Today’s interview is with Laura Beck, the creator of Vegansaurus. I met Laura at a San Francisco Vegan Bakesale at the beginning of the year, then saw her in SF again on my way to Vida Vegan Con in August where I saw her yet AGAIN! Triple the fun! She also gave me a tempting offer to drop out of school and move in with her! Can you imagine how much fun that would be?! Laura is an amazing person, a fantastic writer, and the most hilarious person ever! She doesn’t hold back when she has something to say! I’m so lucky I get to feature Laura in my interview series. Woo!
Follow @mrpenguino and @vegansaurus on Twitter, but first read the interview!
How did you get started with Vegansaurus, and was it always a community blog? How did you decide on a pink dinosaur?
I got started with Vegansaurus in 2008 when I saw there was no SF Bay Area vegan guide and wanted that to change. I asked my friend Meave Gallagher if she’d be into it, and she was, so we got help from Maria Diaz and Jonas Madden-Connor and started a blog! The pink dino was all Jonas! Well, we knew we wanted a dino, and I love pink shit, and he had to have a knife and fork because he’s hungry and wants some damn food!
What are your top 5 favorite meals in the Bay Area?
So hard, and always changing! Right now, I am into the Toasty Crispy at Souley Vegan, the Plant Burger at The Plant Cafe, any of the desserts at Source, the 3-course veg prix fixe at Saha, and um… anything eggplant from Minako!
What is the menu at your as many courses as you want dream dinner party? Guest list (I better be on it!)?
Hahaha! Okay, if I’m making it, it will involve lasagna. That much I know. I’d try to recreate the warm spinach salad from Millennium, some kind of vegan chicken noodle soup (I need a good recipe! I want it to taste just like shit at Fresh Choice! Classy!), LASAGNA (I love this recipe from VegWeb SO MUCH), tons of Ethiopian food (like a giant veggie combo from Cafe Colucci), a mashed potato bar, make your own sushi station. Okay, this is just turning into a straight buffet. For dessert? Yellow cake with chocolate frosting, rice pudding, vegan soft serve, and maybe cinnamon buns?? Would you make a cookie bar?? And those Rosewater Lemon Cupcakes you made at Vida Vegan Con? HOLY SHIT SO GOOD. As far as people, I only like to invite good eaters to dinner parties, because it’s so awful if people can’t throw down! Kelly, I’ve seen you in action, you’re definitely invited!
Do you still encounter people who think vegans can’t be fat? Come on, people! It’s 2011 and there’s million vegan bakeries nowadays, not to mention food has existed this whole time! In what ways are you involved in spreading the word about fat positivity?
I know, those people are crazy! Going vegan isn’t a weight loss diet, it’s a lifestyle choice. And it’s extremely delicious! Even if you’re eating strictly healthy whole foods, they still have calories! I absolutely think that it’s easier to be healthy as a vegan, and your cholesterol is most likely the best your doctor’s ever seen, but that doesn’t mean you’re automatically gonna be skinny. And that’s rad! People are meant to be all shapes and sizes, and whatever you are, it’s good. I just try to do my part so spread that message, and if I ever see any weight shaming in the vegan community, I try to speak up. Also, we will never, ever talk about dieting for weight loss on Vegansaurus, or any of that bullshit.
You published Fat Zine last year. What can we find inside? And how much glitter are we talking? Do you have plans for another issue?
Fat Zine was so much fun! I mainly did it because my boyfriend has all these zine and comics events that I like to attend, so I thought it would be fun to have something. When I do things I go big or go home, so tons of glitter and insanity was a must. Inside there’s stories, not-terrible poetry, pictures, and drawings! Oh! And artist Jen Oaks, who drew a babe named Kitty Bon Bon for the back cover, just put out a chubby babes calendar that everyone needs to own.
If I had a million dollars, I would hire you to narrate my life so I could fall on my ass laughing all day. Also, you gave me the idea that in this dream life Isa and John, you, and I would all be neighbors and our houses would be connected by skywalks. How does that sound? What is in your dream life?
Yeah, that sounds pretty damn good! I’m in! I think my dream life would involve all of that, plus I’d make a decent living writing, and get to go on lots of vacations. I don’t have to have lots of material items, but I totally want an Infinity Pool. Also, a flying car. The future is gonna rule! Also, if you ever get a million dollars, I will totally narrate your life. I can be bought!
Do you have any new upcoming projects?
I’m just rolling along, but I am working on writing a screenplay with a friend. I actually majored in Film & TV and got sidetracked when I graduated. Anyway, I’d love to write for TV or movies! Which is kinda crazy, but you never know. I am not really super great at following my dreams, I mainly just go with the flow. But Kelly, maybe this interview will change that! I am ready for whatever is next!
Thanks Laura!!
