Hey, I’m Erin, and alongside my husband Jeff—who’s the artist behind the camera—we’re the heart and soul of Olives for Dinner. From our cozy kitchen to your screen, we’re here to spice up your vegan dining experience one recipe at a time. Whether you’re here for the love of food or the pursuit of your next kitchen adventure, we’re thrilled you stopped by!
Welcome to Olives for Dinner! Here’s Our Story:
The Duo Behind the Dishes: It’s me, Erin, the recipe developer, food stylist, and voice behind Olives for Dinner, and Jeff, my partner in life who transforms our kitchen creations into visual feasts. Together, our respective passions have been a joy to share with our worldwide audience since 2011.
How We Got Here: Our vegan journey wasn’t mapped out from the start. For me, it began with a tofu disaster that almost turned me off from cooking for good. However, it led me to a revelation instead, which is: vegan cooking is an exciting, creative, and expansive adventure worth exploring. As for Jeff, what started as a supportive role for friends at a wedding soon blossomed into a passion for capturing the beauty of plant-based cuisine through the lens.
Why Olives for Dinner? Because why not? Our mission is to debunk the myth that vegan food can’t be wildly delicious or deeply satisfying. We love turning classic dishes on their heads, diving deep into the sea without the catch, and finding that perfect blend of comfort and excitement in vegan cooking.
I am also a graduate of Rouxbe Cooking School. My work has been featured in VegNews, Bon Appétit, The Huffington Post, The Kitchn, Buzzfeed, and more.
If you’d like, sign up for our free newsletter here for a weekly dose of vegan recipes, interviews, guides, and more.
What You’ll Find Here
Vegan Seafood Recipes
Curious about crafting an amazing carrot lox bagel? Our ocean-inspired creations are sure to make a splash. Check out our vegan seafood recipes, vegan seafood guide, and plant-based sushi recipes.
Vegan Comfort Food
Longing for that nostalgic taste? Our twists on comfort food classics are ready to wrap you in warmth, minus the meat and dairy. Our vegan comfort food guide will inspire you, and you’ll love our vegan beef Bourguignon, mushroom stroganoff, and crispy fried tofu sandwich.
Global Flavors
Join us on a culinary world tour, all from the convenience of your kitchen. We especially love bringing bold, East Asian-inspired dishes and umami-rich recipes to your table. Our vegan gochujang cauliflower, ginger-scallion ramen noodles, and vegan crab coconut soup are all solid choices!
Vegan Food Guides
Armed with tips, tricks, and heartfelt advice, we’re making the vegan cooking experience rewarding and fun. Learn how to wrap a wonton, discover the best vegan ramen recipe and brands, the best method for pressing tofu, and discover some amazing uses for cauliflower!
Interviews
I love interviewing vegan bloggers, chefs, artists, and more. Check out my vegan interview series to meet some incredibly talented and influential people making waves in the vegan space and beyond.
Beyond the Blog
Life isn’t all tofu presses and food styling. When I’m not in the kitchen, you can find me:
- Trekking through the forest with my rescue dog Harper by my side. I’m so happy we have tons of open fields and winding trails to choose from.
- Binging episodes of The Great British Bake-Off or the latest Netflix series.
- Tending to my houseplants. (I am a bit of a plant hoarder.)
- Devouring podcasts. I especially love You’re Wrong About, Sinisterhood, and You Are Good.
- Exploring every vegan restaurant in Boston and Cambridge for wicked delicious food optios. Learn more insider secrets to Boston’s vegan food scene here.
Curious about our next culinary experiment or where our vegan travels take us next? Stick around for the journey and stay connected. There’s plenty of creativity, kitchen tips, and, of course, delicious plant-based food to go around.
Contact Us
Have a question, a recipe request, or just want to say hi? We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line and let’s get the conversation started. Stay connected and follow us on instagram.
Here’s to making every meal an adventure and every dish a story. Welcome to Olives for Dinner.
Cheers,
Erin and Jeff
Rita Gates says
Hi Erin,
I work for a publisher and we are releasing a new cookbook by Nava Atlas called Vegan Soups and Stews for All Seasons. Would you be interested in mentioning her new release or posting a recipe?
I can send more information and a pdf or mail a copy if interested.
Thanks,
Rita
Sharon says
Are you, by chance, creating a cookbook? I love being able to peruse a book and have the recipes on a more reliable basis
Thanks
Betty Mankiller says
My culinary journey is nearly identical to yours! The first time I ate tofu it was so bland and repugnant, that I felt like it was an insult to my taste buds. Now, I am a chef and create unique vegan food with an Italian-Hispanic- Middle Easten flare. I’ve found that since having gone vegan that I eat/create/serve/share far more interesting and unique foods in comparison to the standard American fare. Your insight and recipes (which I admittedly have never followed to the letter) have provided endless amounts of inspiration and excitement. I thoroughly enjoy your perspective, taste and beautiful food porn! Thank you for doing what you do. If you’re ever in Orange County, California, I’d love to work with you to create something truly unique and memorable. Cheers!
erinwyso says
Betty, thanks for your comment! I love hearing that you also don’t follow recipes to the letter (I find I enjoy cooking the most when I’m not forced to write every step and measurement down, or follow exact steps either) and I love that it’s provided inspiration to you. We were recently in California (South Bay) for 3 years, but moved back to Boston half a year ago. I definitely miss the food scene and people there — the vegan food options were insane there!
Deb says
HI Erin,
I read quite a few food blogs but yours is by far the most gourmet. I get excited every time I see your email. I too stopped eating animals because of the utter cruelty they face every single day. All the more reason I so enjoy your recipes.
Thank you for always sharing!
Lauren Bellon says
Erin I am trying to email you with the address online but it is not working. This is Lauren from the Fillo Factory. Can you email me and I’ll respond? Thanks!
KCNousen says
Hi Erin,
My husband and I are just started our Vegan Journey. Your blog is just what we were looking for. We have so many questions and I have found many answers on your blog. If you can recommend the basics for our pantry that would be very helpful. Thanks for sharing.
erinwyso says
Thanks for your comment — I’m so happy to hear that! Check out this post: https://olivesfordinner.com/vegan-grocery-list-pantry-essentials/
Tamar says
I love this! I became a vegan purely for ethical reasons, and whenever searching for vegan recipes I am frustrated by the fact they are so often gluten free, oil free, or in some other way trying to be healthy. Also, I love(d) the taste of animal products and am always looking for ways to make mock versions of them. That’s why I am so excited about your blog. Thank you for sharing!
Lynda Sandora says
Hi Erin, I stumbled on your website as I was completing my Plant Based Diet through Rouxbe! I was so fortunate to win 3 of their courses by playing Monopoly at Safeway. They had 3 to try so I did Knife Skills, Plant Based & Cook’s Roadmap .On the Cook’s Roadmap, I just have the last 4 course dinner to prepare, but I am still in the process of remodeling our Kitchen/house so I am waiting until I can use my kitchen in it’s entirety! I absolutely love the Rouxbe classes & the structure as well. I am on task #170 of the Plant Based Diet with only 4 more tasks to complete. Congratulations on them waiving their fee for your blog & your husband does amazing photography!
Cindy says
Hi! I JUST now found your site! So happy 🙂 I was searching for a Ramen recipe (I’ve never made it before) and stumbled here.
I have just (barely) started a blog/website but I still have no idea what I am doing- it’s all new to me and I’m not really sure why I am doing it… kinda fun and I love food and drink I suppose.
I plan on trying out lots of your recipes!
I wish my husband was the photographer too.. instead, he bought me a camera haha
Cheers!
Marian Cottle says
I have been following you on Instagram, and today I decided to investigate you more. What a lovely surprise! Thank you for your immense creativity as well as your generous sharing!
erinwyso says
Marian,
Thanks for visiting and your very kind comment … I’m so happy that you like what you see!
Gio Love,Thyme and Honey says
Thank you for sharing your story! Your path into a vegan diet and cooking is truly inspiring.
matthewjay says
I can't believe I'm only just now discovering your incredible blog. Your dishes have an exotic and soulful appeal that are right up my alley. Thank you for all the food for thought as I conceptualize my own blog in the works!
erinwyso says
Glad you like … and good luck with your blog!
Anonymous says
I LOVE your blog. Thank you for keeping it open for anyone to read.
erinwyso says
Thanks for visiting!
Anonymous says
I just stumbled on your site via vegansaurus and omg – I am in love!!!
Your story is very similar to mine and now I find myself with a real love and passion for cooking. My husband used to be an avid meat and cheese person and now, as a (ethical) vegan, he actually likes food more (a good extra 20 pounds and everyday excitement for dinner can attest to that).
After bookmarking a few recipes, I'm beyond excited to (ambitious goal coming) try everything you've posted. Love the layout, love the feel here!
1st up? Seitan Roulade, here I come…
erinwyso says
Thanks for your kind words — nice to "meet" you! I hope you and your husband enjoy the recipes!
Yodamom says
Thank you for sharing your story and your journey with us. My whole family are now very well fed vegans with a lot of help from you, the beautiful pictures and your recipes.
erinwyso says
I love to hear that, thank you so much!!
Gregory Preston says
Thank you SO much for bringing wonderful photographs and vegan cuisine to all of us vegans who believe as you do that vegan cuisine need not be boring. I also love taking classic meals and veganizing them. Wonderful! Appreciate you so much. Please keep it up. Thanks also for the information on properly pressing tofu..
erinwyso says
Thank you for your very kind words, Gregory!
Jackie @ Vegan Yack Attack! says
I love your story, Erin! You and Jeff make an awesome pair, and I am so, so grateful to have met you!
erinwyso says
Thank you Jackie! We miss you! xo
Deborah says
Thank you, made my day even better than it already was :-)And yes you inspire me and I would think so many others!
erinwyso says
Deborah, thanks for your very kind comment—it made my day!
FoodandLoathing says
I agree with and love everything about this entry except that a vegan diet isn't for everyone. I think it is! Everyone can come to reject speciesism and live in a way that causes minimal harm to others.:-)
Kelly @ Vegan Iowan says
I just found your blog, and your story about your omniverous husband and you as a vegan sounds EXACTLY like my household. On the bright side, I find that my husband is my primary indicator of how good something is – if he's willing to eat my vegan dish instead of meat or fish, it's a go :-). I look forward to reading more!
Anonymous says
What a wonderful story! And I have to say you've been absolutely successful at bringing us the most delicious looking food I've seen! Of the recipes I've tried out, they have all been fantastic, and they're all things I now keep on hand whenever I need to brighten up my mealplan!
erinwyso says
Thanks so much for your kind words and feedback … glad the site has been useful to you! : )
Anonymous says
Glad I found you!