Lauren Toyota
Lauren Toyota is the Toronto-based creator of hot for food, a vegan chef and cookbook author who turns familiar comfort foods into plant-based recipes.
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Latest
Lauren’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus her backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Ten Speed Press
Ten Speed Press
hot for food
hot for foodOverview
- Based in
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Makes
- Vegan recipes, cooking videos and cookbooks
- Before food
- MuchMusic VJ and television host
- Full-time leap
- Focused on hot for food in 2014 after a television layoff
- YouTube breakout
- Over 100,000 subscribers in hot for food’s first year
Mini bio
Before the kitchen.
Lauren began her television career in Vancouver in 2005. She went on to become a MuchMusic VJ, host New.Music.Live and co-host the MuchMusic Video Awards, building the interviewing and on-camera skills she later brought to food videos.
Making the leap.
After losing her television job in 2014, Lauren committed to hot for food full time. She shared recipes on her blog and Instagram and began documenting the change on YouTube. The hot for food cooking channel launched in February 2015 and passed 100,000 subscribers within its first year.
Comfort food, made vegan.
Her recipes make room for the foods people already love, from cauliflower buffalo wings to potato-and-carrot nacho cheese. Vegan Comfort Classics arrived in 2018, followed by hot for food all day in 2021, which focuses on everyday meals and turning leftovers into something new.
Cooking for people in person.
After living in Los Angeles from 2019 to 2025, Lauren returned to Toronto. Alongside recipes and videos, her work now includes personal chef services and select event catering. Her Comfort Classics Vegan Supper Club brought cookbook dishes to a table of fans, friends and family.
Creditschronological, newest first
Cookbooks
Film & TV
- 2018How To Holiday with Jordin SparksProduced and edited a segment for the Food Network Canada special
- 2007969Host; Leo Award nominee
Awards
Quotes
It’s all about balance.Lauren Toyota, hot for food FAQ
On enjoying both hearty salads and big burgers as part of her approach to vegan food.
Trivia
- She became vegan on January 1, 2010, after a two-month transition.
- She was vegetarian from ages 12 to 19.
- Her television interview archive includes Kermit the Frog.
- Her cauliflower buffalo wings appeared on Jenna Marbles and Julien Solomita’s J&J’s Kitchen.
Find Lauren
Follow Lauren for vegan comfort food, kitchen ideas and life beyond the recipes.
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