Jennifer Mason Golden shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Jennifer, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
In September [2025], when we announced we were closing our storefront after five years, the outpouring from our community was overwhelming and such a demonstration of the love and community we have cultivated. People brought flowers, sent texts, DMs, and posted the kindest messages about how much they’ve loved what we created. There was so much love, gratitude, and even sadness, yet also excitement when we shared that we’ll be coming out with a cookbook so people can make some of their favorite recipes of ours at home. It really made us feel so proud and so grateful. It was this beautiful reminder that what we have built isn’t just a shop, it’s a community where people truly felt connected.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jennifer Golden, founder and CEO of The Vreamery. We started out as one of the first artisan vegan cheese shops in the country, offering the largest selection of handcrafted plant-based cheeses and charcuterie you could find anywhere. What made us special wasn’t just the food, it was the experience. We built a community around connection, hospitality, and the joy of sharing consciously crafted, epicurean foods that people genuinely love.
After five wonderful years in our storefront, we’ve transitioned to focusing on national delivery, monthly subscription boxes, events, classes, and a cookbook that shares some of our most beloved recipes. I like to say The Vreamery is where culinary creativity meets compassion, it’s about making food that feels good, tastes amazing, and connects people to something meaningful.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I think what breaks the bonds between people is disconnection, first from ourselves and then from each other. It happens when we stop listening, stop being curious, or forget to see one another with compassion. When we get caught up in being right instead of being kind, that’s when the distance grows.
What restores those bonds is love, care, and self-awareness. When we take responsibility for our own experience and own our projections, we start to realize that when our inner peace is disrupted by something outside of us, it’s really an invitation to reconcile or upgrade our internal operating system. When we do that, we change the filter we see life through.
Assuming good intentions, looking for the good, slowing down long enough to really listen, and showing love in small, consistent ways, that’s where connection returns. For me, food has always been that bridge. It transcends differences and reminds us that sharing a seat at the table is one of the simplest and most beautiful ways to remember that we belong to each other.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d teach her that everything she’s searching for is already within her. I’d remind her that the hard moments are shaping her strength, and that it’s safe to let life unfold without forcing it. Stay curious, stay kind, and keep your heart open because every experience, even the painful ones, is leading you home to yourself.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie our industry tells itself is that there’s such a thing as humane slaughter. There isn’t. The entire industrialized food system is built on a level of disconnect that allows people to believe that suffering can somehow be made ethical, or that mass production can coexist with genuine care for animals, people, or the planet.
We’ve normalized a system of “Frankenfood” – overly processed, manipulated, and marketed as healthy or sustainable, when in truth, most of what’s sold today barely resembles food in its natural form. The propaganda runs deep. We’ve been taught to trust labels, packaging, and convenience over intuition, truth, and nature.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand deeply that most people don’t is that at the end of the day, when I lay down to die, the only thing that will truly matter is how well I loved the people in my world who mattered most to me. Showing up for those relationships, being present, kind, and connected means more than profit, productivity, or power. All of that fades. What endures is love. And when I’m gone, what I hope remains are the memories of kindness, warmth, and connection in the hearts of the people whose lives touched mine.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thevreamery.com
- Instagram: thevreamery
- Linkedin: jennifermasongolden
- Facebook: thevreamery
- Yelp: thevreamery
- Youtube: thevreamery
Image Credits
Jennifer Mason Golden
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