At Vanilla Zulu, we are treating Plant Power Day as the jump-off point for a permanent change in how we serve up a feast. Plant-based cooking is a legendary craft that belongs at the heart of every modern home. In this guide to our 2026 push for big flavours, you will see:

• The logic behind why 1 in 3 Australians are now actively embracing meat-reduction for a variety of lifestyle successes.
• A creative look at the balance of umami found throughout our brand-new Vegan Asian Soul Food menu.
• Availability for the official 12 March launch and how to secure a seat for the 12 April session.
• The inclusive nature of our workstation, with plant-based alternatives available across our entire masterclass calendar.

Remember when people assumed being vegan meant staring at a plate of steamed greens while everyone else at the Sunday barbie tucked into a massive feast? Those days are over! 

While March 7 was Plant Power Day, the campaign for bold, plant-centric cooking is active every single day in our Teneriffe kitchen. At Vanilla Zulu, we believe that vegetables, legumes and grains deserve the same chef-level respect as any other primary ingredient, resulting in dishes that are as indulgent as they are refined.

If you are looking for some fresh inspo, our vegan cooking classes, offered right here in Brisbane, give you the insider tricks to master sophisticated flavours starting from scratch. 

Why Is The Aussie Diet Shifting Toward Plants So Fast?

The data shows a massive change in how we eat. About 12.1% of Australians (roughly 2.5 million legends) are now following a vegetarian or near-vegetarian path. Perhaps even more striking is that nearly 20% of the population is actively cutting back on meat. 

This isn't about restriction; it is about adding big, fresh textures to your weekly rotation. Even for those who aren't strictly vegan, focusing on plants is a way to lean into the incredible variety of our local produce and the cultural influences that define the modern Aussie kitchen. 

Here in Brisbane, we have a direct line to fresh tropical aromatics and vibrant greens that make Asian-style cooking feel like a natural fit for our lifestyle. When you join a session at our cooking school, we focus on the skills that turn simple legumes and grains into the main event. Mastering a DIY vegan fish sauce or a perfectly charred flatbread allows you to lead the charge at your next gathering with confidence and flair.

What Makes The New Vegan Asian Soul Food Menu Different?

We are stoked to introduce our new Vegan Asian Soul Food masterclass, a fresh experience designed for every type of food lover. This session is a huge success for curious home cooks, long-term plant-based lovers, or even the most dedicated meat-eaters looking for some fresh inspo to use at home. 

This masterclass is all about grabbing a handle on the four big pillars: salty, sour, sweet and spicy. Our chefs guide you through a hands-on rhythm from prep through to the final creative plating. 

You will learn the actual secrets behind balancing fresh Thai aromatics and building deep umami layers so your plant-based meals never feel like a compromise. The new menu features:

• Crispy Spring Onion Flatbread, served alongside our signature Zesty Ginger-Soy and Spicy House Chilli dips for a high-energy kick.
• We show you how to balance the sharp tang of a Zesty Som Tum, using the classic Thai spicy salad method to reset the palate starting at the first bite.
• You’ll build a complex, 3D profile with our Golden Pineapple Fried Rice, tossing roasted cashews and aromatics to reach that restaurant-quality finish.
• A DIY Vegan Fish Sauce, giving you a massive umami hack to use for any plant-based dish you recreate at home.

The March test classes sold out in record time, but the official menu launch kicks off on 12 March. To make sure you get a seat at the pass, we have opened bookings for the next available session on 12 April.

Can You Still Join Us If You Aren’t Strictly Vegan?

You don't need to be strictly vegan to get a lot out of these sessions. We see plenty of omnivores who want to add more versatile tools to their culinary toolkit. Learning to work with plants makes you a more capable host and a better chef overall.

A major feature of our workstation is that we provide plant-based or vegetarian alternatives for almost every masterclass we host. If you are booked for A Taste of the Mediterranean or an Around the World cooking class, just let our team know your preferences at the time of your booking so we can make sure the ingredients are set to include everyone at your table.

We are so excited about how the world and our nation are moving toward plant-based living! Book your vegan cooking class and make sure your next feast is a memorable one.

FAQS

Why are vegan cooking classes becoming so popular in Australia?

More Australians are exploring plant-based cooking for health, sustainability and flavour. Vegan cooking classes help home cooks discover new ingredients, build confidence with plant-based recipes and learn how to create rich umami flavours without meat.

What makes Vanilla Zulu’s Asian vegan cooking classes so different? 

This high-energy, hands-on masterclass teaches you how to create bold, modern plant-based Asian dishes from scratch. What makes it special is the focus on balancing the key flavour pillars – salty, sour, sweet, spicy and umami – so you can build restaurant-quality meals at home together.

What is the cost of the Vegan Asian Soul Food class? 

You can book an individual adult seat for $109. If you want to bring the whole crew, bookings for 4 or more automatically drop to $99 per person. We also welcome young chefs aged 9 to 17, starting at $95. It is a fantastic way to build some new healthy habits together as a family!

Does the class cater for other dietary needs? 

We keep it inclusive! Our vegan sessions can be prepared gluten-free if you let us know. We cater to the specific diets listed for each session, so peek at the menu details to make sure they fit your needs perfectly before you lock in your spot.