Chef AJ, a well-known advocate for whole-food, plant-based eating, found a new love for a vegan sandwich during her battle with stage three lung cancer. This sandwich, from Auburn Bodega in Northern California, features roasted sweet potatoes, pickled onions, cucumbers, avocado, and a house-made vegan cheese sauce that took the sandwich to the next level. Despite her culinary expertise, this simple sandwich became a staple in her diet as it was one of the few things she could always eat during her treatment.

Inspired by the cheese sauces from Café Gratitude, the vegan cheese sauce at Auburn Bodega is made with cashews, roasted red peppers, jalapeño peppers, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and a touch of salt - completely raw and oil-free. Chef AJ encouraged others to visit the Auburn Bodega if they were in the Sacramento area or to recreate this sandwich at home with the unique combination of ingredients. Overall, the sandwich was a game-changer for Chef AJ, providing her with a delicious and satisfying meal during a difficult time in her life.