Interview: Chef Jen, Plant Based Caterer

Chef Jen, owner of Plant Farmacy catering, spoke with us about how easy and delicious vegan event menus can be - read her insights below!

Can you briefly explain your business and what inspired you to go fully plant-based?

Plant Farmacy was born in 2020 in an effort to prove that eating plants doesn't have to be boring and it CAN reduce chronic disease. We are a thoughtful plant-based food prep and catering company - providing locally sourced, seasonal ingredients to create unexpected, fully vegan meals. 

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“My intention was to encourage them to put more plants than animal products on their plate - for the love of people, pets & planet.”

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Are plant-based, non-plant-based, or a mix of both demographics your main audience?

When Plant Farmacy began, I wanted to focus on the non-plant-based audience. My intention was to encourage them to put more plants than animal products on their plate - for the love of people, pets & planet.

How do you work with clients who are new to plant-based menus?

95% of our clients are non-plant-based and are loving it! Working with them begins with lots of communication. We have a very detailed questionnaire to help guide the process and eliminate unwanted tastes or textures on their plates. 

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“95% of our clients are non-plant-based and are loving it!”

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What are your most popular dishes for large events?

This depends on the season and the event! We really like to capture the essence of our clients and the 'feel' of their special day. Most of what we do is granularly designed for the person(s) we are working with.

What are some common misconceptions or concerns about plant-based catering that you’ve encountered?

Common misconceptions are: we serve a lot of salads, the food will be boring, their favorite non-plant-based dishes cannot be duplicated, or they didn't think they'd find a fully plant-based chef/caterer! 

Have you received specific feedback from non-plant-based guests that stood out to you?

Yes! We hear the following comments frequently: "I cannot believe this is vegan!"; "Your food is so flavorful, I don't miss the meat."; "I had no idea that eating healthy could be this good".

Chef Jen is serving the Sacramento and surrounding areas. You can learn more about her services at her website!

Recap: HSUS Taking Action for Animals Conference 2024

HSUS hosted the Taking Action for Animals Conference in Washington, D.C. on July 19 - 21st, 2024, bringing together leaders in the animal welfare, rights and law community for a weekend of learning and lobbying.

The hotel chef prepared incredible meals for the attendees, including vegetable wellington, apple crumble, ravioli and chocolate mousse cake. We thank HSUS for being one of our Policy Leaders, and pledging to only serve plant-based food at their events.

In addition to sharing Food For Thought’s initiatives and mission with attendees, we also had the opportunity to attend sessions regarding animal welfare law and how we can be effective advocates in our daily lives. This information was vital and eye-opening, and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from such experienced leaders in the welfare community!

Recap: Best Friends Animal Society Conference 2024

Best Friends Animal Society hosted their annual conference in Orlando, Florida from July 11-13, 2024. Hundreds of attendees from the shelter, rescue and animal care community gathered to discuss, celebrate and learn about how we can all work towards a more humane future for animals.

Congratulations to Kelli, our raffle basket winner!

Eden, our West Coast and Central Coordinator, was inspired by the incredible conversations at our booth - there is a clear demand for plant-based event menu’s, and the food at this conference did not disappoint! Vegetable and quinoa salad, chocolate cake and rigatoni with plant-based meatballs were just a few of the highlight dishes.

Many attendees were engaged and excited by Food For Thought’s initiatives and mission - a few organizations even applied for a grant or policy on the spot! There was incredible reception to our mission, and it was a wonderful opportunity to reach a wide audience of engagement.

We would like to thank Best Friends Animal Society for inviting us to exhibit, as well as our many generous raffle basket donors including Dr. Bronner, Go Max Go foods, Dr. Melanie Joy, Vegan Club, Mad Hippie, Dandie’s Marshmallows and more!

RECAP: HSUS ANIMAL CARE EXPO 2024

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) hosted its annual Animal Care Expo in the vibrant city of San Antonio, TX, from May 15-17, 2024. This in-person event brought together over 2,500 dedicated attendees from various sectors, including animal shelters, spay and neuter clinics, and veterinary education programs. The conference was a hub of knowledge, compassion, and inspiring discussions about animal welfare.

Beth represented Food for Thought at the conference and had an amazing time chatting with lots of enthusiastic attendees. People were really interested in learning more about our mission. The response was fantastic, with many visitors to our booth agreeing on the importance of extending compassion to farmed animals. It's clear that there's a growing awareness and commitment to comprehensive animal welfare at shelters and rescues.

We had some great conversations with attendees, many of whom took brochures or signed up for more information. Quite a few people were excited about presenting our program and grant opportunities to their Boards, which could lead to some awesome collaborations in the future.

One of the highlights of the conference was the vegan catering, which received rave reviews from attendees. The variety and excitement of the vegan food options demonstrated how delicious and diverse vegan events can be, reinforcing our message that compassion can be both ethical and enjoyable. Our favorite has to be the vegetable and mushroom trees—how cool are they!

The 2024 Animal Care Expo in San Antonio was a significant milestone for Food for Thought. We are excited about future collaborations and the continued journey towards a more compassionate world for all animals. See you in 2025!