Haus of FGV

Get it straight

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An article by Rosamund Urwin for the Evening Standard titled ‘Green is the new black: how veganism became sexy in London‘ is problematic for many reasons (for starters, stop reducing compassionate people and decisions to sexiness), but one glaring omission stands out above the rest of the article’s faults.

I feel Urwin has invisibilised the real, everyday people who have helped drag veganism into the London mainstream.

Urwin attempts to unpack the reasons behind the explosion of plant-based food options in London and comes up with what I view as the typical and shallow reasoning of ‘it’s now sexy’ and ‘ because Beyonce’. She has omitted to name some of the groundbreaking people and events that have massively contributed to the widespread acceptance of veganism in London and the UK.

These people are not pushing plant food choices as a sexualised commodity (most of the time!). They are instead working themselves to the bone to put compassion front and centre. These people are a huge part of the reason why vegansim is a force to be reckoned with in the UK.

I present to you my list of people and organisations I feel were erroneously left out of the Evening Standard article.

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Vegan cooking holiday

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This is probably the most thrilling, exciting and wonderful event I have organised in the history of being Fat Gay Vegan. I am beyond proud to announce Cucina Abruzzo, a week-long vegan cooking adventure in the stunning Italian countryside.

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Join vegan chef Sara Mittersteiner (Facebook and Twitter) for an entire week of exquisite plant-based cooking instruction, sumptuous communal eating and fascinating day trips through Abruzzo, one of the most beautiful regions in Italy.

Cucina Abruzzo runs between 14 and 21 June, 2015 and guests will be left wanting for nothing. The price for the week-long vacation includes:

  • 7 nights accommodation in gorgeous villa or converted barn
  • 100% vegan meals crafted by Chef Sara
  • Daily cooking classes (Monday to Friday – see below for more info)
  • Day trip to nearby Abruzzo landmarks
  • Wine sampling from local producers
  • On site swimming pool
  • Airport transfer to and from Pescara airport (Ryanair flies daily to/from Stansted) – flights not included

Our stunning accommodation is set on a 1000 tree olive grove, home to Mirabilia Organic Olive Leaf Tea. Mirabilia owners Bimbi and Spencer will be on hand, ensuring all guests have a truly unparalleled experience. They will escort our group on a tour of their olive grove and afford us a behind the scenes look at the fascinating process employed to create their organic olive leaf tea. You can follow Mirabilia on Twitter.

poolSituated on the plateau ‘Piano La Roma’ in the middle of the important archaeological site of ‘Cluviae’ between the hilltop towns of Guardiagrele and Casoli, the property has panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Being situated on the edge of an escarpment affords guests views to the south over the village of Palombaro, the lake and 12th century tower of Casoli, and on to the mountains of Roccaraso. To the east, a sea view, to the west, the majestic Maiella mountain and the Parco Nazionale, and behind the house, its own grove of olive trees. It is in a tiny hamlet of farm dwellings and barns, and the immediate area is completely agricultural and unspoilt.

This is the Italy many tourists have never experienced. Simply beautiful.

About the cooking classes:

A week in the Italian natural kitchen with Sara

Experience Italian food in its pure essence with Sara, a native Italian foodie who moved to London a few years ago to share her passion and love for the genuine comfort Italian food of her homeland.

Sara will transport you to the culinary beauty of Abruzzo where you’ll use the freshest seasonal herbs and ingredients to cook the tastiest Italian dishes. You will learn to make very simple (but mouthwatering) Italian recipes without using any animal ingredients, only what nature seasonally offers. This will include handcrafted pastas, freshly baked goods, vegetable main dishes and irresistible staples such as dips, sauces and sides to enjoy with your favourite dishes. Desserts are never missing when Sara’s wearing her apron and you’ll get your hands covered in flour between tales of her new London adventures and the funniest anecdotes from growing up in an Italian family.

About Abruzzo:

The unknown ‘green heart of Italy’ where one can still live the genuine Italian lifestyle

Abruzzo is one of the most historically fascinating areas of Italy, with much archaeological evidence dating back to pre-Roman times. Its earliest inhabitants were the Picenians, who along with the Sanitti, the Vestinians, the Marsians, Equians and Praetutions were ruthlessly overcome by the might of the Roman invaders and forced into submission in 90BC. Their hilltop settlements are still to be seen in Abruzzo’s many villages and towns, from L’Aquila and Sulmona in the Abruzzan uplands to Guardiagrele, Casoli and Roccascalegna facing the Adriatic sea over the littoral plains. The poet Ovid and Historian Sallust were both Abruzzan, as was, much later, Gabriele d’Annunzio, poet, playwright and hero of the Italian Risorgimento.

abruzzooct05_520 panoramaThe countryside is stunning in its magnificence – on the west the Apennines and the huge National Parks of the Gran Sasso, the Maiella and the Sirente Velino. Here are vast tracts of forest (oak, beech and chestnut) populated with golden eagles, chamois, lynxes, deer and wild boar. There are wolves and even bears to be found in these silent glades. Above them the mountains, almost lunar in their bare splendour. There is much here for the keen hiker or climber, with huts and refuges for overnight use. Skiing has also developed into a major sport, with over 22 resorts round Aquila in the north alone, and also Roccaraso, the southernmost resort of the Apennines, much favoured by Neapolitans and Romans alike. To the east, miles of fabulous beaches on the Adriatic, ranging from the sophistication of Pescara to the untamed Vasto peninsula, reminiscent of the wilder reaches of the North Cornish coast.

Cucina Abruzzo is set to be a vegan adventure like no other. Food, sunshine, fresh air and stunning countryside.

Be quick to secure your place.

Email sean@fgvpr.co.uk to reserve one of the following options:

Main villa

  • Room 1: reserved for your hosts Bimbi and Spencer
  • Room 2: double bed, en suite shower room, access to balcony with views to the south and mountains £1665
  • Room 3: two single antique beds, en suite shower room, direct access to massive balcony with view over olive groves £1640
  • Room 4: double four poster bed, shared (with room 5) bathroom with tub and shower, view over balcony and olive groves £1440
  • Room 5: two single beds, shared (with room 4) bathroom with tub and shower, view of mountains £1440

Adjoining barn

  • Room 6: double bed, shared (with room 7) bathroom with large shower, ground floor with swimming pool view £1440
  • Room 7: two single beds, shared (with room 6) bathroom with large shower, ground floor with swimming pool view £1440
  • Room 8: double bed, copper bath with hand held shower in bedroom, upstairs with balcony £1590

All prices are per-room for the entire week regardless of one- or two-person occupancy.

Extra notes:

  • You have the option of being collected from the airport, but we strongly recommend you hire your own vehicle from the airport to take full advantage of the stunning surroundings during your stay. The accommodation is extremely close to the breathtaking national park and glistening coastal beaches are just half an hour away. The cooking classes will be structured to allow you plenty of time to explore the countryside. A suggestion could be to team up with people in another room to share a car.
  • Of course weather is unpredictable. We encourage you to bring clothing suitable for sunshine and rain, however our experience shows we should experience mostly sunshine with temperatures in the low to mid 20s during the day.
  • The nearest airport is Pescara (40 minutes by car), but it is also possible to drive from Rome in just over two hours. Ryanair has the best prices with daily flights from the UK.
  • Once you book, we require a £150 non-refundable deposit to hold your choice of room. The remaining fee needs to be paid in full by the end of April 2015 via bank transfer. Any booking not settled by April 30, 2015 will result in cancellation and loss of deposit.

Email Sean at sean@fgvpr.co.uk if you have any questions.

Save owls

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The story of a pop-up owl cafe in London’s Soho has been everywhere this past week.

More than 60 000 people have apparently registered for one of the limited spaces during the temporary venue’s week-long run and a huge number of concerned individuals have voiced their concern for the welfare of the birds involved via social media, newspaper editorials and an online petition with 5000 signatures. Even I got in on the act with a blog post.

One of the more surprising parts of this drama was the statement by the organiser that they had the support of registered charity and bird rehabilitation organisation, The Barn Owl Centre. I was not alone in being shocked that a bird protection group would give their blessing to, and agree to receive proceeds from, an event that is far from being in the best interest of owls.

Here is where the story starts to unravel.

The Twitter account for The Barn Owl Centre was inundated by countless tweets ranging from surprise to condemnation. Their response to this onslaught was at first confusing, muddled and aggressive. It didn’t make sense or clear up if they were involved or not.

Fast forward a few days and you’ll find the founder of The Barn Owl Centre featured in an interview with the Gloucester Citizen, the local paper for the area.

In the article, founder Vincent Jones states he wants nothing to do with the pop-up event and feels persecuted by social media activists. You can read the full article here.

Curiously, the Annie the Owl pop-up cafe website still lists The Barn Owl Centre as a partner and fund recipient. This goes against what Vincent stated in his newspaper interview.

I wanted to set the record straight about where the birds for the event are coming from and if the owl centre was still involved. I just ended a 45-minute phone conversation with The Barn Owl Centre founder Vincent and following is some of the information I discovered.

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I’ve been published!

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I don’t just write nonsense about overeating and drinking gallons of vegan beer. Sometimes I attempt to write meaningful text for other platforms.

One such diversion, and one I feel particularly proud with which to be associated, is T.O.F.U. magazine.

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Owl cafe

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You can dress it up any which way you like, but using animals in a retail or entertainment setting is the equivalent of a zoo. It is the exploitation of animals for human enjoyment, often under the guise of conservation or animal protection.

My critique of the cat cafe in east London drew a huge number of responses, ranging from people who thought it was an unacceptable use of animals for profit through to those who branded me a cat-hating lunatic.

Now, almost a year on from that post, I find myself scratching my head at news of an owl-themed pop-up cocktail bar set to open in Soho.

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Too far

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Have you seen this music video released today by OK Go for their new song You’re a Fucking Nerd And No One Likes You?

I have included the video below, but please be warned it contains adult themes and explicit language. Trigger warning: the lyrics of the song contain the word rape.

I am unsure how the band members, record company, film company or anyone connected to this project considered the content of the song to be an acceptable form of promotion for a movie (Hot Tub Time Machine 2).

Here at FGV, concepts of social justice hold court over everything that happens. This music video blows social justice out of the hot tub water.

The lyrics and visual content manage to display misogyny and homophobia, while repeatedly making a vile reference to animal rape.

I’m all for satire and saying offensive things in a clever way to make fun of people who say those things seriously, but I don’t see that comical device at play in this song and accompanying music video. If that is the intention of the artists, it is incredibly poorly executed.

Am I missing something?

Is making jokes about raping tigers a clever way for the band to make fun of ‘bros’ and macho culture, or have OK Go got this terribly wrong?

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London Vegan Beer Fest 2015

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I am thrilled to announce the return of London Vegan Beer Fest to the capital on July 18, 2015.

lvbf holdingAfter two incredibly-successful years in Bethnal Green (during which attendance grew by more than 100% year on year) London Vegan Beer Fest is set to stamp its indelible beer stain on King’s Cross.

That’s right. London Vegan Beer Fest is moving to Zone 1.

The 2015 version of London Vegan Beer Fest is set to be an explosion of vegan beer, cider and food. An exciting day-long schedule of events is being planned to give attendees an immersive beer experience like no other.

Full details coming soon.

Subscribe to the Fat Gay Vegan email newsletter to receive exclusive alerts about ticket sales, brewery line up and more.

Email newsletter subscribers will get access to an exclusive early bird ticket offer prior to the general public.

Kylie

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My other life sees me reviewing music for pop culture website, Louder Than War.

My latest assignment for LTW found me interviewing Pete Waterman of Stock, Aitken and Waterman fame. Pete had a hand in crafting some of the biggest pop music hits the world has ever seen and I was tasked with talking to him about the first four Kylie Minogue albums. Each of the albums has been remastered, expanded and rereleased.

The interview was an experience I won’t soon forget. You can read it online here.

If you are keen to get your hand on these remastered albums, come along to Queer Vegan Disco on Saturday February 14th from 8pm where I will be giving away a set.

You can RSVP to Queer Vegan Disco on the Facebook event to secure cheap entry.

 

Abuse

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What would you do in this circumstance?

The following message was left on my blog.

UntitledI know who this person is and where they are based.

Do readers have advice or experience relating to a situation like this? On one hand I think it is unacceptable but then I also wonder if it is best to ignore. Should I report this homophobic abuse to the police or seek legal advice?

What would you do?

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Truly disappointing

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I don’t have a lot to say about this quote from recently-celebrated recipe blogger and cookbook author Ella Woodward:

ella quoteActually, I have a few things to say.

Ella. My veganism is not fired by a desire to make people feel bad or judged. My veganism is a lifelong commitment to improving outcomes for non-human animals. My choice to not eat meat, dairy, eggs or honey has nothing to do with wanting to feel superior and everything to do with a desire to reduce harm.

It is incredibly disappointing to see you use your newly-acquired platform to take a swipe at compassionate people.

You are quoted in your Telegraph interview as saying “I’m not sitting here judging anyone” when the opposite is clearly true.

You are sitting in judgement of tens of thousands of vegan people who have pre-ordered your book, along with many of your non-vegan readers who have been considering transitioning to a full time plant-based diet (and possibly lifestyle) thanks to your inspirational recipes.

My hope is one day soon your world view broadens to include compassion for animals and also the people making everyday decisions to save them. Selling recipes based on your own personal wellbeing success story is not the only positivity your situation could bring to the planet.

Don’t sell your legacy short with out-dated stereotypes of judgemental vegans. It makes you appear close-minded, ill-informed and divisive.

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