I light this candle

One of the true joys of traveling for me is experiencing unexpected food delights. Just when I least expect it, something tasty and delectable and intriguing pops up begging to be consumed. I always oblige. It would be impolite not to.

Josh and I are currently enjoying a brief road trip along the Florida Keys. This part of the world is gorgeous but the vegan options are a bit thin on the ground. Car journeys such as this require careful planning to ensure I keep my calorie intake at a level worthy of a fat, gay vegan. To be certain I ate well on the Keys, we did a quick Whole Foods Market trip before we left the mainland. I am delighted we did.

As I peered through the frosty glass of the frozen food section, my eyes grew wide at the sight of microwave dinners made by superstar vegan restaurant Candle Cafe of NYC. I wasted no time in grabbing a couple of boxes. I paid up at the till, buckled up in the hire car and headed to my hotel in the Keys… always thinking ahead to dinner time.

My journey spent daydreaming of the Candle meals in no way built up expectations to a level that couldn’t be met. The frozen vegan food was simply amazing. I’m not sure how they do it, but the company has managed to put gourmet, cruelty-free fare in a box and I couldn’t get enough.

First up was the tofu spinach ravioli. These mini parcels of deliciousness were rich, light and creamy. They were covered with a tasty tomato sauce and strands of Daiya mozzarella.

It didn’t take too long before the ravioli had disappeared and I had the next dish in my sights. The seitan piccata with lemon caper sauce was a microwavable food sensation. The organic brown rice was accompanied by spinach and scallions, while the succulent seitan swam in a sea of tangy Italian sauce.

If you ever find yourself in the vicinity of one of these meals, take the opportunity to eat one of the finest frozen vegan meals in the world. If I could only get these back in the UK, I would be a happier FGV indeed.