A curious press release made its way to my inbox this morning. Curious because it concerns the British Library and Ms. Cupcake.
Intriguing, right?
fatgayvegan
Watch cooking
Along with a lot of other west London based vegans, I often complain that not a lot happens for plant eaters on this side of the city.
Well, here is one event.
Angela Malik has just opened a culinary school in Ealing and is set to host a vegan cooking demonstration next week on June 5, 2014. The event will be a chance for attendees to watch a vegan Chinese meal be prepared from scratch before diving in for some tasting.
The event website states that you will observe the creation of wood ear salad with coriander, pock marked old woman’s tofu and stir fried Chinese greens with sizzling oil. Then you will eat it!
The tickets are available now. I would love to hear what this event is like if you go along.
Let’s hope this is just the start of more vegan events in the forgotten western part of the capital.
Throw all your hands up
Some wondrous food adventures were had during my recent Southern Californian vacation, but none quite as joyous and inspiring as Anthem Vegan.
San Diego is one of the must-visit destinations for plant-based food lovers and one of the most convincing reasons is this 100% vegan market stall. Anthem Vegan is a labour of love for its activist owner Patrick who serves up some of the tastiest food I have ever had the pleasure of devouring.
The stall travels around various locations in San Diego and my pal Steven and I made sure we crossed paths with it at the Pacific Beach Farmer’s Market. I was overwhelmed by the gorgeous menu and infinitely more so by the food itself.
Hello old friend
There are some food places on the planet that fit like an old, vegan shoe. You almost don’t get excited when you enter because it’s more of an all-encompassing, comforting feeling. Almost as if you have come home.
This is how I feel at Flore Vegan Cuisine.
When you get to Los Angeles, make Flore your first point of call. The menu is brimming with delectable and nutritious dishes that will have you wishing you lived in the neighbourhood. There is simply too much good stuff to try in a handful of visits.
That said, this FGV is a creature of habit. I know what I love and I get it every time. The Flore chicken and waffles is the stuff of legend. This vegan brunch item is one of my favourite things to eat in the entire world and I would most definitely eat it every day if given the opportunity.
Follow Flore on Twitter and get to LA as fast as you can. Those vegan chicken and waffles aren’t going to eat themselves!
Drive thru
San Diego has everything to make this FGV happy.
Vegan donuts? Plentiful and decadent. Can I get nutritious and delicious soul food that is still cruelty free? Sure thing. Gay dive bars, Native Foods, gorgeous beachside neighbourhoods, farmers markets everywhere and vegan Mexican food? Yes to all of it.
Then surely it doesn’t have a fabulous vegan fast food restaurant with drive through window? It couldn’t that awesome, right?
Check it out. Evolution Fast Food is what every compassionate person deserves to have in their life.
Cake glory
I wanted to share this photo for two reasons.
1. Oh my. Can you believe how amazing these giant vegan cupcakes look? I saw this incredible line up in Whole Foods Market San Diego and was more than impressed. Come on London stores, get on it. I want over the top vegan cupcake designs.
2. I didn’t buy one. I was so overwhelmed by the choice I actually couldn’t decide on one. I stood there for roughly five minutes and then walked away calmly. I am a bad FGV, for sure.
Which one would you have picked?
Free Winona
Do you want Winona to be free? You got it!
I am teaming up with The Gallery Cafe in Bethnal Green for a season of free films starring the one and only Winona Ryder.
Join me in The Chapel (access through the cafe) every Tuesday evening in June for these free movie events. Of course vegan food and drink will be available from The Gallery Cafe kitchen, however purchase is not required to enter the event.
All you have to do is book a ticket to secure a seat. So simple.
We are kicking off the FREE WINONA season on Tuesday June 3, 2014 at 7pm with a screening of the 1988 classic Beetlejuice. Book your free ticket now.
Stay tuned for further film announcements.
Inflight sameness
My recent flight between London and Los Angeles featured vegan food that made me feel like I had seen it all before.
The provider of the inflight meals for British Airways must think they have discovered the winning formula for vegan food because I seem to be getting the exact same meal every time I fly.
North West Vegan Festival
I honestly struggle to keep track of all the new vegan events and festivals popping up around the UK. It is wonderful to see the explosion of plant based activities taking place all over the country.
Grab your calendar and circle June 7, 2014 because we have another event to add to this ever-expanding list.
The North West Vegan Festival is a bumper event with more than 100 stalls that will feature all the usual activities such as cooking demos, educational discussions, film screenings and lots of vegan food. Oh yeah, there will also be vegan beer!
Get all the information you need from the event website and drop by the Lancaster Town Hall from 11am on June 7 for a big day of compassionate socialising.
So popular
Here’s a quick post to let you know I made it back to my favourite place to eat in the USA and it was perfect.
Native Foods Cafe is a rapidly-expanding restaurant chain in the USA with locations far and wide. News of a huge financial investment deal means they are now set to appear in even more cities over the next few years.
I would be the happiest FGV in the world if they could find a way to open a London branch. I would eat there every day. Honestly.
Follow Native Foods Cafe on Twitter and then check out my most recent feast below. The Oklahoma cheese burger is the stuff of legend and the Native wings are crunchy sticks of irresistible glory. I threw in some polenta bites and lavender lemonade to make sure it was a well-rounded meal at their Santa Monica location.