Haus of FGV

Podcast episode for September 14

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The latest mini news roundup with all the latest from the world of FGV has been released.

Hope you enjoy!

FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year – Fat Gay Vegan

As the year ebbs away join me for a chat about the tough task of going home, Whitney Houston, and vegan food on QANTAS planes.
  1. FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year
  2. FGV’s Mini News Roundup December 7, 2022
  3. FGV’s mini news roundup – news, views, and reviews from the plant-based world and beyond
  4. Fat Gay Vegan mini news roundup March 17, 2022
  5. FGV mini news roundup December 23, 2021 – vegan news and reviews

A year and a half in the life of FGV

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This past year and a half has been full of dramatic twists and turns, that’s for sure.

I relocated from Mexico City (where I was visiting) to Sheffield back in July 2020. That flight back to the UK during the height of the global pandemic was intense and included a 24-hour stint in Toronto during which I slept on the airport floor and ate out of the vending machine. I had left behind 3 months of almost complete lockdown in Mexico and I was terrified to be so exposed.

The hotel isolation period was excruciatingly expensive and lonely in London. My life had been turned upside down and I was paying handsomely for the privilege.

Once out of isolation, I worked with legendary food company Make No Bones helping them set up Saucy and La Fonda in Sheffield. I did all sorts of jobs for them, including working in frontline hospitality. It was at times exhausting and I didn’t like being customer facing, but we do what we have to do!

My partner Gil traveled to Sheffield to stay with me and while lockdown in the South Yorkshire city during winter was emotionally gruelling, it was a joy to have him by my side. Months and months passed during which the only entertainment we had was to go for a walk through the deserted streets of our neighbourhood. Oh, we also watched a few hundred hours of Drag Race.

I am now back in London, helping vegan fast food pioneers Temple of Seitan with some work and living with Gil. We also got married a few weeks ago and Gil is in the middle of applying for a visa to stay permanently with me in the UK.

The inability to see friends and family has been tough and the financial instability caused by the pandemic has been stressful. I’m working out my tactic for the upcoming discussion I need to have with the tax office. At the moment the best reasoning I have is, “If I don’t have the money, how do you expect me to pay?”.

But I’m not alone in these struggles and I wish everyone love and support as we continue to work to get life back on track.

It’s easy to think that WE MUST be coming out of the pandemic based on the length of time we have endured, but there are still obstacles in front of us. Heck, I’m caring for my husband right now as he has developed mild COVID symptoms and has tested positive using the at-home test from the NHS. We are waiting on further results.

A year and a half into this thing and we are now isolating for the next two weeks. A dear friend of my husband passed away a few days ago in Mexico City following COVID illness. Friends all over the world have lost parents to COVID and have had to grieve on their own.

Prior to this latest isolation stint, Gil and I were starting to access ‘normal’ life again. We are both twice vaccinated and the call of the city is strong. We felt it was time to safely return, in stages. Right up until this latest isolation stint, we both worse masks indoors and avoided a lot of activities that we would normally do.

But the ease with which COVID spreads caught up with him and I’m hoping for a quick and speedy recovery (and that I can somehow dodge it).

I know I usually use these pages to champion vegan eating and lifestyles, but I think it is also important to make emotional connections about this monumental global event and this tough time in history.

For everyone who has lost loved ones, my heart is heavy for you and I send you warmest wishes and kind thoughts. My friends Neil, Fiona, and Carlos are in my thoughts often and I’m deeply saddened by the loss of their parents. For people living with COVID right now (such as my husband), I hope for a speedy recovery. For the many people living with long COVID, I hope the world’s understanding of how to treat the virus keeps expanding and will soon help you.

And finally, thank you to all the people taking up the vaccines as soon as possible. I’m hopeful the vaccine will help protect my husband, while every single person who has been vaccinated has played a role in keeping our communities that little bit more protected.

Win a year’s supply of vegan sweets

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This competition is all about the win/win.

By simply taking part, you will be raising funds for an important social enterprise that is helping tackle homelessness in London. And if you win the comp? You get a one year’s supply of vegan pick n mix.

Oh, yes. You actually can’t lose! Well, you might not win the sweets but you get the meaning. You win by helping.

I suppose you want facts now. Well, I’ve got ’em.

Poster Bakes is an online vegan pick n mix shop founded to raise funds in support of The Connection, a social enterprise helping people move away from the streets of London and towards a happier and more fulfilling life.

The price of a single bag of sweets from Poster Bakes could cover the cost of someone receiving a shower, breakfast, and a cup of coffee in The Connection which in turn opens the doors to more in-depth support.

The vegan pick n mix initiative has been incredibly popular and I have a feeling it is about to go into overdrive.

You can enter this competition for a chance to win one year’s supply of vegan pick n mix from Poster Bakes! You just need to buy some sweets and find a golden ticket in your order.

It’s getting all Willy Wonka up in here!

The competition starts Monday 14th June, 2021 and will be running for a few weeks until Poster Bakes have sent out all their golden tickets tickets.

They will be randomly giving away 5 golden tickets in total, each of which will entitle the winner to a year’s supply of free sweets (a 500g bag every month for 12 months). Winners will be chosen at random from those who have entered the giveaway. This is what you need to do:

I’d love to know if you entered and I’d love to know if you win. Don’t forget who hooked you up with this info if you are suddenly swamped with vegan pick n mix.

£5.50 for a vegan sausage roll

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Hello from London, one of the most expensive places on the planet to buy a vegan sausage roll!

In this weeks mini podcast episode, I moan about the cost of vegan sausage rolls. I also talk about changing my name to Plum King (just a joke, not a fact). In addition, I chat about where I have been eating recently (not a joke, just a fact).

FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year – Fat Gay Vegan

As the year ebbs away join me for a chat about the tough task of going home, Whitney Houston, and vegan food on QANTAS planes.
  1. FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year
  2. FGV’s Mini News Roundup December 7, 2022
  3. FGV’s mini news roundup – news, views, and reviews from the plant-based world and beyond
  4. Fat Gay Vegan mini news roundup March 17, 2022
  5. FGV mini news roundup December 23, 2021 – vegan news and reviews

The June 10, 2021 news roundup is possible because friendly people sponsor me on Patreon. I get to talk about and write about vegan business because of this support.

Thanks!

Follow me on Instagram and be sure to investigate the vegan travel adventures I am hosting online here.

May 19, 2021 vegan news roundup podcast

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Need or want to listen to my vegan news instead of read it?

Each Wednesday, you can do just that.

FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year – Fat Gay Vegan

As the year ebbs away join me for a chat about the tough task of going home, Whitney Houston, and vegan food on QANTAS planes.
  1. FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year
  2. FGV’s Mini News Roundup December 7, 2022
  3. FGV’s mini news roundup – news, views, and reviews from the plant-based world and beyond
  4. Fat Gay Vegan mini news roundup March 17, 2022
  5. FGV mini news roundup December 23, 2021 – vegan news and reviews

Episode 5 contains news of my upcoming relocation to London, a new vegan market in Camden, and which stores are selling the new vegan pork product taking the world by storm.

Use the player to listen to older episodes, too.

Please let me know if you have anything you would like mentioned in an upcoming episode.

This blog and the podcast recaps are made possible thanks to the support of my Patreon supporters. If you would like to financially support FGV with a monthly pledge or a one-time donation, please click on the image below.

FGV returning to London

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Where was Fat Gay Vegan born?

Well, the human behind FGV was born in Queensland, Australia but FGV the concept came to life in London.

I was living in West London at the time I started this blog in 2010 and I went on to put a lot of effort into creating events for the vegan community. Remember my Hackney Downs Vegan Market? It turned the whole vegan thing upside down.

Before the market, I created and hosted London Vegan Beer Fest, London Vegan Drinks, and London Vegan Potluck. I enjoyed running events such as Bowling For Oceans, Skating For Oceans, and Vegan Day of the Dead supper clubs.

And that is just the tip of the iceberg lettuce.

My time in London was whittled down a few years back and the past few years have seen me spending a lot of time out of the UK capital, including time in Mexico City and Sheffield.

But now I am coming back! The original vegan grandpa of the plant-based scene is moving back to where it all began.

The first thing I have planned is to try to get a new vegan market off the ground. Click here to read all about Vegan Makers at Buck Street Market in Camden.

Also, I am getting involved with one of my favourite vegan brands on the planet. I will be helping legendary Temple of Seitan with promotion, helping them to take their irresistible fast food to the masses. You can follow Temple of Seitan on Instagram.

If you see me around London over the coming months, please say hello. I am really looking forward to being back in the thick of things.

Want to trade at a new vegan market in London?

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It isn’t a stretch to say Hackney Downs Vegan Market was one of the most influential plant-based things to happen to London over the past 10 years.

The opening weekend welcomed approximately 5,000 people and the market acted as the launching pad for some of the most recognised vegan brands in the UK capital.

Ever since Hackney Downs Vegan Market came to an end, I’ve been thinking and dreaming of bringing another market to life.

It’s 2021 and I feel like it’s time to stop dreaming. I want to get a vegan market up and running again!

Fat Gay Vegan (that’s me) is teaming up with Buck Street Market on Camden Hight Street to launch a 5-day a week artisan market just for vegan products. Yes, that’s correct. 5-days a week, every week. The market will run 11am until 6pm from Wednesday until Sunday.

Vegan Makers at Buck Street is set to be a collection of stalls celebrating the best take home vegan products including deli items, cheese, pantry items homewares, clothing, candles, and personal products.

Located just a few steps from Camden Town Underground station on one of the busiest streets in the UK, Vegan Makers at Buck Street will be the most exciting place to shop in London for compassionate consumers.

Buck Street Market is a 3-level complex featuring rooftop bars, restaurants, street food, and shops. Vegan Makers will be in the central courtyard on street level, meaning our vegan stalls lead out to Camden High Street and are less than a 60-second walk from Camden Town Underground station.

Camden is undoubtedly the vegan centre of London and visitors to Buck Street will have a huge choice of places to dine in the area. Even though there will be no hot food on our market, Camden is simply overflowing with plant-based food outlets.

Buck Street Market itself is home to vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants and cafes, while legendary eateries Temple of Seitan and Purezza are only a 2-minute walk away (to name just two).

People can shop at Vegan Makers at Buck Street and then have the tough job of narrowing down the dozens of plant-based food choices in the neighbourhood.

The above photos shows what our stalls look like. They are white metal with folding doors on both sides, meaning traders can lock their stall at the end of each day and will only have to worry about transporting perishables each day. No clumsy stalls to pack up. No heavy gazebos to drag home.

Vegan Makers at Buck Street is a chance for vegan businesses and independent traders to have a mini shop in the heart of London without having to commit to huge rents and business rates. WiFi is available for traders to use for payment devices, while there will be limited electricity for some stalls.

This shopping district is one of the most desired in London and a spot in the Vegan Makers section will expose traders and brands to potentially tens of thousands of shoppers every day. Weekends on this street are particularly busy and a summertime coming out of lockdown means record numbers of shoppers are expected.

Examples of what we would love to see on the vegan market:

  • Cheese and deli items
  • Kombucha
  • Wine, spirits, and champagne to take home
  • Cake or patisserie
  • Personal care products
  • Zero waste
  • Candles and gifts
  • Cruelty free make up
  • Organic pantry items
  • Jewellery
  • Hats, shoes, sunglasses, and clothing

Vegan Makers at Buck Street plans to launch in June 2021.

We have great introductory rates for the first month (even lower if you commit to the full month). There is no market in Central London where you could trade in such a high profile spot at these prices.

If you are a trader and want more information about booking a stall, email josh@fgvpr.co.uk and he will fill you in. This market is for vegan products only and spots are offered for the full 5 days each week. There are no weekend-only spots.

PLEASE NOTE: there will be NO hot food or street food on the Vegan Makers section of Buck Street Market. There are many 100% vegan food spots in Camden right now and this artisan market has been designed to add value to the area for vegan visitors, not take away from businesses already in Camden.

Are you ready to vegan cruise again?

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Didn’t that year and a bit just fly by?

When I think back to the beginning of 2020, I remember so much to be excited about… not least the vegan cruise I was organising to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Fat Gay Vegan.

Cabins were being booked and special guests were being organised. I was busy creating a list of vegan places to visit during each of our stops. I met with out head chef and carried out tastings.

It was my dream trip to mark my first decade as FGV.

But then reality hit. Hard.

You don’t need a recount of the past year as I’m sure you are as acutely aware of what went down as I am. The basic facts relating to the cruise are that it was cancelled and I knew I wanted to bring it back as soon as possible.

In celebration of the world rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the past year, and me marking the 11th year of being Fat Gay Vegan, please join me as we set sail for an end of the year celebration like no other.

Let’s cruise! We really deserve it this time.

Commencing in historic Nuremburg on December 20, 2021​, our unforgettable week-long celebration takes in picturesque towns and cities scattered along the beloved Danube including Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and the World UNESCO Heritage Wachau Valley (Durnstein, Melk, Linz, and Passau).

Did I mention this cruise will be 100% vegan. All food is completely plant-based and we take over the entire ship.

This unforgettable trip on the Danube has been personally curated by me, FGV, and will include:

  • Welcome night gala dinner and holiday celebration party
  • Karaoke party, disco nights, pub-style quiz, and socialising in the lounge
  • Up close interviews and panel discussions with extra special guests
  • Sumptuous cuisine crafted by our Vegan Culinary Cruises chef
  • Morning yoga classes
  • Gorgeous views of famous European landmarks from luxurious cabins, the on-board restaurant, and the lounge
  • 100% vegan toiletries in each cabin
  • Optional shore excursions, vegan food tours, and all-inclusive drink packages available at extra cost

This journey with Vegan Culinary Cruises and Fat Gay Vegan along the Danube is going to be more than just a cruise. It is set to be an unforgettable celebration of everything vegan. Think of it as your very own vegan festival on water.

The cruise will finish in breathtaking Budapest on December 27, 2021 which will give you enough time to travel home for New Year’s Eve or choose to stay a few extra days and ring in the New Year in style.

If this sounds like a wonderful way to get back into the swing of vegan travel and celebrate a brighter future, please click here to read more about the cruise and to book your spot.

Of course, you can sign up now with no financial obligation until the cruise is deemed completely safe and it has been confirmed.

EXTRA NOTE

I have also curated an extra special USA National Parks land tour for 2022 in conjunction with VCC.

Our Vegan Desert Adventure is open for bookings (which are already rolling in!) and I am extra excited for this trip as it takes in some of the most gorgeous scenery on the planet.

This is hotel based and we take coaches for day trips including the Grand Canyon. Maybe this is for you if ships are not your thing? Or perhaps you want to do both trips? I’ll be on both, so let’s hang out!

Click here to discover more about the Vegan Desert Adventure 2022.

This is a HUGE moment for me. Having to commit to undertaking these adventures after such an uncertain time in history takes a lot of belief and optimism.

Thankfully, I am working with wonderful partners in Vegan Culinary Cruises and we are fortunate to be in a position to take provisional bookings on these trips with no deposit needed.

We will only request deposits and bookings when the departures are deemed safe and secure. We won’t ask you to confirm until we have confirmed. You can dream now, pay later. We all need something to look forward to after the year we’ve had.

Help me celebrate and let’s see the world in vegan style.

Visit the Vegan Culinary Cruises website now.

News podcast for May 12, 2021

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I am back again with a brief audio recap of all the vegan news that matters to me this week.

It is the Fat Gay Vegan Weekly News Roundup: episode 4.

Listen to how many mistakes I make this week. Also, find out about free vegan meat, a vegan job in London, and where in the UK a pub has just gone 100% vegan.

FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year – Fat Gay Vegan

As the year ebbs away join me for a chat about the tough task of going home, Whitney Houston, and vegan food on QANTAS planes.
  1. FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year
  2. FGV’s Mini News Roundup December 7, 2022
  3. FGV’s mini news roundup – news, views, and reviews from the plant-based world and beyond
  4. Fat Gay Vegan mini news roundup March 17, 2022
  5. FGV mini news roundup December 23, 2021 – vegan news and reviews

If you appreciate the work I do to encourage people to go and stay vegan, as well as the support I give to independent business, click the image below to pledge or donate financially if you can.

Tune in to the podcast recap every Wednesday!

FGV on the Viva Podcast

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I love talking. It’s no secret.

So when I was asked to be a guest on the Viva! podcast, I said yes instantly and asked how long they needed me to speak. Ha!

I had a fabulous time chatting with Helen about a wide range of topics including the work I have been doing with Make No Bones in Sheffield, how vegans need to think more broadly about social justice, and why I’ve got such a weird accent (hint: I’m Australian).

Listen to the May 2021 episode at the link and subscribe to the Viva! podcast wherever all good podcasts are found.