Max La Manna is an American plant-based chef and cookbook writer that advocates waste minimisation.[1] He has been described as bridging the gap between vegan food and waste-free cooking.[2]
Biography
La Manna became interested in cooking as a teenager at his father's restaurants in Connecticut.[2] As a young man he pursued a modelling career in New York City and Los Angeles where he also worked late nights at restaurants.[2][3] At age 25, La Manna appeared on two episodes of Days of Our Lives.[4] By 2017 he became interested in veganism and a zero-waste lifestyle.[4]
He is a self-taught chef who promotes an affordable low-waste approach to cooking.[5] It is reported that La Manna has cut his own food waste down to "nearly zero".[6] La Manna's recipes have been featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Vice, Vogue, and on the BBC.[2][3][7]
In 2020, his cookbook More Plants Less Waste was named the "Most Sustainable Cookbook" at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.[3] His 2023 cookbook You Can Cook This! has been described as "deliver[ing] simple vegan food with big flavour to keep things quick and easy" and was voted "World's Best Vegan Cookbook" at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. [8] La Manna has commented that his favourite ingredient to cook with is broccoli.[9]VegNews listed him as one of the "37 Creative Chefs Crafting the Future of Vegan Food" in 2023.[10] In 2024, Food & Wine named You Can Cook This!: Easy Vegan Recipes to Save Time, Money and Waste, one of "the 20 Best Vegan Cookbooks for Every Type of Meal."[11]
In 2023, La Manna no longer identifies as zero-waste and has stated that "zero-waste is impossible".[12] He describes himself as low-waste, especially in the kitchen.[12]
Personal life
La Manna is plant-based in his personal life.[13] He resides with his wife in the United Kingdom.[2]
Selected publications
More Plants Less Waste: Plant-based Recipes + Zero Waste Life Hacks with Purpose (Yellow Kite, 2019) ISBN978-1529396201
You Can Cook This!: Easy Vegan Recipes to Save Time, Money and Waste (Ebury Press, 2023) ISBN978-1529148800