London can you wait?

Time to step up for a vegan legend

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Vegans. This is your chance to use your compassionate shopping powers for good.

It is emergency time for legendary London vegan bakery, Ms. Cupcake.

As I mentioned a short while ago on my blog, the UK’s first 100% vegan bakery has decided to shut doors forever. If you missed it, you can read my emotional post online here.

Mellissa Morgan and the Ms. Cupcake business have been on the frontline of veganism for a decade and without her efforts, we would have experienced a very different march forward.

Mellissa pushed boundaries as an independent vegan business owner and showed just how much demand there was for plant based foods. Being inundated with vegan food in 2020 is thanks to pioneers just like Ms. Cupcake.

So they are shutting down, but there has been even more devastating news for the bakery and Mellissa just two weeks out from closing date.

The business was booked to appear at the huge Vegan Life Live show in London this weekend (March 14 and 15, 2020) but with last minute notice, the vegan mega show was cancelled due to concerns about large events contributing to the spread of coronavirus.

While this was obviously an extremely tough decision for the show organisers, this has left Mellissa and her vegan bakery holding thousands and thousands of pounds worth of extra stock that was destined to be sold at the show.

Mellissa told me:

We are desperately trying to close on a positive note, but the idea of all of these products going to waste is heart wrenching for the whole team who has been working so hard. Financially, it is quite disastrous for our small business.

Vegans, this is where we need to do one last act of support and compassion for someone who has done so much for us.

Go the the Ms. Cupcake website NOW and up until March 20, 2020 and order delicious vegan cakes and treats to be delivered to your home or office.

You can choose from four categories of sweetness:

  • Vegan tray bakes
  • Vegan cookie sandwiches
  • Vegan brownies
  • Vegan American-style cookies

Click here NOW to buy one last big bundle of vegan goodies from this legendary vegan business. Help them go out on a high and with a few less bills!

Buy treats for your home, your workplace, a neighbour, a loved one, someone you are trying to expose to veganism, and most importantly for yourself.

If we can join forces to send as much love and cash in the direction of the Ms. Cupcake bakery as possible, we might just be able to help them have a smile on their faces as the doors shut for the final time.

Order from the online store now or before March 20, 2020 for delivery in the UK or for collection in store.

If you can make it along to the shop in Brixton before it closes, please note they have extended their opening times to include Mondays. This means they will be open EVERY SINGLE DAY until March 29, 2020.

Come on, vegans. Let’s do this.

Let’s put a bit of effort into helping send this legendary vegan business out with a bang. Order cake, cookies, and tray bakes now.

Extra note: you can also order a signed copy of the best-selling Ms. Cupcake recipe book. Already got it? Click here to order another. They make great gifts.

Club Mexicana opening in Soho London

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On Monday March 23, 2020 Club Mexicana, the home of  Mexican and Californian inspired street food, is opening the doors to its very first restaurant.

Five years on from their street food beginnings, following a successful Hackney residency and the launch of The Spread Eagle (London’s first 100% vegan pub), founder Meriel Armitage and her team are beginning an exciting new chapter amidst the hustle and bustle of Soho.

Inspired by the street side taquerias of Los Angeles and Mexico City, Club Mexicana will dedicate itself to a concise menu of expertly-made tacos and small plates, designed to be enjoyed with a margarita (or two) in hand.

Guests can watch the open kitchen hard at work, as Meriel and her team slice into the star of the show: a sizzling vegan al pastor trompo (or spit) made in-house from seitan, smothered in Meriel’s homemade marinade with tropical favours from the fresh pineapple that sits on top of the spike.

The menu will feature cult favourites such as the beer battered Tofish Taco and the Cheezeburger Taco loaded up with ‘beef’ burger, red pepper queso, dill pickle and annatto mayo. New dishes will see the Al Pastor taco with shawarma style ‘pork’ from the trompo with charred pineapple, salsa verde, onion and coriander, and punched potatoes with chipotle mayo, spring onions and sea salt.

For those looking to feast, Club Mexicana will be slinging nachos, tostadas and its new Queso Flameado – essentially a Mexican fondue of gooey melted vegan cheese topped with spicy ‘chorizo’, ready to be dipped into.

There’s also a line-up of Club Mexicana’s much-loved burritos, including the Jackfruit carnitas burrito loaded with salsa verde, pink onions, pico de gallo, sour cream, salsa negra and chipotle oil.

For something sweet, guests will be invited to take their pick from blood orange granita with a hint of margarita, rich chocolate mousse or a deep-fried ice cream sandwich from Happy Endings.

To counter the heat, the bar will shake up a curated menu of cocktails, wines, and Mexican beers. Guests can grab a stool for chilled margaritas from East London drinks company black-lines and grapefruit Palomas poured on tap, or opt for a true taste of Mexico with something spicier like the beer-led CM Chelada and pickle juice-spiked Michelada. Club Mexicana’s favourite frozen margaritas, a collaboration with Square Root Soda, can be ordered in classic sour lime, pink hibiscus, or juicy agua fresca.

Interiors will be decorated with Club Mexicana’s signature tropical neon pink signs and bold colour-pop artwork. The stool-lined bar is the perfect spot for a cocktail and a quick bite, while tables and chairs that have been sourced from young emerging London-based producers and craftpeople will invite diners to keep those tacos coming. When the days get warmer, guests can also grab one of the outdoor tables to soak up the sunshine with tacos and a few chilled Mexican beers.

Meriel says, “We’re so excited to open our very first restaurant in the heart of Soho. We’re looking forward to doing what Club Mexicana does best – great vibes, lots of tacos and banging cocktails. We’ll be dishing up more tacos than ever before, as well as our biggest street food hits and favourite dishes. It’s going to be a lot of fun!”

“We are delighted to welcome Club Mexicana to Carnaby’s food hub, Kingly Court. The Mexican-Californian inspired vegan street food restaurant will enhance Carnaby’s ever-increasing, global dining offering,” says Shelley Webb, Head of Group Residential & Kingly Court.

Club Mexicana at Kingly Court will open on Monday March 23, 2020.

You can see the exact location of Kingly Court online thanks to Google Maps.

You can follow Club Mexicana on Instagram.

What The Pitta win major award

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This is fabulous news.

Not only did London vegan restaurant What The Pitta win a major award last night, they have exclusively told me they are set to open their fifth location in Manchester this year!

Too much awesome news.

First things first.

The British Kebab Awards were announced last night in London and the much-adored What The Pitta won Best Takeaway.

I am so thrilled for Roj and Cem. Their food is some of the best on the planet and they have worked seriously hard to make their business a success.

The Mayor of London was also on hand to help them celebrate.

I asked Cem to give me a quick statement on how they are feeling afer their huge win. This is what he said:

To win at the Kebab Awards is a huge statement for veganism and just how far it has come. We were laughed at when we decided to create London’s first exclusively vegan kebab shop more than three years ago and now we’ve taken centre stage with our vegan spin on the British classic kebab. We can’t adequately thank our fans and everyone who voted and supported us from the start.

I’m so happy for this vegan business.

Congratulations are over, but you also came for the new location announcement. Keep reading below.

During our conversation about their win, Cem also let slip a little bit of exciting news.

The fifth location for What The Pitta is set to open in Manchester during May 2020.

Yes, Manchester!

This northern location will be in addition to their Shoreditch, Camden, Croydon, and Brighton spots. I’ll report further details as they become available.

It feels like nothing can stop these vegan food heroes. Let’s eat with them often and keep it that way!

Please follow What The Pitta on Instagram.

Wulf & Lamb launches second restaurant

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After opening in Chelsea in 2017, Wulf & Lamb has been at the forefront of the plant-based casual dining scene in London, offering an array of vegan dishes including their greatly adored Chilli-non- Carne, Wulf Burger, and Cauliflower steak.

Wulf & lamb has been one of my favourite places to eat in the UK since they opened, so this news of a second location is certainly a cause for celebration.

The new location on Chiltern Street, Marylebone boasts 90 seats and will offer full table service, outdoor seating, and a bar with an exciting cocktail menu.

There will be a number of exciting new dishes added to the menu including Glazed Miso Aubergine, Bao, Artichoke Pesto Linguine, and Crème Brûlée developed by Head Chef Konstantinos Kotidis.

I’m so excited for this addition to the London food landscape.

Founder Philip Ryan said:

We are thrilled to be opening in Marylebone. Since we opened in Chelsea three years ago we have been delighted by the growing trend for plant-based eating. Our customers have fallen in love with our take on classic comfort foods including Mac-n-Cheese and Wulf Pie. For Marylebone we’ve added more dishes including starters, indulgent desserts, and a full cocktail and wine list.

Wulf & Lamb Marylebone will open to the public on Thursday February 27, 2020 from 7:30am – 10:30pm, 7 days a week.

You can see the exact location of the new Marylebone Wulf & Lamb online thanks to Google Maps.

You can make a reservation online here.

You can also follow Wulf & Lamb on Instagram.

Vegan friendly bar in Twickenham and Surbiton

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London and southeast people, did you know you have a chain of vegan-friendly bars/cafes that are also extremely dog-friendly?

Wags & Tales are located in both Surbiton and Twickenham.

My mate Kay got along to the Twickenham location recently and she was raving about the vegan options and just the entire vibe of the place.

Both venues are like typical bars but they also have separate menus for dogs, dog areas and water bowls, lots of vegan food options, and a lot of people raving about them online.

You and your canine friends should get along for cocktails, comfort food, and a very welcoming environment for everyone, especially those in your party with four legs.

Visit Wags & Tales online for locations and full menus.

Follow Wags & Tales on Instagram.

Legendary Ms Cupcake bakery to close

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This one hurts.

It has been just over 24 hours since the announcement was made, so the feelings are still fresh.

Legendary (I mean, really REALLY legendary) vegan bakery business Ms. Cupcake announced it is set to close in March 2020.

This is sad news but of course it is not completely surprising.

I talk with vegan business owners often and they are struggling. People want convenience and are willing to sacrifice independently owned vegan businesses to get it. It feels like our community is increasingly becoming a block of faceless consumers unable (or unwilling) to support small business.

This phenomenon already happened to non-vegan businesses, with many independent stores shuttering their doors over the past few decades.

Now it feels like it is veganism’s turn to lose our pioneering retailers and business owners to big ticket capitalism.

The Ms. Cupcake bakery in Brixton stayed open a lot longer than it should have thanks to owner and founder Mellissa Morgan and her ingenuity, talent, and compassion. The vegan retail scene changed drastically and radically, but Mellissa kept her head above water with savvy choices. Her cupcake distribution deal with Whole Foods Market stores was one of the first major deals of its kind for a vegan business in the UK.

If you want to know what hard work looks like, study the output of Ms. Cupcake.

Mellissa started her business with all-night baking marathons followed by all-day selling stints at outdoor markets. She turned the London vegan scene upside down with her delicious and inventive creations, giving us hope that a better future for animals was around the corner and it included cake.

The Ms. Cupcake business was born at a time when London was still a struggle for vegans. Seriously, if you were vegan ten years ago you will know exactly what I’m talking about.

Mellissa showed us that we could expect more as vegan consumers while she also inspired dozens and dozens of others to take a risk with vegan business.

Ms. Cupcake didn’t just open the door through which other superstar vegans businesses strolled. Mellissa’s bakery smashed the door off its hinges.

We suddenly had a world class vegan food business and is not dramatic to say it felt like a hopeful new dawn for London.

The opening of the physical bakery location in Brixton took things to another level.

People would come from all over the UK to visit the bakery. Remember, this was long before vegan cake options were even a thought for Costa or Tesco. Ms. Cupcake gave us a peek into a strange new world and we lost our collective shit over it.

People would even come straight from the airport with their luggage because of all the hype. They couldn’t wait.

Mellissa wasn’t just a clever and talented cake maker. She showed us you could do all of this and also do what was right for your community.

Because of her kindness, the Ms. Cupcake and Fat Gay Vegan stories are inextricably connected. Mellissa went above and beyond what most would do by allowing me to start my monthly London Vegan Potluck social event (and then host it for six months) in the space outside her shop.

Four years later, when London Vegan Potluck was coming to and end, Mellissa and her team showed up to our final event with a personalised cake to thank me for my contributions to the London vegan community.

When London was absolutely bereft of exciting vegan social events, Mellissa allowed me to host a vegan pizza party in her shop on two occasions. I was desperate to create social capital for vegans and Mellissa and her bakery team were on the frontline with me.

I was once in the pub a few doors down from the Ms. Cupcake bakery, indulging in a few afternoon beers, when a random local pub goer noticed I had a box of Ms. Cupcake goodies on my table. He told me that when violent protests erupted around London (including Brixton) during August 2011 following the death of Mark Duggan at the hands of police, Mellissa went into the streets and gave away cakes to protestors.

This local pub goer had tears in his eyes as he told me that nobody touched or went near Mellissa’s bakery during the violence because of her act of support, solidarity, and community strengthening. He said everyone around those parts saw her as a good person and a treasured member of their community.

Through the bakery, Mellissa gave many people their first ever vegan job. Her team evolved over the years, however Mellissa always kept a strong, dedicated, and well trained group of people by her side.

I’m even friends with some of her team members to this day!

Mellissa gave her time and expertise with grace and humility.

Following on from her groundbreaking and highly-influential recipe book (which you need to order online here), many people started copycat baking businesses around the UK.

When I would ask her about this, Mellissa would shrug and wish them well. She really just wanted vegan cake to be everywhere and understood that she had created a sugary monster that she couldn’t control, so instead she hoped for the best for all the people following in her footsteps.

If you attended community events and vegan fairs in the early days, Mellissa could be found giving up her precious time and expertise for cooking demonstrations, panel discussions, and personal appearances. She worked as hard on building our vegan scene as she did on her own business.

At a time when we were all scrambling to build a vegan movement that would put compassion into the mainstream, Mellissa was ahead of the game with a world class product and an unwavering smile on her face.

I would never be able to overstate how important her role was in making veganism the unstoppable social and commercial concern it is now.

Mellissa might very well be the most important vegan business person that London has ever known. She is the original. Vegan Nights. Temple of Seitan. Hackney Downs Vegan Market. We all followed.

We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Ms. Cupcake.

Extra note: I think you should all follow Ms. Cupcake on Instagram. Something tells me that she will be back with vegan goodness in some form before we know it.

Extra extra note: for goodness sake, buy her cookbook online NOW. Let’s send Mellissa out with a bang.

Temple of Seitan opening in the heart of Camden

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Temple of Seitan just doesn’t quit with the news.

Recently we heard about how the legendary London comfort food business made a huge distribution deal with a chain of pubs (I was happy and sad – read about that online here).

Now we have news this week of Temple of Seitan opening a new location on Parkway, smack bang in the heart of Camden. Vegan fried chicken for the win in Camden!

The new location replaces the Camley Street outlet (which recently closed) and keeps their number of London restaurants at two when you count the original Hackney Central joint.

The new Camden Temple of Seitan is opening on Thursday February 20, 2020 in the old Purezza vegan pizza restaurant location.

Purezza recently relocated to the space next door (keep up, people!) which you can read about online here. It is now three times the size it used to be.

Yay for Temple of Seitan and their new Camden digs. You can see the exact location thanks to Google Maps.

You can follow Temple of Seitan on Instagram.

Vegan food hub opens in Kings Cross London

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Need evidence of how far vegan food has come?

I almost can’t believe it!

Plant Based Pit Stop is a retail hub featuring four different vegan food traders. Kinda cool, right?

Well, that is only half of it.

Plant Based Pit Stop is located directly in front of the Kings Cross Underground entrance!

The four businesses housed inside the hub are:

Vida Bakery – famous for tasty cakes and LOTS of colour. They are gluten free, too.

Mother.Works – coffee, juice, and grab and go food specialists.

Palm Greens – salads and healthy bowl experts.

Pipoca – this vegan crepes business rounds out the line up.

Isn’t this incredible? It is wonderful knowing that thousands and thousands of commuters and tourists will pass these vegan businesses every single day of the week.

Stay updated on Plant Based Pit Stop by following the hub on Instagram.

Bottomless vegan brunch in London

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No matter if your Valentine’s Day is going great or less than desirable, this news is guaranteed to make it better.

Superstar purveyors of plant-based comfort food Young Vegans are launching a bottomless vegan brunch at their pizza restaurant in Bethnal Green, London!

What is a bottomless brunch?

Don’t worry, you get to keep your pants on. Bottomless brunch means you get to drink and eat as much as you can/want from a selected menu for a set amount of time.

The Young Vegans bottomless brunch features unlimited pizza AND unlimited Prosecco or beer for 90 minutes for a flat rate of £30 per person!

The bottomless brunch is available only via advanced bookings on the Young Vegans Pizza Shop website or Open Table for times between midday and 5pm every Sunday, starting on Sunday February 16, 2020.

Some of the rules for the bottomless brunch:

  • You must eat everything (no leftovers/takeaway)
  • Doesn’t include any side dishes
  • Only one pizza at a time per two people

I love the sound of this bottomless brunch!

The drink menu also features organic wines and cocktails (such as a gorgeous Bloody Mary), Aperol Spritz, gin and tonic, and their special Hackney Mule for extra cost. The beers are from Hackney Brewery, which brews just 15 minutes from the restaurant.

Click here to book your bottomless brunch.

Follow Young Vegans Pizza Shop on Instagram and Twitter.

Vegan business nominated for UK award

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I love a success story, especially when it comes to vegan businesses.

What The Pitta is one of the true runaway success stories of the London vegan food scene.

Cem and Roj crash landed on the Shoreditch landscape a few years ago with their peerless doner kebabs and have gone from strength to strength ever since. The fast food heroes now have What The Pitta locations in Shoreditch, Camden, Croydon, and Brighton.

What The Pitta is one of the finest places on the planet if you are interested in vegan comfort food. Their kebabs and chip boxes are simply legendary.

And it isn’t just us vegans that think they deserve recognition.

What The Pitta have been nominated in the Best Takeaway in London category in the 2020 British Kebab Awards.

Yes!

The vegan chain is the ONLY vegan business nominated across a huge line up of possible winners.

We need to combine out vegan super powers and make sure they win their category. Click here to vote for What The Pitta.

Visit What The Pitta online to see their menu and location details and be sure to follow them on Instagram.