Month: October 2016

Goodbye to this vegan support group

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Sad news spreading around the plant-based Internet over the past few days involves the ending of Vegan Lifestyle Association.

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I never got involved with their campaigns so I don’t completely understand what their mission was, but I think I understand that Vegan Lifestyle Association existed to support anyone looking to go vegan or incorporate more vegan choices in their life.

This support came in the form of recipe sharing, offering shopping tips, publsihing original and shared content, as well discounts with vegan companies to encourage people to commit to veganism. I suppose on reflection, Vegan Lifestyle Association was like a social support provider.

The statement from founders about the ending of the group informs that it was no longer financially possible to continue with the project and I’m not surprised.

I understand firsthand how much time, money and effort goes into running a blog and events, so I can understand what a huge undertaking something like Vegan Lifestyle Association would be. People were helping to run their group for no financial reward and you can only do that for so long before it starts to encroach on personal wellbeing and financial stability.

Many thanks to everyone who has been involved in Vegan Lifestyle Association. Trying to help people make a vegan choice is a positive contribution that is tiring and often thankless. Well done for trying to make a go of it.

Chantal from Vegan Lifestyle Association did inform me that the group will be somewhat sticking around in the form of its digital It’s Easy 2 B Vegan campaign. You can see the links for the social media accounts below:

Facebook itseasy2bvegan

Twitter @itseasy2bvegan

Instagram @itseasy2bvegan

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Vegan pulled chicken

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After infuriating vegans with almost-vegan products, Linda McCartney Foods has now added a few completely plant-based items to its range.

One of these to hit UK supermarket shelves over the past month or so is the Vegetarian Pulled Chicken.

I thought I would post briefly so you can see what the packet looks like and also the simple meal idea we threw together last night.

Anyone feeling this new #vegan product from Linda McCartney?

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

Video of my pulled #vegan chicken wraps tonight. Simple and quick!

A video posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on


Click on the video above to see how we put it together. Video is only 60 seconds and the real time process wasn’t much longer.

What do you think of this product? Have you tried? Were you impressed?

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Animals and the law lectures

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I’m taking a break from overeating to give you some very important information about a set of lectures coming up over the coming months in the UK at University of Cambridge.

The first lecture starts tomorrow (Tuesday October 11, 2016) and the series continues until May next year.

If you want to attend, show up at the given date/time and use the email address at the bottom of the list if you need more information.

Talking Animals, Law and Philosophy

A veritable animal turn has occurred in many fields of thinking, sweeping away outdated philosophical and scientific beliefs, and making room for more thoughtful, sensible study of the relation between humans and other animals. Law and legal science, however, have remained relatively untouched by this revolution. The talk series “Talking Animals, Law and Philosophy” wants to remedy this situation by providing a welcoming, engaging and rigorous forum for debate and ideas about the relations between animals, law and philosophy.

Programme 2016/2017

Randall Abate (Professor of Law, College of Law, Florida A&M University)

  • “Animal Law and Environmental Law: Exploring the Connections and Synergies”
  • 11 October 2016, 6:15 – 7:45pm
  • Room G28, Faculty of Law, 10 West Road, Cambridge
  • “A Person by Any Other Name? Potential Legal Recognition of Nonhuman Animal Legal Personhood in Australia and the United States”
  • 12 October 2016, 6:15 – 7:45pm
  • Room G28, Faculty of Law, 10 West Road, Cambridge

Jeff Skopek (Lecturer in Medical Law, Ethics and Policy, Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge)

  • “Three Puzzles for Animal Rights: Cows, Lions, and Featherless Chickens”
  • 17 November 2017, 6:15 – 7:45pm
  • Room G28, Faculty of Law, 10 West Road, Cambridge

Alasdair Cochrane (Senior Lecturer in Political Theory, Department of Politics, University of Shef- field)

  • “A Theory of Global Inter-Species Justice”
  • 15 February 2017, 6:15 – 7:45pm
  • Room G24, Faculty of Law, 10 West Road, Cambridge

Saskia Stucki (Senior Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and In- ternational Law, Heidelberg)

  • “Are Human Rights Animals’ Rights, Too?”
  • 2 May 2017, 6:15 – 7:45pm
  • Room G28, Faculty of Law, 10 West Road, Cambridge

For further information, please contact Raffael Fasel (rnf22@cam.ac.uk).

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ANOTHER new vegan product from Quorn

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Following on from the disastrous incident involving non-vegan pieces added to vegan soups, Quorn continue their campaign to win over vegans by releasing another plant-based product to their range.

As seen in a screengrab from the official Quorn website, the new product from the meat-free company is a bag of vegan nuggets.

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I’m not sure where you can currently find these nuggets, but seeing as Quorn is pretty much in every supermarket in the UK you shouldn’t have too much trouble locating them.

You can read more about the vegan nuggets here.

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Vegan haul at Tesco

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Super quick update to share today’s vegan grocery haul video.

Watch to see all the latest plant-based goods I picked up from my local Tesco.

Enjoy!

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Top pics of the week(ish)

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I know you don’t all follow my Instagram account and I hate the idea of you missing out, so here is a small collection of my favourite Instagram posts from the last week or so.

Enjoy!

Nothing doing…. except for 500ml of chocolate salted caramel Booja-Booja #vegan ice cream!

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

I really do love this #vegan cheese.

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

A bit of night time @ladygaga and a can of #vegan beer by @beavertownbeer

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

Second time this week in @wearezizzi Chiswick. Look at that melted @mozzarisella !!!! #vegan

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

Have you all seen these?! They are #vegan even though they have a vile bacon photo on the packet.

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on


I’ve been busy! Like anything you see?

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Plant-Based Minute

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I am excited to announce a new and hopefully ongoing collaboration.

I was recently approached by Barts Radio, a charity producing broadcast content for the in-house radio station at Barts Hospital in London, and was asked if I would volunteer with weekly content.

The radio works to deliver entertainment to inpatients, although anyone can stream the station online via their website.

After having a think about what I could bring to the show and how valuable the radio station charity is to a lot of patients, I jumped at the chance to volunteer.

My segment is set to be super quick each week, clocking in at exactly 60 seconds. You can listen to A Plant-Minute with FGV at around 5pm today (Saturday October 8, 2016) here online and hopefully most weeks on Barts Radio. Today I advise on how to start giving up dairy when it comes to ice cream (my expert field!). My segments are designed to be an accessible guide filled with simple advice for people looking to explore veganism.

I will also look at hosting my bite-sized segments online myself in order to share with a wider listening audience. Stay tuned for that.

If you tune in today, I would love to hear what you think of my segment!

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SW9 vegan brunch

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Have you all heard of a vegetarian eatery in south London called Cafe Van Gogh?

The owner reached out to me a few days ago because he thought some of you might be interested to know about the vegan brunch options the cafe serves (as well as ALL dinner options being vegan).

This looks pretty tasty! Check it out:

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You can see sticky toffee pudding, courgetti, mezze platter, pancakes, jerk plantain and more.

Tasty!

It can be a bit tough to find vegan food in that part of London (Van Gogh is a short walk from Oval Underground Station) so be sure to keep this place in mind.

You can like Cafe Van Gogh on Facebook and click here to see where the cafe is located according to Google Maps.

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Egg is the new jackfruit

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Vegan food trends move through the Internet at breakneck speed.

I remember when nobody in the UK had thought of using jackfruit as a pulled pork substitute but suddenly it was everywhere. Aquafaba is getting close to peak saturation as people find inventive ways to use chickpea water.

Yep, us vegans love a good food innovation and I predict the next huge thing that will have you all swapping recipes and Instagramming in a frenzy is fried egg.

I said eggs, people!

Making plant-based ingredients look like real eggs is all the rage and two UK food providers have got it down to an art form.

First up, check out this egg, bacon, cheese and beef burger made by hot food superstars Temple of Seitan.

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There is realistic and then there is a FREAKING VEGAN EGG THAT LOOKS LIKE AN EGG!!!!!

Also contending for best imitation egg is the glorious Sgaia of Glasgow. Check out what they were recently serving up at a vegan festival in Scotland.

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Wow. Sgaia know about food, alright.

Have you tried either of these groundbreaking fried egg variations in real life? What did you think? Look out for both companies serving their vegan fried egg at upcoming events around the UK.

Please post links for vegan egg recipes below so we can all get up to speed with this latest food fad.

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New Year’s Eve with FGV

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You all know I love being involved in special vegan get-togethers and gatherings.

Whether I’m presiding over a beer festival or watching diners be treated to a special meal, one of my favourite things to do in life is to create opportunities for people to enjoy being vegan.

This love affair with being social is being taken to a whole new level at the end of the year as I jump on board the New Year’s Eve cruise hosted by Vegan River Cruises that just happens to be setting sail from Amsterdam.

I’m so excited!

Following on from last year’s NYE adventure down the Danube, I know exactly what to expect from the 2016/2107 journey. But maybe you don’t, so let me fill you in.

This year’s NYE vegan cruise runs between December 29, 2016 and January 4, 2017 with the starting and final port of call being the gorgeous city of Amsterdam.

After spending the first night docked in Amsterdam, the cruise sets off for a magical journey along waterways as the boat visits Rotterdam, Brussels, Antwerp and Maastricht before gliding back to Amsterdam.

We are going to be wowed by the scenery as we pass medieval towns and windmill-studded fields.

The ship itself is enough to make you want to book this holiday. Check out some photos below before I jump into telling you what you get on board:

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Well, there isn’t too much more I need to say about the ship that the photos haven’t already conveyed.

These ships are the equivalent of a 5-star hotel on water. The suites are luxurious with ultra-comfortable beds and well-appointed bathrooms.

All of your meals are included on the NYE cruise, so you don’t need to spend any money while on board. Yep. That’s right. Breakfast, lunch and dinner every single day is served to you at no extra charge and of course every single thing on the ship is 100% vegan.

In addition to your three meals a day, the cruise includes afternoon tea with cakes and a late night snack. All wine, beer and cocktails are included in the price you pay for the cabin. You will not be asked to pay for any food or drink while on board. Of course, all of the wines and beers are 100% vegan.

There is free WiFi in all suites and on board entertainment including a karaoke night hosted by me and my partner Josh!

You can explore the cities and towns where we dock either on your own or by paying to join some of the organised shore excursions. You can even make use of the electric bicycles on board the ship to adventure throughout the surrounding countryside. If you choose to stay on board for most of the trip, you can make use of the pool (!) and gym.

I’m incredibly excited to be part of this luxury cruise and proud to be involved with a business that goes to great effort to give passengers a completely vegan experience. Heck, even the toiletries in your suite are vegan!

Will I see you on board over New Year’s Eve?

Click here to see full details including pricing and to begin booking your vegan holiday.