Vegan

Now in Croydon

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The only time I have ever been to Croydon was when I had to wait in a stuffy, bureaucratic office to collect the biometric visa card that allows me to remain in the UK indefinitely.

It is not a destination to which I ever think of returning. Well, until now that is!

World famous and certainly legendary food maestro King of Cook Daily and Home has gone and opened a second version of Cook Daily in the new Boxpark retail and food complex in Croydon.

Yep. Croydon is as cool as Shoreditch right now.

Take a quick look at that menu above and it’s easy to see why early reports out of Croydon have been nothing short of rave reviews.

King has a way with ingredients that sets him miles apart from other vegan food creators in the capital (and now in Croydon). It is high class cuisine in a bowl that leaves you thinking about your next visit before you’ve even finished what’s in front of you.

Follow the new Cook Daily Croydon on Instagram and click here for the Boxpark website.

Autumn Yard goes vegan: one day only!

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If you thought my Vegan Christmas Market was enticing enough already, you are about to get another very persuasive reason to join me and a few thousand vegans in Hackney tomorrow (Saturday, December 17, 2016).

There is a brand new, gorgeous café and bar on the site of the market called Autumn Yard. The venue has been lovingly fitted out inside one of the old warehouses on the Hackney Downs Studios lot and it really is a beautiful space.

Autumn Yard features a large dining room and bar, as well as housing special pop-up events and happenings. There is a store inside the venue selling decadent cakes and gourmet pantry items.

The new dining space is getting into the festive swing with us plant-eaters by turning their food menu 100% vegan for the day to help us celebrate Vegan Christmas Market.

If you fancy a break from the jostling market crowds, make your way inside the restaurant for a proper sit down meal with table service.

On the menu for Autumn Yard tomorrow?

Starters

  • Falafel & Salsa Verde
  • Rosemary Butterbeans
  • Orange & Carrot, Roast Cumin Soup

Mains

  • Vegan Burger (sweet potato, beans & lentils) & Polenta Chips
  • Vegan Curry
  • Stuffed Butternut Squash

Desserts

  • Warm Chocolate Brownie
  • Banana Ice-cream
  • Roast Pineapple

Drinks

  • Vegan Coffees (almond & soy milk)
  • Apple Spiced rum

Cakes for the store

  • Vegan Cake pops
  • Vegan Tomato Cake
  • Vegan cookies
  • Pumpkin & Almond Cakes

So, now you have to struggle with the decision of what to buy from the incredible line up of vendors we have in the outdoor market as well as leaving enough tummy space to dine with one of London’s brightest new non-vegan restaurants as it goes vegan for one day only!

I almost feel like I need to apologise for the dilemma I’m putting you in. This could very well be the finest day for vegan food London has ever witnessed.

See Autumn Yard online, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram. Hey, why not give them a shout out online and say thanks for joining our vegan party? And keep checking in with them for ongoing vegan menu items and specials.

All images on this page are courtesy of Autumn Yard, so don’t steal them like I did.

All the food

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Vegan Christmas Market is days away and food menus are starting to roll in.

Do you want a sneak preview of what the vendors will be serving up?

Keep scrolling to find out!

Essential Vegan – Bounty cake, Blueberry cake, eclairs, cheesecake, almond crunchy cake, lemon peanut butter cake, coffee walnut cake, coconut biscuit, “honey” cake bites, lebkuchen, cookbook and cheese (two flavours)

Mouses’s Favourite – Artisan nut based cheeses in five varieties

Sgaia Vegan Meats – Food to take away: artisan mheat and cheeze sandwiches with sage & onion mayo, charcuterie, smoked provolone, cranberry sauce. Retail packs: our Christmas Fillets, steaks, charcuterie and award winning bacon

Heart of Cake – Festive Cupcakes, macarons, chocolate pie and boozy mince pies

GreenBay Supermarket – Christmas hampers, chocolates and cookies

Young Vegans – Hot pie and mash (pie fillings: seitan and ale + GF shepherds pie) + GF peanut butter brownies + mince pies

Temple of Seitan – Roast Chick’n + Crackling Roll, Fried Chick’n Strip Roll

Club Mexicana – BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Burritos & Tacos, Fully Loaded Cheezy Nachos, Deep Fried Cheeze Fries

Just Fab – Side panelle, lasagne, fries, Xmas bombs, mini arancini, panelle burger, Just wrap, Vegamisù

Clarkshaws Brewing – limited edition white IPA on draught along with a range of regular ales and lager, and bottles and gifts to take home

Arancini Brothers – 3 x different vegan burgers, smoky paprika fries. Risotto balls with tomato Chutney

Rupert’s Street – Sweet Potato Cottage Pie, Cashew Curry, Roast Vegetable Soup, Beetroot Latke

Viva La Vegan – statement wear tees, badges, Christmas cards, accessories

Battered – Fish and chips, Half a fried chicken, battered sausage, battered pies, mushy peas, curry sauce, tartare sauce

58 Gin – Mulled cider, Gin, chocolate negroni and bars of chocolate

Moodley Manor – retail packs of bacon, burgers, roasts and garlic mayo

Peanut Butter Bakery – Brioche donuts with various toppings, brownies and gift package brownies

Happy Cat Coffee – coffee, tea and hot chocolate

Do you think you can get through all of that?!

Onsite non-vegan restaurant Autumn Yard is turning their food menu 100% vegan for the day. See details here.

The market starts at 11am on Saturday December 17, 2016. Check this page for more details and RSVP to the Facebook event.

Bring cash and card as some vendors don’t accept both. There are plenty of gluten free options and will be marked clearly.

Viva La Vegan

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Here is a spot of news not only for people attending my Vegan Christmas Market this weekend, but for those looking for quirky, cute and fun clothing accessories with a bold vegan angle.

Voted Best Vegan Fashion Brand 2015 and 2016 in the UK Vegan Awards and Best Vegan Clothing in the Vegfest Awards 2016, Viva La Vegan is an upbeat vegan statement wear brand of apparel and accessories.

The company was born from their love of animals, a desire to positively promote veganism and a commitment to do their bit for the planet all while looking good. The VLV team are a committed bunch of vegans and eco ambassadors who tell me they are not interested in stereotypes, just a love of style and contemporary fashion. And helping animals!

Of course you can shop with Viva La Vegan via their website, but you can also get your hands on their cute Xmas-themed badges, greeting cards and their regular (and very popular) clothing at Vegan Christmas Market this Saturday in Hackney (December 17, 2017).

You can also follow Viva La Vegan on Facebook and Twitter.

Help animals

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If this time of year has you desperate to throw cash away in large quantities, consider throwing some in the direction of Foal Farm Animal Rescue Centre in Kent.

Foal Farm takes in all manner of rescued animals, giving them much-needed care, food and shelter before finding them new homes or keeping them at the sanctuary for life.

The centre is completely dependent on donations to help care for horses, dogs, ducks, goats, sheep, cats, cows and maybe a few other animals I’ve overlooked.

There are a few ways you can help Foal Farm this week:

  • Attend my Vegan Christmas Market and throw some cash into the collection bucket situated at the Rupert’s Street food van (photo below shows the van, as well as rescued goat Kendrick enjoying his new home)
  • Donate money via the Foal Farm website
  • Share this blog post or links to the Foal Farm website on social media to help spread the word

Do something kind for animals right now!

I’d love to read your comments below if you managed to send some cash their way.

I’ll be at Vegan Life Show

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If you can’t get enough of my self-involved online ramblings, how about watching me in person?

I am delighted to have been asked to talk at the first ever Vegan Life Live show taking place at Alexandra Palace in London on January 7 and 8, 2017 (my talk is on Sunday 8).

Click on the image above to visit the Vegan Life Live website.

My talk will be a journey through my life as a vegan blogger made up of a few anecdotes and sassy asides.

Topics I’m likely to cover include:

  • when and why I started living vegan
  • how I became FGV
  • why I stopped saying ‘cruelty free’
  • keeping progressive politics at the heart of my veganism
  • Dear FGV, Vegan River Cruises and Vegan Beer Fest UK – how I survive as a vegan blogger
  • the reasons why I blog and why you should too (including some how to tips)

Of course there will be plenty of time to ask questions and I’d love to hear from anyone who already has a ticket if they want to hear me discuss anything in particular.

The show itself looks fantastic with all sorts of food stands, information sessions, cooking demos and more. Even my favourite vegan brewery, Brass Castle, are going to be running a beer bar. I think it is going to be a big crowd having a lot of fun!

Hope to see a lot of readers there. Get show details here.

Vegan meal dlivery

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Here is some welcome (and tasty) vegan news.

JP and Alex are brothers who have taken their love for plant-based eating and created a home delivery meal service that will have you drooling.

After working in the kitchen with chefs, restaurateurs and nutritionists, JP and Alex launched allplants with the goal of delivering delicious, handmade, plant-based meals direct to doorsteps across the UK.

brothers-head-shot

The brothers say that every meal they sell, from their light and cheesy Cashew Mac to their Jerk Jackfruit, is hand-prepared using nothing but plants.

“Over the past year, we’ve searched and experimented to find the best ingredients and recipes that add layers of flavour to each of our nourishing dishes. We’re so excited to now deliver our menu to homes across the UK,” says JP.

allplants are serving six delicious tasting dishes for two to share, delivered to homes all around the UK. Each meal is ready-to-eat so if you are looking for simple food that also sounds tasty, allplants is the answer.

In the future they will be launching seasonal menus plus a wider range of products.

cashew-mac jerk-jackfruit

Here is a quick insight into what they are delivering:

Jerk Jackfruit – source of protein.

Chargrilled jackfruit seasoned with jerk spices and a blend of freshly torn greens, red peppers and kidney beans, on a bed of sticky black rice and peas.

Moussaka – source of Iron and B12.

Layers of roast aubergine, forest mushrooms, roast potatoes & ragù, topped with a creamy, coconut béchamel sauce.

Black Bean Chilli – source of protein and B12

Slow and smoky black-bean chilli folded through dark chocolate and chipotle peppers, topped with coconut milk cornbread biscuits.

Claypot Tagine – source of protein and iron

Pot-roasted squash, medjool dates, chickpeas & toasted almonds in a fragrant stew of spices.

Cashew Mac – source of protein and B12

Wholegrain pasta tossed with cheesy cashew cream, smoke-baked chestnut mushrooms, kale & roasted tomatoes.

Bourguignon – source of protein and iron.

Braised portobello mushrooms with caramelised shallots, roasted beets, lentils and quinoa served in a warm, red wine stew.

black-bean-chilli bourguignon moussaka

allplants dishes are available for £9 each (serves two) from their website. Each dish is delivered frozen to keep it fresh. Just heat it and eat!

You can keep updated with allplants via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Fried chicken in Leeds

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The news of Temple of Seitan opening a vegan fried chicken shop in London broke the plant-based Internet this week, but another piece of faux-fowl news has bubbled to the surface a bit further north.

Last night in Leeds I visited the co-operatively run Wharf Chambers to sample the delicacies of Vegan Fried Chicken by Simon.

This super cool pop up happens most weeks on Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 7pm and 11pm. Simon serves from the bar, so you can grab a vegan beer and a bucket of vegan chicken at the same time.

Here is the rad menu from last night.

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on


How awesome does that all sound?!

I ate almost one of everything during my visit and of course I’m thinking of going back today for more.

You need to follow Simon on Facebook and Twitter for menu and dates for this wonderful vegan fried chicken pop up kitchen.

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Gorgeous vegan food in north Wales

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As fabulous as it is seeing the explosion of vegan food businesses across the UK, I do worry about ever having enough time and money to visit them all.

Take Harvest Vegetarian Kitchen for example.

The food being served looks absolutely stunning but when and how am I ever going to get to Wrexham in Wales?

However, the more I read their GIANT vegan menu the more feasible the mammoth journey seems.

The Harvest menu features all manner of stir fried dishes, noodle mains, crispy sides and vegan meats in black bean sauce. I would order one of everything!

The restaurant kindly gave me permission to reproduce some of their photos here. Check them out!

curry fried-dumpling gyoza noodles

That is only a tiny fraction of the menu. Looks fab, right?

You can see the entire menu on the Harvest website and be sure to follow their Facebook and Instagram accounts.

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Leeds and Sheffield

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I’m currently in Leeds and that means I get to visit one of my favourite vegan food places in the UK.

Humpit.

Check out what I devoured today in what is surprisingly the only permanent 100% vegan eatery in Leeds.


What do you think?

Humpit is located inside the Corn Exchange building in Leeds city centre, but in great news they also have an outlet in Sheffield.

You can grab gorgeous hummus bowls with a variety of toppings in two different Yorkshire cities.

Have you been?

See the Humpit menu and locations online, like their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

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