Eat well in Manchester

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.

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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

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!

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Vegan fine dining restaurant

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

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

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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Vegan fry up to make you drool

Manchester, you lucky ducklings.

You already have so many fabulous places to eat vegan food and now this gorgeous fry up falls into your laps. Astounding.


It looks as though the vegans of Manchester have been working overtime to demand better options because non-vegan places are falling over themselves to stuff their menus with plant-based options.

The above photo show the vegan fry up being served by The Deaf Institute on Grosvenor Street in the city centre. You can grab a plate of homemade vegan sausage, potato cake, hash brown and baked beans from 4pm this Sunday (10 April, 2016) along with other items packed onto a newly-extended vegan menu.

This news has made me incredibly hungry. Sadly I am in Mexico City where the concept of a vegan fry up is nowhere to be found. I will take it as a grave personal insult if you do not try this plate of food on my behalf.

Follow The Deaf Institute on Instagram for more shots of their vegan items.

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Resurrection in Ramsbottom!

Post by:

josh panel

Someone in the comments section on this blog recently alerted me to a 100% vegan restaurant and shop that opened in Ramsbottom last year. A few clicks later, I was scanning the enticing menu of Lolo’s Vegan and Raw Restaurant and Store.

Check it out below.

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Get loved up

Post by:

josh panel

I recently saw a post in the Manchester Vegetarian and Vegan Group on Facebook about vegan pizza and even though I’m thousands of miles away from Manchester, curiosity got the better of me and I was delighted to learn about the existence of a 100% vegan cafe/juice bar in the Manchester suburb of Chorlton.

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V Revolution still fabulous

Manchester. So much for which to answer. Or something like that.

A recent trip to the northern city was somewhat planned around a trip to V Revolution. Don’t know it? V Revolution is one of the finest examples of vegans doing fantastic stuff with food and making it an enjoyable experience, too.

The cafe is tucked away in the Northern Quarter and manages to churn out delicious burgers, irresistible hot dogs, ice cream floats, and the best nachos south of Edinburgh (yep, nothing beats Auld Hoose).

Scroll down to see what I’m talking about. These three photos are from my latest visit and looking at them you can imagine why the V Rev staff had to push me out the door at closing time. I didn’t want to leave!

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Vegan-friendly store closed

Apologies for being the postal service of bad news lately, but it appears extremely tough work is required to keep a business open in this day and age.

Remember when I wrote about the vegan-friendly grocery and health store in Manchester called Win Naturally?

The store, owned by Julie and Phil Neville, was located inside the Arndale centre in Manchester city centre. They store was packed with mostly vegan toiletries, groceries, healthy snacks, supplements and more. It was kind of like a supersized Holland & Barrett.

During my trip to Manchester a few weeks back, I stopped by the store to pick up a few things and was greeted by the following vision.

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