Joanne Molinaro

Joanne Molinaro established her legal career as a firm partner at Foley & Lardner LLP in Chicago, specializing in bankruptcy law and notably defending the liquidating trustee in a major Ponzi scheme case involving nearly $1 billion in claims. In 2016, Molinaro transitioned her professional focus to plant-based cuisine, launching her acclaimed food blog, ‘The Korean Vegan,’ where she began reimagining traditional Korean dishes through plant-based adaptations. Her growing culinary presence led to an appearance on Food Network’s ‘Cooks vs. Cons’ in 2017, further solidifying her pivot into the food industry.

The book was recognized as one of the best cookbooks of 2021 by The New York Times and earned the prestigious 2022 James Beard Foundation Award for Vegetable Focused Cooking. Her impact in the culinary world was further acknowledged when she was named a ‘Food & Wine Game Changer’ in 2023 and received a Streamy Award in the same year. That year, VegNews also listed her among ’37 Creative Chefs Crafting the Future of Vegan Food.’ Molinaro continues to expand her brand and influence across diverse ventures. In 2024, VegNews included ‘The Korean Vegan Cookbook’ on its list of the ‘Top 100 Vegan Cookbooks of All Time.’ Demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit, Molinaro is set to launch her vegan K-beauty line, Korean Vegan Beauty, in 2025.

Her literary contributions will also continue with the anticipated release of her second cookbook, ‘The Korean Vegan: Homemade,’ scheduled for October 2025, solidifying her position as a leading voice in plant-based living and cultural storytelling.