Freston who show that compassion, veganism and health are truly SEXY. Kathy’s commitment, writings (must reads) and ongoing support inspires and motivates us to raise the vegan bar as she lights the way to conscious living. The Candle Family inspire me daily by bringing their passion, commitment and love to work. I am truly grateful for their continued inspiration and love that keeps the candle burning brightly.

Photos by Rob Branch-Dasch (left) & Mimi Giboin (right)

Food, fresh from farm to table. The Candle’s Mantra since 1993 is now an ideology whose time has come. It is a movement growing in recognition as people begin to understand the benefits and the necessity of eating healthy, seasonal, sustainable foods. Not only is it a commitment, but it is my privilege to offer nutritious options to those that embrace this shift and know that they are “voting with their forks” through the culinary choices.

On these brisk days of late Autumn, I walk the city streets of New York towards Candle to meet Farmer Mark Duneau of Mountain Dell Farm. He greets me with beautiful pumpkins and a vibrant array of fall produce picked overnight and driven down as the sun rises. Wow, how I love the freshness factor and the knowledge that Mark is tending to the land so we can feed you all, body, mind and spirit. His dedication to sustainable farming allows me to share the joy of his farm and the fresh air of the country to my loyal clientele in the city. The tastes of the season are expressed in a salad with multi-colored cauliflower, beets, roasted carrots, and a creamy pumpkin dressing. Straight from the vine, picked less than 24 hours prior, a butternut squash becomes soup, a vitamin-packed love potion…or as I often call it, nectar of the gods!

Holiday-time is near…the time when we gather together, friends and family to prepare and share delicious meals. At Candle Cafe and Candle 79, Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year. The chefs and I are so excited about the organic, plant-based meals we are planning for our guests. Chef Angel’s Pecan-Walnut Crusted Seitan is a compassionate replacement for more traditional Thanksgiving entrees. Chef Jorge’s Apple Cranberry Crumb Pie, well, even Grandma would ask for seconds!

Ironically, our restaurants are so busy that Bart and I eat at home rather than occupy a table. Of course, some of these dishes will definitely hitch a ride back to our place!

We spend the day with family, my favorite part being time spent in the kitchen cooking (and cleaning) with my niece and nephew. Every year there is hesitation and a bit of protest from my nephew that this not a “traditional” Thanksgiving. But year after year, as the brussels sprouts find their way to the cutting board, his anxiety is replaced with anticipation. Yes, brussels sprouts! I have my grandmother’s family recipes written on index cards, and each year I introduce a new one to my niece and nephew, sharing stories about our ancestors. Yes, Aunt Joy and Uncle Bart host a politically correct feast, freeing the bird, and incorporating delicious plant-based dishes that have become our tradition. Ultimately, everyone is satisfied.

In just a few weeks, I will gather around this table to enjoy the bountiful harvest of the season. A sustainable and compassionate celebration that marks our commitment to educating those around us by sharing delicious, nutritious, plant-based cuisine. I’m thankful for people like Farmer Mark who grow the food and take care of the land so that generations to come can enjoy; for my chefs who are inspired to dream up innovative dishes with love and creativity every day; for the Candles’ staff who so graciously welcome and care for our guests; for my family and friends, that through the years have supported Bart and me in this mission, and finally, for our devoted customers…without you, this dream would not be possible.

Food, fresh from farm to table…Enjoy!

Photo by Kate Mathis

Here’s a recipe from Joy and Bart’s Candle Cafe Cookbook. It’s perfect for the holidays!

Maple-Cinnamon Squash Ringlets
Serves 4-6

We are mad for all types of squash. Joy’s mom’s favorite way to prepare squash was to halve and seed butternut squash, rub it with cinnamon, then fill the cavities with chutney just before baking. We like to make something similar with sweet and succulent kabocha squash. They look and taste great as a side with Grilled Tofu and sautéed greens. The squash can also be cooked on the grill, basted with the maple-cinnamon mixture, about 3 minutes per side. Happy eating!

2 kabocha squash
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch crushed pepper
Pinch sea salt

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. With a sharp paring or vegetable knife, carefully cut the squash into 1-inch circles, then halve into semi-cir-cles Lay them side by side on baking sheet. Whisk the olive oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, pepper and salt together in a small bowl. Brush the oil over the squash rings and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the squash is just tender.

Serve at once.