Temple of Hackney update

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After taking London by storm and firmly establishing themselves as darlings of the mainstream tabloids, vegan fried chicken shop Temple of Hackney has just celebrated one month of trading.

So, how are they doing?

Is business still thriving as the grand opening frenzy fades into the past?

I caught up with owner and Temple of Seitan founder Rebecca McGuinness to find out exactly how the situation is for London’s first vegan fried chicken shop a little over a month in:

Congratulations on such a tremendous opening period. Just how busy has it been in the shop? Has it surpassed your expectations?

Thanks so much! It’s been unbelievable, we never thought in a million years we would be this busy and we are so grateful for all the support. It’s been a lot of hard work but to have this response in just a month as a small business is so surreal and we feel so lucky. We have acquired a second kitchen to keep up with demand and have gone from 4 staff to 13 in a matter of weeks!

What is the general feedback you and the team have been getting from customers?

General feedback has been really positive, the homemade meats have been met with great response, but the surprise dish is the mac and cheese – I would say it’s as popular as the chicken!

We also notice a lot of feedback about the friendliness and great service from our team. We definitely have to give them a shout out as they truly are the nicest and hardest working bunch around!

Do you have any sense of how many non-vegans are eating with you? What has their reaction been like?

We have had a lot of non-vegans come through that are trying to cut down on meat consumption but also some that come out of curiosity or along with vegan friends. We have had people say they prefer seitan chicken on several occasions which is obviously the highest honour! Haha.

The mainstream press has really taken to your story in a big way. How does all that attention feel and how are you managing the PR demands while running the shop?

It can be very full on and unfortunately due to this we aren’t as quick to get back to everyone at present – but as I say we are so lucky to have this kind of press as a small business and certainly wouldn’t be enjoying the instant success we have had without it.

Do you have any upcoming developments or top secret news you would like to share with my readers? What can they expect from Temple of Hackney in the future?

We do! We are working on a new menu that we plan to reveal very soon, including some exciting dishes we have shared early on in our Instagram feed. The menu will still have the “chicken shop” vibe, but will feature some new junk food favourites. We can’t wait to share them with everyone! We will also have extended opening hours shortly.

Finally, do you have a message for your loyal customers who have helped make the opening such a success? I’ve seen photos of them lining up out the door in the rain and snow!

We really do have the most incredible customers and are constantly in awe of their patience and kindness. From those who have been with us from our first stall in Brixton, our weekend stalls in Brick Lane to the new friends we have met in Hackney, we cannot thank you all enough. This first month of opening has been very challenging and we have learned so much in such a short space of time- but to have the support and understanding of the community made our transition from street food pop up to store a dream come true. We couldn’t have come this far without you. We say this often but the UK has the most incredible vegan community and has been so welcoming and friendly to a couple of junk food fiends from down under.

Follow Temple of Seitan on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Vegan eatery opens new location

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You have probably spoken to someone who has been completely blown away by What The Pitta! in Shoreditch, London.

The takeaway fast food stand has devoted fans and for solid reasons. Their wraps are huge and delicious. Add vegan baklava to the mix and you have one o the best plant-based location in the UK capital. You can see my original post about What The Pitta! online here.

Now onto the fresh news part of this post.

What The Pitta! have a brand new location opening in the Boxpark complex in Croydon and they are throwing a two-day party… and you can be there with some superb special offers!

The two-day celebration in Croydon is taking place on March 3 and 4, 2017.

When you advance buy your meal deal online, you get the following for just £9.99:

  • Lentil soup
  • Vegan doner kebab OR vegan Turkish pizza
  • Vegan baklava
  • Can of Karma cola/lemon/ginger

Wowsers! That is one superb deal.

You need to pre-pay for your ticket online here to get the special price. If you show up on the day, the price will be higher. Buy quickly as I imagine a couple of hundred people will be getting involved and tickets will fly out.

Once you have your ticket, you can show up at any time during the celebration. However, lunch and dinner times will be the busiest with longer waits.

You can invite friends and RSVP over on the Facebook event page.

Follow What The Pitta! on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Extra note: CookDaily also has another location in Boxpark Croydon!

New products from VBites

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VBites are gearing up to launch four new products into the UK market very soon (maybe some of them are out there already?), so I wanted to give you some warning. Start your engines!

Of course each new product is 100% vegan, as is the entire VBites range.

The new products are:

  • BBQ pulled ‘pork’
  • piri piri burgers
  • lemon and black pepper scampi style bites
  • vegetable bake fingers

Here is a sneak preview of the piri piri burger.

What do you think of the new products? Are you excited to try them?

You can visit VBites online.

All new products will be showcased at the huge IFE Show taking place in London next month (trade show/not for public).

Beer glazed ham roast

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I have never been excited for a new product like I am excited for this roast.

NEVER.

The always incredible Tofurky have just released their stunning Vegetarian Ham Roast with Extra Special Beer Glaze.

I’m beyond drooling. I’m struggling to cope.

Of course the ham is only available in the USA to start with, but the company has been assuring customers it will spread around the world as demand grows.

This is how the Tofurky website describes the new roast:

A plant-based main course for extra-special get-togethers, this ham has a tender, smoky flavor, complimented by a sweet, tangy glaze. Roast, slice and serve with your favorite stuffing and vegetables, or maybe even fancy mac and cheese. Invite your flexitarian friends and let the festive feasting begin! One of our favorite breweries, Hopworks Urban Brewery, crafts its tasty organic beers right here in Oregon, just a few miles from Tofurky HQ. Their Velvet ESB won our taste test with its malty, caramel-ly flavor profile and ultra-smooth texture. We got creative and turned this 21+ brew into an all-ages Velvety Beer Glaze that gives our Ham Roast a sweet, flavorful kick. Thanks, beer buddies!

I can’t even express how poetic that paragraph appears to me. It is word magic.

Follow Tofurky on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to tell them you adore them for their commitment to vegan food finery.

Vegan job in new vegan café

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Need a vegan job? Like to cook?

Holy Cow is a relatively new café in Edinburgh city centre. You might very well remember when I posted this photo of their cakes over on my Instagram account:

A post shared by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on


Yes. They do look tasty.

The café is only a few months old but now ready for a vegan chef to join its team.

You can apply via the Gumtree advert online here.

You can also follow Holy Cow on Facebook and Instagram.

You can see the location of the café thanks to Google Maps.

Vegan pop up Leeds

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Super quick blog post to let Leeds and Leeds-curious people know about this fab vegan dining event taking place at Global Tribe Café in a few days.

The 3-course vegan meal includes alcohol-free cocktails, or you are welcome to take your own booze along for a small corkage fee.

The Italian inspired menu features:

Starter: Carpaccio of Beets marinated, served with vegan blue cheese and orange salad.
Main: Tagliatelle Carbonara
Dessert: Raw vegan tiramisu
Coffee/Tea

If you want to get along to this limited dinner, book very quickly as there are only 20 spots in total.

You can also RSVP to the Facebook event page.

New vegan store in Stourport

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A vegan store opening in the UK is barely news anymore. They happen with such ferocious regularity, you can blink and miss the announcement.

But I bet the people of Stourport, Worcestershire think their new plant-based shop is news worth singing about.

 Opening today (Saturday February 18, 2017), As One is a 100% vegan grocery and lifestyle store.

Packed solid with groceries, personal care products and so much more, As One is surely set to become the number one destination for vegans in the region.

You can like As One on Facebook and check out their location thanks to Google Maps.

Rotterdam for vegan travellers

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I have the immense pleasure of bringing you this exclusive travel guide for Rotterdam.

Hilde Sanderman is unparalleled in crafting unique city guides and as a vegan, she makes sure all of her experiences get the most of of each destination for plant-eaters.

Hilde runs her own world-class travel advisory company called Trip Stylist. If you need assistance  crafting anything from a vegan-friendly city break all the way up to an all-inclusive luxury vacation, you will not find anyone more qualified than Hilde.

This  Rotterdam guide not only contains the top vegan spots for food, but also everything you need to know to enjoy a short stay in Rotterdam. Top museums and galleries? Check. Do you need to tip? Check. Vegan high tea location? CHECK!

You should bookmark the Trip Stylist website and check out the Rotterdam guide below to see just how thorough and wide-reaching Hilde is with her travel guides.

Definitely get in touch with Hilde if you need help planning an unmatched vegan holiday.

 

Rotterdam guide by Trip Stylist

FAST FACTS  

Population: 994.000, 174 different cultures & nationalities

Language: Dutch (English is widely spoken & understood)

Country: Netherlands

Vegan community: The estimated number of Vegans in the Netherlands is 50.000

(Source NVV, Dutch Association of Veganism)

Local Currency: Euro

 

ATTRACTIONS 

Cubical houses

The Cubical houses was a totally new concept of designing city houses. The tilted cubes were designed by Dutch architect Piet Blom and constructed in 1984. The Rotterdam group of houses is known as the Blaakse Bos (as it resembles a forest),

which borders on the Laurenskwartier district and the Waterfront area, where Markthal can be found as well.

These houses were built in Rotterdam and Helmond and outside the Netherlands in Toronto, Canada. You can visit the so-called Kijk Kubus. It’s a fully decorated museum house. 

Admission: Euro 2.50 (adult)

Opening hours: Daily 11:00-17:00hrs

Address: Overblaak 70 – 3011 MH Rotterdam

Directions: Just East of the Blaak tram/metro/train station

Phone: +31-10-4142285

Website: http://www.kubuswoning.nl/introkubuseng.html

 

Katendrecht & the Fenix Food Factory

 Once Rotterdam’s Chinatown, attracting homesick sailors and ladies of the night in equal measure, Katendrecht is now home to the hip and happening. Over the past few years, this peninsula has become one of the liveliest parts of town without losing its rougher edges. Young couples bought a fixer-upper in the neighborhood or opened a restaurant, shop or coffee bar. Cute little eateries, ice salons and bars are around every corner these days, making Katendrecht a dream destination for foodies.

One of the old Fenixloodsen quayside warehouse now accommodates the Fenix Food Factory, an indoor market for fresh foods where you can shop for authentic and traditional products: From bread straight out of the oven to homebrewed cider. The sidewalk café on the waterfront offers an enchanting view of the sunset over the Maas River, and the Kaapse Brouwers brew a fantastic array of beers. The food trucks that park there, a different one every week, serve fresh, tasty food for a very affordable price. The island’s pride and joy is the ss Rotterdam, a steam-powered cruise ship that sailed back and forth between Rotterdam and Manhattan in the 1960s and is now permanently moored at the tip of the Katendrecht peninsula. Take a tour through the ship’s gangways and halls, and finish with a drink on the promenade deck, complete with swimming pool.

The Fenix Food Factory is a food hub by seven Rotterdam food entrepreneurs. In the Fenixloods, a former warehouse, a fresh food market sells local products from the Kaapse Brouwers brewery, Jordy’s Bakery, CiderCider, Stielman coffee roasters and Rechtstreex, a local farmer.

Admission: Free

Opening hours: Wednesday till Sunday. Saturday 10:00 – 18:00hrs.

There are benches on the adjacent quay that offer the best views of
the Rotterdam skyline.

Address: Veerlaan 19 – 3072 AN Rotterdam

Website: https://en.rotterdam.info/locations/fenix-food-factory/

 

GALLERIES

 Witte de With Kwartier – the art district

The Witte de Withkwartier is the vibrant heart of the Rotterdam art scene and is known for its dynamic nightlife. Sometimes referred to as Rotterdam’s ‘Axis of Art’, the Witte de Withstraat runs from Museumpark to the Maritime Museum and is lined in various cultural institutions. Browse the art on display at TENT or Witte de With.

While galleries, cultural institutes and fashion boutiques are open all day, the focus shifts to cafés and restaurants in the evening. Grand café NRC (which stands for Nieuw Rotterdams Café) is a great place to people watch. The most famous pub in the street is De Witte Aap, an institution in the city’s nightlife for ages; Lonely Planet even nominated it as the best bar in the world! More recent arrivals to the bar scene, like Ballroom and La Bru, are popular with the young and trendy crowd. The gin and tonics sell like hotcakes across the meticulously hip designer counters. Hoping to rub shoulders with local artists and authors? Head over to De Schouw, a classic café that’s quickly packed on good nights.

Admission: Free

Opening hours: Daily bars and café’s open at 15:00hrs and are open until 04:00hrs

Address: Bar De Witte Aap | Witte de Withstraat 78 – 3012 BS Rotterdam

Phone: +31 (0) 10 414 9565

Website: http://dewitteaap.nl/

 

Witte de With Center of Contemporary Art & TENT

The Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art is an international art institute with Rotterdam as its home base. Established in 1990, the Center is the place to be for everyone who is interested in developments in the world of international contemporary art. It is one of the most important institutes for contemporary art in the Netherlands and is internationally regarded as a pioneer in this field. A progressive platform with room for both up-and-coming and established artists and curators. The exhibition area is situated in a historic former school building on the Witte de Withstraat, Rotterdam’s ‘street of culture’. It shares its building with TENT.

Admission: Euro 6,00 (adult)

Opening hours: Saturday 11:00 – 18:00hrs

Address: Witte de Withstraat 50 – 3012 BR Rotterdam

Phone: +31 (0) 10 411 0144

 

MUSEUMS

Museum Rotterdam – Exhibition at the Timmerhuis | The New City

“De Nieuwe Stad”, an exhibition in the new Museum Rotterdam in the Timmerhuis, is fittingly showcased in the space between the steel and glass of Koolhaas’s new icon and the concrete and brick of the old Reconstruction headquarters. The exhibition depicts Rotterdam’s characteristic faith in the future and is one of the ways in which Rotterdam celebrates the City! The story of Rotterdam is told through items from the collection of the museum combined with the experiences of Rotterdam people past and present. The multifunctional Timmerhuis is no traditional museum building by any means, but this suits the subject matter of the museum perfectly.

Admission: Euro 7,50 (adult)

Opening hours: Saturday 11:00 – 17:00hrs

Address: Exhibition is at The Timmerhuis at Meent 119, 3011 JH Rotterdam

Website: https://museumrotterdam.nl/en/

 

Kunsthal Rotterdam

Kunsthal Rotterdam is housed in a striking building designed by Rotterdam s OMA/Rem Koolhaas architectural practice and was opened in 1992. Since then, the Kunsthal has put culture in the widest sense of the word on show, from elitist to popular. There are always a number of exhibitions to see, both large and small-scale, from old masters to contemporary art, from innovative design to engaging photography.

Admission: Euro 12,00 (adult)

Opening hours: Saturday 10:00 – 17:00hrs

Address: Westzeedijk 341 – 3015 AA Rotterdam

Website: http://www.kunsthal.nl/en/

 

Boijmans Van Beuningen

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands. Its collection is built on the legacy of jurist Frans Jacob Otto Boijmans, who left his personal collection to the city of Rotterdam in 1849. In 1958, the name of benefactor Daniël George van Beuningen was added to the museum after the acquisition of his collection. The current museum building opened in 1935; it is a historic building designed especially for the collection by city architect Adrian van der Steur. The stately presence in red brick houses intimate galleries and amply sized salons in which the art can be viewed in natural light. The collection includes paintings, sculptures and objects, as well as an important collection of drawings and etchings. It features many major Dutch and European works spanning the period from the early middle ages to the 21st century, from Van Bosch to Rembrandt, and from Van Gogh to Dalí and Dutch Design.

Admission: Euro 15,00 (adult)

Opening hours: Saturday 11:00 – 17:00hrs

Address: Museumpark 18 – 3015 CX Rotterdam

Website: http://www.boijmans.nl/en/

 

SHOPPING

Laurenskwartier

The small river called ‘the Rotte’, that once ran through the area, was dammed around 1270 and became the center of a small fishing village. Trade and shipping flourished, leading to the rapid growth of ‘Rotterdam’. The only remnant that still recalls that medieval village is the Late Gothic Laurenskerk. A striking feature beside the new architecture that has been added to Rotterdam since then. It offers a striking contrast with the covered Markthal, the latest and most visually prominent architectural icon in the area. Housed under a single horseshoe-shaped roof, 150 market stands, 15 shops, 8 restaurants and 228 apartments have been brought together by MVRDV architects. An outdoor market is also held here on Tuesdays and Saturdays. People come from all over to buy fresh produce here.

Meent Boulevard

In recent years, De Meent has blossomed into the most glamorous street in the city. A better class of fashion and shoe stores is supplemented by a number of good restaurants, lunchrooms, bars and cocktail lounges. From big fashion brands to small design boutiques, varying from Scotch&Soda, to Zola and American Vintage, head to the Meent boulevard and explore nearby Pannenkoekstraat and Botersloot, a unique area overflowing with small fashion boutiques, second-hand clothing shops, bookstores, design shops, cafés and restaurants.

If you love furniture, vintage home accessories and handcrafted design, you should definitely reserve the afternoon to explore the Oude Noorden area. Originally a working-class neighborhood, it has blossomed into a veritable Valhalla of design in recent years. In the shops in these small, historic buildings, designers sell their own work as well as pieces by other designers.

Admission: Free

Opening hours: Saturday 10:00 – 18:00hrs (some stores will close earlier on New Year’s Eve).

Address: Meent 45 – 3011 JA Rotterdam

 

Food & Delicacies

The Sue Store – Sweet vegan Delight

Want to indulge your sweet tooth responsibly? Then come to SUE! Although Kim Sue Palm’s tasty treats are a taste sensation, they’re also really healthy. Everything is sugar free, gluten free, lactose free, raw and vegan. SUE makes extensive use of nuts, nut milk, coconut and other natural ingredients. So whatever you order – chocolate and date truffles, snickers, bounty or cheesecake – you don’t have to feel guilty. On the menu are buckwheat waffles, banana bread, granola, smoothies and many more tasty things. Having trouble choosing? Then go for the SUE tasting menu, which includes nine different bites.

Opening hours: Saturday 10:00 – 18:00hrs (Times may vary on New Year’s Eve).

Address: Karel Doormanstraat 372 – 3012 GR Rotterdam


Bertmans

One of Rotterdam’s newest and hippest hotspots is Bertmans, a breakfast and lunch bar serving organic, gluten-free and vegan dishes. Come in and try the Chia seed pudding for breakfast, or perhaps the Okonomiyaki, a Japanese savory pancake, for lunch. On the outdoor seating overlooking Rotte, you can enjoy cold-pressed juices and smoothies, a nice glass of wine or a selection from the cocktail menu.

Opening hours: Saturday 09:30 – 18:00hrs (Times may vary on New Year’s Eve)
Address: Zaagmolenkade 15- 3035 KA Rotterdam

The Tea Lab

Coffee, tea & Cake and pastries. The high tea at the Tea Lab is also available in gluten free and vegan varieties.

Opening hours: Saturday 09:00 – 19:00hrs (Times may vary on New Year’s Eve).
Address: 2e Westewagenhof 80 – 3011 AT Rotterdam

Website: https://thetealab.nl/

 

Heavenly cupcakes

Patisserie with gluten free options, all vegan since 2015. Offers a delicious Dutch weed burger for lunch. Also sells delicious vegan ice cream and vegan cheese along with red velvet cupcakes and many other varieties.

Opening hours: Saturday 11:00 – 18:00hrs

Address: Nieuwe Binnenweg 244, 3021 GP Rotterdam

Website: https://www.heavenlycupcakesrotterdam.nl/

 

TIPPING

Tipping is at your discretion. In restaurants a tip of around 10% is customary. For other services like a taxi ride, or a guided service it is considered polite to round up the fare or give a few Euros to the guide and driver.

 

GETTING AROUND

Rotterdam is a compact city and a walking is often the best way to get around the city, but if you travel further, Rotterdam offers an excellent public transport service. The Rotterdam Tram service is very useful for short distances and takes you to locations which are not covered by metro. Please note that you must have a special Travel Chipcard in Rotterdam to pay for public transport. As a visitor you can purchase a Welcome Rotterdam Card for Euro 11,00. The Rotterdam Welcome Card includes a coupon booklet with discount on Rotterdam attractions and free public transport in Rotterdam. The coupons offer you a minimum of 25% cash discount on the admission to many attractions, a couple of museums, restaurants and bars in Rotterdam. At some attractions you even get as much as 50% discount!

Place your OV-chipkaart against the card reader on bus or tram. The card reader will give a confirmation signal. At the end of your journey you check out the same way. The applicable balance will be deducted from your card automatically.

Public Transportation info: http://9292.nl/en

Rotterdam Welcome Card: http://www.rotterdamwelcomecard.com/en

Watertaxi

With around 50 landing stages in Rotterdam and the surrounding area, Watertaxi Rotterdam offers you comfortable and reliable transport on the water. Faster than by road, Watertaxi Rotterdam is a good alternative for anyone wanting to cut down on travelling time. Not to mention the fact that a ride in a water taxi is a wonderful experience if you want to see Rotterdam from the river.

You can take a water taxi from any of the 50 or so landing stages in and around Rotterdam.

Call +31 (0) 10 4030303, tell them your location and where you want to go. They will let you know immediately how soon we can pick you up. Fares vary depending on the zone you are travelling to. In the city center the rate varies from Euro 4,50 (zone 1) and Euro 7,00 (Zone 2) and Euro 10,00 (Zone 3). You can book journeys in advance using the online booking system on this website or by calling Watertaxi. The fleet consists of ten fast water taxis: five boats with a capacity of 8 passengers and five boats with a capacity of 12.

Online bookings: http://www.watertaxirotterdam.nl/reserveren/#!reserveringsaanvraag_watertaxi

Rotterdam Taxi Service

Contact: +31 (0) 10 229 3508

Uber Chauffeur service

The Uber chauffeur service is also available in Rotterdam, you can use the service via the UberApp which you can download on your smart phone.

 

New vegan ice cream

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Fry’s Family Foods have been at the forefront of vegan chilled and frozen grocery items in the UK for years.

The brand has a loyal following of consumers (me included) who adore their meat alternatives.

Those fans have suddenly got a whole lot more to celebrate as Fry’s Family Foods have now released their very own vegan ice cream range into the UK.

Yep. Another vegan ice cream brand!

As you can see, there are five flavours to get involved with and they are all currently exclusively available via Ocado. I’ve been assured that it won’t be long until they are also stocked by Holland & Barrett.

The coconut based ice creams are available in Salted Caramel, Vanilla Bean Espresso, Madagascan Vanilla Bean, Toasted Coconut and Tons of Cookies varieties.

How excited are you to have another vegan ice cream option in the UK? Have you tried these tubs by Fry’s? How were they?

You can visit Fry’s online on Facebook.

Vegan mac n cheese

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In their quest to seemingly become the mainstream supermarket with the most vegan-friendly products in the UK, Sainsbury’s has started selling this ready-made meal.

Check it out.

Yes. Ready-made macaroni and cheese done vegan!

I’ll definitely be giving this a try when I get back to the UK. If you have tasted it, what did you think?

Extra note: these photos were taken by my buddy, Roger. Please take a moment to discover Roger’s website from which he takes orders for awesome pins and badges.