London can you wait?

Brazilian vegan pop up for London

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Read this menu and then click to buy your tickets IMMEDIATELY because this is gonna sell out quickly.

Essential Vegan is the much-beloved Brazilian vegan café located in Shoreditch, London. It is one of the best places in Europe for vegan eating and now you can attend an exclusive pop up dining event featuring an eight-dish tasting menu that is exceptional.

Check this out:

  • Pinto beans soup (caldinho de feijao) with farofa and cheese crackers – Rich and hearty, this slow-cooked beans soup is served with a seasoned and toasted cassava flour and cheese cracker
  • Tapioca dice with green apple chilli sauce – Golden, crispy-skinned cubes packed with melted lupin cheese combined with the sweet and sour flavours of their sweet chilli sauce
  • Warm cassava salad – Boiled and seasoned cassava sticks (mandioca) served with a fresh vinaigrette
  • Grilled okra – Crunchy, creamy okra served with their coriander chilli sauce
  • Acarajé – A fritter light in texture and bold in flavour: Stuffed with caruru (okra paste), vatapa (peanut, cashew and coconut milk paste) and fresh tomatoes
  • Ginger mango sorbet – Highly refreshing and creamy sorbet
  • Brazilian doughnut with guava paste – They call it bolinho de chuva, a deep-fried dumpling, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar served with a creamy guava paste
  • Green apple tea with Sequilho – End this journey with a highly digestive and fragrant tea served with their famous coconut biscuits

The café doesn’t sell alcohol but you are more than welcome to take your own booze, make yourself at home and enjoy their supper club with your favourite tipple.

The tasting menu night is taking place on August 28, 2019 between 7:00pm and 8:30pm. Cost per ticket is £35.

Click here to book now and follow Essential Vegan on Instagram.

Vegan afternoon tea in London

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I have heard a lot of questions and pleas for information over the years as FGV, but nothing gets asked about quite like vegan afternoon tea options in London.

So I thought it best if I share this information with you as I know there are a lot of plant-based eaters out there who LOVE a quality afternoon tea experience.

Nora and Nama is a vegan bakery and deli situated in Camden Lock Market. I’ve written about them a few times and the business has created a loving and loyal fan base thanks to their exquisite products.

It is also home to an incredible-looking vegan afternoon tea.

Check out this menu.

The afternoon tea is available at a cost of £26 per person for a minimum booking of two people.

Follow Nora and Nama on Instagram and book your afternoon tea online here.

Vegan Japanese London pop up

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London, you had better not sleep on this incredible food event.

It is sensational.

Anri of Fussy Chilesaurus was always a crowd favourite at my market and her delicious vegan take on Japanese cuisine is legendary. She once had a queue of dozens and dozens of people on a bizarrely warm day at Guildhall market because word had spread among the diners about how fantastic her food was that day.

So you need to take advantage of the fact that Anri will be cooking and serving her exquisite menu as a pop up at Tottenham Social Pop Ups at Craving Coffee this week.

Check out this menu.

How about the finer details?

  • 8-10 August, 2019
  • Bar 5-11pm
  • Happy Hours 5-7pm
  • Food 6-10pm
  • Book via tottenhamsocial@gmail.com
  • Walk ins welcome but book to secure a space

Be sure to follow Fussy Chilesaurus on Instagram.

Vegan cooking classes for children in London

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A Culinary Trip Around the World!

Top facts to know:

  • Monday 5th to Friday 9th August, 2019
  • 10:00am to 12:30pm
  • Held at a community hall in Queensbury, north-west London.
  • Open to children aged 8 to 14 years.
  • Not restricted to children from a particular borough
  • Your child can be enrolled for all five sessions or for individual sessions of your choice

Now in their sixth year of running this unique and special series of hands-on cooking classes, Shambhu’s chef Nishma Shah will expertly guide and inspire young students as they produce delicious healthy meals. They will be applying culinary styles from around the world, using wholesome plant-based ingredients together with various natural flavour-enhancing and healing spices and condiments.

These are very much hands-on cooking classes and are always a fun, fulfilling, and educational summer-holiday activity for children.

They are also an excellent opportunity for children to learn and practise food prep and cooking skills, gain knowledge on relevant topics such as nutrition, spices, flavour-pairing, and discover how to minimise food waste.

For all the finer details including prices, click here.

UK pub chain adds vegan burger to menu

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The plant-based Oumph! Burger, from Swedish multi-award winning Food for Progress, is now on the menu in a number of Shepherd Neame flagship pubs in Kent and London.

“There is a growing market for vegan burgers, so we decided to put a number of different brands to the test before introducing one on our menu. We asked 30 members of our team to try the burgers, and every time the Oumph! burger came out on top for taste and texture. When comparing the nutritional content of the burgers, the Oumph! Burger also scored very highly”, says Shepherd Neame head development chef Simon Howlett.

The inspiration for The Oumph! Burger was based on a juicy rare burger, but the difference is that the Oumph! Burger is made with entirely plant-based ingredients. Like all Oumph! products, The Oumph! Burger is made with soya beans, and the fine red colour comes from beetroot. The Oumph! Burger weighs 113g, which is the equivalent of a Quarter Pounder.

Dave Smith, head of UK Foodservice at Oumph! and Food for Progress comments:

“We’re pleased to see that such a well-established pub company as Shepherd Neame has chosen the plant-based Oumph! Burger for their pub menu. No doubt this will be very welcome among vegetarians, vegans and flexitarians.”

The Oumph! Burger is now available in the following Shepherd Neame flagship pubs: The Spitfire in Kings Hill; Ship & Trades in Chatham Maritime; Royal Hotel in Deal; Bell Hotel in Sandwich; Royal Albion in Broadstairs; Samuel Pepys in London; Sun Inn, Faversham; Market House, Maidstone; Jamaica Wine House in London; and Marine Hotel, Tankerton.

The Oumph! burger at these Shepherd Neame locations is totally vegan including the bun and all accompaniments . It’s cooked in an oven and grill, while their preparation and service of vegan food follows the same guidelines as their allergen controls. One person oversees the burger from start to finish in order to control process and quality.

Other Oumph! products include Pulled Oumph!, Oumph! Kebab Spiced, Thyme & Garlic, The Chunk, Salty & Smoky, The Oumph! Pizza Italian Style, and The Oumph! Burger.

A number of different Oumph! products are available in Asda, Tesco, Holland & Barrett, Whole Foods Market, As Nature Intended as well as independent stores across the UK.

Visit the Oumph! website and follow them on Instagram.

London has a vegan dive bar

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Stop the presses!

Did you know that London has a 100% vegan bar situated right next to a 100% vegan pizza café?

Get informed and then get along for to draw drinking.

Hackney Dive is the latest vegan venture from hardworking legends Carla and Marco, the humans behind the incredibly-adored Young Vegans pie and mash shop in Camden and the gourmet vegan pizza hotspot called Death By Pizza.

Carla and Marco have worked tirelessly to bring London some of the best vegan food on the planet, so their next logical step was give vegan London a better drinking experience.

Hackney Dive is your number one spot to grab cocktails, beer, and cider in east London. The bar is situated in a shipping container right next door to the Death By Pizza pizza hatch, making it the perfect destination for eating and drinking.

I reached out to Carla of Hackney Dive to ask for her top 5 drinks you MUST try on your next visit:

1. Köln Style Lager by Hackney Brewery (Draft)
2. Hackney Mule – Double Vodka, Ginger Beer and fresh lime juice
3. Aperol Spritz
4. Kapow! – Pale Ale by Hackney Brewery (Draft)
5. Crate Brewery Cider (Draft)

OK. Now I’m thirsty.

You can see the exact location of Hackney Dive in Netil Market thanks to Google Maps.

Check out these gorgeous photos from Hackney Dive and neighbouring Death by Pizza below and be sure to follow London’s most fabulous vegan bar on Instagram.

Traders for the return of Hackney Downs Vegan Market

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Have you been missing Hackney Downs Vegan Market ever since we wrapped it up earlier this year?

Well, dry your tears because we are coming back in mini form for one night only… and the food line up is set to be legendary.

Thursday July 4, 2019 marks the tenth anniversary of the Open Studios celebration at Hackney Downs Studios and as part of their mammoth party they have asked me to return with my favourite traders for the evening.

From 6pm you will be able to feast heartily on the following:

Arancini Brothers will be there with their famous food truck selling their even more famous loaded arancini balls. This is some of the finest food in the city and will be difficult to turn down if you are there on the night.

Bar Dei Baci have built up a huge and loving following of customers and it’s not a surprise why. Their deep fried pizzas are the stuff of dreams.

I am so deeply proud of Let’s Do Temaki and the growth they’ve shown since debuting at the original Hackney Downs Vegan Market. Maki rolls and sushi burritos from Temaki are second to none.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByKsbFKJ4SN/

The 100% plant-based cuisine by Oh My Gulay! is spectacular. Filipino recipes done vegan and done better than most food you will ever taste. I promise.

Shakey Shakey is involved in our special return to Hackney Downs and you will be thrilled by their vegan fish and chips.

Vegan Delice was the reigning sugar queen of the original Hackney Downs Vegan Market so it makes sense to have Chanel back for our special night. Expect the usual decadent treats from one of the best vegan bakers on the planet.

What a line up!

If the food isn’t enough to get you down there, certainly all the other fun stuff happening on the night will do it.

The Open Studios event will allow you to meet and network with over 300 inspiring creatives, as you discover their spaces and check out their incredible work. Take a tour of our collaborative spaces Palmspace and Heartspace to meet the makers & artists behind them for a chance to purchase original works of art, craft and design.

Expect exhibitions and talks curated by residents as well as taster classes & workshops, exclusive sample sales and art showcase at Public Gallery. Enjoy live music, food, drinks and dancing at our after party.

In addition, Venetia Falconer will be bringing you an insight into the world of sustainability with an exclusive talk and Q&A at low waster shop Re:Store as part of the Open Studios programme.

Venetia Falconer has long been an advocate of reducing plastic usage and promotes mindful consumption, and has been featured in Vogue as one of the ‘Top Eco Influencers To Follow’.

Find out more at her website and follow Venetia on Instagram.

This is all a lot to take in but the basic fact of the matter is you NEED to be at Hackney Downs Studio on the evening of Thursday July 4, 2019.

You need tickets for this event but tickets are FREE. Click here to RSVP to the Facebook event and register for your free tickets now.

Who’s excited?!

Mauritian vegan supper club in London

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London. You know you have it real good, right?

And it just got better!

Book your tickets NOW for this sensational vegan pop up event featuring the flavours of Mauritius.

Vegan Mauritian Supper Club is taking place at Black Cat Café in Hackney on Tuesday July 30, 2019 from 7pm.

This is a meal you do not want to miss. Chef Khaleed is ready to feed you some of the finest plant-based cuisine in the capital.

Khaleed says of the night:

In Mauritius, we have a phrase we say ‘La case Mama’ which means Mother’s House. My food will be proper home cooked food and hopefully you will not be leaving hungry. Please feel free to ask for seconds!

The menu? Check it out below:

  • Starters: vegetable samosa and gateaux piment (chilli cakes, crushed split peas) served with a tomato and coriander chutney
  • Mains: tomato curry, butter bean curry, chow chow curry, aubergine and potatoe curry served with rice and ti puri (fried roti)
  • Dessert: tarte bannan (banana tart) served with vegan vanilla ice cream

Black Cat will be selling their drinks at this event.

Click here to book your tickets before they are all gone and be sure to follow Mauritian Vegan Supper Club on Instagram.

Vegan fish masterclass in London

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Going plant based doesn’t mean you need to miss out on fishy tastes and textures. I’ll show you how to make a decadent smoked carrot lox (hold the salmon), divine seaweed marinades, dinner party standard mushroom scallops, and a battered ‘fish’ alternative to curb any chip shop cravings.

Oliver Bragg, professional chef (formerly at Whole Foods) and teacher at the College of Naturopathic Medicine

Get ready for an incredible vegan fish masterclass, London. Tickets for this event at Made in Hackney on Sunday June 23, 2019 are just not going to last.

The class will include:

  • How to create convincing fishy tastes, textures and appearances such as Mushroom ‘Scallops’
  • The ultimate Smoked Carrot Lox recipe (vegan ‘smoked salmon’)
  • Learn to make creative dishes such as Watermelon Poke and Chickpea Tuna
  • How to make melt-in-your-mouth Battered ‘Fish’ to please even the most ardent fish ‘n’ chips lover
  • Learn presentation skills from a professional to impress your guests
  • A delicious plant based lunch and a take home recipe pack
  • 10% discount on the day in neighbouring wholefood shop, Food for All

Oliver Bragg is a nutritional chef and teacher at the College of Naturopathic Medicine. He has a strong interest in nutrition and loves to create highly nutritious, beautiful dishes that reflect his passion for seasonality, sustainability and original flavours.

Fee: £84 (£66 Concession) includes a delicious organic plant based lunch

This fee is used to fund the Made in Hackney programme of free courses to vulnerable and low-income community groups. By attending a Made In Hackney masterclass you get a great day of learning AND you’re providing the charity with essential funds to continue their work with vulnerable community groups.

** Concessionary rate available for students, pensioners, unemployed and low waged

Click here to book your spot now and follow Made in Hackney on Instagram.

Vegan festival with a greener approach

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Veelyfe is set to be a London music festival with a difference.

Not only does Veelyfe feature a fabulous musical line up (including Radio 1 and 4 DJ Claira Hermet, Melody Kane, House of Grae, and Rachael Anson) but it has a big aim of creating a ‘greener’ feel to the traditional festival.

Everything from the UK’s largest solar panelled staging to the eco toilets and biodegradable cups will make this a cleaner and more environmentally festival.

All of the food will be 100% vegan as well. Oh, yes. You read that correctly. ALL of the food is plant-based, and so are the drinks on site.

This new London festival – at the only urban beach location – is looking to change the industry and shine a light on the need for mainstream festivals to think about the environment and be more responsible in their approach.

Veelyfe is taking place in east London on Saturday July 27, 2019.

Click here to read more about Veelyfe and buy tickets.

You can also follow Veelyfe on Instagram.