About
Hi, and welcome!
I’m Ty. I started this blog just after transitioning to a vegan diet, and being freshly transplanted to New York; so some of my earlier posts and links reflect that. However, after 3 months of living in Brooklyn and cooking up a storm in my itty bitty studio kitchen, I happily came back down to South Florida. CPV is my place to share original recipes, reviews, new vegan products, and restaurants with you. When I review something I give you my truly honest, personal opinion. I’m a bit of a discerning foodie, and I know that vegan food doesn’t have to be boring or tasteless, nor needlessly overpriced just because it’s animal free.
Thomas & I are now planning to move to the Seattle, Wa area in Spring of 2012, and we’re really excited about all the new possibilities and places to check out! More recently, Thomas has started to take a more active part in the vegan cooking in our household, so you’ll be seeing more posts of his efforts as well. : )
Please feel free to leave a comment, question or insight! You can subscribe to CPV by using the links on the right side of the page. You can also follow CPV on facebook, twitter, google+ and tumblr. You can also EMAIL me! cameraphonevegan(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for stopping by! : )
<3,
Ty
Q & A
Why cameraphonevegan?
Three weeks after I moved to New York, someone stole the nice, second-hand digital SLR that I had just purchased, so the that left me with only my cameraphone! As it turned out, the cameraphone is convenient and always around.
How did you learn how to cook?
Many years ago, I learned how to cook out of sheer necessity. The Food Network and the zillion cookbooks I started collecting provided me with all the instruction I needed. Over time cooking diligently from recipes was no longer necessary and I started to experiment and make my own versions of things.
What cookbooks & kitchen supplies do you use?
My favorite cookbooks are listed on the right side of the webpage for easy reference. I listed them with their proper title as well as their common abbreviations (for the longer titles). You can see a list of my favorite kitchen items through the Ty’s kitchen page tab at the top of the site. Although I don’t often mention it, I buy organic whenever possible, and you can find me at Whole Foods way too often!
How long have you been eating vegan?
I began transitioning to a fully vegan diet in the fall of 2009, making the official start date January 2010. I was eating & cooking fully vegan for almost the whole year of 2010, until I fell off for a couple of weeks with all the holiday temptation. Even just switching back to a mostly vegetarian diet made a big impact in how I felt. After 2 weeks I started feeling lousy, and got back on board.
Full disclosure: While I absolutely disapprove of the meat industry, the way agribusiness works, and definitely believe in the ethical treatment of animals, I have still not, at this time, become a full lifestyle vegan.
Isn’t it hard?
Maintaining a vegan diet can be hard, especially at first, but the longer you do it, the easier it is. (Except for the holidays! I had no desire to cheat over the 2011 holiday season, but I felt a bit beat up after it was over.) I think at the beginning, one of the most challenging parts is dealing with other people’s reactions to it. You’ll find that a lot of people find the whole thing threatening. I personally avoid being preachy. I mean, I’m happy to talk about it if anyone asks! Over time it just becomes your normal life and most people get over it. Especially if you can impress them with your culinary skills. : )
Personally, I just feel a lot better eating a vegan diet; this is where I prefer to be. ; )
Hi,
I am a vegan charter pilot and have a blog, Marty’s Flying Vegan Review.
Maybe we could get together for a dinner/lunch when I drop into Florida on my irregular schedule.
I’m trying to form a vegan bloggers get together in NYC but of course, you bailed back to warm weather, beaches and sun so I have to eliminate you from contention, unless of course you come back for a visit.
Best,
Marty
Hi, and thanks for dropping by. I liked you blog too!
Yeah Tanya! I am so proud of you
I have been so busy with the twins so this is the first time I got around to checking your blog out! I don’t know if I am ready to give up my meat and cheese but always willing to eat more healthy humane foods… any suggestions or recommendations on what recipe/s to try first? XO
-T
thanks for coming to check it out! : ) i know you’re a busy momma. what recipe to try first? there are some amazing empanadas that i’ll be posting later in the week! i’m making some for a potluck next sunday, so i’m gonna make the picadillo ahead, and then fry them up at the house. i guess it depends how much time you wanna spend cooking, hah! if you want a recipe for something specific, email me on facebook, and i will try to deliver. xoxox
Hey sweets thank u so much for letting me know about this blog… I can’t wait to make some of the stuff you have been showing…
xoxox
we miss u down in south florida
thanks for reading! you need to make one too! miss you all!
YAY TY! I LOVE THIS! AND I WANT THOSE CUPCAKES!!!
miss you!
hey, we have the same vegan birthday! woohoo! i’m originally from florida, too. can’t wait to read some recipes…
~wendy
http://conradvisionquest.wordpress.com/
cool. thanks!