London vegan news, reviews & events
As a vegan in love with sandwiches, I do get a bit tired of my main option being hummus or some variation of hummus.
Thankfully, Alara Health Store is on the scene to liven up my Central London sandwich experience. Check it out!
Even though this wrap has just five components, it is tasty and an absolute breath of fresh air on the sandwich landscape. More like this please, food-to-go producers.
My days of soggy carrot and hummus sandwiches are hopefully behind me!
Stuck for something vegan to do this weekend?
Not anymore!
Saturday April 18, 2015
Rock ‘n’ Roll Vegan Brunch – drop-in between 10am and 3pm for soul food, cocktails and a DJ spinning tunes at Vegbar on Tulse Hill, Brixton.
London Animal Charities Fair – this legendary event has been resurrected at The Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London, EC2A 3EA. Runs 10:30am – 4:00pm to raise funds for crucial animal protection work.
The Vegan Grindhouse – the much-loved Vegan Grindhouse is having a pop up in London! Click here to discover where you can find them in Shoreditch on Saturday night as part of Urban Food Fest Street Night Market. 5pm until midnight!
Sunday April 19, 2015
The Friendliest Flour – head along to Brick Lane for baked goods from London’s newest vegan baker. 10am – 6pm.
Got any other vegan weekend tips for readers? Leave them in the comments section below!
What do you need, London? Of course you all answered in unison: more vegan cake options!
If you get down to Brick Lane most Sundays you can make friends with Randi and her impressive vegan food stand called The Friendliest Flour.
The range on offer at the market includes (get ready for a long list):
A few days ago I posted a story about the vegan menu at Carluccio’s, the High Street chain of Italian restaurants.
Since it went live, a few readers got in touch to let me know they believe some of the ingredients featured on the vegan menu are fried in the same oil as non-vegan ingredients.
I reached out to Carluccio’s and this is what they had to say:
You all know about Rock ‘n’ Roll Vegan Brunch this Saturday, right?
The brand new weekly event is all about soul food, cocktails, craft beer and rock ‘n’ roll music played by our DJ. It is set to become a London favourite in the Vegbar venue on Tulse Hill in Brixton.
You can click here to read all about the event, including info about the mouthwatering food set to be served.
OK. That’s out of the way. Now for the reason for this blog post.
I am thrilled to welcome Clarkshaws Brewing as the first-ever special guest at Rock ‘n’ Roll Vegan Brunch on Saturday April 18, 2015.
Who are Clarkshaws? I’ll let them tell you!
Are you ever out on the High Street or doing some shopping in town and find yourself in need of a filling vegan meal?
Carluccio’s to the rescue!
PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT UPDATE ABOUT THIS POST – click here
Carluccio’s is a chain of Italian themed cafes and delis with approximately 45 locations around the UK. The wide-reaching group can be found in shopping centres, on High Streets and across town centres all over the country.
Most people in the UK are familiar with the Italian eatery, but perhaps not everyone is aware of the vegan menu you can ask to see when dining with Carluccio’s.
Which food stall had the longest line in Hammersmith today?
The meat free one, of course. Longest line by about twenty people.
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It’s a tough life as a fat, gay vegan. There are so many people wanting to send me vegan chocolate to sample, it’s a tiresome chore.
When Essy & Bella asked if I would take some of their gourmet, handcrafted vegan chocolate to try, I reluctantly agreed. I’m such a selfless person.
Want the quick, time-saving review? Buy Essy & Bella if you enjoy delicious things going into your mouth.
Now for the part where I go on for a little while.
The sunflower seed & sea salt and peppermint & cacao varieties are irresistible. Made with rice powder, they are a milk free version of a milk chocolate.
The peppermint & cacao was my favourite and I would buy it in a heartbeat. It truly was one of those moments where you open a packet and you can’t stop eating.
I don’t think you will currently find Essy & Bella in shops around the country, but fortunately for you the entire range of vegan chocolate bars is available to buy via their website.
Click here to check out all the flavours, including the ridiculously delicious sounding lime and sea salt. I need that so badly.
You can also follow Essy & Bella on Twitter.
Extra note: Essy & Bella are located in Newcastle where vegan stuff is going wild including this restaurant, this vegan cheese company and even the Vegan Roadshow.
I’m about to break the vegan Internet.
London. Rejoice.
You can buy one of the nicest vegan burgers in the UK and consume it in one of the most glorious settings in London. This is happening right now in the capital and it is fabulous.
What the heck am I babbling on about? Check out this vegan burger.
Yep. That is a handmade burger patty in bread with cashew cheese and beetroot slices, served next to a bundle of crunchy fries. I can’t even.
This burger was one of the best meals I’ve enjoyed in London. I bet you wanna know where I got it, right?
Hotel Chocolat in the UK have actioned a recall of their ‘milk free milk’ products. Here is the main statement from the company as posted on their website:
Clarification on the dietary status of ‘Milk Free Milk’
We are very sorry that we haven’t made it clear enough who can eat our Milk-Free Milk and who can’t. We did take advice (including labelling advice from Trading Standards) before we launched it, but the fact that some misunderstanding exists shows us that we were not clear enough. Please have a look at our comprehensive Q&A. Thanks to dietary groups who have made contact and offered advice, which we are using.
The full Q&A statement about the recall can be seen here.
It is that old argument about calling something dairy free when there is a small possibility of trace elements of milk proteins due to dairy being used in the same factory.
Of course this could be problematic for people with allergies, but Hotel Chocolat want vegans to know there are no dairy ingredients added to this milk free range.
How do you feel about the ‘may contain traces’ labelling? Does it stop you from buying a product?