Who am I?
I’m Emilia A Leese, co-author of Think Like A Vegan: What everyone can learn from vegan ethics, published by Unbound, and podcast host – that’s also called Think Like a Vegan. I’m involved in a re-wilding project in Scotland. I edit the quarterly magazine for The Heath & Hampstead Society in London. And I’ve developed life skills and ethics workshops for underserved youth. Professionally, I’ve been a corporate finance lawyer for over 20 years.
I grew up outside Napoli, Italy. My family moved to the US when I was 11. Over the years, I’ve lived in Paris, Bangkok and Singapore. Since 2001, I’ve lived in London. And since 2010, part-time in the Highlands, Scotland.
The book is available in all bookshops and on audiobook and the podcast is on all podcast platforms.
What you’ll find on this site
Why Good Eating? Because we owe being good to ourselves and to all fellow animals.
On this site, you’ll find a variety of essays, vegan recipes, cooking tips and events.
Food
With respect to food, my primary focus is on making Neapolitan and Italian dishes, many of which are inherently or traditionally vegan. I’ve also learned lots about Scottish and British food and you’ll find lots of recipes for traditional dishes here.
My dishes are generally manageable and without many specialised ingredients. Most of the ingredients I use are easy to find in local supermarkets (at least in the UK). Unless they come from the garden or a farm, I buy all my fruits and vegetables from my two neighbourhood fruit and vegetable shops.
Essays
In my essays, I primarily write about veganism. I hope to challenge you to think about your daily ethical decisions relating to animal use. Anyone can understand the concepts underlying veganism because they’re all based in the simple concept of fairness. I also write about travel and film, two big passions of mine.
Events
I speak to hundreds of people each year in conferences and vegan festivals, including the Vegandale Food Drink Festival and recently the Himalayan Vegan Festival in Nepal.
I’ve prepared all the dishes (unless otherwise stated) and these are all my photos. I assert legal and moral copyrights over my written and photographic material.
Love love love your posts. Many of my farm customers are vegans. I am growing a lot of Indian veggies
this summer and I wish I could do a blog like yours. But alas, I am computer illiterate. Your food looks so yummy! Binhnam
Thank you so much, Binham!! I am so glad you wrote. Please keep me posted about your farm and maybe send me some photos. I might be able to include them here or feature them. I’d love to do that. What you’re doing is inspiring and fantastic (and a lot of hard work). Good on you, my friend!!
Hello! I wondered if I could use your Cock-a-Leekie soup recipe in a round up of recipes I’m doing for St Andrews Day please? I would use the picture but full credit and link back to your site would be included. Thanks!
Hello Susan, I’d be delighted if you did use it. Go ahead and then let me know when it goes up! Thank you. All the best, Emi
Brilliant, thanks very much! I stumbled on your blog through a mutual friend (Elizabeth Brown) and am enjoying it!
Ah that’s excellent! Elizabeth is a lovely person. I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog.
Great blog Emi! Look forward to reading many more posts:)
Thank you! I hope you’ll enjoy it. Let me know if you try any recipes!
I preordered this book from my local independent bookstore so early it just took months and months to get it. I’ve just started reading the part about Massachusetts legislation and the cage size for chickens. It did go through, and I work at Trader Joe’s in Massachusetts even though I live in Vermont. It did pass, and the 1st thing people complained about was the fact they couldn’t get white eggs eggs. It was hilarious as if it really matters. We also apparently can’t carry pork products if the pig lived in a tiny crate. Like you said, these are futile attempts to slow or stop the production. People might even feel better about buying more if they think they’re ‘humane.’
Hello Johanna
first things first: Thank you!! Thank you for ordering in advance and waiting until its release in North America at the end of January. I also know there have been paper shortages, so books are getting delayed. Thank you for reading and for your comment. And I’m thrilled to hear from someone on the ground in Massachusetts. I was hoping to. You make an interesting point about buying more if they’re humane – that possibility hadn’t occurred to me. It’s also interesting to me to see the well-known animal welfare charities who support these types of legislation. This was a good summary of them https://eu.thegraftonnews.com/story/news/2021/12/27/bill-update-standards-egg-pork-products-ma-signed-into-law/9018682002/
Thanks again for reading and contacting me. I hope the book continues to be thought provoking for you.
All the best,
Emi