Meeting the Vegetable Butcher: A Visit with Cara Mangini
I never expected a regular trip to the farmers’ market to turn into one of my favorite moments of the season. I got to meet Cara Mangini, author of The Vegetable Butcher, and I’m still smiling about it.
Where My Classes Start
The farmers’ market has always been one of my happy places. It’s where I get ideas for my classes, where I find the ingredients I want my students to fall in love with, and where I’m reminded why I cook the way I do.
This time, I came home with more than produce. I got to meet “the Vegetable Butcher” herself.
Why This Meant So Much to Me
I’ve been teaching cooking for over ten years, and the question I hear most isn’t “what should I make?” It’s “what do I do with this?” So many people pass up a vegetable simply because they don’t know where to start.
That is exactly the gap Cara fills, and it’s the same thing I try to do in my own classroom. Meeting her felt like meeting a kindred spirit.
Meeting “the Vegetable Butcher” was truly enlightening. Cara was so pleasant to talk to, and I could feel how much she loves what she does.
Our conversation was short, but I walked away inspired and already thinking about my next class. I hope our paths cross again so we can pick up where we left off.
A Book Worth Keeping in the Kitchen
If you have not checked out Cara’s book, The Vegetable Butcher, it is definitely a wonderful reference book. It’s the kind of book I love most: one that teaches you how to think about an ingredient, not just how to follow a recipe.
I’m sure there will be tips in this book that I’ll be sharing with my students. Keep an eye out, because a few of them may show up in class soon!
What I’m Bringing Back to Class
- Start with the whole vegetable. Learning to choose and break down a vegetable builds more confidence than any single recipe.
- Know the why and the how. Every cut and cooking method has a reason, and understanding it makes you a better cook.
- Cook with the season. The best lessons start with whatever looks most beautiful at the market that week.
- Curiosity is the best ingredient. Pick up something new at the market and ask how to use it.
Thank you, Cara, for taking the time to talk with me. Moments like this remind me why I love teaching people to cook. If you’re ever at the Los Gatos Farmers’ Market, stop by and say hello to her. I promise you’ll leave inspired too.