A visitor’s view of the vegan market

It is always satisfying to see people enjoying Hackney Downs Vegan Market.

The traders put in so much effort into their products, Josh and I work overtime to make sure everything running smoothly, and our market manager Robertas is the star who pulls all the pieces together each Saturday.

We all work hard so our visitors leave with a smile.

Just like Club Mexicana did this past Saturday!

When they aren’t being legends with their own vegan businesses (such as running the kitchen at The Spread Eagle vegan pub), Club Mexicana love to openly support other vegan traders via their Instagram page.

You can see all of their photos from their market visit below.

You really should follow Club Mexicana on Instagram just for their Stories alone. They get up to so many cool vegan adventures.

EXTRA NOTE: There will be NO Hackney Downs Vegan Market on Saturday July 14, 2018 due to us hosting London Vegan Beer Fest on site that day. In a full circle moment, Club Mexicana will be one of our food traders at the beer fest! Click here to buy early bird tickets.

UK vegan music festival

Is this a UK first?

The organisers of Vegstock reached out to me in order to ask me to share this information with you:

There are many fabulous vegan festivals around the UK but very few vegan music festivals, so Vegstock was born! The first Vegstock will take place Sunday 16th September, 2018 at the fab music venue The Piano Works in Farringdon, London. We have a full afternoon and evening of vegan bands lined up, alongside some great vegan food and clothing vendors. The event is in aid of Open Cages who are an organisation trying to make this a better and happier world for factory farmed animals.

I really haven’t seen many all-vegan band line ups in the UK, so this is great news.

Band scheduled to perform on the day include:

  • Rudy Warman & The Heavy Weather
  • Queen V
  • RIIVER
  • Tokyo Taboo
  • Platypus
  • Juha
  • Harry Munk
  • spyplane
  • Tally Spear
  • Eden & The Aftermath
  • The Fleas
  • Amorie

Food vendors will include Vegan Sweet Tooth London, Shakey Shakey Vegan, Sheila’s Kitchen, and more to be announced.

Early bird tickets for just £5 plus booking fee are available by clicking here now and you can RSVP and invite friends over on the Facebook event page.

London vegan café keeps impressing

I’m not trying to be provocative or dramatic, but I truly think TEMPLE GOODS of Hackney is heralding in a new era of vegan food for London.

They keep getting better by the day and have raised the bar like nobody else.

The café (located on site at Hackney Downs Studios) is now open 7-days a week and is serving all day brunch on the weekend, exclusive weekly specials, decadent cakes, coffee, and some of the most inventive plant-based cuisine you can find anywhere on the planet.

And you know it is run owned and operated by the Temple of Seitan team, right?!

The Chick’n Club sandwich featuring their RIDICULOUS vegan bacon and egg is next level. I’m shocked (in a good way) by the quality of the cuisine being served up daily inside TEMPLE GOODS.

Check out some of the photos below including noodle salad, the brunch plate starring the realest non-egg you will see, and the aforementioned club sandwich.

Doesn’t it look gorgeous?

Follow TEMPLE GOODS on Instagram to stay updated with all the latest food photos and be sure to get along soon to try it for yourself.

Remember, the café is on site where we host Hackney Downs Vegan Market every Saturday so you can combine a trip to the market with a visit to TEMPLE GOODS.

The café is also one of our locations for London Vegan Beer Fest on Saturday July 14, 2018. TEMPLE GOODS will be transforming into a beer hall for the day with specials such as bratwurst and pretzels. They will only be serving customers with London Vegan Beer Fest tickets so be sure to book your early bird tickets right now.

Brewery line up for London Vegan Beer Fest

London Vegan Beer Fest is less than three weeks ago so it is the perfect time to tell you about the AMAZING brewery line up we have for the event on Saturday July 14, 2018.

We have the following:

On top of all of this, Temple of Seitan will be running an indoor beer and food hall.

It’s almost TOO MUCH. You can see the food trader line up online here.

I will be publishing the full beer list as we get closer to the date.

Click here now to buy your cheap early bird tickets for just £5 plus small booking fee. If we have any left on the day, they will be £9.

You can also buy the official London Vegan Beer Fest t-shirt online now. These will not be sold at the event. They are a web exclusive.

RSVP and invite friends over on the Facebook event page.

Street food at London Vegan Beer Fest

With less than three weeks until the 6th annual London Vegan Beer Fest, we are locking in traders and that includes some of the best vegan street food in the city.

Not only will you be able to guzzle thirst-quenching beers from all over the UK, you’ll be able to fill your belly with cuisine from these amazing traders:

  • Club Mexicana – superstar Mexican food stall serving burritos, nachos and more
  • Battered – this famous vegan fish and chip truck is PERFECT for the beer fest
  • Arancini Brothers – crunchy risotto balls and burgers from this vegan restaurant chain
  • Young Vegans – what would a beer event be without pie and mash?
  • World O’ Burger – fast food style burgers and sides to rival any takeaway joint
  • Vegan Delice – decadent cakes and tray bakes to represent sugar lover on the day
  • Dough Society – world-famous vegan donut shop with all your glazed needs
  • Black Milq Ice Cream – gourmet vegan ice cream with glorious toppings

In addition to the above, you will be able to experience the following:

  • Temple of Seitan – in their on site vegan café TEMPLE GOODS, these true food heroes will be running an exclusive indoor beer and food hall ONLY for London Vegan Beer Fest ticket holders. This is going to be INCREDIBLE with mammoth menu specials you do not want to miss
  • Follow Your Heart – our fabulous event sponsors will be on hand cooking up samples in order to showcase their products
  • Brass Castle – the legendary Yorkshire brewery will be hosting heir GIANT indoor beer hall
  • Charioke (charity + karaoke) – our famous karaoke performance room is back for laughs and high drama (we will be collecting coins and notes for Mexico City water charity Isla Urbana)
  • Face painting – Moon Castle will be available to decorate your face (what could possibly go wrong with drunk adults and face painting)
  • Outdoor beer market with breweries from all over the UK, pouring their own brews so you can meet the makers!

Early bird advance tickets are just £5 plus tiny booking fee. Click here to buy them now.

Our official London Vegan Beer Fest t-shirts are only available online this year. You cannot buy them at the event. Click here to order in advance so you can wear it on the day!

You can RSVP and invite friends over on the London Vegan Beer Fest Facebook event page.

World Cup and vegan street food

Are you interested in watching the England/Belgium World Cup game AND eating vegan street food at the same time?

Yes? Well, I have some good news for you!

Hackney Downs Studios is the location where I host Hackney Downs Vegan Market and London Vegan Beer Fest.

Each year, the Studios host a massive open day event and this year’s celebration is coming up on Thursday June 28, 2018.

But what is so special about this Open Studios event and why should you care?

Let me list the fun attractions:

  • jewellery workshops
  • weaving demonstrations
  • digital and interactive experimentations
  • life drawing
  • talks
  • exclusive sample sales
  • film screenings
  • installations
  • live music and comedy
  • food, drinks and dancing

PLUS, the Studios will be screening the England vs Belgium World Cup game on screens around the site so you don’t need to miss out on your sports if you are that way inclined.

I was asked asked to curate some food options for the evening (which runs from 6pm until 10pm) and you are going to adore this list of vegan traders who will be there at the Open Studios event:

PLUS Temple of Seitan will be running a vegan BBQ out of their on site cafe Temple Goods. (Please note that there might be some non-vegan traders on site but we definitely have these 6 traders for you who are all 100% vegan)

This is a huge party that comes around only once a year. It has it all. Food. Drinks. Music. Football. BBQ.

You can RSVP to the Facebook event here (where you can also see the itinerary) and claim your FREE TICKET by clicking here.

Yes, that’s right. You can get a free ticket but you need to book it now.

Zero waste vegan market for London

London will soon welcome its first ever vegan, zero waste market.

Set to take place between 10:00am and 5:00pm on Saturday September 29, 2018 at the beautiful palm tree filled Conservatory (at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, Kensington), Zero Mkt London will involve zero animal products, zero single-use plastics and zero waste. Everything will be edible, reusable, recyclable or compostable. Guests will have an array of stalls to explore, ranging from vegan food and drink, eco lifestyle products, and sustainable clothing items.

Abigail Penny and James Morgan – founders of the market – describe this as a “celebration, where together we can bask in plant-based goodness, explore sustainable products, and begin to live more consciously”.

When asked what inspired them to set up the event, they added: “As consumers we can choose to have a positive impact on this world. We’re on a journey of discovery ourselves and want to share our experience with others. Animal agriculture, non-recyclable plastics, and throwaway fashion each have devastating impacts on our environment, so we hope that by bringing exciting alternatives to our community we can empower and equip others to change their habits and perspectives too!”

Zero Mkt London has partnered with City Harvest who will redistribute surplus food to London’s homeless community and any profit will be donated to Animal Equality, a leading animal protection organisation.

Zero Mkt London founders recognise that many stallholders will need to travel to the venue, so they will be planting trees as part of a carbon offsetting mission.

Visit EventBrite to buy your ticket online here.

Stallholders will be announced nearer the time – keep an eye out and follow the handle Zero Market London on Instagram and Facebook.

Vegan rib dinner in London

OK, London.

You will need to be fast for this event. Last time Dee’s Table hosted their vegan rib feast at 10 Cable Street, it completely sold out.

The food looks stunning!

Menu

  • Jackfruit Ribs
  • Ginger Beer BBQ Sauce
  • Mac & Cheese with Thyme Bread Crumb
  • Smokey Homemade BBQ Beans
  • Roasted Squash Hominy Cornbread
  • Whole roasted potatoes
  • Corn on the cob
  • And Salads

Dessert to share

  • Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Pizookie
  • Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Salted Caramel Sauce

If you can say no to all of the above, you are a stronger person than FGV.

The Ultimate Vegan Ribs Feast event is talking place on Thursday June 21, 2018 from 7:00pm until 10:00pm.

Click here to book now before it sells out.

Follow Dee’s Table on Instagram and while you are over there, follow 10 Cable Street as well.

Vegan cooking classes for children

My friends Nishma and Mahersh (of Shambhu’s catering) are once again running a week of vegan cooking classes for children in Queensbury, London!

This is a hands-on cooking course intended to teach children (8-13 years of age) how to cook a variety of delicious healthy meals using only plant-based ingredients (no meat, fish, eggs and dairy).

By participating on this course, children will pick up a variety of cooking skills and food-related knowledge, including nutrition. They’ll also learn about the wide variety of nutritious pulses and grains available, alternatives ways of sweetening foods, how to cook with tofu, how to store food and reduce food waste, and much more.

As part of the hands-on nature of the course, children will learn to use basic cooking utensils and appliances, under close supervision.

Over the five days, the children get a taste of different culinary styles from around the world, with each day dedicated to the style of a particular country or continental region.

The classes will run between 10:00am and 12:30 from Monday August 6, 2018 until Friday August 10, 2018. That’s a two and a half hour cooking class for five days in a row!

The cost for each attendee is £135.

To find out more and book a spot, visit this page online.

Painting with chocolate edible art experience

RAW Lab‘s resident chocolatiers The Well-Bean Company (who also trade at Hackney Downs Vegan Market) are premiering their painting with chocolate experience and it sounds AWESOME.

It is time to get creative by making masterpieces for the eyes and the mouth!

The class boasts a relaxed vibe where the only rule is to enjoy experimenting with edible art. You will have full reign over your masterpieces and can be as creative as you wish. The prize at the end of the evening is taking home your delicious, all-chocolate canvas.

Whether you have never picked up a paintbrush or you’re the next Monet, Charlie at The Well-Bean Company promises this experience can be enjoyed by all.

  • What: Painting with chocolate – the edible art experience
  • When: 7 June 2018 7pm- 10pm
  • Where: The Well-Bean Company, RAW Labs, Hudson Way, London E16 2QP
  • Price per ticket: Special launch offer £24
  • What’s included: All the painting tools and equipment, chocolate for painting (and eating) and a welcome drink

Click here to book your ticket now.

Follow The Well-Bean Company on Instagram.