Not a lot of writing with this post but what needs to be said other than VEGAN JAM TARTS?!
Get to Sainsbury’s to try these gluten free, vegan jam tarts. I love them!
Vegan
London pub goes meat free
This is a bit unexpected.
Just around the corner from where I currently reside in Brentford/South Ealing is a rather gorgeous pub called The Lord Nelson.
The pub has a particularly attractive beer garden and some awesome entertainment, but what really sets it apart from other watering holes in the city is the fact that every now and then it goes meat free.
With a chef who used to work at Vanilla Black now in charge of food, The Lord Nelson is taking an unusual step for a London pub. Or maybe it isn’t so uncommon now. Do you know of any pubs in the UK doing meat free nights or weeks?
The Lord Nelson has its current meat free menu running until July 23, 2016. Ask to see the special vegan version of the menu when you dine.
Now for some photos!
Drinking a pale ale by @littlecreatures_hk at @thelordnelson #vegan #beer
A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on
Pulled jackfruit with a chilli sauce at @thelordnelson in Brentford #vegan
A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on
Vegan ice cream hot spot in London
I am writing this on the morning of what is set to be the hottest day of the year in London. I debated writing about a few different topics but then decided it could be about nothing but ice cream.
Did you know there is a road in London where there are two shops selling vegan ice cream? Today would be a perfect day to head there.
First up is Juice Baby.
I have raved about this Kings Road eatery in the past, but the addition of gorgeous hand held ice creams makes Juice Baby a must visit destination. No debate.
Josh and I shared the Vanilla & Salted Caramel as well as the Double Choc Chip.
Check it out!
And what else is happening on this Chelsea thoroughfare?
Just short of three blocks along Kings Road is a pop up frozen banana ice cream shop called Nana Nice Cream.
This is where you get banana soft serve in a cup with gourmet toppings. You can also buy take out tubs of various flavours (which are also now being sold in Iceland supermarket stores!).
Look at this soft serve glory I experienced.
Get to Kings Road, Chelsea for some cool treats this Summer.
Nana Nice Cream bar is open until the end of August.
Vegan fashion sale starts this week!
Do you like nice things? Do you like your nice things to be ethically sourced and made? Then you need to know about this lovely event from House of Tammam in London.
The central London boutique and ethical bridal shop is hosting a sale that is running from Tuesday July 19 until August 7, 2016.
What’s it all about?
Atelier Tammam opens it’s doors once again for an indie fashion extravaganza. Inviting the best vegan and ethical designers from around the world, find exclusive designs from top talent; Fashion from Nancy Dee, Outsider, Cecilia Hammarborg, Deborah Campbel, Miksani and others. Krausz Jewellery, PoZu, Bourgeois Bohemme and Beyond Skin shoes, Duskies sunglasses and many more incredible sustainable designers.
If you want to feel like a super special VIP, grab yourself a £10 ticket to a special friends and family night this Friday July 22, 2016.
This exclusive party runs between 4:30 and 8:30pm and includes complimentary wine, vegan treats and 10% off everything in store.
This is one party vegan fashionistas will not want to miss. Book your ticket now and RSVP to the 3-week long fashion event on Facebook.
Like the House of Tammam Facebook page.
My first Zizzi visit
My blog post about the vegan menu at Zizzi a little while back blew up big time. People love reading about vegan pizza!
I wrote that first post while I was still in Mexico, so one of my first jobs to get done upon my arrival in London was a trip to my local Zizzi.
Oh my!
Guzzling this #vegan berry cider by @aspalluk at @wearezizzi in Chiswick
A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on
Vegan cider and vegan pizza? I was in heaven.
I thought the pizza was one of the finest I’ve had in a long while, but not pictured here is the rather dull vegan garlic bread. It had no discernible flavour. We thought we had been given plain bread and, when we asked our server, we were told the kitchen had rubbed garlic across the bread. It must have barely touched it!
The bread was the only disappointment in an otherwise gorgeous meal. The Mozzarisella cheese is perfection when melted.
Yay for vegan options at Zizzi!
Vegan chocolate in Co-op
Need a quick chocolate fix?
Drop into your nearest Co-operative supermarket for a bag of these cocoa butter and rice flour chocolate buttons.
They are gorgeous.
Tasty and only 49p!
Extra note: this photo originally appeared on my Instagram account.
Gorgeous range of condiments
I’m back in the UK after six months in Mexico, so of course one of my top priorities is catching up on all the vegan grocery developments I’ve missed.
Like this!
This range of condiments by Providence Deli caught my eye during a recent stop at my nearest Waitrose supermarket.
Onion relish, black olive paste, basil pesto and those gorgeous-looking tomatoes all had my mouth watering.
I quickly discovered that each and every jar in this range is labelled as being suitable for vegans. I guess that means I should really try them all, right?
You can visit Providence Deli online.
FGV beer
There is big news and then there is ENORMOUS news.
In conjunction with The Dominion Brewery Company (home of Pitfield), I am beyond thrilled to announce a beer called Fat Gay Vegan.
Yes, that’s correct. My very own vegan beer.
My love affair with Mexico has inspired my first beer.
A lot of Mexicans are partial to salt in their beer. This was first introduced to me by my friend Julio almost 7 years ago in a gay bar in Mexico City and I was instantly smitten.
When it came to making my own beer, I wanted to reference this Mexican style so ended up with one of the most delicious drinks around by combining pale ale, pink salt and fresh lime juice.
My buddy Laurie of mega-rad band SLAVES heard about my foray into beer production and was keen to get involved. Laurie is an incredibly talented artist with a style I can’t get enough of, so his take of me in a Mexican wrestling mask for my beer label is a dream come true. (Laurie has his first solo art show next month in Edinburgh!)
Bottles of Fat Gay Vegan pale ale are set to start rolling out across London and then the UK in a few weeks but if you can’t wait that long, you are in good fortune.
London Vegan Beer Fest is the first place anywhere in the world you can get a taste of this new beer. Andy from Dominion has kindly organised a strictly limited cask of Fat Gay Vegan to be served at the event on Saturday July 16, 2016.
Be one of the first people on the planet to try Fat Gay Vegan beer!
Please note that there is only one cask of Fat Gay Vegan beer being served. This is a special preview of my beer and it will probably go quickly (mostly into my belly). Be early if you want to buy a pint of Fat Gay Vegan.
Online tickets for London Vegan Beer Fest are only £5 plus small booking fee. Buy them now!
Beer talks this weekend!
London Vegan Beer Fest isn’t just a place where you drink, eat and have a fab time. You can also learn stuff.
I’m absolutely thrilled to announce Oliver Coningham as a very special guest at our event this Saturday July 12, 2016.
Oliver knows a lot about beer and enjoys sharing his expertise and passion for the good stuff with others. It is for these very reasons we have asked Oliver to host two information sessions during London Vegan Beer Fest.
Session one taking place at 1pm will suit beer know-it-alls and novices alike as Oliver runs the assembled drinkers through the A-to-Z of vegan beer. Why is vegan beer vegan? Why is beer sometimes not vegan? How is vegan beer made? You’ll find this talk fascinating and it will equip you with all the info you need to go forward in life as a vegan beer expert.
Session two at around 4pm is set to feature Oliver telling you everything you need to know about different varieties of beer. Don’t know how to tell a porter from a stout or an IPA from a lager? This session will have you feeling like a beer expert in no time. Your new party trick down the pub will be explaining the brewing process for every drink being poured within your vicinity.
Oliver’s talks will be taking place in the gorgeous Galley, a stunning dining room featuring Thames views from every position. Sip your beer as you listen to our expert talk and make sure you come armed with some questions to ask. Buy your London Vegan Beer Fest tickets now.
Make sure you visit Oliver’s brand new beer and food pairing website called The Fork & Carrot. You’ll find reviews, event news and more. You can also follow Fork & Carrot on Facebook and Twitter.
You can see the full list of beers being served at London Vegan Beer Fest here and the full food menu here. Tickets are £5 in advance online or £8 on the day depending on available space.
RSVP and invite friends on the Facebook event page.
German vegan in London
I know I wrote about Bavarian Beerhouse and its vegan menu a little while back, but after visiting for myself a few nights ago I really wanted to sing its praises again.
This German bar with locations near Tower Hill and Old Street is maybe not where you’d expect to find plant-based cuisine. The non-vegan menu is all animal meat in different forms but surprisingly there are three vegan plates on the menu.
Check out what we got stuck into during our visit.
A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on
Hey?! What do you think?
That currywurst changed my life for the better. I can’t stop thinking about it.
You can visit Bavarian Beerhouse online.