!! I took one cooking class today and already I want to buy a $500 Vita-Mix blender. It will be vital to my future as a hummus-orist. I also want to take more (all) classes. But not the baking one because my pants fit too tightly and it's not because they shrunk in the dryer. *pouty face* It was nice to sit in a room of like-minded chefs, who either were curious about cooking healthier for themselves, their children, or their various loved ones. This class made me feel more human and sane about life in the kitchen and life amongst our animal friends. Six stars! Colleen's podcast, which I didn't know about until recently, is fantastic and answers pretty much any question I could have thought to ask her. I wish I could replay them when someone asks me "Are you [name of dietary choice] even if you eat bugs that are killed in the soil?" or "Aren't your bones going to die without cow's milk?" I can't wait to take more of these classes. I *want* to demystify tempeh and I want to make a higher quality "meat" ball. 2008 will clearly be the year of better Thai food in our home. Also, I can't wait to set aside a day to cube all my carrots (already this class has paid for itself in the time it gives you back with back with obvious but unrealized kitchen prep tips). I'm so buying her baking book right now and buying pants a size up. :( read more

I love Colleen Patrick-Goudreau and her cooking classes (and book and DVD). In the last couple years I have taken these classes: --Demystifying Tofu & Tempeh --Burgers & Backyard Bites --Comfort Foods Galore --Thanksgiving for the Turkeys plus a 6-week cooking series on eating right for cancer prevention and survival. I have used her DVD and just bought her vegan baking book. I need to check out her podcast as soon as I figure out how to download it (just bought my iPod). The classes I've taken were the "watch her cook and then sample the results" variety. I would have loved it if we made things while she did, but realistically we would have taken 8 hours to make the 4-5 dishes she showed us how to make (lots of prep work was done ahead of time), and I wouldn't be there if the class were 8 hours (and it would have cost a lot more), so overall that format works for me. The dishes have all been delicious. Two years ago our family had a vegan Thanksgiving (and I'm the only vegetarian--not even a vegan--in the family). I handed out the recipes from the Thanksgiving class to my open-minded peeps and we made them and everyone loved the meal. Yes, a couple people said they were going to have turkey over the next few days (Rome wasn't built in a day) but during the meal my family kept saying things like, "I can't believe how good this is!" and, "I never knew vegan food tasted so delicious." Yay! As I said above, I am a vegetarian and not a vegan, but I eat a lot less dairy than I used to and don't miss it. I think someone who's not interested in vegetarianism/veganism would find the initial part of the classes tiring and annoying because Colleen really emphasizes that this is the healthy and ethical way to eat. (I brought my extremely negative and close-minded ex-bf to a class and he hated that part--gee, I wonder why we aren't together anymore?!) But someone who's not interested in vegan cooking wouldn't be at the class, right?!... It's totally cool with me. I've been a vegetarian for more than 30 years and get closer to vegan every year--mostly with her the support and inspiration. I highly recommend checking out Colleen Patrick-Goudreau and Compassionate Cooks. She's made healthy cooking much less intimidating to me and I use her materials all the time. www.compassionatecooks.com Bon appetit! :-) read more

If you're a vegetarian or vegan, enjoy cooking or not, or just want to learn how to make delicious & flavorful dishes that are 100% nutritious, this is the DVD for you! Eating healthy doesn't have to be troublesome or unsatisfying. The hosts of this fun & educational DVD show you just how easy it is to create enticing & satisfying dishes for every season of the year - dishes you'll want to make over & over again! I *HIGHLY* recommend this DVD! read more

Am I the last person in the country to know about comedy traffic school? We passed one of these places the other day and I was like "whoah, comedy? I love comedy, sign me up!" Of course, I don't actually have a car, so since running a red light, running over a pedestrian or reckless endangerment in a moving vehicle weren't really options for me, I felt really sorry for myself not being able to get into this exclusive, themed comedy club. Two things happened to snap me out of my no-comedy-traffic-school-for-you funk. One was doing a search on google videos and realizing they aren't really that funny, and the other was attending one of Colleen Patrick-Goudreau's cooking classes the next day. Coleen is F-U-N-N-Y. Much funnier than comedy traffic school. Take one of her classes and she will entertain and educate you for three hours while she also prepares really tasty food that you get to eat. You can listen to her podcasts, which are great, and get a sense of what she's like, but she's very good at interacting with her audience, and that's something that just doesn't come through in a one-way audio recording. When I was vegetarian, it was a little challenging finding cooking classes to attend, but when my bf and I became vegan, well, if it wasn't for Coleen we wouldn't have anywhere to take classes any more. Even if you aren't vegan or considering becoming vegan or trying to eat healthier but you just love food and want to learn about it, I highly recommend this class as a way to spend three hours of a Saturday. Oh yeah, and the lemon bundt cake? To. Die. For. read more

OMG! I *heart* Colleen!! I'm such a fan!!! I've been to two classes and all the recipes are great! She is very entertaining and a lot of fun. I've learned how to open up my cooking abilities!! Learned how to do risotto and kale tacos! I got stuck in a place (as a new veggie) and was only eating pasta all the time, and this really helped head in the healthy direction with tons of variety! I also bought her baking cookbook and its fabulous!! LOVE IT!! Everything is yummy. :D She's just such a blessing for vegetarians and vegans. She's got such a great, easy going personality and helpful to everyone. read more

I just took a class here last weekend. It was my first foray into "vegan" cooking. Now, I'm not ready to take the veggie plunge just yet, but I do live with a veggie bf and I eat my greens. I was, however, persuaded to stay away from dairy more, which is a big step for the cheese lover in me. Colleen has great energy, enthusiasm and passion for what she does. She's very animated, great at cooking and incorporating messaging and the food was really tasty. I really do wish we had the chance to have more of a "hands on" experience, but the way the class was taught, Colleen really does depend on the audience to keep her in line, heh. It's like a big tease seeing her up at that large table, looming over goodies and spices...oh and the wafts of fried garlic permeating the small room drives you nuts with desire. Ok, maybe it's just me. My only regret was saying that I still ate chicken. I was in a room of vegans, veggies and would be or just have converters. I could feel the daggers piercing the back of my skull. I know, I know, meat is meat, but to me, white meat is still...neat. I learned a lot about the vegan diet and ways to create great substitues. I learned that yes, you CAN bake without eggs and for some reason, I now want to grind flax seeds every morning...just because I can. I can see myself embarking on a healthier life style already. read more

Colleen (the creator of Compassionate Cooks) gives me the strength and courage to be Vegan and be proud! I can't get enough of her remarkable podcast, Vegetarian Food For Thought, which is loaded with researched info and advice based on experience. She is so articulate and colorful in her podcasts and I can't imagine uncovering the world of Veganism without her help. Through her podcast and website (compassionatecooks.com) she makes a cruelty free lifestyle understandable and accessible. I highly recommend listening to her share her world, and I can only hope to one day get out to the SanFran area to experience one of her cooking classes! ps - interested in a vegan cookbook? Colleen's "The Joy Of Vegan Baking" (full of yummy delights) is a must have! read more

If Rachel Ray, Colleen, & Martha Stewart got in a fight Colleen would kick both their asses, no contest! First off, she's a better cook than Rachel (and way hotter) and secondly, she's got more personality in her pinkie finger than Martha Stewart has in her whole insider-trading body! The recipes are healthy and accessible - you can find all the ingredients at your local grocery store. Plus, they are delicious!!! You seriously have to try the magic chocolate cake. It is magic - plant it in your belly and you'll magically become happier! read more

Vegetarian Food For Thought Podcast - If you haven't yet, subscribe! A 5 star rating is just not enough -- Colleen's work deserves more than that. She has changed my life! As silly as that sounds, it is true. And from listening to her podcasts, I know I am not the only one. She is taking a hiatus from the cooking classes, so unfortunately, I have yet to see her in person, but I do listen to her podcasts religiously. She is an incredible woman with so much knowledge and understanding that she articulates in such an easy to understand way. I hope eventually I am able to communicate my thoughts on veganism in a way that is half as powerful as the way Colleen does. I don't even know her personally, but I love her. She reminds me that I am not alone in my convictions and it is okay to live my life this way. Thank you Colleen for all of your constant hard work... You are changing the world one listener at a time. read more

I wish I could give Compassionate Cooks 500 stars! I had been vegetarian for 12 years when I started listening to Colleen's Food for Thought podcast. I had thought about being vegan, but was scared to do take the leap. As I listened to the podcast, I did it! It has been a year now, and I am SO happy. Colleen's podcast has changed my life in so many wonderful ways, and I am eternally grateful. I truly wish I lived in the bay area so I could take one of her classes. Maybe I'll have to plan a vacation! ;) All of the resources (dvds, cookbook, podcast, etc.) that Colleen has put into the world truly make it a better and more humane place. She is definitely an inspiration and a role model for me! read more

I LOVE Compassionate Cooks classes! I have attended several and always walk away very full and a little bit wiser. Colleen focuses on delicious, healthful recipes that will satisfy anyone. As an instructor, Colleen has a very warm personality and engages her audience with her vast knowledge on a variety of topics. Got a question on anything from veganism to animals to vegan cooking/baking to chocolate? Don't pass up the opportunity to ask Colleen, because she will give you a very thoughtful response. I highly recommend Compassionate Cooks' classes! If you love food and have an open mind, do yourself a favor and sign up for a class! read more

Not only is Compassionate Cooks a cooking school, but Colleen (the founder) creates some highly educational podcasts. Her podcast, "Vegetarian Food for Thought" is great for anyone who is interested in what is a vegan/vegetarian, just what exactly you're eating if you eat meat, the benefits of a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle, and just how easy it is to not eat meat. It is very interesting just how far removed we are from how animals and their byproducts (milk, eggs) are produced/killed for our consumption. Educate yourself with these podcasts! read more

This week I decided it had been too long since I've taken a cooking class, and turned to good ol' Google for a search on "Bay Area" and "healthy cooking classes" (or something like that). Colleen's classes popped up, and serendipidously there was one in two days (the backyard burgers class). I'm not a vegan, so I didn't know if it would be the best fit, but I gave it a shot anyways and am very glad I did. I have been to cooking classes where the time drags. This one, three hours long, went by in a flash. Colleen has a great personality, is extremelly knowledgable, and provides a very good foundation for recipes you can "play" with. I went to the store right after to stock up on the pantry ingredients for a couple of the recipes, and am excited to start cooking more vegan food that is both delicious and healthy. I will definitely take a class again. read more

Colleen's classes are amazing. She's a wonderful and brilliant instructor. I can't recommend her classes enough. She takes the fear and intimidation out of cooking vegetarian foods. When I first took her class, I was just eating cold cereal, and now I'm cooking vegetarian a few days a week, all thanks to her. I also recommend her book, The Joy of Vegan Baking. It's my baking bible. Each recipe is a tried and true masterpiece. The community is very lucky to have Colleen providing her cooking classes and guidance. read more

I haven't taken a class from compassionate cooks but I've listened to many of Colleen's podcasts. She has a lot of great information to give out and inspires you to eat better. I'd love to take a class of hers to get some more hands on experience. Listening to her podcasts has made me a much more educated and active vegetarian, aspiring vegan. read more

Colleen is simply amazing -- a one-woman wonder!! She's done so much good for both animals and for people through Compassionate Cooks. Her classes, podcasts, books and more are always so informative. Her style is casual, engaging and very relatable -- never condemning or intimidating. I did her website for her as a volunteer (okay, so I worked for chocolate!) some years ago and really enjoyed working with her. She's expanded CC a lot since that time and it's just so impressive what she's created and accomplished through her organization. Go, Colleen, go! read more

Wonderful cooking class on "burgers and bites". I enjoyed the presentations, products, handouts. Would help to have an overhead mirror, or video view from overhead to view the process, but this is minor when compared to the many advantages of the class. Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is both compassionate about her cooking; and passionate about her work. Would love to see her team up with Alice Waters on, say, overlapping or "common ground" recipes. Mary read more

the dvd is useful and funny and all the recipes are amazing. i went to an actual live compassionate cooks class in oakland this weekend and it was so much fun to be with other vegans and vegan-curious people for an afternoon. colleen is the most adorable thing ever, and the food we ate (this class was a thai menu) was fabulous and delicious. can't wait to go back. read more

Colleen is an inspiration: kind, articulate, personable, passionate, talented, thoughtful, and fun. She has devoted her life to making a difference and she undoubtedly has! From Compassionate Cooks to all her other endeavors - highly recommended!!! read more

Great class if you like "watching" but keep in mind it is not hands on. Sitting back watching some else cook isn't as much "fun" as those hands-on cooking class I have had in the past. Hands-on issues aside, the content presentation is great, food is great, and being around other folk open to veggie cooking is priceless. I can only give 3 stars however because I really think it needs to be set up as a hands-on experience. read more

There is no bigger advocate for the animals than Colleen! She is an amazing person and speaker. She gives voice to the animals with her incredible podcasts. She also gave/gives voice to me to express why I feel so strongly about compassionate eating. I appreciate all that she does. Make sure you go to her next event or check out her podcast!!!! Her cookbook COLOR ME VEGAN is so beautiful! Eat the rainbow and she will show you how! read more

I was disappointed in whoever runs Compassionate Cooks. I love the idea, and I received a gift certificate for a cooking class for by birthday, and I was so excited! Shortly thereafter, they stopped offering cooking classes. I kept checking the website to see when they were starting again (I have been checking for a few years), and they have not. I even tried contacting them to see about either getting the cooking class or getting my friend's money back. I did not get a response. Very disappointing. read more