London can you wait?

Two for one tickets

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Hey!

The huge Vegan Life Live show is rolling into London on January 7 and 8, 2016.

This is the first outing for the show put on by the publishers of Vegan Life magazine and will feature new product displays, a beer bar run by the amazing Brass Castle, cooking demos, a food court and presentations.

The presentation part of the line up is how I am involved in the show. Come along to see me talk about how I became a vegan blogger, why I do what I do plus a few other sassy anecdotes.

If you want to attend Vegan Life Live London, here is a special deal just for friends of Fat Gay Vegan.

Click here to buy a 2-for-1 ticket. That’s right! Buy one of these special tickets and two people can enter on it. Save money!

Extra note: I don’t mind if you use this deal to enter but don’t watch my talk on the Sunday. I won’t be offended!

Autumn Yard goes vegan: one day only!

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If you thought my Vegan Christmas Market was enticing enough already, you are about to get another very persuasive reason to join me and a few thousand vegans in Hackney tomorrow (Saturday, December 17, 2016).

There is a brand new, gorgeous café and bar on the site of the market called Autumn Yard. The venue has been lovingly fitted out inside one of the old warehouses on the Hackney Downs Studios lot and it really is a beautiful space.

Autumn Yard features a large dining room and bar, as well as housing special pop-up events and happenings. There is a store inside the venue selling decadent cakes and gourmet pantry items.

The new dining space is getting into the festive swing with us plant-eaters by turning their food menu 100% vegan for the day to help us celebrate Vegan Christmas Market.

If you fancy a break from the jostling market crowds, make your way inside the restaurant for a proper sit down meal with table service.

On the menu for Autumn Yard tomorrow?

Starters

  • Falafel & Salsa Verde
  • Rosemary Butterbeans
  • Orange & Carrot, Roast Cumin Soup

Mains

  • Vegan Burger (sweet potato, beans & lentils) & Polenta Chips
  • Vegan Curry
  • Stuffed Butternut Squash

Desserts

  • Warm Chocolate Brownie
  • Banana Ice-cream
  • Roast Pineapple

Drinks

  • Vegan Coffees (almond & soy milk)
  • Apple Spiced rum

Cakes for the store

  • Vegan Cake pops
  • Vegan Tomato Cake
  • Vegan cookies
  • Pumpkin & Almond Cakes

So, now you have to struggle with the decision of what to buy from the incredible line up of vendors we have in the outdoor market as well as leaving enough tummy space to dine with one of London’s brightest new non-vegan restaurants as it goes vegan for one day only!

I almost feel like I need to apologise for the dilemma I’m putting you in. This could very well be the finest day for vegan food London has ever witnessed.

See Autumn Yard online, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram. Hey, why not give them a shout out online and say thanks for joining our vegan party? And keep checking in with them for ongoing vegan menu items and specials.

All images on this page are courtesy of Autumn Yard, so don’t steal them like I did.

All the food

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Vegan Christmas Market is days away and food menus are starting to roll in.

Do you want a sneak preview of what the vendors will be serving up?

Keep scrolling to find out!

Essential Vegan – Bounty cake, Blueberry cake, eclairs, cheesecake, almond crunchy cake, lemon peanut butter cake, coffee walnut cake, coconut biscuit, “honey” cake bites, lebkuchen, cookbook and cheese (two flavours)

Mouses’s Favourite – Artisan nut based cheeses in five varieties

Sgaia Vegan Meats – Food to take away: artisan mheat and cheeze sandwiches with sage & onion mayo, charcuterie, smoked provolone, cranberry sauce. Retail packs: our Christmas Fillets, steaks, charcuterie and award winning bacon

Heart of Cake – Festive Cupcakes, macarons, chocolate pie and boozy mince pies

GreenBay Supermarket – Christmas hampers, chocolates and cookies

Young Vegans – Hot pie and mash (pie fillings: seitan and ale + GF shepherds pie) + GF peanut butter brownies + mince pies

Temple of Seitan – Roast Chick’n + Crackling Roll, Fried Chick’n Strip Roll

Club Mexicana – BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Burritos & Tacos, Fully Loaded Cheezy Nachos, Deep Fried Cheeze Fries

Just Fab – Side panelle, lasagne, fries, Xmas bombs, mini arancini, panelle burger, Just wrap, Vegamisù

Clarkshaws Brewing – limited edition white IPA on draught along with a range of regular ales and lager, and bottles and gifts to take home

Arancini Brothers – 3 x different vegan burgers, smoky paprika fries. Risotto balls with tomato Chutney

Rupert’s Street – Sweet Potato Cottage Pie, Cashew Curry, Roast Vegetable Soup, Beetroot Latke

Viva La Vegan – statement wear tees, badges, Christmas cards, accessories

Battered – Fish and chips, Half a fried chicken, battered sausage, battered pies, mushy peas, curry sauce, tartare sauce

58 Gin – Mulled cider, Gin, chocolate negroni and bars of chocolate

Moodley Manor – retail packs of bacon, burgers, roasts and garlic mayo

Peanut Butter Bakery – Brioche donuts with various toppings, brownies and gift package brownies

Happy Cat Coffee – coffee, tea and hot chocolate

Do you think you can get through all of that?!

Onsite non-vegan restaurant Autumn Yard is turning their food menu 100% vegan for the day. See details here.

The market starts at 11am on Saturday December 17, 2016. Check this page for more details and RSVP to the Facebook event.

Bring cash and card as some vendors don’t accept both. There are plenty of gluten free options and will be marked clearly.

Viva La Vegan

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Here is a spot of news not only for people attending my Vegan Christmas Market this weekend, but for those looking for quirky, cute and fun clothing accessories with a bold vegan angle.

Voted Best Vegan Fashion Brand 2015 and 2016 in the UK Vegan Awards and Best Vegan Clothing in the Vegfest Awards 2016, Viva La Vegan is an upbeat vegan statement wear brand of apparel and accessories.

The company was born from their love of animals, a desire to positively promote veganism and a commitment to do their bit for the planet all while looking good. The VLV team are a committed bunch of vegans and eco ambassadors who tell me they are not interested in stereotypes, just a love of style and contemporary fashion. And helping animals!

Of course you can shop with Viva La Vegan via their website, but you can also get your hands on their cute Xmas-themed badges, greeting cards and their regular (and very popular) clothing at Vegan Christmas Market this Saturday in Hackney (December 17, 2017).

You can also follow Viva La Vegan on Facebook and Twitter.

I’ll be at Vegan Life Show

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If you can’t get enough of my self-involved online ramblings, how about watching me in person?

I am delighted to have been asked to talk at the first ever Vegan Life Live show taking place at Alexandra Palace in London on January 7 and 8, 2017 (my talk is on Sunday 8).

Click on the image above to visit the Vegan Life Live website.

My talk will be a journey through my life as a vegan blogger made up of a few anecdotes and sassy asides.

Topics I’m likely to cover include:

  • when and why I started living vegan
  • how I became FGV
  • why I stopped saying ‘cruelty free’
  • keeping progressive politics at the heart of my veganism
  • Dear FGV, Vegan River Cruises and Vegan Beer Fest UK – how I survive as a vegan blogger
  • the reasons why I blog and why you should too (including some how to tips)

Of course there will be plenty of time to ask questions and I’d love to hear from anyone who already has a ticket if they want to hear me discuss anything in particular.

The show itself looks fantastic with all sorts of food stands, information sessions, cooking demos and more. Even my favourite vegan brewery, Brass Castle, are going to be running a beer bar. I think it is going to be a big crowd having a lot of fun!

Hope to see a lot of readers there. Get show details here.

Vegan food and music event

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Looking for something unique to do in London next week?

Music Day UK is a not for profit organisation in the business of community-led music festivals and they have a fabulous dinner lined up in Haggerston next week.

md-final-front-knifeforkThe group is hosting a social evening with musical entertainment, a three course vegan meal and games. People will be served the vegan feast at tables while being entertained by some wonderful solo artists and tunes!

The event kicks off at 7pm on Friday December 16, 2016 and there are plenty of ticket options, including entry only or getting the full package with drinks included with your meal.

Click here for more information and get your tickets now.

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Breaking news: vegan fried chicken shop

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In the history of breaking news on this blog, I’m not sure I’ve ever written anything this exciting.

Sit down.

London, you are about to get the world’s first 100% vegan fried chicken shop.

OK. Now you can leap to your feet and fist pump like a champ. This news is seriously the most exciting thing to happen to anyone. EVER.

If you visit this part of the Internet with any regularity, you will know that I am obsessed with the crispy savoury perfection that is Temple of Seitan. Their range of deep fried seitan snacks, tubs of mac n cheese and filled sandwiches is in the top 5 things to eat on the planet in my (always humble) FGV opinion.

There is world class and then a little higher up in the clouds, there is Temple of Seitan.

Enough of this adulation. I asked Rebecca of Temple of Seitan to tell me what the heck is going on and she said:

In January 2017, we’ll be opening London’s (and maybe the world’s!) 1st 100% vegan chicken shop. We’re looking forward to providing a vegan alternative for Londoners craving a bit of takeaway.

She is so relaxed about it. I would have added in words such as ‘pioneers’, ‘earth-altering’ and ‘exceptionally unique’.

Clear all your January plans. Make room for the new fried chicken shop by Temple of Seitan.

This is not a drill.

Follow Temple of Seitan on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Extra note: Catch Temple of Seitan at my Vegan Christmas Market on Saturday December 17, 2017. Details here and you can RSVP on Facebook.

Vegan cakes at London markets

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I just got the best kind of email you can hope to receive. It was all about vegan cake.

There is a gorgeous vegan baking business in London called Vegan Delice and what they are putting out into the world deserves to be celebrated.

Check out some of these treats.

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I’m not sure about you, but there isn’t anything pictured above of which I wouldn’t eat at least two.

It’s all so dreamy.

I asked Chantal at Vegan Delice what goes on over at her baking headquarters and she said:

Passionate about the pleasure that my customers will feel when they are tasting my bakes, I ensure that the most important ingredient, ‘LOVE’ is always my present.

I take the time to make a lot of ingredients from scratch, such as my vanilla paste as its genuinely important to me that the products are 100% vegan, I also make my own raw chocolate that tastes similar to OMBAR (my inspiration) and I use this in a lot of my bakes to add a luxurious flavour.

I specialise in vegan cupcakes, doughnuts, cookies, as well as Cypriot style baked goods too. They are made from organic and locally sourced produce were available. I also include a sugar free, gluten free, and soy free range.

Do you like what you see and hear?

Vegan Delice will be trading at the Tottenham Green Market on December 3, 11 and 18, 2016 and at the Myddleton Road Festival on December 4, 2016.

Keep track of Vegan Delice via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Now available to mainland UK

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Here are two pieces of HUGE news in one blog post.

Part one:

Adored vegan meat company Moodley Manor is now shipping to mainland UK customers. Their sausages, bacon and burgers have been firm favourites in Ireland (where they are made) and Northern Ireland for a while, but now the rest of us can enjoy the taste loved by so many.

Click here to visit the website and place an order for delivery.

News part two:

In an FGV exclusive, Moodley Manor is heading to London to trade at my very first Vegan Christmas Market.

Ais and Gav will be packing up the van and heading across the water to delight crowds on Saturday December 17, 2016. Market shoppers will be able to buy packs of bacon, sausages and burgers, as well as the lauded Moodley roast that by all accounts is massive and delicious.

Bring a shopping bag because you are going to want to stock up in a serious way.

burgers roast-whole sausages bacon-cooked bacon

I’m am absolutely stoked to have Moodley Manor at my event. I will be buying two of everything. And I’m even happier to know that anyone in the UK not able to make it along to the Vegan Christmas Market in London will be able to order their own goodies online.

And just a extra sliver of exciting news, Moodley Manor will also be selling their famed garlic mayo at my event and online. I love that the jar claims it is perfect with chips! I will be putting that to the test.

mayo-new

Are you excited?

Follow Moodley Manor on Facebook and Twitter.

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Exclusive at Vegan Christmas Market

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My first ever Vegan Christmas Market is coming up close at a rapid speed and I’m beyond thrilled with the fabulous vendor line up I have gathered together.

If you missed the initial announcement of food traders, you can get updated by clicking here.

But this blog post belongs to only one piece of news.

In a London exclusive, award winning vegan meat company Sgaia will be trading at the Vegan Christmas Market in London on Saturday December 17, 2016.

Sgaia is nothing short of a phenomenon. This company burst onto the UK vegan scene only a short while ago and has quickly developed into one of the finest brands on the planet.

But what will they be selling at the Xmas event?

You will be able to get your hands on their brand new festive fillet. This gorgeous looking slice of vegan meat is perfect for rolling and filling with your favourite filling as a roast dinner centrepiece.

Check it out!

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In addition to this AMAZING festive fillet, Sgaia will also be selling ready to consume sandwiches stuffed solid with all sorts of tempting seasonal fillings.

sandwich_smlI predict a stampede for this food. Sgaia will also be selling other packs of their incredible slices and burgers, so bring a few shopping bags.

Get over to the Facebook event for Vegan Christmas Market, invite your friends, dress warm and get there early on the day so you don’t miss out.

You also need to follow Sgaia on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Order your own home delivery of their food via their website if you can’t join us on the day.

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