vegan UK

Legendary vegan burger trader opens store

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If you know anything about the London vegan street food scene, you will be aware of Big V London.

Big V is a superstar vegan burger business with multiple locations scattered around markets, including a weekly spot at Hackney Downs Vegan Market. Their burgers are the stuff of legend, lighting up social media every time they make an appearance.

Not satisfied with multiple street market locations each week, Big V owner Jill has taken the leap into the world of running a permanent burger bar every night on site at Exmouth Coffee Roasters in Whitechapel.

Open 7 nights a week from 6pm until 10pm, they have started with their full burger menu with fries and a mayo dipping menu. The business will slowly add more items over the coming weeks.

In addition to the incredible Big V burger menu, they are serving the wonderful Hell.Yum! ice cream (another Hackney Downs Vegan Market regular), FIX8 kombucha on tap, and sodas by Dalston.

You can see the exact location of the new, evenings-only Big V burger bar thanks to Google Maps. They are just a few steps from Aldgate East Underground station.

Be sure to follow Big V London on Instagram for latest updates.

New vegan bakery in London

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The title of this blog post is a little misleading.

VIDA Bakery isn’t new exactly, but they are opening a new bricks and mortar location in London!

VIDA has been around for a few years, serving delicious and adored cakes at pop ups, markets, vegan fairs, and in other vegan food businesses.

The love this company receives across social media from its fans is a great measure of how anticipated this permanent bakery is in the capital.

The bakery is located at 139 Brick Lane and you can see the exact location thanks to Google Maps.

The grand opening is at midday on Sunday June 10, 2018. Get down there for some amazing treats.

Keep updated with all things VIDA Bakery via their Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

Amazing vegan breakfast in London

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One of the questions I get asked the most as FGV is all to do do with cooked vegan breakfast in London.

People wanna know where they can get a good quality cooked vegan breakfast.

Now I have an answer for the curious.

Get along to the new TEMPLE GOODS café on site at Hackney Downs Vegan Market. Even though the market is open on Saturday only, the 100% vegan café run by Temple of Seitan is open 7 days a week.

And please take a look at this marvellous breakfast they are now serving.

Can you even understand that vegan egg?!?!

The café has also added French toast to the menu, so a good feed early on before hitting the market for more snacks and treats is the perfect start to your Saturday. Click here to see full trader line up.

You can follow TEMPLE GOODS on Instagram.

EXTRA NEWS: London Vegan Beer Fest is taking place on the market site on Saturday July 14, 2018 and TEMPLE GOODS café will transform into a beer and food hall for the day. Remember that access to the event (including the café) will be for ticket holders only so buy your early bird tickets online now.

Vegan rib dinner in London

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OK, London.

You will need to be fast for this event. Last time Dee’s Table hosted their vegan rib feast at 10 Cable Street, it completely sold out.

The food looks stunning!

Menu

  • Jackfruit Ribs
  • Ginger Beer BBQ Sauce
  • Mac & Cheese with Thyme Bread Crumb
  • Smokey Homemade BBQ Beans
  • Roasted Squash Hominy Cornbread
  • Whole roasted potatoes
  • Corn on the cob
  • And Salads

Dessert to share

  • Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Pizookie
  • Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Salted Caramel Sauce

If you can say no to all of the above, you are a stronger person than FGV.

The Ultimate Vegan Ribs Feast event is talking place on Thursday June 21, 2018 from 7:00pm until 10:00pm.

Click here to book now before it sells out.

Follow Dee’s Table on Instagram and while you are over there, follow 10 Cable Street as well.

Vegan cooking classes for children

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My friends Nishma and Mahersh (of Shambhu’s catering) are once again running a week of vegan cooking classes for children in Queensbury, London!

This is a hands-on cooking course intended to teach children (8-13 years of age) how to cook a variety of delicious healthy meals using only plant-based ingredients (no meat, fish, eggs and dairy).

By participating on this course, children will pick up a variety of cooking skills and food-related knowledge, including nutrition. They’ll also learn about the wide variety of nutritious pulses and grains available, alternatives ways of sweetening foods, how to cook with tofu, how to store food and reduce food waste, and much more.

As part of the hands-on nature of the course, children will learn to use basic cooking utensils and appliances, under close supervision.

Over the five days, the children get a taste of different culinary styles from around the world, with each day dedicated to the style of a particular country or continental region.

The classes will run between 10:00am and 12:30 from Monday August 6, 2018 until Friday August 10, 2018. That’s a two and a half hour cooking class for five days in a row!

The cost for each attendee is £135.

To find out more and book a spot, visit this page online.

New vegan café in Brixton

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If you are trying to keep track of all the new vegan places in London, you are probably getting worn out.

Multiple new ventures seem to be popping up each week and my head is spinning with trying to report it all back to you.

Next up?

Blank Brixton is a coffee shop and café on Acre Lane, situated about halfway between Brixton and Clapham Common Underground stations. They have only opened a short while ago, so I wanted to reach out to the team to find out what their deal is and they wrote this gorgeous, little piece of prose for me:

We are the place you come to cry a little
Laugh a lot, eat some more and feel alive.

Our food has no bounds or limits
It is made to be enjoyed by anyone and everyone.

The coffee is always fresh and conversation is too.
We are vegans just like you
We are blank brixton 🙂

Check out some of the photos from Blank Brixton below and get along to show your support for this new vegan business. You can see the exact location thanks to Google Maps. They are open 7 days a week.

You can also follow Blank Brixton on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjPvkBRgyBq/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjPY7i2gFVa/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjAQvL2B2U_/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi87tF0BrP7/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi2PiF4BRg1/

New vegan eatery in Balham

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This is fantastic news.

A brand new vegan comfort food outlet has just opened in Balham. Yes, that’s right friends. Something opened south of the river in London!

The menu at Wicked Kitchen sounds more than delightful.

They are serving up fast food that makes me wanna be there right now and it includes:

  • Jackfruit burgers
  • Wraps
  • Sweet potato and skin-on fries
  • Wings
  • Mac n cheese
  • Nachos
  • Shakes and smoothies

You can follow Wicked Vegan on Facebook and Instagram. See their exact location thanks to Google Maps.

New vegan cheese in Waitrose

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Hey, friends.

Here is a super quick post to share some exciting news.

If you shop at Waitrose, you will be able to pick up dairy free cheese by Koko starting from June 4, 2018.

The vegan cheese varieties being launched include:

  • Dairy Free Cheddar
  • Soft Cream Cheese

The following image was shared by Koko on their Facebook page.

Are you excited for these new products? Did you get to sample any at the recent Bristol Vegfest? How were they?

You can also follow Koko on Instagram to stay updated on new products.

New vegan cafe in Hackney

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Hold your tongues, complainers.

Yes, we have ANOTHER vegan eatery in Hackney, London but I don’t want to hear your moaning. If people can make vegan business work in Hackney, it has a knock on effect for the rest of us. The more vegan places we have in Hackney, the more vegan places we will have around London and the UK in the future.

So, say a big hello to Smashing Kitchen.

I asked owner and founder Asia to give us some insight into Smashing Kitchen:

The vision is to provide delicious nourishing plant based food, homemade honest dishes, vegan, made with love and with nutrition at heart. Free from refined sugars, additives and fats that aren’t always optimal for personal wellbeing. Everything is either raw, baked, or steamed. We don’t do deep frying. The menu consists of starters such as bread (home baked) and butter (of course vegan!), nachos, raw veggies, hummus (butter beans instead of chickpeas), guacamole, salads (either ‘ready’ sets off the menu, or ‘create your own’ options), sourdough flatbread pockets, and burgers. We will also be introducing soups and we always try to make some special dishes of the day as well. The dessert section showcases a no added sugar cheesecake. We also serve coffees, teas, homemade soda drinks, and kombucha.

That sounds tasty!

Opening times right now for Smashing Kitchen are Tuesday to Sunday 12:30pm until 4:30pm as well as 5:30pm until 9:00pm.

The café is dog-friendly and child-friendly (baby changing table in the bathroom, high chairs coming soon).
One of the real draws of the café is the huge amount of plants as well as natural light.

Smashing Kitchen is based just off Mare Street (between Mare St and London Fields Station) on a little corner, away from the main street hustle and bustle, but still great transport connections (loads of buses, London Fields Station 1 minute away, Hackney Central Station about 10 mins walk away). Click here to see the exact location thanks to Google Maps.

Follow Smashing Kitchen on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Vegan yoga retreat in Dorset

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If you are looking for a wonderful weekend away within the UK, this vegan yoga retreat in Dorset might just be the spot for you.

My friend Louise Wallis is not only one of the most ferociously-amazing vegan activists on the planet, she is also the owner of her own yoga, pilates and movement business called Mind Body Zone.

If you are interested in learning about Louise’s approach to melding yoga and veganism, you can book a spot on this exclusive retreat taking place this September in the gorgeous Dorset countryside.

What does the retreat include?

  • 3 x days and 2 x nights full-board accommodation in a beautiful eco-Retreat
  • Exclusive use of the venue & all facilities, including swimming pool
  • 6 x Yoga / Meditation / Relaxation classes
  • Delicious vegan meals prepared by the resident Chef (mainly organic & local produce)
  • Complimentary gift bag
  • Free WiFi and parking

I had a quick look over on the booking page and the retreat is booking up fast.

You really couldn’t wish for a more wonderful person to be in the company of for a few days. Louise is sure to make this a retreat to remember.

Click here to book.