Vegan Cupcake Wars

On Tuesday, the second episode of Food Network’s new series Cupcakes Wars airs, featuring Los Angeles-based vegan chef Chloe Coscarelli. The 22-year-old Natural Gourmet graduate’s dairy-free cupcakes will be pitted against non-vegan offerings prepared by three other chefs for the chance to cater a high-profile magazine party in Beverly Hills, Calif. The episode theme is “Match Making Party,” and Food Network describes the challenge as “aphrodisiac-inspired.” Celebrity judges include Candace Nelson of Sprinkles, the world’s first cupcake bakery, and New York pastry chef Florian Bellanger. Coscarelli—featured in VN’s July+August Anniversary issue—says her dream is to someday bring vegan cooking to mainstream audiences. She is currently producing a vegan cooking show web series titled Vegan With Style.

Pictured: Coscarelli and mom Shelley Coscarelli prepare lunch at the VNHQ.