Episode 356: Three Cultures, One Cookbook with Cristina Carolan of Plant-Based Pacific

Welcome to another episode of the show. Today, I'm excited to welcome Cristina Carolan. Cristina is a plant-based personal chef and author of Plant-Based Pacific, a cookbook that reflects a vibrant fusion of culinary cultures from Japan, Hawaii, and the Philippines. She's the owner of Chef Veggie, a plant-based personal chef and holistic lifestyle service. A lifelong traveler, Cristina's experiences living in Japan, visiting her mother's homeland of the Philippines, and calling three Hawaiian islands home inform every dish and story in her book.

In today's episode, we talk about:

• The inspiration behind Plant-Based Pacific

• How Cristina's multicultural upbringing shaped the concept

• Cristina's cookbook publishing journey

• Recipes and stories for local meals like Hawaiian Plate Lunch and Filipino Kamayan, all with a plant-based twist

• Advice for aspiring cookbook authors

Whether you're a plant-based cook, a cultural food enthusiast, or dreaming of writing a cookbook, Cristina's story offers warmth, insight, and plenty of practical wisdom for your journey in the kitchen and at your keyboard.

Things We Mention in This Episode:

Join the waitlist for Cookbooks on KDP for September 2025

Connect with Cristina Carolan

Order a personalized copy of Plant-Based Pacific