66. Italian New Yorker Goes Vegan & Opens Plant-Based Italian Restaurant
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Meat-loving Italian New Yorker, Danny Costanzo, saves his own life by going plant-based. And then... guess what he did? He went on to open a 100% Vegan Italian Restaurant \\u2014\\xa0Plant-Based Mafia.\\xa0 Growing up in an Italian family in New York, Danny Costanzo grew up enjoying delicious comforting food and the way it brought his loved ones together. His dietary habits have shifted many times throughout his life \\u2014 from eating everything, to becoming a raw foodist, to a diet which led him to 3 clogged arteries, and to where he is now with a vegan diet.
When you think of\\xa0Italian food, you probably think of cheesy pizza, parmesan on\\xa0everything, and deliciously creamy cannolis.\\xa0Vegan may be the last word that comes to mind.
That\'s why we\'re so excited to have him on the show to talk about how he got started on a plant-based lifestyle and how it led to the creation of his wildly successful Italian restaurant.
Danny shares\\xa0what led him to change his diet a number of times, and how food has had such a huge impact on his cardiovascular health.\\xa0You\'ll definitely want to listen to this if you want to know how a vegan diet can help\\xa0improve and even reverse heart disease!
He also shares his experience of growing up in an Italian family where food is central to bringing everyone together, and how he carried that welcoming philosophy into his restaurant.
By the end of the episode, you\\u2019ll want to find your way to\\xa0Florida to eat at Plant-Based Mafia sometime soon!
Happy listening,
\\u2661 Michelle & Toni
SHOW NOTES
- Growing up in a food-centric Italian family with rich & decadent recipes
- Creating delicious vegan versions of popular Italian dishes and making vegan Italian food cool!\\xa0
- How a long recovery from a leg injury led to adopting a vegan diet
- Dealing with grief and stress & how it can affect the body
- The importance of listening to your body\\u2019s symptoms and cues
- How a\\xa0plant-based diet can help reverse clogged arteries and help heart disease
- Bringing people together and creating community around plant-based food
- Real Italian culture vs. Italian portrayal in films
- The history of the name \\u201cPlant-Based Mafia & reclaiming the true meaning of the word \\u201cmafia\\u201d
- The importance of being your own health advocate
- Getting through a tough time by dedicating yourself to a cause
- The exciting next steps for the vegan Italian restaurant Plant-Based Mafia
- Thank you to our sponsor,\\xa0Caraway Home\\xa0
VEGAN ITALIAN FOOD RECIPES & GUIDES
- 30+ Awesome Vegan Pasta Recipes
- Vegan Pizza Recipes
- Homemade Italian Pasta Sauce
- Spicy Tomato Basil Pasta
- Caprese Salad
- Vegan Cheese Guide