Episode 2: Ritz-Carlton The Star Lounge
Linda Long meets Victoria Moran, author of The Love Powered Diet for a delicious lunch created by Chef Eric Gilchrist. Mezze Platter with warm, grilled pita bread, Butternut Squash Soup with Sautéed Chanterelles and Ginger Soy Meringue, and a Winter Vegetable Cassoulet.
Linda:
Ritz-Carlton, you say? Yep! Think about it.
Big international “ritzy” hotels have to cater to all cultures and all
the dietary needs of their high-paying guests. And, all their lounge
areas are prepared to receive their guests while traveling, in casual
clothes as well as after-theater dressy times. So, anything goes at any
time, and you can usually sit and linger as you stretch to see who might
be relaxing near you…There is Alec Baldwin! Oh, and over there is James
Cameron, two days after the Oscars and working on what looks like
another meeting for the next big movie. Victoria
Moran, author of Living a Charmed Life and The
Love-Powdered Diet among others, is my lunch guest, and she looks
perfect in the environment, elegant and chic and kind and with wise
things to say. We start with a Mezze plate of hummus and baba ganoush!
However, Chef Eric Gilchrist, created a special dish on the spot (not
any DVP, dreaded vegetable plate). It’s a Butternut Squash Soup that you
want to have everyone near have a sample to explain your expressive
non-verbal sounds with each bite. And, the Ritz-Carlton service extends to us
with the recipe! His other course was a Vegetable Cassoulet, very French
and in the comfort food category in that country. But, instead of the
usual meat in the dish, he used white beans with finely toasted bread
crumbs on top. Oh, please deliver me to live in the Ritz-Carlton in retirement!
Come
with us again through more videos coming soon where you are our guest
for glorious vegan food – sometimes at unsuspecting places!
LINDA LONG
NYC Producer/ Host
Linda Long is a food photographer in NYC and a longtime vegan. She authored
and photographed the award-winning Great Chefs Cook Vegan, a book featuring
25 of the nation's top chefs applying their talents to plant foods.
Growing-up in a truck stop in Pennsylvania, a period of time in the resort
hotel business, and a degree in Home Economics has created a life focused on
food. Living in New York City she loves eating at all the restaurants that
make life exciting in the city. She is enjoying sharing her select finds
with veganhotspot.com.
BETSY CARSON
Executive Producer | Camera | Editor
Carson is a filmmaker as well as the the co-creator of Delicious TV's Totally Vegetarian and the vegan recipe podcast VegEZ. Carson's firm belief is that if people have more tasty cruelty-free menu options they will choose to eat more green and she's committed to bringing great vegan food to a more general public.
REGGIE HODGES
Producer | Host | Camera | Graphics
Reggie has been working in the entertainment industry for the past seven years on films (The Incredible Hulk, Stop Loss, and Good Sharma) and TV (All My Children, One Life to Live, and Saturday Night Live). Reggie is also a producer and host of the web series – MAP – Music.Art.Politics. For Reggie, a vegan diet has been the super highway to better general health and he hopes to help raise awareness about how eating vegan can benefit people and the planet.
