This is My Story

Ron Russell, co-founer and a chef at SunCafe, 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.

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.

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.

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!