Amazing vegan food pop up in London

Itis London is one of our regular traders at Hackney Downs Vegan Market and believe me when I say their food is outstanding.

The comfort food specialists are stepping away from the market life for a minute to bring you an indulgent evening in south London packed with hearty food inspired by Africa, the Caribbean and the USA. This is a rare chance to enjoy soul food classics done vegan.

Itis have warned that you should arrive to the June 1 event with your takeaway containers as you’ll struggle to finish the feast!

They’ll be serving each of you up a mixed platter containing:

  • Mac n Cheese
  • Collard Greens
  • Mushroom Ribs
  • Fried Chickn
  • Potato Salad
  • Corn Bread
  • BBQ Baked Beans
  • Corn on the Cob
  • If you’ve got room left after all of that, there will be an irresistible dessert to follow

All Itis food is always 100% vegan.

THE DRINKS:

Bring your own booze, or enjoy a glass of their homemade ginger beer.

TIMING:

Doors open at 7pm and food will be served promptly at 7:15pm.

SEATING:

If you are attending in a group and want to ensure you sit together, please contact Itis ahead of time after booking your ticket so they can ensure they reserve you enough seats together.

BOOK ONLINE NOW. The last time they did this event, it sold out. Don’t miss out.

Follow Itis on Instagram.

Comedy events at London vegan eatery

The gorgeous Cafe Van Gogh in Brixton has just announced a series of comedy events.

Get fed vegan food AND have a laugh at the world!

The cafe says:

We’re proud to be hosting a summer full of Edinburgh previews in our cosy upstairs dining area. Ticket price includes a two course dinner (menu options available on our events pages) and a bunch of belly laughs.

Comedy Wednesdays at Cafe Van Gogh 88 Brixton Road SW9 6BE.
Only 20 seats for the first intimate dinner with Jenny Collier on June 6, 2018. £20 includes a two-course dinner. Book online now.

You can follow Cafe Van Gogh on Facebook and Instagram.

New album from awesome London band

If you hang around these parts much, you will know that I adore Colour Me Wednesday.

Colour Me Wednesday is an indie punk band from west London and they are awesome.

The band is fronted by sisters Jen and Harriet Doveton, while the current line up is rounded out by Jaca Freer and Laura Ankles.

Everything the band releases is fabulous, so it should go without saying that you should instantly listen to/buy/stream the new Colour Me Wednesday album called Counting Pennies in the Afterlife.

If I was a musician, I reckon it would piss me off royally if critics said I sound like another band or I was the new so-and-so. So you get no sort of comparisons from me to try and convince you to listen to Colour Me Wednesday.

All I’m going to say is that this music makes me happy when I listen to it and I think you will get a buzz from it, too.

Stream the album on Spotify if your personal politics permit.

Take a more ethical approach and buy the album via Bandcamp. There are bundles!

Head over to YouTube to watch the music video for the first single from the album, Sunriser. The band can be seen doing a bit of vegan grocery shopping in this video!

To speed up your eventual infatuation with Colour Me Wednesday, be sure to follow the band on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

New vegan cocktail bar for London

Here is some news you can drink.

Superstar vegan double decker bus restaurant Just Fab has recently opened a vegan cocktail bar on site. Just in time for the warmer weather, London!

If you can view the menu above, you will notice the bar is serving vegan White Russian as well as London Mule, Vegan Mary, and Espresso Martini.

So now you can eat some of the best vegan food in the capital (including burgers, lasagne, arancini, and more!) that is made on a real double deck London bus AND drink some tempting vegan cocktails all in the same location.

The bar is in the yard at 455 Hackney Road E2 9DY, just a short walk from Cambridge Heath train station. See the exact location thanks to Google Maps.

Opening hours are 11:30am until 10:00pm and a bit later on the weekends. The bus and bar are both closed on Monday.

Follow Just Fab on Instagram.

Vegan spot in Hackney extends life

The Brook in Hackney has been impressing vegans and the vegan-curious for the past few months, so it is great news to hear they have extended their residency for another six months!

Thea of The Brook told me:

Opening the pop-up in Hackney was a scary leap for us but it’s just been amazing. We’ve been so well received and it’s given us the confidence we needed to really push forward with what we’re doing on a bigger scale. Ultimately, we want to find a permanent site in central London to set up home, and we’re launching a crowdfunding campaign next month to support this, but that will take a while. So for now, at least, we’ll be staying put in Hackney until the end of the year while we search for a home.

How exciting!

The Brook also just won a Love London Time Out award for best restaurant in Hackney after only three months of being open! In addition, on June 1, 2018 The Brook is re-opening their Wallington location (temporary pop-up) on weekends so they can serve their south London crowd over the summer.

Click here to see the location of The Brook thanks to Google Maps.

Follow The Brook on Instagram.

Vegan food at Mighty Hoopla

I told you about the fab vegan food line up I have helped curate for Field Day 2018, but now I have even better news!

The food line up is staying on for a third day at the incredible Mighty Hoopla festival in Brockwell Park on June 3, 2018.

As if that food isn’t enough to entice you, the musical line up on the day is phenomenal.

Acts include some of my favourite pop performers of the past few decades including Lily Allen, TLC, Belinda Carlisle, Betty Who, B*Witched, Five, and even Vengaboys!

It is so ridiculously camp!

Imagine an incredible pop fest like that AND a huge range of vegan food traders from which to choose.

This event is going to sell out extremely quickly so grab your tickets now. Book here.

New vegan pizza pockets in London

HOLY SHIT!

It is a Hackney Downs Vegan Market exclusive tomorrow Saturday May 12, 2018. Young Vegans are debuting a new Pizza Pie Pocket menu ONLY at our market. Kinda like McDs fritters BUT VEGAN AND FUCKING AWESOME.

Menu:

  • The Barbie: Pan fried chicken pieces with house BBQ sauce and cheese cheesy
  • Red Bianca: Creamy ricotta, broccoli and our family’s signature marinara sauce
  • Willy Wonky: Melty chocolate with peanut butter (warning: messy!)

I’m sure these will be a smash hit, so get used to seeing these on their regular menu in the Camden shop in the near future.

Be one of the first people in London to try at the market. Full details here.

Follow Young Vegans on Instagram.

Vegan taco pop up in Brixton

Hey, vegan taco lovers.

Here is a fab menu available for one night only at a super cool bar in Brixton.

The talented people of Jump to the Beet catering are hosting another glorious pop up event at The Sympathetic Ear on Tulse Hill in Brixton.

The taco pop up is taking place on Thursday May 17, 2018 between 6:30pm and 9:30pm.

You can simply show up (see bar location thanks to Google Maps) or contact the venue through their website to book a table.

But what about the menu?

  • Wild mushroom, pasilla chilli salsa, pico de gallo
  • Breaded paprika cauliflower, roasted red pepper & tomato salsa
  • Black beans, roasted sweet potato, smoked chipotle
  • Smoky aubergine, baby sweet corn, ancho chilli, cashew nut

Sounds amazing.

Follow Jump to the Beet on Instagram.

Mushroom masterclass

There is a mushroom masterclass coming up this Saturday May 12, 2018 at Made in Hackney and if you can afford to attend, it looks like it will be extremely informative and useful.

“We will share our passion and knowledge of cooking and growing gourmet mushrooms, as well as practical tips and recipes, so that you can bring delicious umami flavours to your meals”

Mark Breen, Professional Chef & Cookery Tutor & César Hernán Rizzo Gómez, Urban Grower & Cook

The class will include:

  • How to cook different types of gourmet mushrooms to intensify their unique flavours and textures
  • How to bring out the delicious ‘umami’ flavour of mushrooms
  • How to grow gourmet mushrooms from used coffee grounds
  • How to store your mushrooms correctly to get the best from them
  • Various cooking techniques which will preserve the nutritional properties of mushrooms
  • Tasty ‘tried and tested’ recipes using mushrooms as a starter, a main or a side dish
  • A delicious organic plant based lunch and recipes to take home

César is an urban farmer and accomplished cook. He is the founder of ‘Article Number 25’, an Urban Farming Company aiming to change the food system, which grows different varieties of mushrooms from used coffee grounds and converts unused spaces into farms.

Mark is a professional chef and cookery tutor, working with various cookery schools across the capital. He also runs Seasonal Kitchen, a company offering unique dining experiences and private chef services.

Fee*: £70 (£55** Concession) includes a delicious organic plant based meal

  • This fee is used to fund the 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.

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

Click here to book a spot at this mushroom masterclass now! At the time of posting, their were only 8 spaces remaining.

New vegan coffee shop in Dalston

I simply cannot keep up with vegan news flying out of London.

I adore hearing it all, but there is too much!

I’m thrilled to announce that a brand new 100% vegan coffee shop and deli is opening tomorrow (Tuesday May 8, 2018) on Kingsland Road.

Happy Cat Coffee has been trading for a while as a market stall and pop up concern, but the Dalston spot marks their first ever permanent shop.

The first 20 people to visit on opening day (7am until 7pm) get a free dairy-free coffee to celebrate!

Happy Cat offers oat, coconut, soya, almond and cashew milks, and while you are there you can pick up some bean-to-bar chocolate. Everything is vegan and in the next week or so customers will be able to grab vegan steaks, vegan sausage rolls, and pasties.

Happy Cat is located at 374a Kingsland Road Dalston E8 4AA in a super cute space next to a tailor. You can see the exact location on Google Maps.

You can follow Happy Cat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.