Samantha Souza

Professional Food Writing

Summer 2010

22 June 2010

Query Letter –Vegetarian Times

Dear Shane Speer,

I have noticed lately that Vegetarian Times has featured a lot of recipes

that utilize seitan as the main ingredient for the meal. However, at roughly seven dollars

for eight ounces of seitan, my vegetarian friends and I began to treat it as a special

occasion meat substitute. However, it doesn’t have to be that way!

I propose an article that teaches readers not only the benefits of using seitan in

their cooking, but also how to make it themselves for 1/7th the price! I will discuss how

making your own seitan is easy, cost-effective, and allows the cook to have complete

reign over what flavorings are included. I will include a step-by-step guide to making

seitan, as well as three recipes utilizing the “wheat meat”, including seitan piccata,

“corned beef” seitan sandwiches, and seitan fajitas.

I am a freelance food journalist, and a former editor for Playbill Magazine. I have

edited three books for Playbill Publishing, including The Playbill Broadway Yearbook

(Editions 5 and 6), and At This Theatre: The Architecture of Broadway.

I look forward to your response with interest.

Best,Samantha Souza