Feeding Vegans Panels

We’re delighted to bring you some experts in the field of feeding the hungry vegans and vegan curious in Ireland. Check out the Feeding Vegans Panels on Saturday & Sunday in the Dessert Island area.

Carmel O’Sullivan is the owner of Earth Cafe – one of Cork’s most popular vegan spots. A vegetarian since her early teens and a vegan for the past five years, she says her approach at Earth Cafe is simple — to make vegan food convenient, familiar and accessible.

Carolanne Rushe is a plantbased chef and entrepreneur. Trained through Ballymaloe Cookery School and the Matthew Kenney Culinary School, Rushe spent six years travelling the world and discovering new flavours and recipe ideas. She opened the doors to her first plantbased cafe – Sweet Beat in 2015, and just this summer, opened a second eatery – Sweet As Diner + Deli. 

The Firefighting Chef whizzes up accessible, quick and tasty dishes as a regular contributor on the Ireland AM TV show. Paul hopes to create a greater awareness of healthier lifestyle choices by showing people how to change to more ethical, plant based food solutions.

Virginia O’Gara is founder and co-owner of My Goodness. Her vegan culinary history began 20 years ago in Dallas, U.S with Food Not Bombs. Virginia has a particular interest in using fermentation as a method of promoting health, utilizing local goods, and decreasing food waste through sustainable preservation.

Phil Smith, the founder of successful brand Shoots & Roots, quit his office job to travel the world, came back vegetarian (and later vegan). He decided he wanted to become a chef and worked through some of Ireland’s best Veggie restaurants. Phil then set up Shoots and Roots 4 years ago. He now employes 5 staff, runs 6 weekly markets in Dublin, wholesales into Avoca stores and sells into 12 Supervalu stores.

Christina Leopold is a vegan blogger and recipe developer from the south west of Ireland. On her instagram page @addictedtodates she shares vibrant plant-based creations made from mainly whole-food ingredients. She is also a passionate self-thought food stylist and photographer. Through her recipes, she hopes to inspire others to get creative with food, to eat plant-based and help them to adopt veganism.