Herbivoracious is all about reinvigorating vegetarian cuisine with modern techniques and bold, authentic flavors.
My name is Michael Natkin, and I live in Seattle, WA with my wife and our two kids. By day I've been a software engineer for the past 25 years, specializing in computer graphics. For the past 10 years I've been at Adobe Systems working on After Effects. Prior to that I worked on 3D for the web and interactive television at SGI and helped bring dinosaurs and Terminators to life at Industrial Light and Magic.
Whenever I have a moment to spare, I spend it in the kitchen or reading about food. In 2008 I took a six month leave of absence. Our first month, my family and I spent eating our way through Israel and Italy. Then I spent the next few months interning in the kitchen at Cafe Flora. Here's another article about the internship, over at Seattlest.com. In 2010 I also had the opportunity to stage at Canlis, one of Seattle's best known fine dining restaurants.
I've been a vegetarian since 1984. (Wanna know why?) I'm passionate about bringing big flavors and good culinary technique to vegetarian cooking. Not to say I don't also love a big plate of Waffle House hashbrowns!
I look forward to sharing recipes with you, whether you are a long time vegetarian or just starting out with Meatless Monday (a great public health campaign).
I'm always happy to hear from you! Please drop me a line at herbivoracious [at] gmail.com!) and follow me on Twitter.
Herbivoracious Around The Web
Michael and Herbivoracious have been featured on numerous websites. Here are a few clippings:
- Featured in mint.com's article about $10 meals
- Interviewed about how to make great vegetarian dishes by BizyMoms.com
- Featured in an article about Seattle food bloggers by Journal Media Group
- One of six nominees for Saveur Magazine's First Annual Best Food Blog Award (Special Interest Category); also featured (twice) (thrice) (four times) as a Saveur "Site We Love"
- Bi-weekly Seriously Meatless column on Serious Eats.
- Food photography featured regularly on TasteSpotting, foodgawker and Food & Fizz.
- Cooking demonstration at the Queen Anne Farmer's Market
- Cooking live on Allrecipes.com Thanksgiving 2009 webcast.
- Guest posting a reader-requested recipe on Apartment Therapy's "The Kitchn" blog.
- Guest post on SEOBook.com "Taking Your Beginning Blog to the Next Level of Traffic".
- My "underground" dinners reviewed at The Frantic Foodie.
- Sustainable Table featured my Persimmon, Parsley and Olive Salad.
- Meatless Monday featured my Achiote-Rubbed Butternut Squash Tacos.
- Seattlest.com interview about leaving the cubicle for the kitchen, when I interned at Seattle's Cafe Flora.
- Guest judge for Taste TV's inaugural Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon.
- Panelist for annual JTNews Passover Kosher Wine Tasting.
Advertising on Herbivoracious
Herbivoracious accepts advertising. Contact herbivoracious [at] gmail.com for our rate sheet or to design a custom campaign.
Product Samples and Reviews
If you have a food product, kitchen tool, cookbook etc. that you think would be of interest to my readers, contact me at herbivoracious [at] gmail.com. If I accept your sample, that is no guarantee that I will actually print a review; I only write about products that I absolutely love and can personally endorse.
ronit commented on Mandu - Korean-Style Potstickers with Ssamjang / Kochujang Sauce - Recipe:
ahhhh i want that new toy i mean dumpling press so baddd!!!!! "none available" on amazon...guess i'll browse around on ebay
...Lauren commented on Savory Chickpea Cakes - Recipe:
I have always been wary of chickpeas. I have friends that toss them over salad but I have never been on board with this practice, so when my when my friend found this recipe and suggested I use it ...
Michael Natkin commented on Grilled Pizza with Fingerling Potatoes, Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onions - Vegetarian Recipe:
I don't use the plate setter. I've tried it and found it insulated the bottom too much, and also it was rather small. But give it a shot and let me know if you get better results.
...Michael Natkin commented on Island Style Sweet and Spicy Cabbage - Recipe:
Hi Rachel -
I do have recipes for the dhal puri roti and the rice & peas. But I'm going to make you wait for them! I'm not spilling the beans just yet, but will let you know so ...
Tbonesandtofu.wordpress.com commented on Grilled Pizza with Fingerling Potatoes, Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onions - Vegetarian Recipe:
Thanks for sharing. We recently got a big green egg and I've been anxious to try a pizza. Do you use a plate setter?
...Michael Natkin commented on Otsu Noodles (Sesame Soba Noodle Salad) - Recipe:
Thanks Anne-Marie! I'm glad to hear the original was solid for you, and that you've made so many variations. I'm a big believe in using recipes as a jumping off point, not a set formul ...
kitchen equipment commented on My Cast Iron Skillet:
I've seen quite a few posts on Iron cookware of late and I hear the same things, everyone seems to 'bond' with their pan. Then again I guess that's true of any implement you spend y ...
Michael Natkin commented on Chard with Berbere - A Simple & Spicy Ethiopian-Style Side Dish - Recipe:
That's great to hear that it tasted right to you, given that you grew up there! Thanks for the feedback.
- Michael
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