HI THERE! Welcome to Nana’s Kitchen, where I’m challenging everyone that plant-based vegan is easier than you think!
But … WHO IS NANA?
Nana- that’s me. Well, my real name is Marianna, but to friends and family (and now, to you) I’m known as Nana 🙂
And I’m the passionate food-loving author behind this blog.
Launched on November 16th, 2017, I’ve been on a mission to put out as many fun, flavorful, nutritious, easy-to-make recipes straight outta Jamaica! Nana’s Kitchen is here to challenge the idea of vegan being “boring” and “expensive”- because in fact, it’s not!
Many people want to eat & feel healthier, but the sound of “vegan” intimidates them or doesn’t excite them at all! Meh! Using mostly everyday, accessible ingredients from this beautiful island, I handle every aspect of the content you see here: from recipe development to write-ups & photography. I’ve also worked on a couple of recipe videos with the awesome Yannick Reid, who is an extra talented Jamaican visual artist.
I’m largely self-taught (thanks to my awesome food-loving family and especially my most amazing mother) with a short stint in the prestigious Michelin-star kitchens of the Hotel de Crillon in Paris, France. It was tough (these kitchens are no joke!)– but it taught me the discipline it takes to take your passion a step further.
I have been cooking for so long now and I hope to cook until forever after! It’s what makes me happy, it’s my passion- and if there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that you can never run away from what you love.
As a global citizen (French/Syrian/Egyptian, born in Greece), Jamaica has become my home for the last three years and I blog out of my small kitchen in Kingston 🙂
Aside of cooking, I’m passionate about social causes and positive change, grass roots style. I founded & spearheaded Paint Jamaica– the street art project set to uplift inner city communities in Kingston that accidentally also became the largest street art space in Jamaica and with time, a “must visit when in Jamaica“. I’ve raised funds and helped rebuild parts of the Golden Age Home in Trench Town (an old age home for the blind) and set a crowfund for a 2 year old beautiful girl I met a few years ago, Kalia, who was born without an anus- and a digestive system that was sitting outside of her stomach- in addition to a number of other health complications. Fortunately, the money raised has helped her get surgery and all necessary health care. I also helped secure some sponsorship and start a crowdfund for SK876– a local Jamaican collective set out to transform a gully into Jamaica’s first skate park. Lastly, I’ve worked behind the scenes with many talented Jamaican visual artists and was a facilitator in the Imago Mundi project- curated by Luciano Benetton- putting together a collection of contemporary works from Jamaican artists.
Needless to say- I love food & and supporting grassroots, social causes! I love the idea of a meaningful life, in a nutshell!
See you later on the blog and on Instagram @missmariannaf
You can also see my work on other platforms- listed below. Prior to Nana’s Kitchen and being a full-time vegan, I was blogging as “Swirl & Scramble” since 2007 🙂 Click on the links below to check out my work on various platforms, from my vegan and pre-vegan life 🙂
- Nana’s Kitchen Holiday Special Dec 2018 on Smile Jamaica – click HERE and watch at 58:30.
- The Jamaican Restaurant Menu Guide Nov 2018. Distributed at all participating restaurants, hotels & Fontana Pharmacies in Jamaica. Click HERE to view.
- Plant-based in Jamaica with Nana’s Kitchen
- Local Superfoods with Nana’s Kitchen in The Gleaner (Jamaica)
- Recipe for Voodles in The Gleaner (Jamaica)
- Soca Detox in The Gleaner (Jamaica)
- Easter Cookbook 2018 on The Jamaica Observer (Jamaica)
- Nana’s Kitchen on Smile Jamaica– the #1 Morning Show in Jamaica (you can also click HERE and watch at 1:45:18)
- SAVEUR magazine (USA)
- ELLE (France)
- Serious Eats (Intl)
- The Kitchn (Intl)
- The Huffington Post (USA)
- Foodies of the World (Australia) and click HERE
- Cuisine by Cyril Lignac (France)