Oh Manchester – so much to answer for

Vegan options aplenty in Manchester

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Manchester. So much to answer for… including this menu featuring LOTS of vegan options at the revered live music venue and nightclub, The Deaf Institute.

I have blocked out all the non-vegan items with pictures of fruit so you don’t have to read them, but as you can see below there are still so many vegan dishes to choose.

Check it out:

Wow! I’m loving all of the plant-based glory. It sounds delicious.

In addition to these fab vegan items, every Wednesday is what they call F’wensday. If you buy any main meal, you get another one free. Take a fwiend!

Follow The Deaf Institute on Facebook to keep up to date with the latest vegan food announcements and live music news. Yes, you should support independent bands AND eat vegan food.

Click here to see where The Deaf Institute is located thanks to Google Maps.

Fun day out in Manchester

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Manchester, you lucky sods.

Check out this fun-packed day featuring vegan food and vegan beer.

Grub is in the business of putting on weekly street food markets and they have taken the decision to turn their Saturday January 28, 2017 outing into a completely vegan affair.

Yep. Multiple food stands. Beer. Cocktails. Take home shopping. All vegan.

You can RSVP to the Facebook event page and that’s also the place to go for directions.

Vegan super fun happy times!

New vegan hotspot

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Certain towns and cities in the UK are really flying when it comes to vegan developments and surely Stockport in Greater Manchester is in the top five places to watch in the near future.

I reported on the recent opening of fine dining restaurant The Allotment and now hot on the heels of that announcement comes word of a 100% vegan grocery store opening in the town.

The Herbivore Vegan Store looks to be stocked to the brim with cheeses, meats, pantry items, snacks, chocolate and more. Shoppers will find superstar brands such as Follow Your Heart, Fry’s Family Foods and Vego.

The store has opened just a few days ago so be sure to keep up with developments via the store website, its Facebook page and the Instagram account.

You can see the store location here on Google Maps.

Yay for vegan Stockport!

Yay for V REV Manchester

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What the hell is going on with award-winning Manchester vegan café V-Revolution?

Nothing… apart from the fact they are busy moving into huge new premises and setting an example on how to be effective allies for all of their customers!

Let me back up for a second.

V-Revolution isn’t called V-Revolution anymore. The café owners decided a name change was in order to coincide with the new location and they now call themselves V Rev Vegan Diner.

And the new location?

V Rev have taken over a space that is roughly four times the size of the old place. The new Edge Street outlet has much more seating and is being lovingly decorated in a painstaking manner by a team of dedicated staff and hired contractors.

The new V Rev is being loaded up with progressive and supportive messages, fittings and imagery. One example of this can be seen in the toilet sign.

Check it out:


The owners have taken the simple but thoughtful step to ensure nobody is compromised or othered during a visit to their diner. Customers can access one of three gender neutral toilet cubicles featuring (shock horror) a toilet that works for anybody, no matter how they identify or don’t identify their gender.

Here is a little bit of information I lifted from the Portland Community College website that I would like to share:

For trans* and gender nonconforming individuals, gender segregated bathrooms can be spaces where they are met with intimidation, harassment, run-ins with security, and/or violence. These occurrences happen when people using the restroom police the gender of others based on binary assumptions and expectations of who men and women are and what they look like. This policing can effect trans* individuals, but also cisgender individuals (those who are not trans*) who present or express their gender in ways that are not culturally normative. This phenomenon is commonly referred to in gender minority communities as “The Bathroom Problem,” and is an experience that most trans* and gender nonconforming people have encountered, often repeatedly, in their lives.

Gender segregated bathrooms threaten the safety of many trans* and gender nonconforming individuals. In addition to being a safety concern, this bathroom configuration can lead to health concerns. When one does not have a bathroom option that they feel comfortable and/or safe accessing, they may choose to not use the bathroom. Depending on how a person goes about avoiding the bathroom, whether it be by not eating or drinking all day or by holding it, doing so can cause serious health problems.

You can click here to read more information about all gender or gender neutral toilets at Portland Community College. The information page includes common arguments and rebuttals for gender neutral toilets.

V Rev is showing how simple inclusivity can be. Gender neutral toilets don’t take much more money (if any in some cases) to set up but can make immeasurable difference to trans, gender non-conforming and non-binary people.

I asked V Rev to go into a little detail about how their new diner is inclusive in other ways and this is what they told me:

Hiya Sean! The whole premises is wheelchair accessible – we’re up to code on layout and spacing but as you know there’s always quite a difference between legislation and real life so we welcome feedback from disabled customers on anything we might be able to do to improve. As we’re over 2 floors we have a lift to the basement. As well as a separate staff loo we have three all-gender toilets: two the standard size and one wheelchair accessible with a baby-changing unit in. We have sanitary bins in all but they’re foot pedal operated as standard so we have a manual touch-open one in the accessible cubicle.

The usual condom/sanitary wear dispensers in loos come stocked as standard & with an ongoing refill contract with the big brands like Durex, Tampax and others who use nasty chemicals and test on animals so we’ve sought out two vintage capsule dispensers (used to be used for sweets/toys), the condom one is stocked with Glyde and a little leaflet about consent, the tampon one is stocked with (Time of the Month) tampons, three per capsule which ‘pays forward’ one to a person in need through .

You can read the consent leaflet supplied by V Rev. Click here to access it.

Let’s hope more vegan establishments around the UK take the lead from this Northern business. These considered approaches to running an inclusive diner will hopefully give lots of people food for thought.

Yay for V Rev Vegan Diner and yay for inclusive approaches to vegan business!

Extra note: The V Rev Vegan Diner refurbishment has not been drama free and the team has faced a lot of emotional and financial set backs. If you would like to show your support for them, please buy one of these sassy vegan hot dog pins from them online. It’s a cute and rad way to lend your support to a business that is trying to do the best they can for animals and people in their local community.

Click here to buy. Also, follow V Rev on Instagram to keep updated on the grand re-opening date rumoured to be REALLY soon.

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Next level vegan cake

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There is only one place in the UK where you can buy the following cakes this weekend and that is Manchester Vegan Beer Fest.

Check this out.

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I’ll give you a moment to regain composure….

OK.

These stunning cake creations are handcrafted by the talented Vanessa Almeida of Essential Vegan and will be served on both Saturday and Sunday as part of Manchester Vegan Beer Fest.

Vanessa is the exclusive sweet food trader at the event so she is making sure she is bringing her A game.

There will be the luscious brownie with chocolate sauce and strawberry coulis, as well the the gluten free passionfruit cheesecake. Not pictured is the stunning eclair which will also be making an appearance.

Not only will Vanessa be serving up these world class vegan cakes, she will also give happy drinkers pairing suggestions. Yes, buy a beer and a cake that work together to make you even more satisfied!

Manchester Vegan Beer Fest also welcomes V-Revolution and Mother•May•I as they serve savoury food. You can see the full beer list here.

Tickets for the event are just £4 (plus tiny booking fee) in advance or £7 on the door if we have space. Book now. You can RSVP to the Facebook event and invite friends.

mvbflandscape

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Eat well in Manchester

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I was passing through Manchester a few weeks back and made time for Lotus Vegetarian Kitchen, a restaurant I had heard so much about but never quite got my act together to try.

But finally I made it and I’m so delighted I did.

The menu is extensive and packed solid with all the types of food I love. Sizzling plates. Fried rice. Noodles. Mock meats. Fried wonton. Lotus has it all.

Check out what was on my table, including the hollowed out pineapple filled with fried rice! Also, I’ve started with this super cute serving of fruit that was delivered to our table for free. So rad.

6-fruit 5-pineapple 4-noodles 3-sizzling-plate 2-dumplings 1-lotus

The food at Lotus is superb. It would be my favourite place to dine if I lived nearby.

One curious point is why the restaurant isn’t 100% vegan. I can’t see what on the menu couldn’t be vegan. There is already no cheese. Hope it can iron out any honey-related issues (or whatever it is) soon. It would be fab to be able to visit it knowing it was totally plant-based. However, most of the menu is vegan and clearly marked as such so get on with it.

Visit Lotus Vegetarian Kitchen online for opening hours and location.

Extra note: I think Lotus is the perfect place for a Manchester Vegan Beer Fest recovery dinner. Save me a seat!

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Beer list for Manchester Vegan Beer Fest

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Sink your teeth into this amazing list.

(Tickets for this event available here. Saturday is more than half sold out, so be quick if you want to be there on the first day. Once it sells out, there won’t be tickets on the door.)

Now for the beers!

MANCHESTER

  • BAD SEED – HEFEWEIZEN – wheat beer – 5.1% ABV – citrus, spice, vanilla, clove – KEG
  • BEER NOUVEAU – SISTER TO NUN – pale ale – 4.9% ABV – very floral hoppy pale ale – KEG
  • BEER NOUVEAU – T EIPA – international IPA – 6.6% ABV – sweet, hoppy finish – KEG
  • BLACKJACK – BRAMLING CROSS – amber – 4.0% ABV – mid-tan, light berry notes – CASK
  • CHORLTON – VIENNA DARK – red Germanic – 7.4% ABV – full bodied dark ale – KEG
  • CHORLTON – WAIMEA SOUR – single hop sour – 5.6% ABV – medium bodied sour pale ale – BOTTLE
  • CLOUDWATER – SORACHI ACE GRISETTE – Saison – 3.5% ABV – light, dry, peppery – CASK
  • CLOUDWATER – BRETTED CREAM ALE – sour cream ale – 4.8% ABV – soft, haystack, lemony – KEG
  • MARBLE – TE ARAI NEW ZEALAND PILS – pilsner – fresh crisp limes – KEG
  • MARBLE – PINT – pale ale – light malt, dry, citrus – CASK
  • RUNAWAY – SUMMER SAISON – Saison – 4.2% ABV – peppery, mild citrus, refreshing – KEG
  • SEVEN BROTHERS – WATERMELON WHEAT – wheat beer – 4.5% ABV – wheaty with a hint of watermelon – KEG

LONDON

  • BREW BUDDIES – MOSAIC PALE ALE – pale ale – 4.5% ABV – single hop mosaic, tropical fruits, woody, pine – CASK
  • BRIXTON – LOW VOLTAGE – session IPA – 4.3% ABV – magnum, columbus, simcoe, mosaic hoppiness – KEG
  • CLARKSHAWS – GORGONS ALIVE – amber ale – 4.0% ABV – malty hoppy loveliness – CASK
  • CLARKSHAWS – STEAM BEER – hybrid – 3.9% ABV – lovely half lager half ale – CASK
  • 5 POINTS – RAILWAY PORTER – porter – 4.0% ABV – chocolate, coffee, caramel, nice hop – CASK
  • MONCADA – RED RUBY – red ale – 5.0% ABV – red beer with rye malt – CASK
  • ORBIT – NEU            – German alt – 4.7% ABV – creamy, nutty, dry – KEG
  • ORBIT – NICO – German Klon – 4.8% ABV – light crisp fragrant- KEG
  • REDCHURCH – PARADISE – pale apa – 3.7% ABV – mosaic, chinook, columbus hoppiness – KEG
  • REDEMPTION – ROCK THE KAZBEK – blond beer – 4.0% ABV – pale ale Czech hops lemony zesty – CASK
  • WEIRD BEARD – MARIANA TRENCH – pale ale – 5.3% ABV – mango, kiwi, grapefruit flavours & aromas – BOTTLE
  • WEIRD BEARD – ATTACK OF THE RYECLOPS – rye beer – 5.5% ABV – dried grass, orange zest, peppery rye – CASK

YORKSHIRE

  • NORTHERN MONK- TRUE NORTH – pale ale – 3.7% ABV – British pale ale with USA twist, orange & pine notes – KEG
  • NORTHERN MONK – COMMUNION – pale ale – 5.1% ABV – fruit gum, tropical fruits, malty sweetness – CANS
  • BRASS CASTLE – COMET – blond ale – 4.3% ABV – golden beer tropical fruit flavours – KEG

SOMERSET

  • WIPER AND TRUE – KALAIDESCOPE – pale ale – 4.0% ABV – blueberry mango, orange citrus – BOTTLE
  • WIPER AND TRUE – KIWI LILT – pale ale – 5.8% ABV – tropical fruit & pine flavours – BOTTLE
  • MOOR – UNION’HOP – pale ale – 4.1% ABV – Honeydew Melon, citrus, apricot & peach hops, malt sweetness – KEG

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

  • STROUD – GOLDEN FRINGE – pale ale – 3.8% ABV – fruity, nice bitter finish – CASK
  • WILD BEER – WILD GOOSE CHASE – sour pale – 4.5% ABV – tart, fruity gooseberries – KEG

ESSEX

  • COLCHESTER – CENOSILLCAPHOBIA – pale ale – 3.8% ABV – excellent hoppy pale ale – CASK
  • BILLERICAY RHYTHM STICK – amber ale – 4.8% ABV – malty earth bitterness – CASK
  • GREEN JACK – RED HERRINGS – smoked red ale – 5.0% ABV – smoked malts, fruity smoky beer – CASK
  • GEORGES – COCKLEBOAT – amber ale – 4.0% ABV – chestnut red, grassy hops – CASK
  • PITFIELD – 1850 LONDON PORTER – porter – 5.0% ABV – chocolate currant flavours – KEG/BOTTLE
  • DOMINION – WOODBINE RACER – American pale ale – 4.2% ABV – honey sweet, tropical fruit hops – KEG/BOTTLE
  • DOMINION – FAT GAY VEGAN BEER – salt & lime – 4.5% ABV – salty pale ale with a lime twist – CASK
  • PITFIELD – SEA SHEPHERD OCEAN WARRIOR – pale ale – 4.5% ABV- malty sweet, light citrus finish – CASK/BOTTLE
  • RED FOX – BLACK FOX PORTER – porter – 4.8% ABV – rich flavoured black beer with smooth chocolate notes – CASK

SUFFOLK

  • GRAIN – BLONDE ASH – wheat beer – 4.0% ABV – cloudy wheat beer, bubblegum, orange, coriander flavours – CASK

EAST MIDLANDS

  • TWISTED BARREL – BEAST OF A MIDLANDS MILD – mild – 3.5% ABV – chocolate vanilla coffee – KEG

BERKSHIRE

  • WILD WEATHER – BOHEMIAN LIKE YOU – oatmeal pale ale – 2.9% ABV – Honeydew melon, cantaloupes & freshly peeled grapes – KEG

Drink up, friends!

mvbflandscape

Vegan fine dining restaurant

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I’m normally fast on my feet when it comes to new vegan food, but even I’m struggling to keep up with all the updates coming out of the UK.

Stunning news has just reached me of a brand new vegan fine dining restaurant in Stockport!

The Allotment restaurant is the culmination of many pop up events around Wigan, Huddersfield, Manchester and Liverpool. The owners decided to take the plunge and open a stand alone eatery in the heart of Stockport.

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You can view the exquisite menu online here, which includes an exclusive chef’s tasting option that surely would impress anyone. You can also make table bookings via the website. This food looks fancy and has rave reviews on social media, so I think booking ahead would be smart. I think The Allotment is going to be a firm favourite of local foodies very quickly.

Like the Facebook page for The Allotment to keep up with latest news.

Greater Manchester has the vegan good stuff going on!

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Burgers in Manchester

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Dear Manchester.

What are you doing this Sunday (June 5, 2016)?

I’m going to assume you said, “Watching the EastEnders’ omnibus”. Don’t do that. Do this instead.

Vegan street food company Street Beets is serving up deliciousness at Manchester Piccadilly Street Food Market.

Look at this food!

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Make sure you like the Street Beets Facebook page so you can keep up with fresh food photos and latest news.

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Vegan ice cream in Manchester

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The vegan ice cream news just won’t quit. Check out this vegetarian ice cream shop located in the Manchester neighbourhood of Withington.

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Ice Shack is a dessert parlour with some solid vegan options.

I’ve posted a selection of the vegan menu items below:

Vegan Ice Cream Flavours (isolated in their own vegan freezer)

Coconut/Chocolate/Raspberry/Raspberry and mango/Strawberry/Vanilla/Wild berry/Blackcurrant sorbet/Lemon sorbet/Orange sorbet

Vegan truffles

Dark chocolate/Dark chocolate and ginger/Dark chocolate, lime and chilli

Vegan Cakes and Pastries

Apple pie/Chocolate cake/Lemon Cheesecake/Mango and passion fruit cheesecake/Sponge/Flapjack
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Sounds tasty!

You can like Ice Shack on Facebook, visit their website and follow them on Twitter.

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