With a well-traveled background spanning Costa Rica, Australia, the UK, and Tunisia, Camélia brings a rich tapestry of cultural influences to her lifestyle.
Her expertise lies in creating delectable vegan dishes effortlessly, reflecting her passion for sustainability and conscious living.
Meatless Movement recently had a chat with her.
Beyond the kitchen, Camélia is a dedicated gym goer and advocate for second-hand and sustainable clothing, embodying her commitment to a greener, more eco-conscious world.
Please tell us more about yourself
Let’s 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 🌱 💕
山茶花 / Camélia
Hello my name is Camélia, I am from France and I am currently living in Hong Kong. I am a real sweet tooth! I enjoy cooking and discovering new places!
From a very young age I realized there was something contradictory between the fact that our society was eating meat and the idea of eating an animal, a sentient being. I actually liked eating meat but I had to force myself to make a clear distinction in my mind between what was on my plate and the image of the animal behind it. There was a mix of different feelings of strangeness, pity, disgust and guilt anytime that forced denial did not work, people talk about cognitive dissonance. But I kept eating it as it was the way it was…
For years I enjoyed it on the spot but I did not feel great afterward and mostly felt guilty. Having said that, I have never been a big meat eater. My parents didn’t want us to eat too much meat and from a very young age, my parents made us eat soy substitutes when they first appeared on the market in France back in 1998!
I later completely stopped eating meat and started looking into the vegan diet in 2016.
My little sister is the one who has opened my eye on the vegan lifestyle, she told me about how animals were treated by the fashion industry for example. I started to look at the way the food industry actually worked and decided I had to cut down on dairy products and on animal derived clothing.
I progressively said no to animal derived products to become 100% vegan and I will never look back. 8 years on now and I am so proud of myself!
What are common obstacles encountered when searching for meatless dining options or dining out with friends?
It does require anticipation. I am so grateful for applications like happy cow to help me find a place where I can eat in any situation. I am also very happy to have open minded friends and so grateful for the actual vegan and wonderful friends I made in Hong Kong. It feels so nice to be part of a community that shares the same values!
I feel so much better about myself, finally aligned with my values and actually proud that I overcame the cognitive dissonance we have all experienced before we decided to become vegan. It is a mindset and a lifestyle that requires to be honest with yourself.
When I was living in Tunisia a few years ago, when I asked for no meat in my dishes they would say “ there is no meat it’s chicken”…it was fustrating when it happened especially one day when they made me eat some dish that contained a weird texture that I hadn’t felt for years in my mouth only to realize it was actual chicken…!!!!
I was so mad haha I actually stopped eating chicken in 2006 when bird flu made an appearance in France….
What advice would you offer to encourage non-vegans or non-vegetarians to try plant-based meals?
Plant-based perfection in every 𝔹𝕀𝕋𝔼!
山茶花 / Camélia
I don’t tell them I invite them to restaurants or cook them some nice vegan dishes so that they realize how delicious it is! It’s my way of shedding light on the vegan luge style. I also use instagram a lot to spread to word!
So many great places in Hong Kong. Unfortunately many vegan restaurants have closed down but some have reopened and still I feel like it’s easier to be vegan in Hong Kong than in France, so I am very happy about it! Below a selection of nice vegan places on HK island, for more follow my instagram 😉
Life as a vegan is not hard when you know how to cook and you learn about nutrition. I want everyone to know that it is not difficult it only requires will and of course to learn a few tips to eat healthy. It is so easy now with all the science behind and all the recipes you find online thanks to forerunner cooks and influencers.
Follow your heart, delve into the recipes books and keep going, there is no better feeling than living cruelty-free.
山茶花 / Camélia
French 🇫🇷 vegan currently living in 🇭🇰. Previously lived in 🇨🇷 🇦🇺 🇬🇧 🇹🇳. Knowledge. Easy vegan dish. Dance. Second hand. Sustainable clothing. ☘️
all images courtesy of 山茶花 / Camélia