Horizons: New Vegan Cuisine - Softcover

Rich Landau, Executive Chef, and Kate Jacoby, Pastry Chef and General Manager, are the owners of Horizons.

Rich was born and raised in Elkins Park, PA. When he first became a vegetarian, he was often frustrated with the limited culinary options that were available to him. As a result, Rich frequently found himself in the kitchen, at home, or in the restaurants at which he worked, experimenting with food and inventing new dishes to satisfy his demanding palate. With his self-taught kills now honed, he opened his first restaurant, Horizons Cafe, in Willow Grove, PA, in April 1994.

Kate was born and raised in Huntingdon, PA. After studying French and Sociology at Georgetown and Temple University, she eventually followed her heart (and stomach) to Horizons. Having been a loyal customer for years, her part-time work soon turned permanent. Her pastry skills are also self-taught.

Rich and Kate were very happily married in September 2004, on the serene shores of Lake Nockamixon.

After 12 years and 2 expansions, Horizons Cafe finally outgrew its space in Willow Grove. In February 2006, Rich and Kate dropped the "Cafe" and moved a more upscale Horizons to Center City Philadelphia, PA.

Over the years, Horizons has become a major contributor to the dining scene in Philadelphia. Rich and Kate are proud to have helped shape a more positive perception of vegetarianism and veganism in the region. They published their first cookbook in December 2003, Horizons: The Cookbook - Gourmet Meatless Meals and the latest cookbook in December 2007. They have made various radio and television appearances, including the NPR's A Chef's Table, and a two-year run as regulars on Your Morning on CN8. When time permits, Rich and Kate also give cooking classes through Temple University. They also offer demonstrations and consulting services. One of their favorite recent community activities was judging a vegetarian cooking contest for high-school students.

Rich and Kate try to spend all their spare time near beautiful waters. Their favorite places on Earth include the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, Nice, Mallorca, Barcelona, London, Kauai, and the Florida Keys. Rich loves boating, running, and gardening. Kate loves tasting and learning about wine and swimming in whatever warm-ish water she can find. Their ideal moments are spent sipping cocktails and snacking by the water's edge at sunset, living for today and dreaming of what's next.

Landau's exotic and inventive preparations of seitan and tofu are spectacular. The food is so carefully wrought, so vividly infused with creativity and satisfying flavors that any meat eater with half an open mind is in danger of being impressed. --Craig Laban, Philadelphia Inquirer, 2006

Landau's exotic and inventive preparations of seitan and tofu are spectacular. The food is so carefully wrought, so vividly infused with creativity and satisfying flavors that any meat eater with half an open mind is in danger of being impressed. --Craig Laban, Philadelphia Inquirer, 2006

Philly's vegetarian and vegan dining scene is up-and-­coming. The best spot for an upscale vegan dinner is Horizons. --Frommer's Travel Guide

Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby have concocted a menu that blows the lid off the misfired paradigm that all vegan food is dull and bland. They're taking vegan cuisine to another level. --Bob Gordon, Montgomery County Town & Country

Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby have concocted a menu that blows the lid off the misfired paradigm that all vegan food is dull and bland. They're taking vegan cuisine to another level. --Bob Gordon, Montgomery County Town & Country

Imagine flying through the Caribbean, island hopping and trying out the local cuisine, while watching lush red sunsets over crisp blue waves. Ok, you don t get to do that just by reading a cookbook, but you do get to read about the fruits of those travels and I couldn t help but feel some of the inspiration that these two felt from these locales transferred over to myself. If you can t tell yet, I was captivated by this cookbook.

The layout of the colors is pleasant, if rather uniform, and nearly every recipe has a beautiful picture. You can learn a thing or two about presentation from scanning the various recipes, giving you an idea of how the finished dish should look, what size each ingredient should be, and most importantly, you ll be inspired to make the dish!

I particularly enjoyed the Hearts of Palm Moqueca, which happens to be the recipe featured on the cover of the book. It s a great mix of coconut milk, peppers, tomatoes, hearts of palm, and an intoxicating mix of spices. The Spicy Jamaican Curry Seitan Stew was hot, aromatic, and full of depth while the Spanish Tomato Artichoke Soup with Peas was an easy recipe to love.

There is also a section of baking and desserts at the end of the book and while it s not extensive, the recipes not only look delicious, they look like recipes even beginning dessert makers and bakers can perform at home. Finally, the first part of the book is a mini-primer on various aspects of vegan cuisine, from how to work with tofu, seitan, and tempeh, to kitchen equipment, to spices, stocks, wines, vinegars, and other common ingredients. Again, it s a great educational book as well as an inspirational cookbook and well worth the purchase. Chef Landau peppers this book with his experience with travel and food, his recipes show it and I couldn t resist being taken along that journey with him. --May 2009, Chef Jason Wyrick, Vegan Culinary Experience.com

Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby have concocted a menu that blows the lid off the misfired paradigm that all vegan food is dull and bland. They're taking vegan cuisine to another level. --Bob Gordon, Montgomery County Town & Country