London vegan news, reviews & events
The great expansion of vegan groceries in the UK continues with this plant-based range now available in Marks & Spencer.
I was wandering through the Ealing Broadway outlet of this mainstream retailer when my eye was drawn to multiple appearances of the word ‘vegan’ on packages in the chilled section.
Check out all the items I spotted below. I actually didn’t buy any so am unable to give any constructive feedback!
If you have tried, please let us know what you thought in the comments below.
Harrogate, Yorkshire has a vegan store and it is gorgeous.
Miss Claire Rose has a fabulous selection of vegan snacks including chocolates, sweets, and pantry staples. They also have a GORGEOUS range of gifts such as animal-themed greeting cards, soy wax candles, and locally made jewellery.
In a superb yet unexpected twist, the store also sells handmade lingerie! You can buy off the shelf or hand over your measurements for custom made.
I was totally bowled over by this gorgeous store front and everything inside. Support independent vegan business by following Miss Claire Rose on Instagram now and tell your Yorkshire friends.
You can see the exact location of the store thanks to Google Maps.
Loving Hut in Edgware, London has long been a favourite eating destination for people in the capital looking to eat with compassion.
The restaurant (run by followers of the teachings of Supreme Master Ching Hai – Google it if you wanna know) has been serving delicious vegan savoury food for years and favourites include mock meats, noodle dishes, and flavoured rice.
I was planning a trip to Loving Hut Edgware a few days ago when I discovered that it no longer exists, but has been remodelled and renamed.
Zen Buddha still sits at 236 Station Road but has enjoyed a makeover. The restaurant has been polished to look more modern and new booth seating has been added.
The people working in the restaurant are the same and, thankfully, the food is still the same delicious crispy goodness I know and love.
Check out my most recent meal below and see the exact location of Zen Buddha online thanks to Google Maps.
Hey, friends.
The UK has been undergoing a vegan transformation over the past five years or so, but there was one large city that seemed to be on the back foot.
Leeds.
Now, I’m not disparaging Leeds. I love the place. I used to live in the Yorkshire city and it has a special place in my heart, but it has documented that the vegan offerings had been thin on the ground while other places such as Manchester and Glasgow flourished.
But all this has changed in recent times and my trip to Leeds this week has left me delighted with the gorgeous plant-based options that have sprung up all over town.
Take a look at some of the vegan delights I sampled in Leeds this week and start planning your weekend now!
If you need proof that the UK is now a serious vegan food contender on the world stage, get along to Leeds and eat with El Marchador Tacos.
It will be one of the best eating experiences you will have.
El Marchador is a fully vegan and gluten free eatery in the heart of Leeds. The menu is packed solid with absolutely mouthwatering Mexican cuisine and the tacos are the finest I’ve tasted outside of Mexico.
In addition to the incredible food line up, the venue also hosts an impressive line up of tequilas and craft beers. Of course the bar is entirely vegan, too.
Follow El Marchador on Instagram and see the exact location of the cantina thanks to Google Maps.
This news is ALL OVER the vegan Internet, so you might have already heard it.
Antonio’s Kitchen is a brand new vegan Italian restaurant that has opened in Bethnal Green, London.
The food business has been trading at various locations over the past few years, but this restaurant is its first permanent home. It is just a few steps from Cambridge Heath train station and around the corner from The Gallery Cafe.
The menu at Antonio’s is stuffed solid with Italian classics such as piadina flatbread, calzone, and pasta.
You can see the exact location of Antonio’s Vegan Italian Kitchen thanks to Google Maps. Be sure to follow them on Instagram.
Here is a quick post to alert you to the fact that I was recently a guest on BBC Radio Scotland.
I was approached by a production assistant last week and asked if I would like to participate in an on air discussion about how people view vegans in 2018.
Click here to listen back online.
You will need to scroll to the 1:32:00 mark of the recording.
Yay for vegan representations in the media!
It came to me in a dream.
There haven’t been many times in my life when I’ve watched a dream come true before my very eyes. Actually, this might be the first legitimate dream of mine that has been turned into reality.
It all started when I had a dream about a bagel filled with vegan bacon and cheese that had been battered and deep fried. It was such a vivid dream that I was instantly obsessed with the idea.
Fast forward to a few days ago and I was talking to my mate Dave of superstar vegan eatery Make No Bones in Sheffield about the BagNut (yes, bagel + donut = BagNut) and he agreed to make it for me.
I was floored!
My dream originally featured the bagel being held together with string before being battered and fried, but Dave knows what he is doing and used wooden skewers to hold it all together.
So what you can see below is the world’s first ever BagNut. A lightly toasted bagel filled with seitan bacon, cheese sauce, and pickles before being battered and deep fried.
To make this situation even better, Dave and Make No Bones have agreed to add the BagNut to their menu sometime in the coming days.
If you are ever in Sheffield, you need to make time to grab a BagNut. It is a taste sensation. If you live in Sheffield, I pray you have willpower or else this might become tea a few times a week.
Make No Bones is now located in new mega vegan venue Church: Temple of Fun which is also an amazing vegan bar and Drop Dead clothing boutique. I’ve also seen a new vegan tattoo studio being built inside the venue this week.
You can see the exact location of Make No Bones/Church online thanks to Google Maps.
Follow Make No Bones and Church on Instagram.
Extra news: Make No Bones and Church are hosting the official Sheffield Vegan Beer Fest after party on Saturday August 18, 2018 from 8pm. If you show your beer fest wrist band at the bar you get 10% off food orders and 10% off the official after party cocktail, the Slow Burner.
Click here to order cheap £4 Sheffield Vegan Beer Fest tickets online or pay £7 on the door.
An Introduction to Fermentation Workshop
w/ Steve Wilson
Saturday 18th August, 2-3pm, £20
In this practical workshop at The Well Garden (Hackney Downs Vegan Market will be happening outside the venue at the same time!) you will learn the alchemy of how to make kimchi and kombucha at home, the nutritional benefits of fermented food, and how to improve your gut health.
Steve Wilson is a cookery teacher at Made in Hackney, and Founder of Make Kit, a vegan and vegetarian recipe box service. He previously founded The People’s Kitchen, a community food surplus kitchen, and Dalstons, a low sugar natural soft drinks company. He loves sharing his knowledge of cooking with others.
What to Bring
Please bring 2 Jam Jars, all other materials will be provided.
Arrival
Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to ensure you have time to set up & get settled. The workshop will start promptly at 2pm.
Multiple Tickets
Call on 02030959735 to book for more than one person.
Cancellation Policy
We do not offer refunds for bookings cancelled within 48 hours of the course or workshop starting. We reserve the right to cancel a course/workshop if necessary, in these circumstances a full refund will be given.
Click here to order your ticket.
Join Church – Temple of Fun as they host the official after party for the 2nd annual Sheffield Vegan Beer Fest on Saturday August 18, 2018.
Following on from the food, beer, and karaoke extravaganza that is Sheffield Vegan Beer Fest hosted by Fat Gay Vegan, the official after party takes up residence in Church – Temple of Fun from 8pm with free entry, a DJ spinning tunes, later food service until 10:30pm from Make No Bones, and a late closing time of 2am.
All are welcome to the after party. Even if you haven’t been to the beer fest you can still join the party.
HOWEVER…
Church – Temple of Fun is offering some special deals for people wearing their Sheffield Vegan Beer Fest wristband.
Show your wristband at the bar and you get a 10% discount off all food orders during the after party plus 10% discount off our bespoke chili margarita cocktail, Slow Burner. This cocktail has been especially requested by Fat Gay Vegan for the after party and it packs a punch.
You can buy cheap online tickets for Sheffield Vegan Beer Fest for just £4 here: http://veganbeerfest.co.uk/sheffield2018/ (reminder you do not need a ticket to attend the after party but you only get the food and Slow Burner discount if you are wearing a wrist band)
Church – Temple of Fun is also home to Drop Dead. clothing. You can visit the website here: https://templeof.fun/