Known as “America’s Conscious Cook,” Chef Ronnen is one of the most ground-breaking chefs working today. In spring 2008, he became known nationwide as the chef who prepared meals for Oprah Winfrey's 21-day vegetarian and vegan diet exploration. He has since catapulted to fame, catering Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi's wedding, as well as receptions for Arianna Huffington. He also prepared the first vegan dinner at the U.S. Senate. Chef Tal was named on Oprah's "Best Of” show as the "Best Vegan Chef." A graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, Chef Tal has worked at the top vegan restaurants in the United States. He conducts master cooking workshops for students and staff at Le Cordon Bleu College Campuses nationwide, and is currently the Executive Chef of Garden Protein International. His first cookbook, The Conscious Cook, was a New York Times bestseller.
Launching as a restaurant concept from two former McDonald’s executives, LYFE Kitchen, an acronym for “Love Your Food Everyday,” will showcase a menu created by award-winning Chefs Art Smith (Oprah’s former chef) and Tal Ronnen (celebrated vegan chef) offering great-tasting food that is convenient, affordable and good for you. Chef Art Smith and Chef Tal Ronnen—representing equal expertise in comfort food and plant-based arenas—have developed a menu that champions taste, focusing on familiar flavors, with no dish containing more than 600 calories and most with less. Each item on the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus will feature responsibly sourced ingredients, from local farms and sustainable whenever possible, and will rely on herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables to enhance the flavor profile. “Love Your Food Everyday” captures the brand’s vibrant philosophy that each day your food choices are important. It also extends to one of the brand’s core principles of offering food, products and programs that are good for the planet and one another.