London vegan news, reviews & events
Tucked away underneath one of London’s best-loved vegan restaurants is a treasure trove of dairy-free decadence that deserves a bit more noise made about it.
Yes, I’m talking about The Cheese Cellar, the underground delight hidden beneath Purezza in Camden. You might know Purezza for their game-changing pizzas, but if you haven’t ventured down the stairs and into their cheese-filled secret spot, let this be your polite-but-firm nudge.
Read more below.
Vegans, we need to band together.
I AM NUT OK is a superstar vegan cheese company and they need our help.
Check out what the brand said about the vandalism of their kitchen:
Hello! We are an independent vegan cheese company based in London called I AM NUT OK. Many of you who know our brand also know us (Nivi and Angela) and our story, but we are guessing some of you are new to us and our products!
We started as a couple making vegan cheeses and spreads at home, and when we outgrew our home kitchen, we moved to a small commercial kitchen. Recently, we decided to take a bigger step to scale up our business and found the perfect space.
After spending all our savings on securing the new space and building plans, we finally started building our dream kitchen. A few weeks back, when we went to go and check on the space, we entered the building to find the door had been forced open, breaking the locks and shutters. Upon entry, we were met with a totally vandalised space – every surface has been graffitied, trash was left everywhere, and the construction we’d been undergoing had been completely destroyed. Every entrance point was broken, the cables to operate the shutters had been cut, our new break room kitchen destroyed, bathroom trashed, and there was even vomit and human excrement…
This setback has not only cost us to have to replace, repaint, and clean everything, but it has also unfortunately delayed our building plans, costing us thousands in rent which the landlord will not cover. We are honestly in shock, and we have been unsure what to do, as we really do not like the idea of asking for money, so if you would like to support our business by purchasing from the online shop instead, that would also mean a lot to us! Any donations over £150 (UK only), we will send you a thank you cheese hamper for supporting us. We are grateful for anything, even sharing with those that might be able to help.
To all our customers, thank you so much for supporting our business all these years to help us get it to where it is now, and we are so excited for the new kitchen to be completed and share our journey with you – setbacks, victories, and all!
This is a tough situation that would break a lot of us, but Angela and Nivi are determined to rebuild.
Click here to donate if you can afford to give and be sure to take them up on their hamper offer if you are feeling flush with cash. I AM NUT OK make some of the finest vegan cheeses on the planet!
You can also follow I AM NUT OK on Instagram.
My buddies at Young Vegans have been elevating the good eating game for a while now and their expanded online shop is just another imitation feather in their pleather cap.
Say hello to Young Vegans Superstore!
The Young Vegans Superstore is packed full of all the very best handmade treats from the brand, as well as carfeully selected products from other artisan vegan makers.
Take a look at their webshop and discover vegan cheeses, pies, pizzas, coffee, sweets, condiments, beers, cider, and drinks. It is a one stop shop for everything delicious and compassionate.
If you live near the London NW5 postcode, you can opt for collection to save on shipping charges. Otherwise you can get free UK shipping on orders over £40.
I picked out five fabulous products from the Young Vegans Superstore to give you a taster of what you can find over there.
Check out my list below and be sure to follow Young Vegans on Instagram.
Essential Vegan – Aged Smoked Vegan Cheese – A hard and sharp golden cheese with a deep, smoky richness. This mature cheese is perfectly paired with grapes, crackers and chutney. This artisan nut cheese is handmade using only the best organic ingredients to give you a complex and sophisticated combination of flavours. The cheese is crafted utilising a cultured cashew nut base, meaning the range is raw, dairy and gluten free.
Minor Figures Latte – Nitro Cold Brew Coffee – At their microbrewery in London, the Minor Figures crew source, roast, grind and brew the best in-season coffee for over 18 hours before blending with oat m*lk. The result? A delicious, dairy-free iced latte.
Young Vegans – Chickun Katsu Vegan Pie – The only chickun katsu vegan pie in existence and a personal favourite of Young Vegans. Succulent vegan chickun cutlets in a traditional style Japanese curry sauce all encased in their lip smacking short crust bases and buttery puff pastry lids. All ingredients are 100% vegan and handmade at their kitchen in Camden Town, London.
Young Vegans – The Godfather Vegan Pizza – The big daddy of them all and their take on pepperoni pizzas the world over. The bestselling Godfather is a vegan feast of their signature seitan based vegan pepperoni, handmade vegan mozzarella and marinara sauce all on their 24 hour fermented, hand stretched dough for that “pizzeria at home” vibe. 100% vegan pizza hand made with love at their kitchen in Camden Town, London.
Young Vegans – Vegan Apple Pie – Cooked British apples mixed with spices and filled generously in their lip smacking buttery pastry. Careful, these apple pies are moreish as hell! Perfect hot with ice cream or custard oozing over it. All their apple pies are 100% vegan and handmade at their kitchen in Camden Town, London.
I have extremely fond memories of running Hackney Downs Vegan Market, especially when I think of all the wonderful independent traders we helped nurture and grow.
The market was a real hotbed of innovation and vegan advancement.
One brand that I particularly recall as both original and stunningly popular is Kinda Co.
Kinda Co took vegan cheese to another level and it has been exciting to watch their growth ever since. The company combines the familiarity of your favourite cheeses with plant-based innovation/vegan trickery to make products that are simply exceptional.
Think I’m overselling Kinda Co? Then find out for yourself by ordering one of their exclusive cheeseboards for Christmas.
The cheeseboards from Kinda Co are available in three sizes. Choose from The Mini, The Middle, and The Magnificent. Prices range from £27.50 to £68.50.
I was really taken by the look of The Magnificent (pictured above).
The Magnificent includes:
It’s a vegan cheese dream come to life!
All Christmas cheeseboards from Kinda Co will be delivered on December 22 and 23, 2020. Someone will have to be at the delivery address to take the parcel. They ship UK wide.
All Christmas cheeseboards are also available to collect in person from the Kinda Co kitchen in Hackney Wick between December 17 and 22 if you are in the area.
Extra note: all block cheeses can be frozen and all cheeses should be kept in the fridge until served.
Click here to order now. They will sell out quickly so don’t think about it for to long!
Follow Kinda Co on Instagram.
I experienced some fabulous vegan cheese today and thought it would be nice to let you all know about it, too.
It might be especially interesting due to the fact you can order online for UK delivery!
Soul Cheeze is a plant-based cheese business based in Cheshire, UK.
I stopped by the vegan market that took place in Sheffield today and made a direct line for the Soul Cheeze stall. I tasted a few and decided to take home the Mustard and garlic/herbs varieties.
You can order directly from the Soul Cheeze website for shipping to your home or office.
All of the cheeses are nut-based and include:
Follow Soul Cheeze on Instagram and shop soon!
You all know about legendary vegan cheese brand Mouse’s Favourite, right?
Mouse’s Favourite was founded in West London about four or five years ago and since then they have gone on to win over many hearts and tastebuds. I’ve even had the pleasure of working with the brand at some of my markets.
Their cheeses would always be the first thing shoppers headed for at their market appearances, especially their plant-based take on camembert.
In BIG news for the independent brand, Mouse’s Favourite has just secured a listing with online retailer Abel & Cole.
The cheese’s from Mouse’s Favourite really are top quality. True artisan creations.
And it’s just not vegan cheese coming out of their kitchen either. Mouse’s Favourite has a vegan butter block, also available via Able & Cole.
Head on over to the Abel & Cole website now to check out their Mouse’s Favourite selection and of course all the fresh fruit and vegetables that you can order via a weekly box delivery.
Be sure to follow Mouse’s Favourite on Instagram.
Extra note: the product photos were taken by Abel & Cole.
Welcome to Vegan Quarantine: Day 95. This daily video series is my way of keeping spirits high within the vegan community while also supporting independent business, charities, and musicians.
Links for everything duscussed can be found below.
Plant and Planet is a vegan cafe and store in Castleton, UK. Please follow them on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/plantandplanetstore/
Food By Sumear is a vegan cheesemaker in the UK. You can order online:
https://foodbysumear.co.uk/
Follow Food by Sumear on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/foodbysumear/
Dominos UK do vegan pizza. No link for this one but I think it should be easy to find!
Please donate to the Jstice for David Dungay Junior legal fund and help David’s mother Leetona fight for justice:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/d9qkb6-justice-for-david
Recipe of the day. Simple vegan oatmeal cookies:
https://lovingitvegan.com/simple-vegan-oatmeal-cookies/
Music recommendation of the day. Black Parade by Beyoncé:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EHbf5QUjNE
You can support these daily videos by donating to my PayPal:
https://paypal.me/pools/c/8oikSipsfP
You can become a FGV Patreon supporter here:
https://www.patreon.com/FatGayVegan
Welcome to Vegan Quarantine: Day 81. This daily video series is my way of keeping spirits high within the vegan community while also supporting independent business, charities, and musicians.
Links for everything discussed are included below.
Vegan food chain Humpit The Hummus & Pita Bar is getting ready to re-open UK location for takeaway. Follow them on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/humpithummus/
Grounded Food is a new vegan cheese company delivering around the USA. Order from their website https://www.groundedfoods.com/ and follow them on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/grounded_foods/
Please make a donation to support the work of UK Black Pride:
https://www.ukblackpride.org.uk/ukbp-donate
The Caravan of Courage is a vegan food business delivering ready meals around Edinburgh with plans to go further afield soon:
https://www.facebook.com/thecaravancourage/
Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diner in Camden, London is set to reopen on Tuesday June 9. Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rudysdvd/
The willow tree cafe in Saltaire, West Yorkshire is offering a takeaway menu. Follow them on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thewillowtreecafe/
Recipe of the day. Vegan lemon pie with ginger cookie crust:
https://lovingitvegan.com/vegan-lemon-pie/
Music recommendation of the day. Listen to Palm Springs by Jill Sobule on Spotify:
https://tinyurl.com/y7pso6br
Follow Jill Sobule on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/jillsobule
(And sorry Jill) If you don’t use Spotify but want to hear the song Palm Springs, someone has loaded it onto YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKNfD_S5KT0
Welcome to Vegan Quarantine: Day 67. This daily video series is my way of keeping spirits high within the vegan community while also supporting independent business, charity, and musicians.
Links for everything discussed can be found below.
Shop for vegan snacks from Will’s Vegan Store for UK and EU shipping:
https://wills-vegan-shoes.com/grocery-box.html…
Mindful Atelier is an artisan ceramic and embroided vegan-friendly jewellery maker with an Etsy shop. Current discounted sale happening now with worldwide shipping:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MindfulAtelier
DoppioZero Pizza Romana is a pizza restaurant in Mexico City with incredible vegan options. Follow them on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/pizzadoppiozero_mx/
See my latest vegan haul from the restaurant:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAd-38EJ3tk/
Left Coast Culture is an artisan vegan cheese company in the Scottish Highlands. You can buy via TheVeganKind Supermarket:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAfinr2F-qf/
Recipe of the day. Sliceable Cashew Cheese:
https://lovingitvegan.com/sliceable-cashew-cheese/
Music recommendation of the day. No Myth by Michael Penn:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxkJHX7ukKE
If you would like to financially support this daily video series, you can make a donation via my PayPal account:
https://paypal.me/pools/c/8oikSipsfP
Violife has long been the champion vegan cheese when it comes to mainstream accessibility and reach.
And now they are taking things to the next level by launching a pair of TV adverts for the UK aimed at showing people how simple it can be to use dairy free cheese.
Check out the adverts below.
