London can you wait?

Veggie Pret staying open all summer

by

A lot of vegans are happy with the selection of animal-free sandwiches on offer at the Veggie Pret pop up shop in Soho.

News sites have been busy telling the world how well the temporary store front has been doing financially and that the vegan options have been some of the best-selling menu items.

Well, it appears the vegetarian version of Pret a Manger is staying around a little bit longer than originally planned. The company announced today that the Broadwick Street vegetarian shop will be staying open throughout the entire summer.

pret

If you dig a little further into the Pret website, you will find this page dedicated to the animal welfare policies of the sandwich chain.

Now, my intention isn’t to start a shit storm over this but I find this greenwashing a little tough to swallow. Yes, I believe some people within the company are pushing for better treatment of animals and possibly some of the workers are vegan. But I don’t appreciate a corporation using terms like ‘happy cows, happy milk, moo’ when we all know how milk is produced.

Even if a cow gets to strut about a green field all day, she still needs to be forcibly inseminated to become pregnant on time every time in order to be a lucrative milk producer.

And then there are sections of their website on happy pigs who are deliriously ecstatic before being slaughtered for bacon. Or what about the farm bred fish or line caught tuna? Line caught means being flung onto the deck of a boat and then suffocating.

You can all come at me with ‘we should be grateful for what vegan stuff we get’ and ‘a no meat shop in Soho is incredible’ but I’m from the old-school train of thought that victories are hard won, not handed to us. I’m interested by the shop’s success, but I’m not about to allow the rest of the animal-suffering they engage in go unnoticed.

Pret have made this decision to keep this shop open because vegans are making them money. We get this same ‘know your food’ routine from places like Whole Foods Market and we need to realise that these changes are because campaigners have worked hard for decades, vegans make their consumer voices heard and groups such as The Vegan Society talk non-stop to businesses like Pret. 

Shop with them for their vegan options if you choose, but don’t let greenwashing campaigns like this stop you from asking for more plant-based food and less animal suffering. Say thank you for the vegan stuff if you want but follow it up with a ‘you can do more’.

Use your vegan clout. Pret are obviously taking notice.

Extra note: this is not an attempt to shame people who shop at Pret for their vegan options. I do it sometimes when I am in London. Rather it is a post to acknowledge the latest news regarding the vegetarian pop up while asking people to realise we don’t have to stop saying ‘more vegan’ whenever someone throws a plant-based bone our way.

VBF-TWCover

Jobs in London

by

I truly appreciate the work carried out by Made in Hackney. The food justice charity is all about bringing vegan food knowledge, availability and expertise to people in low income, at risk and hard to reach situations.

If you haven’t heard about the project before, you need to get to their website to read about their outstanding work and book yourself in to one of their cooking classes. The money you pay will help Made in Hackney carry on with their vital support work.

If I have sold you on how fab they are, maybe you would also consider working with the group. There are currently two positions looking to be filled with Made in Hackney.

Here are the brief job descriptions lifted from the website.

1) Project Manager – Programmes

£28,000 pro rota – 28 hours/week (4 days)

This is an exciting role leading the key projects and operations at Made in Hackney. The successful candidate will work directly with two other Project Managers, a Project Coordinator (Public Health) a Finance Manager, a Venue Manager, freelance cookery teachers, apprentices and a large network of volunteers whom deliver Made In Hackney’s varied programme of cookery classes.

The ideal candidate will have experience working in a cross section of the social enterprise, charity and/or public sectors, as well as education and/or community health. They will be an experienced project manager, skilled at multi-tasking and will feel as comfortable presenting to a panel of Public Health professionals as getting stuck in with clearing out the compost bin or solving an IT problem. A detailed understanding of, and passion for the health and environmental issues underpinning Made In Hackney’s food policy (local, seasonal, organic, planet based) and mission is essential. Experience/knowledge of food growing and environmental issues preferred.

The experience of working at Made in Hackney is varied, unique and very rewarding.  There is no ‘typical’ day and we are looking for someone who is flexible to work out of the normal office working hours (for example at weekend market stalls etc.) There is plenty of room for the successful candidate to be creative and bring new ideas for developing existing programmes and activities.

2) Newly created vacancy for a Venue Manager 

£24,000 pro rota – 7 hours/week (1 day)

This is a newly created role responsible for organising the day to day kitchen venue and office space at Made in Hackney in Stoke Newington. The ideal candidate will have experience managing a community venue, project or kitchen, (eg. nursery, restaurant) taking client bookings and working in education and/or community health. They will be experienced project managers, skilled at multi-tasking and will feel as comfortable meeting potential new kitchen hire clients as getting stuck in with clearing out the compost bin or solving an IT problem.

The closing date for applying for these jobs is July 15, 2016. Click here to get more information on applying.

Yay for Made in Hackney!

VBF-TWCover

Gorgeous vegan cake in London

by

UPDATE

It has been brought to my attention that this person supplied these photos to me without explaining they did not take them and that they were not even of vegan food. Follow up post coming soon!

END UPDATE

Oh my Gaga!

There is a new vegan sweet treats company starting up in London and you people have got to take a look at this goodness.

stolen photos

Vegan Sweet Porn is a new pop market stall selling some of the finest-looking cake on the island. Can you even stand looking at that cookie shot glass?

You can follow Vegan Sweet Porn on Twitter and Instagram.

There is also some sort of major, super impressive launch party for these vegan cake heroes on July 10, 2016 so click here to get the lowdown.

VBF-TWCover

Nanabar

by

This is a super interesting idea for raising the profile of a new vegan food business.

Thunderclap.

nanabar

A person named Justin is currently drumming up interest in a new vegan project set to open in London. Justin is planning to launch a frozen banana dessert bar called Nanabar and wants to use social media to get word out about it.

The campaign involves asking people to register a social media account and on July 4, 2016 a message announcing the project will be sent simultaneously from all participating Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr accounts.

It’s a smart way of spreading the news of a new vegan business to hundreds of thousands of people all at once.

Click here to hear from Justin, sign up to help spread the word and be part of a unique promotional event for a new vegan venture.

VBF-TWCover

For art’s sake

by

How about flying your vegan flag proudly while at the same time supporting an amazing art show in London?

Check out these details sent in by Louise:

ANIMUS is an international group show exploring human treatment of other animals, as well as the vegan identity and what it means to see with ‘our’ eyes. The aim is to support animals hidden from the public gaze to be seen. Animals will feature in all works, and provide the overarching theme.

exhibition panel

We’re showing some of the most celebrated vegan artists, like Sue Coe (Graphic Artist/UK & US), Jo-anne McArthur (Photographer/Canada), Roger Olmos (Illustrator/Spain), and Amy Guidry (Surrealist Painter/US) whose painting Mother Nature is the featured image for this campaign and will be an exhibit. Also Philip McCulloch Downs (Painter/UK), Matthew Maran (Photographer/UK), and Jana Schirmer (Digital artist/Germany).

To celebrate this exhibition, we are hosting a magical evening at the Private View at Kabaret @ Karamel on Friday July 29, 2016 with speakers, a party later with DJs, and of course the chance to take in the exhibition itself, and mingle with fellow art lovers.

We’ll also be hosting representatives from our supporters: The Vegan Society, and Vegan Life magazine.

The official opening party for this groundbreaking exhibition – the first by Vegan artists- is entry by INVITATION ONLY – which you get when you contribute £10 (or more) to our crowd-funding campaign. A free glass of wine & nibbles are included! Click here to donate & secure your invitation.

We can’t wait for this exciting event and look forward to meeting you there!

Click here for the Facebook event for the launch party and even if you cannot attend, donate now to help this show happen!

south of france cruise

New vegan café in Camden this week!

by

London. You are truly becoming a spoilt brat.

Do you remember reading about the drama vegan café Buttercream  Dreams was experiencing in Croydon. You can read about it here, but the short story is owner Lauren needed new premises and was going to have to leave Croydon and mover her business to central London if she couldn’t find something suitable.

She couldn’t find a venue. Sorry Croydon.

Lauren is now set to open the Camden version of Buttercream Dreams  at 126 Camden Road from Thursday 9th June, 2016. Yes, THIS week!

11656169_10152956755228027_1322367847_o

Before the café opens just steps away from Camden Road train station this Thursday, I wanted to share some of their tasty food photos with you.

12799135_469607059911131_1333616060395537534_n 12991006_485574511647719_8407526487865513834_n 13241368_497103713828132_7532268987789668425_n 13241313_498237757048061_5834917584616646987_n 13260291_499486773589826_6402074128982677361_n

All of the above photos have been featured on the Buttercream Dreams Facebook page, which you should like NOW!

London, get along to support this new adventure for Lauren in Camden.

Croydon, all is not lost for you either.

Lauren has advised she will continue to keep doing a stall at the Surrey Street Market in Croydon and will keep looking for a suitable shop front. When she can find one, Buttercream Dreams will have two fabulous permanent locations.

VBF-TWCover

Vegan donut stall comes to London!

by

Do you want luscious donuts? Not baked donuts that are kinda OK and almost like the real thing, but rather fried donuts with irresistible frostings, glazes and toppings?

London, you need to get friendly with Peanut Butter Bakery.

Lauren runs this baking business out of her home and has just started trading every Saturday at the legendary Boiler House market on Brick Lane.

donut panels

How good do they look?

Like the Peanut Butter Bakery Facebook page to keep up with the latest news and get along to Brick Lane this weekend to buy a few delicious donuts.

lvbf bottom advert

Green coconuts

by

Do you know about Benny Buttons, London?

Everything sold by Benny Buttons is 100% vegan and the base for everything they make is fresh young green coconuts.

The food stall makes gluten free coconut and buckwheat flour pancakes with coconut salted caramel and raw chocolate as well as hot coconut water health teas in the winter and fresh coconuts with shots of ginger/turmeric, mint/parsley/coriander and pineapple.

Are you a fan of coconut delights? Get along to Benny Buttons at Brick Lane, Camden Lock West Yard and Broadway Market schoolyard.

Follow Benny Buttons on Twitter for latest news and locations.

lvbf bottom advert

 

Is this the only raw food truck in the UK?

by

Get raw vegan food. Every weekend. From a food truck!

That’s the fab news for London.

Not in London? Better news for you involves the truck hitting the road this summer!

Details below.

image[4]

Amrutha is a gorgeous-looking raw vegan food truck that not only has a recurring Sunday pitch in the Nomadic Community Gardens near Brick Lane, it is also being readied to travel the UK for a number of festivals throughout the summer.

Before I show you the food photos, I need to point you in the direction of the Amrutha website, their Facebook page, their pics on Instagram and of course Twitter.

Follow the vegan food business on one or all of those platforms to check out the menu and discover news of upcoming events, festivals, private catering opportunities and food preparation classes.

Now the food.

image image[1] image[2] image[3] image[5]

south of france cruise

Vegan diner-style food in Central London

by

Post by:

josh panel

Hold onto your hats people because this post will have you drooling! Mellissa Morgan, owner of fabulous London bakery Ms. Cupcake, recently shared a picture with me of her family dinner at Top Dog Soho. It all looked and sounded incredible… Fried Pickles, Chilli Cheese Fries, Smoked Tofu Dogs… and more! Check it out:

13321162_10154147898050030_1100040319_o

I headed straight over to the Top Dog Soho website where, to my delight, I discovered that they proudly have a dedicated vegan menu and boast that:

All of our vegan dishes are cooked separately including a dedicated fryer and special prep area so as to avoid any cross-contamination.

Hooray! This is the way to impress vegan customers! I can’t wait to get back to London and work my way through the menu.

Follow Top Dog Soho on Twitter and Instagram, like them on Facebook and visit their website.

lvbf bottom advert