Tendril is a brand new vegan pop up restaurant starting its residency at The Hive in Bethnal Green from January 10, 2020.
Tendril is the brainchild of Chef Rishim Sachdeva and there more plans to spread his tasty food far and wide around the capital in 2020. Tendril is just the first stop.
So what exactly will Chef Rishim be serving at Tendril in Bethnal Green?
A sample menu highlights the following:
Zucchini Pancakes with creamy turmeric puree and chives
Do you all remember that Ethiopian restaurant located at Art Works shipping container village at Elephant and Castle?
It used to have a lot of vegan options and the owner was super passionate about the food.
Well, guess what? It isn’t there anymore.
But also guess what?!
Beza has moved to another location in Elephant and Castle and has turned 100% vegan. Yay!
Both the food and interior of the restaurant look sensational.
Beza describes the restaurant as an “Ethiopian restaurant in London that specialises in traditional Ethiopian vegan food.”
Their menu is alive with truly delicious and nutritious seasonal food, all served in a beautiful setting. Everything on the menu is 100% vegan. The restaurant is proud to serve the local community with inspiring exotic dishes.
London. You are quickly becoming the most vegan place on the planet.
From north to south and east to west, the UK capital is overflowing with plant-based places to eat. There is so much choice in fact, it can be difficult working out how to cram it all in. Or more likely, how to pick just a few.
I’m here today to give you my pick for the best vegan things to do in London on the weekend of December 14 and 15, 2019.
Plan your weekend well and have a fabulous time!
Of course I have to pick the 4th annual Hackney Downs Festive Vegan Market. I started this locally-focused but broadly-loved market to help independent vegan traders have a decent shot at making a living from their work. It only comes back for special occasions such as Christmas, but the heart of this event never dies. Support it on Saturday December 14, 2019 between 11am and 5pm. Full details online here.
2. Get along to the grand opening weekend of the new Picky Wops restaurant on Brick Lane. Cristiano, Andrea, and their team have worked hard to bring their world famous pizzas to this new permanent location and you really want to be a part of this history-making opening. Try the pasta and desserts, too! Read my blog post about the opening online here.
3. Enjoy baked Christmas-themed goods from legendary vegan business, Ms. Cupcake of Brixton. The bakery is now stocking a massive range of their seasonal cakes and goodies, including a chocolate caramel reindeer cupcake that is too cute. The shop is also the only place in the UK to buy ready-made vegan Yorkshire puddings and if you spend £30 or more in store this weekend (both days), you get a free copy of the latest edition of the Vegan London Guidebook valued at £9.99. Click here for the Ms. Cupcake website.
4. Do a massive vegan grocery shop for Christmas at an independent vegan store. GreenBay Supermarket in West London has everything you need for festive celebrations including gourmet vegan cheeses, roasts, boxes of chocolates, sweets, ready to serve cream, and even panettone. Follow GreenBay on Instagram and see their exact location on North End Road thanks to Google Maps.
5. The end of the year makes a lot of us feel sentimental so it is the perfect time to catch up with friends and loved ones. Message your nearest and dearest and tell them you are meeting up for drinks at London’s superstar vegan pub, The Spread Eagle on Homerton High Street. Enjoy their fantastic cocktails and leave a bit of stomach space for the tasty cuisine of in-house kitchen experts Club Mexicana. See the exact location of the pub thanks to Google Maps.
I’m in no way saying that is a bad thing, I’m just commenting on how it seems to be popping up everywhere in London.
One of the most-loved vegan pizza joints in the UK capital is Good Belly which is located inside The Railway Tavern just a few steps from Dalston Kingsland Overground station.
The pizzas at Good Belly get rave reviews from those in the know, so I can only imagine how delicious these two Christmas-themed specials will taste.
The first seasonal special I want to tell you about is their Christmas Day Pizza. It is constructed from a cranberry & merlot tomato base, mushrooms, red onion, stuffing crumbs, bacon bits, parsnip puree, and shredded sprouts.
That is one dreamy Christmas pizza!
Another special they have is their flaky (and delicious) Santa’s Sausage Roll. Good Belly assure me it is one of the best sausage rolls on the planet.
Check it out.
Both of these specials from Good Belly will be on their menu until December 22, 2019 so hop along rapidly if you want some seasonal treats.
You can see the full regular menu from Good Bellyonline here, follow the restaurant on Instagram, and check out the exact location of The Railway Tavern thanks to Google Maps.
I know a lot of people love an old-fashioned cream tea but finding a vegan version in London can be tough.
There is good news out of West London, however.
The Stables café located at Osterley House is now serving vegan cream tea!
Maybe you are scratching your head at the mention of cream tea.
What is it?
Cream tea is a variation of afternoon tea and is traditionally served with scones, clotted cream, and jam. The idea of cream tea is usually attributed to the tea rooms of Devon and Cornwall.
The StablesCafé is located inside Osterley Park & House in Isleworth, West London. The café is open between 10am and 5pm, 7-days a week.
You can see the exact location of the café thanks to Google Maps.
Legendary vegan bakery Ms. Cupcake of Brixton are now stocking Mabel’s amazing vegan Yorkshire Puddings. They are the ONLY place in the country to get these for Christmas.
The Yorkshires come pre-made in a batch of four, which you can keep frozen until you need to bake them off.
In Mabel’s own words, these Yorkie’s “give you that authentic flavour, with a crispy top, a soft bottom, shaped perfectly for you to pour gravy into.”
As an added bonus they are palm oil free and use compostable bio-plastic packaging.
Get down to Ms. Cupcake quickly to pick up a pack or two for your festive meal. It’s the perfect excuse to get some cake in, too!
Follow Ms. Cupcake on Instagram and see their exact shop location thanks to Google Maps.
London. Do you need more vegan pizza in your life?
Superstar vegan pizza makers, Picky Wops, have just announced they are opening a restaurant on Brick Lane in East London. Huge news!
Picky Wops have been wowing people around London with their gourmet take on pizzas for a few years now.
A recent kitchen takeover at a pub in Brixton has been a runaway success, as have all their appearances at outdoor markets and events around the capital. People can’t get enough of their unique flour mixes, gourmet toppings, and good vibes.
If you aren’t familiar with what Picky Wops do, read on.
Picky Wops pizza bases are all fully customisable and each dough has a different colour, texture and flavour. Available bases include burnt wheat and turmeric. Pizzas can be served cheeseless or with vegan cheese, and a mouthwatering variety of toppings are available.
If pizza isn’t your thing (really?!), classic Italian sides such as garlic bread, dough balls, and a variety of vegan pasta dishes are also featured on the menu. A firm favourite is their carbonara which comes complete with meat free bacon bits. Carb loving Londoners will also appreciate the innovative loaded fries, topped with Italian inspired sauces such as pesto and bolognese.
Ingredients used by Picky Wops are high quality and plant-based, while all dishes are made from scratch. Founders Cristiano Vitelli and Andrea Moro are both trained in the art of pizza making in their home country of Italy, meaning their food remains authentic.
Enough chit chat. Where is the new Picky Wops location?
You will be able to find the restaurant at 53 Brick Lane from their opening date of Friday December 13, 2019. You can see the exact location thanks to Google Maps.
For December only, visitors can sample a festive white pizza aptly called The White Christmas. This special is topped with spiced sweet potato mash, roasted brussel sprouts and walnuts, seasoned soya, sweet cranberry jam, vegan mozzarella and a light sprinkling of parmesan.
Nut Milks is a new company bringing fresh dairy alternative milks to your doorstep.
The company is committed to supplying a low carbon footprint alternative to cow milk, therefore they only deliver within the London area. I absolutely LOVE this approach to their business.
The vegan milks are made in London and sold in London!
The milks are made freshly and locally. They contain no additives therefore last only five days. These products are old school!
Nut Milks flavours include:
Pistachio Milk
Chocolate Hazelnut
Hazelnut Milk
Almond Milk
Cashew Milk
Nut Milks currently have a stall at Borough Market but they are mostly an online business.
You can visit their webshop to browse all milk products and place an order for London-only delivery.
London, here is your opportunity to take part in a super fancy and super exclusive masterclass led by one of the leading vegan patisserie chefs on the planet.
I’ll show you how to make exquisite plant-based versions of festive French patisserie classics that will wow your guests during the festive season. – Clarisse Flon (specialist vegan patisserie chef, food consultant and photographer)
Grab a ticket and get along to the Made in Hackney kitchen on Saturday December 12, 2019 between 10am and 5:30pm for this rare learning (and eating!) opportunity.
This Masterclass is part of the Made in Hackney ‘VIP Series’, working with experts who are renowned in their field.
The class will include:
How to make a show-stopping Pear and Chocolate Genoise Yule log
Make an exquisite chocolate cream patissiere and chocolate buttercream
Learn to make gorgeous iced sablé Christmas biscuits
Rolling and setting techniques
Piping skills
How to make stunning chocolate décor and caramel shard decorations
Learn how to enhance flavours, and how to pair textures and tastes
A delicious organic plant based lunch, and take home recipe pack
15% discount in neighbouring wholefoods shop, Food for All
Clarisse Flon is a specialist vegan patisserie chef trained in classic French patisserie. Clarisse has worked in many fine dining establishments around the world while developing plant based versions of her traditional recipes.
She launched The Sunny Spoon in 2013 (a French vegan patisserie bakery featured many times at Hackney Downs Vegan Market) and helped launch Cafe Forty One, a vegan restaurant in La Suite West hotel in Notting Hill. Clarisse now works as a food consultant and photographer, developing vegan options and recipes for businesses.
Fee: £160 (£118 Concession) includes delicious tastings and a recipe pack.
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 for them to continue their work with vulnerable community groups.
You can join Animal Equality at their Festive Fundraiser on Tuesday December 3, 2019 for an evening that promises to be packed full of merriment.
Entertainment at the Central London event (near Farringdon) will feature the always inspiring Christopher Sebastian and the hilarious Carl Donnelly. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to see them in action, then you definitely don’t want to miss this event.
You’ll also hear about the incredible work that Animal Equality has been able to carry out this year thanks to the generosity of their wonderful supporters, as well as enjoy a delicious plant-based, three-course meal and help the charity raise funds through a raffle.
The ticket price also includes a welcome drink and wine with the meal.
Christopher Sebastian is the director of social media for Peace Advocacy Network, he sits on the Advisory Council for Encompass, he is senior editor at Vine Sanctuary Press, he is co-founder of VGN, and he lectures at Columbia University in the Department of Social Work for the graduate course POP: Power, Oppression, and Privilege. He primarily focuses on animal violence and how it influences anti-black racism, queer antagonism and class discrimination throughout the global west.
Carl has been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award twice and has appeared on various TV shows including Mock the Week and Russell Howard’s Good News. He is a regular on the international comedy circuit, performing at pretty much every comedy festival there is!
Animal Equality look forward to seeing you next week. Click here to book tickets.
Extra note: The event space is accessible and Signing can be arranged on request.
