London Vegan Events

Celebrate anniversary of a London vegan Landmark

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How time flies when you are having fun being compassionate!

The legendary London vegan pub The Spread Eagle is getting ready to celebrate its two year anniversary.

The birthday party for the vegan pub is taking place on Saturday January 25, 2020 between 9pm and 2am.

Facts you should now:

  • Onsite food experts Club Mexicana (who run the regular kitchen at the pub) will be serving
  • Spread Eagle will be handing out 50 free margherita shots (be early)
  • The event is FREE ENTRY
  • A DJ will be spinning fab tunes

See the exact location of The Spread Eagle in Homerton thanks to Google Maps.

If you can’t get along for the birthday party, be sure to follow them on Instagram and visit ASAP.

French vegan patisserie masterclass in London

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London, here is your opportunity to take part in a super fancy and super exclusive masterclass led by one of the leading vegan patisserie chefs on the planet.

I’ll show you how to make exquisite plant-based versions of festive French patisserie classics that will wow your guests during the festive season. – Clarisse Flon (specialist vegan patisserie chef, food consultant and photographer)

Grab a ticket and get along to the Made in Hackney kitchen on Saturday December 12, 2019 between 10am and 5:30pm for this rare learning (and eating!) opportunity.

This Masterclass is part of the Made in Hackney ‘VIP Series’, working with experts who are renowned in their field.

The class will include:

  • How to make a show-stopping Pear and Chocolate Genoise Yule log
  • Make an exquisite chocolate cream patissiere and chocolate buttercream
  • Learn to make gorgeous iced sablé Christmas biscuits
  • Rolling and setting techniques
  • Piping skills
  • How to make stunning chocolate décor and caramel shard decorations
  • Learn how to enhance flavours, and how to pair textures and tastes
  • A delicious organic plant based lunch, and take home recipe pack
  • 15% discount in neighbouring wholefoods shop, Food for All

Clarisse Flon is a specialist vegan patisserie chef trained in classic French patisserie. Clarisse has worked in many fine dining establishments around the world while developing plant based versions of her traditional recipes.

She launched The Sunny Spoon in 2013 (a French vegan patisserie bakery featured many times at Hackney Downs Vegan Market) and helped launch Cafe Forty One, a vegan restaurant in La Suite West hotel in Notting Hill. Clarisse now works as a food consultant and photographer, developing vegan options and recipes for businesses.

Fee: £160 (£118 Concession) includes delicious tastings and a recipe pack.

This fee is used to fund the Made in Hackney programme of free courses to vulnerable and low-income community groups. By attending a Made In Hackney masterclass you get a great day of learning AND you’re providing the charity with essential funds for them to continue their work with vulnerable community groups.

Click here to read more and book a ticket.

Fundraiser dinner with Animal Equality in London

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Hey London!

You can join Animal Equality at their Festive Fundraiser on Tuesday December 3, 2019 for an evening that promises to be packed full of merriment.

Entertainment at the Central London event (near Farringdon) will feature the always inspiring Christopher Sebastian and the hilarious Carl Donnelly. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to see them in action, then you definitely don’t want to miss this event.

You’ll also hear about the incredible work that Animal Equality has been able to carry out this year thanks to the generosity of their wonderful supporters, as well as enjoy a delicious plant-based, three-course meal and help the charity raise funds through a raffle.

The ticket price also includes a welcome drink and wine with the meal.

Entertainment

Speaker – Christopher Sebastian

Christopher Sebastian is the director of social media for Peace Advocacy Network, he sits on the Advisory Council for Encompass, he is senior editor at Vine Sanctuary Press, he is co-founder of VGN, and he lectures at Columbia University in the Department of Social Work for the graduate course POP: Power, Oppression, and Privilege. He primarily focuses on animal violence and how it influences anti-black racism, queer antagonism and class discrimination throughout the global west.

Comedy – Carl Donnelly

Carl has been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award twice and has appeared on various TV shows including Mock the Week and Russell Howard’s Good News. He is a regular on the international comedy circuit, performing at pretty much every comedy festival there is!

Animal Equality look forward to seeing you next week. Click here to book tickets.

Extra note: The event space is accessible and Signing can be arranged on request.

Return of Hackney Downs Festive Vegan Market

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It is back!

The original London vegan market, Hackney Downs Vegan Market, is back for one day only in festive form on Saturday December 14, 2019.

This festive market has become an annual tradition for vegans, the vegan-curious, and our friends from all across London. Our traders help us showcase the best plant-based street food in the capital and there are always plenty of cheeses and gifts, ensuring quality shopping.

Traders on the day include:

Vegan cheese and pantry

  • Kinda Co. – a London favourite when it comes to cheeses, they will be selling cheese boards for your Xmas table
  • New Roots – Vegan Cheese – one of the most innovative vegan cheese companies out there at the moment with spectacular products
  • Vegan Cartel – need vegan bacon? They have it for you in take home packs
  • Plant Based Artisan – the original and the best gourmet vegan honey alternative

Hot food

Cakes

  • Vegan Delice – one of the original Hackney Downs Vegan Market traders and our resident queen of cake

Gifts

Beer

  • All Good Beer – beer to help make your Xmas market experience even better!

Whether you are stocking up for Christmas or just coming along to eat your fill on the day, Hackney Downs Festive Vegan Market is the place to be.

The market will run between 11am and 5pm.

You can see the exact location of the festive market online thanks to Google Maps and be sure to invite your friends using the Facebook event.

Top ten things to see at VegFestUK London

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It is that time of the year.

London Olympia is transforming into the UK’s biggest vegan lifestyle show once again over the weekend of Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October, 2019.

VegFestUK London will feature new products, cooking demos, informative talks, a food court, and opportunities to mix with thousands of other vegans and vegan-curious people.

To celebrate the 2019 outing of VegFestUK London, I’ve picked my top ten reasons why you should go.

Check them out below:

Ananda’s Marshmallows – Stall Number WM9: Ananda’s is famous for their vegan versions of Wagon Wheels, the much-loved sweet treat featuring marshmallow fluff sandwiched between to soft cookie discs. They call their version the Round Up. This weekend you can buy three for the price of two across the entire range.

LGBT Vegan Socials with FGV – Natural Therapy Zone Level 2: Yes, I’m singing the praises of my own social event. These two one-hour sessions are nothing more than an organised space where LGBTQ+ vegans and our allies can get together and meet each other. Just chat informally! There will also be cupcakes to eat.

Arancini Brothers – Stall Number CAT16: I shouldn’t need to tell you but Arancini Brothers make some of the finest vegan comfort food on the planet. Their savoury risotto balls are heavenly and I highly recommend you make their stand part of your weekend eating plans.

DÁPPA – Stall Number CAT1: Soft serve ice cream, anyone? I’ve eaten quite a bit of vegan soft serve ice cream around the world and these people make some of the best I’ve tried. They always are on top of their game when it comes to toppings as well. Be early for this because they will be BUSY.

Vegan Culinary Cruises – Stall Number QA5: You can come along to this stand to learn all about upcoming luxury vegan cruises taking place in Cambodia/Vietnam and the South of France but more importantly, it is where I will be based most of the weekend. Please come and say hello to me!

Follow Your Heart – Stall Number CB4: A must visit at any vegan show, FYH will be showcasing their incredible cheeses and salad dressings. Their legendary vegan mayonnaise, Vegenaise, is what I consider the best vegan product on the planet. Grab a jar or two!

Made In Hackney – Stall Number ME1: Made in Hackney is the amazing community kitchen project hosting out of this world vegan masterclasses. Money raised from these events helps run cooking and meal planning classes for at risk and low income members of our community. Stop by to learn about the charity and you can even grab a discount code to use against one of their future masterclasses.

Moo Free Chocolates – Stall Number CK4: This company is still one of my favourites of all time. I simply cannot get enough of their ‘hunnycomb’ variety. It is milk chocolate without the milk. Cows are friends!

Mouse’s Favourite – Stall Number WL3: You need to get along to this cheese stall early if you want the best pick. They will sell quickly. I especially recommend their camembert as it is one of the finest I have ever enjoyed.

Workers Playtime – Stall Number U16: Fabulous vegan shoe brand making their VegFestUK debut. Try and buy from two of their most popular styles plus check out what else is on the horizon. Stylish and ethical footwear.

Choosing a top ten was tough. Rest assured there is a lot more for you to discover at VegFestUK London this weekend.

Check out full details online here and buy advance tickets.

Follow VegFestUK on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Legendary vegan bakery in London robbed

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The legendary vegan bakery Ms Cupcake of Brixton, London was broken into last night.

Sharing the news on their social media, staff showed the broken window where entrance to the shop was gained using a brick.

The update also stated that cash was stolen from the business.

The Ms Cupcake bakery is one of the true pioneer vegan businesses in the UK and was largely responsible for launching the booming interest in veganism we see today.

I recently interviewed Ms Cupcake founder Mellissa Morgan for Tenderly online magazine. We talked about the trials and tribulations of running an independent vegan business and how the biggest hurdles are often completely unexpected.

In the interview (which you can read online here), Mellissa talked of how the business recently recovered from a flood. This break in was never going to have good timing, but right now feels particularly difficult for the team.

Please consider what you might do to help support the Ms Cupcake team as they move past this trouble.

My suggestions are:

  • Visit the store as soon as you can and spend up big (they sell a huge range of pantry items, packaged sweets, ice cream, and of course legendary cakes and slices)
  • Follow Ms Cupcake on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
  • If you are at VegFestUK London this week at Olympia, stop by the Ms Cupcake stall (stand number CAT0 – next to One Planet Pizza) and buy lots of cake

In addition, you can catch Mellissa presenting a talk at VegFestUK London on Saturday October 26, 2019 between 1:15pm and 1:45pm.

Mellissa will be talking about all things sweet on the Foodies Stage.

Learn how you can use alternatives to refined sugars in your baking but still get immensely indulgent and decadent results. Over the years Ms. Cupcake has changed and developed her recipes to reflect changing customer tastes and now you can learn her secrets. Find out how this Brixton bakery has removed a third of the sugar from their cupcakes and cakes and introduced both a menu of refined sugar free items and a menu suitable for diabetics.

Get all the info about VegFestUK London (including tickets) online here.

Vegan supper club for Halloween in London

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The fabulous Cafe Van Gogh in Brixton is hosting an exclusive vegan supper club for Halloween.

London, get your best scary fancy dress at the ready and turn up hungry on the night!

The image above lists the tasty-sounding menu:

  • Welcome spiced cider on arrival
  • Beetroot and roasted garlic soup with candied sunflower seeds
  • Mustard and fennel seitan sausage-stuffed pumpkin with mushrooms and buttery leeks
  • Sticky toffee apple pudding with caramel custard

The cost person is £30 and you need to email info@cafevangogh.co.uk to make a reservation.

The dinner will run from 7:00pm until 9:30pm on Thursday December 31, 2019.

In extra news, you are welcome to attend this dinner in Halloween fancy dress and the best costume will be awarded a Saturday brunch with the cafe!

Be sure to follow Cafe Van Gogh on Instagram.

Gluten free baking masterclass in London

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In this hands-on masterclass I’ll share my tips and tricks for making sensational gluten-free baked goods that taste even better than the gluten versions. I’ll show you how to achieve spongy textures, deep flavours and blend your own flour mixes.

– Antonio Alderuccio, Head Chef at The Plant Hub (a plant based gluten free bakery, restaurant, community and culinary academy)

Get involved in this exclusive vegan and gluten free baking masterclass taking place at Made In Hackney community kitchen on Sunday November 10, 2019.

This is a rare opportunity to learn techniques from one of the leading experts in the field of plant-based, gluten free baking.

This masterclass will include:

  • How to make the Plant Hub’s famous deliciously soft and golden gluten free focaccia and stunning rainbow burger buns
  • Learn tips and techniques for making sensational gluten free seasonal brioche and chocolate buns
  • A-Z of gluten free ingredients including flours, binders, seasonings and raising agents
  • A delicious organic plant based lunch, recipe pack and bread to take home
  • Antonio Alderuccio, aka The Rainbow Chef, is an experienced professional Italian gluten free baker and is Head Chef at the Plant Hub in Hackney, a plant based gluten free bakery, restaurant, community and culinary academy.

Fee: £98 (£78 Concession for students, pensioners, unemployed and low waged) inclusive of VAT, includes a delicious organic plant based lunch.

This fee is used to fund the Made in Hackney programme of free courses for vulnerable and low-income community groups. By attending a Made In Hackney masterclass you get a great day of learning AND you’re providing the charity with essential funds for them to continue their work with vulnerable community groups.

Click here to book your spot now and follow Made in Hackney on Instagram.

FGV at VegFestUK London 2019

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Have you ever felt like the only LGBTQIA+ person in the vegan village?

Join Fat Gay Vegan (that’s me!) at VegfestUK London for an hour-long social event designed especially for LGBTQIA+ plus vegans and their allies.

Eat cupcakes with your community, share and listen to stories, and of course make new friends!

There will be two one-hour sessions (Saturday and Sunday October 26 and 27, 2019 1pm – 2pm) located on Level 2 of Olympia Central (located within the Natural Therapy Zone). You can see the floor plan here.

The sessions will be informal socials. Nobody will be lecturing you about anything. It is simply designed to be a social space for queer vegans.

Let’s hang out!

VegFestUK London is a huge, two-day event showcasing vegan living. Enjoy talks, cooking demos, new products, good eating in the food hall, drinks, music, and so much more.

Get all the information about VegFestUK London on their website. Follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Click here to buy advance tickets.

Aquafaba masterclass for London

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London. What are you doing this Saturday October 5, 2019?

This aquafaba masterclass being hosted at Made in Hackney is exactly where you need to be. Aquafaba is versatile and a true must-use ingredient in every serious foodie’s kitchen.

When is the masterclass? Saturday 5th October 2019 between 10:00am and 2:30pm.

I’ll show you all the tips and tricks for using aquafaba as an amazingly versatile vegan egg replacer to make delicious meringues, chocolate mousse, mayonnaise, butter and more

Bruna Oliveira, Raw Chef & Nutritional Therapist

If you have made it this far and don’t know what the flip I’m talking about, let me briefly explain.

Aquafaba is the name given to the liquid leftover when you open a tin of chickpeas. Clever people discovered that this liquid has similar properties to egg white meaning it can be whipped into meringue, used for buttercream frosting, and even helps make vegan chocolate mousse a reality.

This masterclass will include:

  • Learning all the tips and tricks for using aquafaba as an amazingly versatile vegan egg replacer
  • Making vegan versions of show desserts such as pavlova, perfect meringues and chocolate mousse
  • How to use in baking to create light, fluffy pancakes and waffles
  • Techniques for using in delicious vegan omelettes, mayonnaise and butter
  • A delicious organic lunch and recipe pack
  • 10% discount in neighbouring wholefood shop, Food for All

Bruna Oliveira graduated in physiotherapy in Brazil before moving to London in 2008, where she studied Naturopathy and Naturopathic Nutrition at CNM London, in order to pursue her passion for healthy and natural living. Bruna loves creating delicious recipes with the aim of inspiring people to transform their lives through making positive changes in their diet.

Fee: £84 (£66 Concession) inclusive of VAT, includes a delicious organic plant based lunch.

This fee is used to fund the Made in Hackney programme of free courses for vulnerable and low-income community groups. By attending a Made In Hackney masterclass you get a great day of learning AND you’re providing the charity with essential funds to continue their work with vulnerable community groups.

Click here to buy your aquafaba masterclass ticket now.

View all upcoming classes at Made in Hackney online here.

Follow Made in Hackney on Instagram.