Next ArticleTampa Vegan Examiner The Vegan Cook’s Bible will lead you down an un

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Omaha Vegan Examiner Adam Kochanowicz recently made mention of a cookbook

entitled The Vegan Cook's Bible. Despite the holier-than-thou title, the book is

not written with the help of any divine vegan intervention. Rather, it is

written by herbalist Pat Crocker who is neither vegan, nor is she even

vegetarian.

 

While this might not seem like so big of a deal—after all, talented chefs can

come up with some really delicious vegan recipes without practicing the

lifestyle for themselves—the idea of a non-vegan cashing in on the vegan

lifestyle is rather unnerving. As Roseann Marulli of SuperVegan.com explains in

her review of the book, the recipes themselves are delicious. However, a

cookbook might lose a lot of credibility if the author simply talks the talk

without walking the walk.

 

What is most upsetting about Crocker's book is that she promotes the consumption

of fish and honey within its pages. While some vegans do not take issue with

honey, the idea of a " bible " is that it is a sacred text which outlines the

beliefs of a group. If Crocker is implying that veganism includes eating fish

and honey, she is horribly mistaken.

 

Needless to say, the vegan blogosphere and even the Amazon reviews of the book

are quite outraged. Some are calling for a boycott, or at least a letter to the

publishing company who did not consider the implications of including fish and

honey in a vegan guidebook.

 

What's truly horrifying about the situation is the way Crocker herself responded

to a review by Mylene of the blog My Face is on Fire. Mylene reviewed the book,

calling attention to the areas in the book where Crocker strays from the vegan

guidelines. Crocker fired back with a very unprofessional and angry rant in

defense of her book. I can see standing by your work, but lashing out to such a

degree on a blog is really inappropriate.

 

I for one will not be purchasing this book. And not because I think poorly of

Crocker (I've never met her, I'm sure she is very good at what she does), but

because I think there are enough vegan cookbook authors who are as dedicated to

doing as they are to preaching. Enough vegan cookbook authors who would never

even consider including honey and fish within their pages.

 

 

Photo from www.amazon.com. The Vegan Cook's Bible is published by Robert Rose.

 

Author: Elizabeth Holli Wood

Elizabeth Holli Wood is an Examiner from Tampa Bay