Adored vegan eatery relocates to London

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The Brook in Wallington, Surrey is one of those places that I never stop hearing about.

People who love this eatery REALLY love it. It definitely ranks in the top ten restaurants that I am contacted about by people wanting me to mention it.

The Brook has been a vegan staple of its community but that very community is now feeling sad due to the planned relocation from Wallington to Hackney.

Yes, bloody Hackney! LOL.

I asked owner Thea to give me a little info about the move. This is what she said:

We’re moving to Hackney in the new year (opening 18th Dec). We have a temporary space for 6-12 months. After four years in Surrey we’re itching to bring our food and drink to the London peeps. And from there we’re planning world domination… naturally.

We are also the headline sponsor at Vegan Life Live at Alexandra Palace in February, running the main bar, a catering stand and the live music stage, so it’s going to be a busy new year!

Take a look at some of these food, cake and cocktail photos below and be sure to follow The Brook on Instagram and Facebook.

And here is a cheeky little graphic to show you the new Hackney location for The Brook.

One year down

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I’ve only just recovered from the mammoth three-day Hackney Downs Festive Vegan Market held at Hackney Downs Studios.

Not only was the market a great opportunity for people to buy some of the best street food in the UK, it also marked our one year anniversary of hosting the market in this location.

I want to say a massive thank you to Eat Work Art for giving this market a home.

Hackney Downs Vegan Market has become one of the most iconic and loved destinations for vegans and their friends on the planet.

Thank you to all the attendees who have visited during 2017 and of course extra special thanks to our traders. Until you have done a day on the market, you can’t imagine how hard they work to bring fresh and exciting food to thousands of people each week.

The market returns weekly on Saturday January 6, 2018.

Non-vegan bakery chain adds vegan items

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The Hummingbird Bakery is introducing a vegan cupcake option to the counters of its seven bakeries.

In response to high customer demand, The Hummingbird Bakery will be selling vegan versions of its most popular products, launching the range with its bestselling Red Velvet. It will be available as a vegan cupcake in-store as well as a cupcake and whole Red Velvet Layer Cake online from 8th January 2018.

The Vegan Red Velvet Cupcake will be available at their seven bakeries located across London and Surrey, including their newest branch opened in summer 2017 on the Guildford High Street.

Tarek Malouf, founder and Managing Director of The Hummingbird Bakery, said:

Customers told us they wanted a vegan option of our cakes and we listened. We wanted to offer an amazing vegan cupcake that is every bit as delicious and authentically American tasting as the Red Velvet cupcake we introduced to the UK in 2004. The Hummingbird Bakery’s new Vegan Red Velvet Cupcake compromises nothing from the original recipe, we are really proud of this vegan version of our bestseller. With our new website launching in January 2018, we are delighted we will be able to showcase a new whole vegan Red Velvet Layer Cake on here as well for those wishing to celebrate a special occasion with the highest quality vegan baking.

Established on Portobello Road in 2004, The Hummingbird Bakery is best known for its Red Velvet Cupcakes with a deep red sponge flavoured with a hint of cocoa.

Buy a bag

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I am super proud of Hackney Downs Vegan Market.

This now-weekly street food market has taken London by storm. It has a whole bunch of imitators and it has developed a strong, loyal following of attendees.

I’m writing this post as we drive home from day one of the three-day festive version of the market and I couldn’t be happier with how it went. Food vendors sold out and visitors left with smiles on their faces.

If you are coming along on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24, please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Trading starts at 10am and runs until 6pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday.

Please stop by my stall to say hello to me and Josh, and pick up one of the official Hackney Downs Vegan Market tote bags made from organic cotton.

They are gorgeous and cost £5 each.

See all the trader info for the next two days by clicking here.

FGV on a podcast

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I was absolutely delighted to be invited to be a guest on The Chick Peeps podcast.

I had a fabulous time talking with Evy and Robbie.

Listen here and please share far and wide. It’s a really great listen!

Be sure to follow The Chick Peeps on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

BREAKING NEWS: Arancini Brothers open vegan outlet

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BREAKING NEWS

I am thrilled to be the first to announce that adored London fast food chain Arancini Brothers is set to transform one of its locations into a 100% vegan eatery for January 2018, making it the first non-vegan restaurant chain on the planet to commit to having a completely vegan outlet.

Forget vegetarian sandwich shops and vegan side menus, Arancini Brothers Old Street is going all in on veganism and will be completely free of animal products.

Arancini Brothers started as a street food stall on Brick Lane back in 2009 and since then has become one of the most-celebrated fast food chains in London.

In recent years, vegan and vegan-curious customers have become enamoured with the plant-based options on the menu and their burgers have become the stuff of legend.

What do Arancini Brothers serve that is so special?

Big grains of rice are mixed through slow cooked onion, garlic and herbs, before vegetable stock is added to make a firm, delicious risotto. They mix through flavours like parsley and lemon before hand rolling into little balls, coating in rice flour then frying.

 

I spoke with David Arkin about his company’s decision to turn one of his restaurants vegan in January.

This is what he told me:

It’s something we have always wanted Arancini Brothers to be. Our food has always been based around a vegan/vegetarian diet and now we want our customers to experience our full vegan flavour with nothing getting in the way.

Even though this is for Veganuary we would love to make it a permanent change. If it does well, our Old Street branch will stay completely vegan.

Our non-vegan customers already love and regularly order our many vegan options on the menu and I’m sure they will support us. I feel veganism is here for the long run and is not just a trend, so we want be on the frontline of the movement serving up our delicious, healthy food.

The Arancini Brothers Old Street vegan menu will include (* denotes gluten free): 

Arancini (served with mayo + chutney)

  • Classic + citrus*
  • Mushroom Zucchini*

Wraps served with Risotto Balls + today’s salads + crispy onion

  • Classic + chutney + mayo
  • Mushroom + chimichurri + special mayo
  • Veganist + eggplant tomato sauce + onion jam
  • Chick’n + citrus dressing + mayo

Salad Box served with 3 Risotto Balls + today’s salad + seeds

  • Original + salad + mayo + chutney*
  • Chick’n + salad + mayo + chutney
  • Roast mushroom + salad + mayo + chutney*
  • Vegan Box + roast mushroom + salad + onion jam + eggplant tomato sauce + chutney*

Hot Stew served with Risotto Balls + rice + rocket + chutney + seeds

  • Butternut lentil & spinach stew*
  • Chick’n spinach & lentil stew*

Risotto Burger served with our famous mushroom zucchini risotto patty and organic bap

  • Cheese + special mayo + crispy onion
  • Smokey Chorizo + cheese + crispy onion + chili sauce + mayo
  • One tasty Vegan + tomato eggplant sauce + onion jam + crispy onion + fresh tomato
  • FGV burger – double cheese + pickles + crispy onion + ketchup + mustard
  • The Mickey – pickles + crispy onion + ketchup + mustard
  • BBQ mushroom – cheese + rocket + tomato + crispy onion

Breakfast served 9:30am until midday Monday – Friday

Brekkie Wrap served with risotto balls, crispy onion and breakfast mayo

  • Mushroom + roast tomato + rocket
  • Chorizo + roast tomato + rocket
  • Vegans Recovery + baby spinach + tomato eggplant sauce + mushroom + maple syrup

Breakfast Bap (served in an organic bap)

  • Roast mushroom + chimichurri + special mayo
  • Roast tomato + cheese + special mayo
  • Roast mushroom + cheese + special mayo
  • Spicy sausage + cheese + roast mushroom + special mayo

Sweets

  • Carrot Cake
  • Brownie fudge cake
  • Matcha brownie Cake

EXTRAS

  • Fries
  • Side Salad
  • Chutney Pot
  • Garlic Mayo Pot
  • Special Mayo Pot
  • Tomato Eggplant Sauce

Arancini Brothers Old Street will re-open as a vegan outlet on January 2, 2018 for a soft launch.

The official vegan grand re-opening day is set for Thursday January 4, 2018. The store is open 9:30am until 4:30pm from Monday until Friday each week.

You can follow Arancini Brothers on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

EXTRA NOTE:

January 4, 2018 is not only the grand re-opening of Arancini Brothers Old Street as a vegan outlet, it is also the date that my first ever book is published.

To help Arancini Brothers celebrate their huge commitment to promoting vegan food, I will be in the restaurant most of the official launch day to chat with people and enjoy the new menu. The restaurant will be selling copies of my book, Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Sh!t, and if you can’t grab a copy on the day they have also committed to selling it ongoing.

I’m also thrilled to announce that Arancini Brothers will be selling an FGV Burger as part of their regular menu at the Old Street location.

If you plan on coming along to the vegan grand re-opening to celebrate Old Street going vegan and the launch of my book, you can RSVP to the Facebook event page.

If you would like to pre-order a copy of my book online, you can click on the panel below.

Chocolate coconut drink

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This has just reached our house:

This chocolate coconut drink is currently available for £6 at Marks and Spencer stores.

That’s the good news. And the bad?

The drink is only seasonal so you need to get in there quickly before it all disappears.

Yay for inexpensive festive booze!

Festive Vegan Deli traders for December 21

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As you you can tell from these photos, the previous nights of Festive Vegan Deli were incredible.

We had food, we had fun, and we had a fabulous time talking with friends.

If you missed out, never fear as night three is almost upon us. Festive Vegan Deli is back in Camden Market on Thursday December 21, 2017 between midday and 8pm.

But be warned. This is the final Festive Vegan Deli of the three night series.

Wanna see the line up of traders for the event? Keep scrolling below.

Trader list for Festive Vegan Deli Thursday December 14, 2017:

  • Nutkin – handcrafted vegan cheese in superbly handsome packaging
  • Cafe SoVegan – take home packs of burgers, cheese sauce and more
  • Plant Based Artisan – stunning range of vegan honeys in glass jars
  • The Third Estate – unique ethical gifts and collectibles from this adored London boutique
  • The Cashew Family – gorgeously packaged vegan cheese ready for the festive period
  • La Buenaventura – vegan chorizo an Spanish omelette to take home for the Christmas table
  • VeganHQ – whipped cream, jackfruit, condensed milk and more festive pantry items
  • The Sunny Spoon – stunning French patisserie selection including festive gift boxes
  • Black Arts Vegan – the new kid on the artisan cheese block
  • I AM NUT OK – gorgeous spread and pate made from nuts
  • VegaMama – gorgeous animal-friendly vegan tuna and more
  • Mouse’s Favourite – one of the most adored vegan cheese companies in recent memory
  • SmileyVegan – sweet treats from this brand new business having their first day trading with US!

Festive Vegan Deli is the place to pick up all of your festive food needs. Stock up, take them home, and impress your guests.

If you are looking for food to eat before or after visiting our pop-up shop, there are many places to eat inside Camden Market including Young Vegans, Club Mexicana, Spice Box, Hash Green, VBurger, Magic Falafel and more.

You can RSVP to the Festive Vegan Deli Facebook event page and use it to invite friends.

The exact location of the shop can be seen here thanks to Google maps.

Extra news: don’t forget that Hackney Downs Vegan Market is also celebrating the festive season with a 3-day market on Friday 22, Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 December, 2017. The Facebook event page is here.

Besos de Oro legal news

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UPDATE – THIS DEBT WAS PAID THIS MORNING (19th December, 2017) IN FULL

I have been asked a lot about my time working with Besos Food & Drinks, the UK company selling the drink Besos de Oro, so I would like to take this opportunity to clarify the situation.

I worked with this company for three months during 2016 and was never paid for the work I carried out.

When I first raised my concerns of the non-payment, Peter Smith of Besos Food & Drink communicated with me that he was more than happy with the work I did for his company and that he was sorry for late payment.

Even though he told me he would pay and admitted via email that he owed me £1500, he never attempted to make payment and that was the last I heard from him until I saw him in court.

I took my case to Small Claims Court and stuck with the process for over a year.

Last month at a hearing in London, the judge unequivocally found in my favour and ordered Peter Smith and Besos Food & Drink to pay me all money owed plus interest and court fees.

The amount now owing is £1800.

The court order generated from this decision carried a due date of December 15, 2017.

Peter Smith and Besos Food & Drinks failed to make the court order payment by this date.

Even though it will cost me more money in court filing fees, I will now take the next step of seeking money owed by implementing bailiffs who will enforce payment of outstanding monies owed.

All of this information is public knowledge and transcripts of the court proceedings can be sourced.

UPDATE – THIS DEBT WAS PAID THIS MORNING (19th December, 2017) IN FULL

Goodbye Kabaret

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Today is a poignant day for vegan London.

Vegan trailblazers Louise Wallis and Frank Hutson started Kabaret @ Karamel three years ago and today is the day they say goodbye to the project (the venue will change management and stay vegan).

The breakneck speed at which the vegan scene is expanding in London might be enough to fool you into thinking we’ve had it as good as we do for a long time. However, Louise and Frank were downright pioneers when they launched this venue.

Kabaret quickly established itself as a welcoming space that not only served tasty vegan food, but also operated as a nightclub, live music venue, performance space, and art gallery.

We all want to do positive things for our community, but Louise and Frank truly made a profound impact on London. Their venue built social capital and inspired our community in immeasurable ways.

It gave us London’s first 100% vegan bar and nightspot. It was home to our monthly Queer Vegan Disco party. It was a place that tried its best to make us all feel like we belong and that we all valuable and worthy. Indie bands, DJs, guest chefs, spoken word artists, poets, and all manner of creative people found an open door waiting for them at Kabaret.

Louise and Frank. I love you both for your personal sacrifice made in the name of improving outcomes for non-human animals. I’m indebted and inspired by your fight for social justice. I’m thankful for the work you have done to elevate the voices and realities of the at-risk and vulnerable in our community.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for Kabaret. Your contribution to vegan London will be missed more than can be measured.

Love FGV xx