Joshua Ploeg is a travelling chef who has cooked for US senators and bands such as Jane's Addiction, The Gossip, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Fugazi, Ani DiFranco and Anti'Flag. In 'This Ain't No Picnic', Joshua shares his most creative and delicious vegan recipes whilst never straying too far from self-parody and humour about punk rock culture and history.

Joshua Ploeg was once the singer for such bands as Lords of Lightspeed, Behead the Prophet, and the Mulkiteo Faeries. Limpwrist even wrote a tribute song to him as a gay punk pioneer ("Ode"). Now he is a touring vegan chef employing the same skills and enginuity that he learned from punk. Among the many recipes in his new cookbook you will find: Spicy Strawberry Applesauce in Pastry Cups with Sweet and Salty Candied Hazelnuts, Roasted Garlic and Red Bean Pate with Herb Sauce and Mushroom Crackers, Fried Veggie Cakes with Sambuca Sauce and Fig Relish, Straw Mushroom and Black Sesame Rolls with Spicy Mustard Sauce and Sweet Black Vinegar-Soy Sauce, Curried Veggie "Chkn" Dumplings with Orange-Tomato Chutney and Wasabi Cream Sauce, Deep Fried Breaded Shish Kabobs with Pomegranate Sauce and Creamy Dill-Garlic Dressing, Cherry Wontons with Plum Brandy Sauce and Yam "Ice Cream," and Red Wine Sorbet with Chocolate Crostini, Berries in Liqueur and Chocolate Balsamic Reduction.