London can you wait?

One night only musical event

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It’s not all cupcakes and beer around these parts.

I’m breaking with regular blogging to share some non-vegan news with you.

I’m sad to not be seeing Loserville the Musical for its one-off return this weekend.

It was one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever seen on stage. When I saw it a few years ago, I was so taken by the musical I saw it twice.

All my love and support to the cast and crew as they return for just one night on January 28, 2018 to raise funds for charities supporting young people dealing with thoughts of suicide and young performers in low-socioeconomic situations.

If you are in London, please consider grabbing a ticket for this weekend to help raise funds for these charities and pay tribute to Chris Hardman, one of the original cast members of this musical. Chris ended his own life in 2015 after living with depression.

Buy tickets by clicking here.

Vegan cheese goes London wide

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If you went to VegfestUK London in late 2017, you will know that one vegan cheese company in particular caused a lot of excitement.

New Roots absolutely blew everyone away with their stunning line up of vegan cheeses, including the spectacular camembert.

This cheese caused such a stir, it sold out in a matter of hours.

If you are anything like me, you’ve probably been dreaming of the time when this cheese would become more widely available.

Well, wake up and stop dreaming. New Roots is in London big time.

The Swiss cheese makers have just secured a London distribution deal with Marigold and are busy securing retail stockists. First stop? You can now buy their gorgeous vegan products at GreenBay Supermarket in Fulham.

Other retailers include:

More retailers are being added so keep updated by following New Roots on Instagram.

You can also ask your local independent health food retailer to stock New Roots. Let them know you want these products on their shelves and tell them the brand can be ordered via Marigold distribution.

Vegan slipper making workshop

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How about a Vegan Slipper Making Workshop, London?

Get along to The Canvas Café on Sunday February 4, 2018 between midday and 2pm for a slipper making class with Juta Shoes.

Handcraft your own espadrille slippers using reclaimed vegan materials and sustainable jute soles… and you might as well eat delicious food from the now 100% vegan café!

What you’ll do:

  • Choose from stock of reclaimed and upcycled vegan materials
  • Learn to shape and pin your shoe to the sole
  • Handstitch the upper to the sole with waxed linen thread

What’s included:

Experienced makers offer expert instruction and support, and everyone walks out in their own pair of slides. All materials are provided and no experience necessary. The vegan material is reclaimed from donated coats and bags, and Juta will bring a range of colours and textures for you to choose from. They use premium jute soles sourced from southern Spain, which are thick, robust, and comfortable.

 

Click here to book your workshop ticket.

BREAKING NEWS: inside the new Temple of Seitan

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London.

Here is the news you want.

After a year of enjoying runaway success at their Hackney location, vegan food superstars Temple of Seitan have announced the address and opening date for their second permanent location.

Temple of Camden is set to throw open its doors on Wednesday January 31, 2018 at 103A Camley Street N1C 4PF.

The images on this page give a tiny sneak preview of what the inside of the new Temple will look like and it looks fab.

Click here to see the exact location on Google Maps. The new shop is between a 10 and 15 minute walk from Camden Town, Mornington Crescent, and Kings Cross Underground stations.

So, we now know that the opening date is Wednesday January, 31, 2018 and the address is 103A Camley Street N1C 4PF… but what about the menu?!

I asked Rebecca, owner and legendary hero of Temple of Seitan, what she will be serving at Temple of Camden and here is what she disclosed:

It will be the same menu as Hackney plus the Hot Chicken Burger, the Cheeseburger menu, 50/50 chips, and popcorn snack packs. We will also have a deli section with coffee, bagels, toasted sandwiches, and sweet bakery treats!

OK. Are you pumped for this, London?!

Temple of Camden is about to take you to the next level of vegan enjoyment.

You should follow Temple of Seitan on Instagram to keep updated with all the latest news and glorious food photos.

Also, don’t forget that you can see Temple of Seitan at Hackney Downs Vegan Market this Saturday serving up loaded mac n cheese. Full market details here.

Arancini Brothers to stay vegan

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A few weeks ago, I shared news about London fast food chain Arancini Brothers turning their Old Street location into a 100% vegan eatery.

Since January 2, 2018 the outlet has served thousands of vegan and vegan-curious customers (as well as some meat eaters who just want outstanding food) who have raved about the extensive and delicious vegan menu.

As it is halfway through their vegan month, I dropped in on owner Dave Arkin to find out how it has been for the business and what the future holds.

How has the vegan month been for Arancini Brothers Old Street?

The support we’ve had from our regular customers and the vegan community has made the first few weeks the most incredible and satisfying experiences since selling our first risotto ball almost 9 years ago.

Have you been surprised by the interest and support of vegans?

More delighted than surprised. I have to say a big thank you to all the support we’ve had from you (that’s me, FGV!) and the vegan community. You have all made our vegan switch at Old Street possible.

Any news on the future?

After just two weeks of running our Old Street location as a fully vegan business, we’ve decided to keep the location vegan for good. It will always be a fully vegan place to eat and I couldn’t be happier with the decision.

How incredible is this news?!

Arancini Brothers Old Street is now a 100% vegan food outlet, 100% of the time. Forever.

I would like to extend my personal gratitude to Dave and his team for taking this leap of faith. The impact this will have in their part of London, across the UK, and further around the world is impossible to calculate but people are taking notice.

This is monumental.

Dave is showing you can do a good thing and still run a business. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.

You can follow Arancini Brothers on Instagram and click here to see the post I did about their huge vegan menu at Old Street (including photos!).

If you want to see the exact location of Arancini Brothers Old Street, you can thanks to Google Maps. Remember that the outlet is open between Monday and Friday between 9:30am and 4:00pm.

Sneak preview of a vegan donut shop

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The countdown is on.

London, your very first 100% vegan donut and coffee shop opens on January 17, 2018.

Lauren of Dough Society asked me to share a few quick glimpses of what the interior of the shop looks like ahead of their grand opening.

Check it out. So gorgeous!

The Dough Society donut and coffee shop is located on Mare Street in Hackney. It’s almost exactly half way between Temple of Hackney and Black Cat Hackney. That part of town really is exceptionally vegan friendly.

Click here to see the exact location thanks to Google Maps.

To celebrate their opening, Dough Society will be giving away one donut to the first 100 customers through the door on Saturday January 20, 2018. (Grand opening is a few days before this giveaway, so get in for one of the early preview days to avoid the rush)

Be sure to follow them on Instagram to stay updated on all their delicious shop news and donut flavours.

Vegan pub food in London

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Here is a quick little bite sized chunk of news you can eat.

I’m just about to head back to Mexico City for six months so I gathered my friends in London for a farewell party at The Blacksmith and The Toffeemaker in Islington.

This pub on St John Street is a gorgeous pub that has just switched it’s entire food menu to be 100% vegan.

Check out this short Instagram video I made showing the current menu.

The polenta fries with added cheese were fabulous and I loved the toasted sandwich.

Not all of the alcohol being served is vegan, however they assure me this is being worded on and will be rectified soon.

In the meantime, all of the booze that is vegan suitable is clearly labelled.

You can follow The Blacksmith and The Toffeemaker on Instagram and see the pub’s exact location thanks to Google Maps.

Vegan pop up in a Tube station

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Here is some fab news.

100% vegan cafe Cupcakes & Shhht located in Elephant and Castle has a pop up cake stall inside Old Street Underground station for the next three months!

Check it out.

As you can see, they are also selling copies of my book. Well, the books might be gone by the time you visit because they only had three remaining.

But you should definitely get along for delicious vegan cakes and treats!

Food giveaway

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This isn’t an FGV-run giveaway, but it is happening at my Hackney Downs Vegan Market this Saturday (January 13, 2018).

To find out how you can win some exclusive vegan fried chicken from trader Greedy Khao, you need to check out the details in the description of this Instagram post below.

Get entering and I hope you win!

You can see the full line up of traders for this Saturday’s market online here.

My book in bookstores

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When I was a young child in Australia, it was a dream of mine to be a writer.

I didn’t consider how it would happen or when or what was even involved, but I was simply drawn to writing.

I entered writing competitions at my local area shows and I even once won a prize for having a poem published in a newspaper.

Fast forward to now and here I am with a published book many decades later.

Thank you to Tsouni of Yes It’s All Vegan for letting me use this photo she took of the vegan section of Foyles on Charing Cross Road in Central London today.

It means more to me than I can explain to see my book on the shelves of a ‘proper’ bookstore amongst titles by people I love and adore… and some I don’t! LOL.

If you would like to grab a copy of my book from Foyles and help me continue to live out my childhood dream as it comes to life, you can order online or even order online to collect in your nearest store.

Foyles has my book in Stratford Westfield, Charing Cross Road, Bristol, Waterloo London, Birmingham, Chelmsford, and Royal Festival Hall London stores.

Click here to order for delivery or collection from Foyles. The website tells you how many copies of my book remain in each store. Maybe we can even give one of the stores a sellout situation?!