05/29/2026
A few months ago, I received an email from a 6th grader named Clara Starr.
She wrote that she had been vegan her entire life, dreamed of owning an all-vegan restaurant since she was four years old, and wanted to learn what it takes to build a business like Veggie Life. Through her mentorship program at she asked if I would be willing to teach her.
How could I possibly say no?
Over the next several weeks, Clara dove into everything we could throw at her—recipe development, food science, entrepreneurship, menu planning, food production, customer service, and the day-to-day realities of running a small business. She created her own products (including her "Starr Cakes", "Bright and Starry Vinaigrette" and "Starr Bits" vegan bacon bits), experimented with pH strips and acidity, asked thoughtful questions, and approached every challenge with curiosity, enthusiasm, and determination.
And because every chef deserves a chance to see their creations on the menu, we're featuring Clara's recipes as specials all weekend!
⭐Clara's See-Food Cakes
⭐ A Quinoa Bowl with roasted sweet potatoes, chickpeas, baby arugula, Clara's Bright & Starry Vinaigrette, and Starr Bits
What impressed me most wasn't just her love of vegan food—it was her work ethic, professionalism, and willingness to learn.
Today we celebrated the completion of her mentorship with a certificate and her very own Veggie Life apron. 💚⭐
Clara, thank you for choosing Veggie Life for your mentorship project. Watching your curiosity, creativity, and confidence grow over these 20 hours has been one of the highlights of my year. I can't wait to see what you accomplish next.
Congratulations on completing your mentorship program!
And if you'd like to help us celebrate Clara's accomplishment, come try her specials this weekend!
VeggieLife
