London can you wait?

Life after Saf

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If you have walked past the empty interior of Saf inside Whole Foods Market Kensington this week, you would not have been able to miss the following sign.

Sign of things to come
Sign of things to come

I got a little bit excited by this visual announcement, dreaming of the possibilities. Could it be a vegan bakery? Or a Mexican counter?

I asked a Whole Foods team member to explain all, but the only information I could squeeze out of them was that the space is set to be home to a pasta bar. No details were given on how vegan-friendly the options will be.

I’ll keep you updated as the details roll in. In the meantime, take a moment to remember one of the finest vegan eateries to ever grace the capital. RIP Saf.

Post Saf

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We are living in a post-Saf Restaurant & Bar world. It is a tough fact to face, but it’s the truth. London lost one of its finest vegan eateries and London Vegan Drinks lost a dependable source of pre-drinking dinner.

Attendees to London Vegan Drinks will now need to turn to Whole Foods Market and its food providers for sustenance. Here is what you can look forward to eating during the February event.

  • vegan pizza with vegan cheese
  • vegetable quesadillas without cheese or sour cream
  • veggie burger & chips without cheese (these are not cooked on shared grill or deep fryer)
  • jacket potato without cheese
  • vegan beer, vegan wine, vegan cider

As for the WOK station counter, they will have the following vegan options:

  • Tofu with peanut sauce (Sweet Chilli Sauce, Peanut Butter, Gluten Free Soy Sauce, Lemon Juice, Water and Rice Vinegar)
  • Broccoli (seasoning with Gluten Free soy Sauce, Rice Vinegar, Cooking Sake, Sugar, Sichuan peppercorn and Dried Red Chilli Peppers)
  • Courgette (seasoning with Gluten Free soy Sauce, Rice Vinegar, Cooking Sake, Sugar, Sichuan peppercorn and Dried Red Chilli Peppers)
  • Aubergine with hoisin sauce (soybeans, sugar, water, salt,  vinegar, garlic)
  • Mixed vegetables (bean sprout, carrots, sweet corns and edamame)

Not a bad eating line up at all, right?!

See you at London Vegan Drinks this Thursday.

Italian comfort dinner

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You all know my friend Sara runs vegan supper clubs and is hired as a private chef, right? So you will also know everything is inspired by her Italian heritage and is 100% vegan, yes?

Check out her upcoming Italian Comfort Food supper club taking place on Thursday February 20, 2014. The menu sound ridiculously amazing. The only excuse you have for not being at the dinner is that you will be with me at London Vegan Drinks instead. You must choose. Choose now!

Check out the menu for Sara’s dinner:

STARTER * Farinata * – baked chickpea pancake with red onions served with handmade vegan mayo and homemade Focaccia

MAIN COURSE * Handmade Italian Flag Tagliatelle with Porcini mushroom sauce * – red, white and green coloured tagliatelle handmade with spinach and beetroot home-squeezed juice served with homemade tomato and Porcini sauce

SECOND COURSE * Homemade Beetroot Burger * – served with vegan Stroganoff sauce 

DESSERT * Caramel Tiramisù * – vegan caramel Tiramisù

Amazing! You can book tickets online.

 

Look of love

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Are you one of those people that likes to mark Valentine’s Day with a special meal and a bottle of wine? That task becomes all the more difficult when you throw being vegan into the mix, right?

You can stay home and challenge yourself to create a fancy meal or you can head into the wilds of London looking for a vegan dinner amongst a sea of carnivorous eating options.

Recently-closed Saf was set to host a gorgeous dinner on February 14th, but you clearly can’t count on that option. So let’s help each other out. Jump into the comments section below to sound off about the best London location for a romantic vegan meal this Friday.

I am half the world away in Mexico but I would like to get the ball rolling by suggesting tibits on Heddon Street in Mayfair. This vegetarian restaurant used to be home to London Vegan Drinks and is a favourite of vegans and their friends.

Sietta & tibits
Sietta & tibits

On Friday February 14th, tibits will be transforming their food boat (where all the food is held) into a vegan wonderland. They are removing all non-vegan items for the day so your romantic meal can be cruelty-free. People who like to drink will also be happy with a selection of vegan beers, wines and cocktails (make sure you ask for vegan wine options to be pointed out).

That’s my tip for Valentine’s Day 2014. Now I want to hear yours!

Closed in Kentish Town

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First it was Mella Cafe, then it was Saf Restaurant and Bar. Now a vegan friendly restaurant and coffee house in north London has also disappeared.

If you ever got the opportunity to dine at Muya Ethiopian Restaurant, you undoubtedly loved their cuisine. It was irresistible. It wasn’t a vegetarian restaurant but they had a separate vegan menu that was unrivalled in the capital.

But they have closed and London vegans are the poorer for the loss.

Closed
Closed

The vegan menu featured delicious traditional Ethiopian stews packed with vegetables and spices, served with a seemingly never-ending supply of injera. A vegetarian platter was always more than enough to fill us up and truth be told, we often struggled to finish.

I phoned the number listed on the Muya website and a recorded message instructs callers to keep checking the website and Facebook page for updates on where the company will show up again. I hope they resurface soon.

Did you ever eat at Muya? Share your memories below.

 

Try your potluck

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London Vegan Potluck is legendary.

When I started this food event back in May 2011, I never thought it would become the runaway success it has. On the first Wednesday of every month, up to 100 vegans and vegan curious people converge on our Holborn location to share homemade food.

It has been a true thrill to watch the potluck grow from its humble beginnings of just 20 people inside Brixton market to the huge crowds it now attracts. We have enjoyed a record attendance of 110 people while most potluck nights come in around the 80 mark.

London Vegan Potluck gives attendees a chance to show off their culinary skills and learn from others. A strength of the event is the friendly competition that has sprung up, encouraging people to come up with inventive, tasty and unique meal ideas. It encourages and inspires potluckers.

The potluck is also a safe and friendly space for new or potential vegans to investigate plant-based eating. Long term vegans and newbies interact, share recipes and give each other tips on how to make the best vegan food they can.

The following photos were taken at the February 2014 London Vegan Potluck. These dishes were just a sliver of the amazing range of food being shared.

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Tiramisu

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Vegan tiramisu

Cookies & Scream in Camden isn’t just one of the best bakeries in the UK. I’d put my money on it being one of the finest on the planet.

This point of view was only strengthened today by my discovery of their new tiramisu creation. I was gobsmacked. The pie filling was decadent, gooey and delicious, while the cream topping was second to none.

Buy this pie.

You can follow me on Instagram for more photos on the go.

London Vegan Breakfast Club

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**MAJOR UPDATE**

I wanted to tell you that all attendees at London Vegan Breakfast Club will receive a 10% off voucher to be used on the day in nearby vegan boutique Vx. Follow Vx on Twitter.

Also, attendees will be served Mirabilia Organic Olive Leaf Tea and will get a free sample pack to take home. Follow Mirabilia on Twitter.

Your meal (if you attend) will include sausages by Fry’s Vegetarian, tofu by Soyfoods and organic baked beans by Mr Organic.

**MAJOR UPDATE END**

I like to create situations where people can eat a lot of tasty vegan food. It’s my thing.

So get ready for the next BIG vegan food event, London.

lvbc copy

At 10am on Saturday 22nd February, 2014, I will be joined in central London by 40 hungry breakfast fanatics for a mouthwatering vegan fry up like no other.

I have teamed up with my friends Shambhu’s Vegan Catering to craft a community event set in an open plan kitchen and canteen just minutes on foot from bustling King’s Cross Station. This is more than just a breakfast. It is a chance to socialise with London vegans while enjoying a decadent meal crafted by one of the leading vegan catering companies in the UK.

So what’s on the menu?

Your breakfast plate will feature:

–  Succulent vegan sausages
– Scrambled tofu (Shambhu’s style) made with organic tofu
– Organic baked beans (delicately enhanced with secret spices)
– Irresistible garlic mushrooms
– Decadent fried wholemeal bread
– Crunchy hash browns
– Wilted spinach & cherry tomato warmed slightly

In addition to this scrumptious serving, you will be able to drink fairtrade or organic tea (breakfast, rooibos or green) and coffee to your heart’s content. Not a hot drink fan? Orange juice will be available by the jug, too.

This is going to be an extremely popular event so please don’t hesitate with booking. There are no hidden fees. Tickets just £15 and that includes your food and any drinks you want.

Book now!

Join the Fat Gay Vegan email subscriber list to be the first to know of upcoming events.

Contact me for child tickets

Saf set to close

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I would like to offer you the choice of hearing the good news or the bad news first, but to be honest I only have devastating news.

I am decidedly depressed to break the news that Saf Restaurant & Bar located in Whole Foods Market Kensington is set to close forever.

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Shut it down

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Remember how I raved about Mella Cafe on Oxford Street? I was so excited to share news of a completely vegan eatery serving up tasty, healthy food in the centre of the capital.

Well, there is some sad news to be shared. I just received the following message from Lynda via Facebook:

“I’m working in Berners St from today so I went along to Mella just now (for the first time – very excited) and it was all boarded up down there. The Bureau de Change man said yesterday was their last day and the landlord came to see the owner. He doesn’t know what was said, but that was that.”

Mella
Mella

Thanks to Lynda for the heads up but this is such a shame. I would love to know what happened and if the people behind Mella plan on resurfacing elsewhere. Anybody know?

You gotta support vegan businesses, people!