Max La Manna | |
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Occupation | Chef |
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]
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, 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 Manna has cut his own food waste down to "nearly zero".[6] 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".[8] 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 2023, Manna no longer identifies as zero-waste and has stated that "zero-waste is impossible".[11] He describes himself as low-waste, especially in the kitchen.[11]
Manna is a vegan in his personal life.[12] He resides with his wife in the United Kingdom.[2]