In this funny, frank, and tender memoir, much-loved Ottawa chef Caroline Ishii recounts how she opened the first vegan fine dining restaurant in Canada - and then, eventually, left it.

Born in Toronto to Japanese parents, Caroline learns early to love humble food like daikon pickles and rich mushrooms. So when she decides years later to become a chef, a career switch that is part naive and part completely inspired, it is early food memories that she mines for encouragement. What unfolds is unexpected and inspiring.

Caroline holds vegan pop-up dinners that land an...