Hi! I’m Lagusta, a vegan chocolatier living in the tiny town of New Paltz, New York (75 miles north of NYC). I live in a little 1960s sunny ranch house with my sweetheart of 14 years, Jacob, and my three cats, Sula, Noodle, and Cleo. I work a zillion hours a week running a small chocolate shop and mail order company. When not working, I devote my time to food activism as well as many other passions and pursuits, most of which are catalogued on this blog along with other assorted excitements and annoyances.
I use this blog as a way to work through the constant friction of being a thinking person in a society that has seemingly abandoned all reason. I do my best to stick to my homegrown lefty values while working for meaningful change both inside and outside “the system.”
I’m an anarchist who was until recently the head of her local Green Party chapter. I’m an anti-capitalist who owns her own business, a home owner who hates the idea of private ownership of land. I always pay my quarterly taxes on time, then have nightmares about dead Iraqi children killed with guns I bought.
I always thought my life would be more hardcore—that I would never interact with the society whose values I often despise. As I gingerly step into my thirties, however, I am realizing that I can live in the world without being of the world, and that running my business in the most anti-capitalist way possible is pretty damn hardcore. That I’m proud to own my house because it means that the trees on it will never be cut down. That in my small town the Green Party has a real impact, and it’s worthwhile to work inside the dreaded political system if it means we can put solar panels on Town Hall. I’m enjoying finding the difficult balance between not compromising my values and being a productive, active member of society.
“Resistance is fertile” is a slogan I have shamelessly stolen from Ruth Ozeki, a writer whose books I adore. It has become my motto. This post (at the way bottom) talks a little bit about what it means to me and should mean to you.
Hey, here’s a cookbook I worked on!
A nd here’s my professional (well more professional…well: longer.) bio.
You can contact me at lagustaATlagustaDOTcom, but, you know, change the at and the dot.
Also, I have a mustache.
Things you’re going to want to know about my cooking philosophy if you are interested in my recipes, foodie rants, or my professional foodie blog:
- I’ve been vegan for 17 years, so don’t give me any of your Veg 101 “where-do-you-get-your-protein”/”what about local meat that’s raised humanely” bullshit.
- Earth Balance is the spawn of satan (not seitan) and tastes like shit, and makes your food taste like shit. Why only me and like five other vegans have noticed this I’m not sure. I eat EB-laced vegan junk food a couple of times a year in select restaurants and I love it, because everyone loves shit once in a while, right? That’s fine, let’s just not pretend it’s not shit.
- I’m not a junk food vegan, or a fat-free vegan, or a health food vegan. I cook seasonally. I love deep-fried foods. I mostly (but not always) make simple food. I make food food. No fucking TVP, no fucking soy protein crap. Food food.
- I make everything myself. Except ketchup and pb and tofu. Tempeh? Yep. Miso? For years now, sure. Seitan? Of course, that one’s easy.
- I have no patience for picky eaters, fake wheat and gluten allergies (a very small percentage of people have legitimate allergies and intolerances, of course), or “how-many-calories-are-in-this” bullshit. Just: don’t.
- Most cleanses are scams.
- Be afraid of people who are 100% raw.
I’m working on my holier-than-thou attitude. I know, I know. It’s really annoying.
Lagusta,
I enjoyed going over your site and feel like I know you better but I will need to return because you have a lot to read. I like the “eye rolling & cow lick” video segment-you do not need medical attention.
Edgar
hi
i am work about organic agriculture,but naw i Found the new form to do agriculture and form is very good.
can you let me to know more of your agiruclture?
Ha!
I think your blogs are great!
-no need to reply :) te he he!
As the son of a locally famous baker of Viennese pastry, I grew up in a place where chocolate was highest on the altar of gastronomic delights. Nonetheless, I must say the photo of the nymph below the holy bon bon, is the greater delight of the two. She brings to mind in this old head, the delights of a hippy youth full of adventure and wisps of femininity that excited the heart both in their physical image and their yearning to be the wood sprites they affected.
Turn thirty if you will, but you must remain that delicate figure blending in perfect symmetry with the woods about you.
I love your blog – I can’t stop reading. Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement.
Aww, thanks Sasha! Rad!
I stumbled across your blog while searching for curry recipes, and now I check in at least once a day to see if you have any new posts with which I can distract myself from work… I don’t think I’m as radical as you are for real, but I pretend I am ever-so-often. Thanks. :)
Chelsea! Awesome! I’m sure you’re plenty radical.
Enjoyed your site. Would love to chat.
CERES PRESS
David Goldbeck
HealthyHighways.com
It’s very refreshing to hear what your doing, and your perspective. Im also trying to live in sustainable and sane way (vegan, green party member, independent media supporter/producer, etc.), to be the change I wish to see, thanks for the inspiration to keep at it. I just went to a workshop with Jim Merkel who wrote the book “Radical Simplicity”, I think you may find it valuable too. He recommends a veganic diet, along with reducing consumption way way down…
Well stay positive,
ColinD(at)veganmail(dot)com
you are beautyfull
(sometimes it’s good to be re-minded, in case the world makes me forget, don’t you think?)
Thank you. for the blog and mostly for the spirit.
don’t worry about “them”, do what you have to do…
~ “That which conforms can never flower in goodness” ~
I love your site — great recipes and very witty!
Lefty, foodie and a witty, good read. Cool.
I am very happy to have just found your blog! Looking forward to reading through all the goodness…
Thank you :)
It’s very refreshing to hear what your doing, and your perspective. Im also trying to live in sustainable and sane way (vegan, green party member, independent media supporter/producer, etc.), to be the change I wish to see, thanks for the inspiration to keep at it. I just went to a workshop with Jim Merkel who wrote the book “Radical Simplicity”, I think you may find it valuable too. He recommends a veganic diet, along with reducing consumption way way down…Well stay positive,ColinD(at)veganmail(dot)com
+1
[...] what’s a lagusta? [...]
You’re the only other person that knows about the raw food people! I was always scared to say, but it’s true! They’re totally, super-mario, off the hook!!!
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