I'm Erika, the creative mind behind this vegan food blog, Plantastic Feasts and How to Cook Them. I'm here to share delicious, authentic, all vegan Filipino, Asian, and fusion foods from around the world. This blog will feature recipes from my childhood and travels.
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I hope that these meals can bring people together to make wonderful memories around the table and create a better world for all living creatures, big and small.
My Story
I was born and raised in the beautiful Islands of the Philippines, where I grew up eating home-cooked Filipino meals made by my mom, dad, lolos (grandpas), and lolas (grandmas). From a young age, I watched and helped them cook in the kitchen. In fact, most of the Filipino recipes on this blog are based on the same family recipes and made in the same ways that have been passed down for generations.
Circa 1999, My lolos, lolas, cousins, uncle, and parents (I'm behind the lady in red, aka mama!)
When I was 15 years old, my entire family moved to California, and living in the San Francisco Bay Area exposed me to delicious, authentic foods from a huge diversity of cultures. I built most of my adult life in this city, where I went to school, made lifelong friends, and met my wonderful husband.
Circa 2009, San Francisco, California with my mom, dad, and two brothers
In 2021, we welcomed a baby girl, Maisie, and she inspires me everyday to cook better, healthier, and more sustainably. I want her to have the same delicious experiences and happy memories that I have with my family and be able to look back fondly on those times, just as I do now.
Food shared with loved ones enhances the meal and creates cherished memories. Sometimes, you don't realize how impactful those memories are until you look back on them years later. And when someone's eyes light up after that first bite of something you've put your heart into, the feeling of fulfillment is priceless.
Maisie at 8 months old, enjoying a cauliflower
My Vegan Journey
My relationship with meat has always been complicated. Growing up in a traditional Filipino family, meat was the star of every meal. But after getting our dog, Alice, I began to see cows (and pigs and chickens, too!) in a different light. Watching videos of animals and seeing how affectionate and personable they are, just like Alice, made me question why we treat them so differently.
June 2018, our wedding day
In 2019, my husband and I decided to shift to a mostly plant-based diet for health reasons. We soon discovered there are many ethical and environmental reasons for not eating meat (yep, we binged watched some documentaries). We realized that the convenience and taste of meat couldn't justify the negative impacts it had on our health, the animals, and the planet.
Circa 2019, Alice at 9 years old, being her goofy, loveable self
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It wasn't easy at first, but we learned to cook delicious plant-based food and found that aligning our actions with our values brought us peace of mind. We began to see that our choices had a real impact on the world around us. We started to "vote" with our money and buy things we supported, not just with food, but with other areas of our lives.
Baby cow. How cute are they? Seriously, they are just like big dogs!
We hope to inspire others to make informed choices about what we put on our plates and think outside of the boxes we've been designed to be in. As consumers, our money is one of the best tools we have to create change in the world. Remember that this transition is a process, and certainly not about being perfect.
Thank you for reading, and may you live a life of health, happiness, and kindness to all.
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Baby pig. Did you know that pigs are smarter than dogs? In fact, they are in the top ten most intelligent animals that we know of.
Thanks for reading!
Some travel pictures...
Circa 2018, rooftop bar by the river in Bangkok, Thailand
Circa 2018, cooking class in Bangkok, Thailand
Circa 2019, Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima, Japan
Circa 2019, Udon in Kyoto, Japan
To my dearest Lola Alex, lolo Ikong, lola Liling, lolo Bobby, lola Loleng, Tito Monchie, Mama Aleli, and Papa Gennis. These recipes are my ode to you, the master chefs of my life. I poured my heart and soul into recreating the taste of home. I hope it can make many people smile and put a little sparkle in their eyes when they take that first and last bite, just like it did to me and my family. Even though many of you are no longer here, you are always in my heart and in my home every time I cook and eat the foods we shared.
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With all my love,
Erika