Welcome to Nourish & Flourish!

Ron Russell Story

Ron Russell, co-founder and a chef at SunCafe in Los Angeles, began cooking professionally during college, leading him to become a vegetarian. It’s been 40+ years since he’s eaten any meat. Over those years, he’s continually developed healthier versions of traditional foods and unique dishes of his own inspiration; as well as advocated a healthy, whole foods, unprocessed, vegan lifestyle for optimum health. Ron has developed scores of raw and cooked vegan recipes; plus, he has taught more than 400 plant-based cooking & health/wellness classes featuring his own unique world fusion cuisine, in a 15-minute gourmet recipe format.

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Suncafe has received 18 culinary awards including being named 1 of the Top 10 Restaurants in Los Angeles County twice by OpenTable, as well as 1 of the Top 10 Vegan Restaurants in the nation. Ron worked 5 years with cardiologist Dr. Dean Ornish’s Clinic at UCLA Medical Center–feeding his patients and teaching them how to cook healthy vegan food.

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Suncafe was honored as the Most Sustainable Restaurant in Los Angeles by the Sustainable Business Council of L.A.

Ron has been featured on a dozen TV shows including ABC News, KTLA, Fox Morning Show, in addition to the NY Times. Ron earned a Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from Dr. T. Colin Campbell Center from Cornell University.

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Ron has followed a vegan diet, drug free and alcohol free for 40+ years and mostly eats unprocessed foods diet. Ron hadn’t been for a medical check up in 22 years. So, as the medical community suggests a check up every couple of decades 😉

Ron went to the doctor a few years ago. His doctor proclaimed him more than 20 years younger than his physical age. Eating healthy plant-based combined with a healthy lifestyle works!  Dr. David Katz public health official at Yale University estimated 80% of chronic diseases (heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke) are caused by lifestyle choices, primarly eating animal products!