London can you wait?

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.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwOjQXTA0No/

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.

Ms. Cupcake returns to Venn St

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Great news!

Legendary London vegan business Ms. Cupcake is returning to the FGV section of Venn Street Market EVERY Saturday!

The Brixton bakery has been serving up sweet treats to the capital for about a decade and is one of the true pioneers of the vegan scene in the UK.

We are simply honoured to have them return as our resident cake and bake trader at our market section in Clapham Common.

To celebrate their return on Saturday June 15, 2019, I am sharing my top 5 picks from what they will be serving.

Cookie Dough Brownie – fudgy chocolate brownie with baked caramel choc chip cookie dough baked on top.
Jam Doughnut Muffin – a doughnut/muffin hybrid. Cut open the cinnamon flavoured dough like sponge to reveal tons of gorgeous sweet jam.
Lemon Blueberry Cookie – New for summer! A giant American-style cookie made with real lemon and plump, juicy blueberries, finished with a lemon sugar glaze.
Red Velvet Cookie Sandwich – Two chewy American-style cookies lightly flavoured with cocoa, sandwiched by a soft cloud of vanilla cream cheese icing.
Ambassador Cupcake – a Ms. Cupcake classic. It’s take on the Ferrero Rocher chocolate with it’s mash-up of chocolate and hazelnut elements.

That is some good eating right there.

Venn Street Market takes place every Saturday between 10am and 4pm. It is a 30 second walk from Clapham Common Underground Station.

You can follow Ms. Cupcake on Instagram.

Vegan pancakes in Central London

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Have you ever passed by those pancake restaurants in Central London called My Old Dutch and thought, “I’d love some vegan pancakes”?

Well, guess what they have gone and done?!

My Old Dutch are proud to announce the launch of their very own vegan pancakes and amazing new vegan toppings.

Their vegan pancakes are available for their Classic Sweet & Savoury Pancakes only, using our gluten free and soy milk base pancakes.

Take a read of this selection.

THE NEW “SWEET BERRY HEAVEN” PANCAKE

Topped with strawberries, blueberries, vegan chocolate & coconut ice cream, served with amber maple syrup

THE NEW “VEGAN VOLCANO” SAVOURY PANCAKE

Topped with vegan cheddar & mozzarella cheese, sweet corn, onion, mushroom, vegan chorizo & baby spinach

Toppings? Vegan toppings you can order include chorizo, cheddar, mozzarella, vanilla ice cream, choco-coconut ice cream, maple syrup, and vegan honea!

In addition, you can order either a vanilla vegan shake or a choco-coconut vegan shake. Or both. I won’t judge.

My Old Dutch has locations at Holborn, Kensington, and Chelsea.

You can visit their website and follow them on Instagram.

Sustainability talk in Hackney

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You all know that Hackney Downs Vegan Market is coming back in mini form for one night only, right?

You can head back to Hackney Downs Studios on Thursday July 4, 2019 for delicious vegan food AND a huge celebration for the Open Studios event.

Read about it here.

But what am I telling you today?

Hackney Downs Studios are excited to announce their collaboration with Re:Store (on site zero waste/sustainable store) and Venetia Falconer as part of their Open Studios event.

Venetia Falconer will be bringing you an insight into the world of sustainability with an exclusive talk and Q&A at 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.

You need tickets to come along to Open Studios but tickets are FREE so register for your free tickets online here.

Vegan baking masterclass

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Have you ever wanted to take a vegan baking masterclass?

You are in luck! Get your tickets for this AMAZING cooking class happening at Made in Hackney this Sunday June 9, 2019.

Hosted by Melissa Saint Hill, the masterclass class will include:

  • Essentials of vegan baking and how the main substitutes work
  • Making a delicious showstopper no-bake chocolate tart with seasonal fruit
  • Learn how to increase the nutritional profile of your baked goods with a variety of nutrients
  • Techniques to make scrumptious vegan cakes such as the perfect vegan banana bread
  • Protein-rich bites and bars to up your energy levels during the day
  • A delicious plant-based lunch featuring a seasonal galette and take-home recipe pack
  • 10% discount on the day in neighbouring wholefood shop, Food for All

Melissa Saint Hill is a registered Associate Nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition (AfN) and Clinical Research Scientist, with interests in type 2 diabetes, cardiometabolic health and the gut microbiome. Having a natural creative flair, as well as an academic background, Melissa is passionate about teaching and inspiring people to cook, bake and eat healthily, without compromising on taste. Melissa has a keen interest in presenting food to ensure it looks as good as it tastes and smells, which has led to food styling and photography becoming solid passions.

Fee: £84 (£66 Concession) inclusive of VAT, includes a delicious organic plant based lunch. Click here to book your ticket.

This fee might seem high but 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 for them to continue their work with vulnerable community groups.

Follow Made in Hackney on Instagram.