Vegan food with the NHS

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I’ve been hearing rumblings and rumours over the past few weeks of people having positive vegan food experiences with the National Health Service (NHS).

Of course your vegan experience depends on where you access the NHS, as different trusts are in charge of different parts of the country and they are responsible for individual menus.

My buddy Quarrygirl (follow on Twitter and Instagram for vegan glory) has given me this photo to share with you all from her latest NHS situation in London.

Just look at all of this clearly marked vegan eating!

Even just a few years ago (months?!) this sort of plant-based food choice would have been the stuff of dreams.

I’m thrilled to see veganism being taken seriously by the UK’s health services and hospitals. Now we need to get them to serve ONLY vegan food.

If you have a recent positive experience of NHS menus, please share in the comments below. I would love to see how this new way of thinking is spreading around the country.

Vegan in Orlando, Florida

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Earlier this month, I had the good fortune to visit Orlando. This was my first time visiting the city as an adult (and as a vegan) so I was keen to check out all of the food offerings. I stayed with a friend and colleague Randall Abate who does incredible work in the field of Animal Law. Click his name to read more about his work.

The first night, we headed to one of his favourite spots, Ethos Vegan Kitchen… and I can see why he likes it! We started with the garlic knots and sausage rolls. The knots were heavenly with a dense, buttery dough… almost like a croissant, only made better by the garlic dipping butter that they came with. If you ever go to Ethos, you have to order these! The sausage rolls were also incredible. I’m not sure if they were using Tofurky sausages or if Ethos are making their own, but the delicious, meaty seitan filling contrasted perfectly with the flaky pastry and were incredible when dipped into the accompanying Dijon mustard sauce.

For a main, I had a cornbread skillet topped featuring a delicious cornbread base, topped with black beans, vegetables and chunks of tender seitan. It was even served in the skillet pan itself! I also had a garden salad with grilled tofu and ranch dressing which was exquisite. I couldn’t finish everything but the leftover skillet made a fantastic breakfast the next morning!

Of course I couldn’t go home without trying something from their dessert menu but because I was so full, all I could manage was a chocolate chip cookie. It was really good and I wish I could have tried their other desserts like the ice cream sundae or the chocolate Amaretto mousse. I’ll have to go back. Check out Ethos online here.

The next day, I headed to Market on South which is a collective space close to downtown where various vegan businesses are represented. This is such a fabulous idea and I wish every city had one. The two main food vendors are Dixie Dharma (savoury food) and Valhalla Bakery (sweets). Unfortunately I had filled up with leftover cornbread skillet for breakfast (see above) so I didn’t have a huge appetite and only ordered two small sides: the baked mac n’cheese and the crispy Brussels sprouts. Thankfully, the two sides were beyond tasty: the Brussels sprouts were deep fried to perfection and served with an apple cider vinegar reduction. Amazing!

I couldn’t fit in anything else right then and there, but I couldn’t leave Market on South without trying the incredible-looking desserts from Valhalla. Just look at the dessert case photos above. Who could resist temptation like this? I got a ‘Brookie’ to go… it’s a cross between a brownie and a cookie! I had it later that afternoon with a cup of coffee and it was outrageously delicious!

Later that evening, my friend and I had time for a quick bite to eat before driving to Gulfport, so we popped into a branch of worldwide chain Loving Hut… except that this one was called Loving Vegan Market & Cuisine so I’m not sure if they are directly connected to the Loving Hut chain or if they are somewhat affiliated. Anyway, all that mattered to me was they were 100% vegan. The restaurant itself leaves a lot to be desired as it has all of the ambience of a convenience store but thankfully the food was spot-on. They also have several aisles of vegan products for sale so it would be a great place to visit for a snack and to stock up on some vegan staples. Visit Loving Vegan Market & Cuisine online.

The quantity of vegan establishments in Orlando is so numerous, I would need a return visit to cover them all. I barely scratched the surface of what’s out there during this recent trip.

New vegan store West London

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I bring huge vegan news on the daily, but rarely do I get to say that an amazing vegan business is opening just a 15-minute walk from where I live in West London.

VeganHQ is a fully-vegan mini grocery store and takeaway food outlet. It also happens to be London’s very first completely vegan organic coffee shop.

The shop front opened just days ago at 50 St. Mary’s Road in Ealing and I’m thrilled to say it is just a short walk along South Ealing Road from where I live when I’m in London.

VeganHQ is stocked solid with vegan meats, vegan cheeses, chocolate, t-shirts, household products and more!

The food line up sounds like comfort food heaven with hot dogs, hamburgers and kebabs.

The nearest Underground station is South Ealing on the Piccadilly Line. Click here to see the simple walking directions from the station to the store.

The next closest station is Ealing Broadway on the District and Central Lines as well as Mainline trains. Click here to see walking distance to the store from Ealing Broadway.

VeganHQ is open 7 days a week during the day, so please make a big effort to get along to support this 100% vegan business (as well as grab yourself some tasty treats).

Follow VeganHQ on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Extra note: images used in this blog post belong to VeganHQ.

Monthly vegan market in London

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This news is long overdue.

I am proud to announce Hackney Downs Vegan Market, a brand new monthly vegan market showcasing amazing plant-based food and goods.

Hackney Downs Vegan Market is a collaboration between Fat Gay Vegan and Hackney Downs Studios/ Eat Work Art, the site of my now infamous Vegan Christmas Market. On the third Saturday of each month, the vegan market will come alive with some of the finest street traders in the capital.

We will feature some regular, well-known traders in addition to a rotating line up of visitors.

As this is a collaborative project with Hackney Downs Studios, I am responsible for curating 75% of the stallholders.

In the spirit of inclusion and for the promotion of people often overlooked/sidelined at mainstream vegan events, I have earmarked my percentage of stalls for those traders who identify as BME, LGBTQ, people with disabilities and/or as women.

To clarify, this policy ensures that at least nine out of the twelve stalls each month will be owned or co-owned by someone who identifies as BME, LGBTQ, a person with a disability and/or a woman.

The remaining stalls will be filled with resident artists and manufacturers located within Hackney Downs Studios. This will allow for local, onsite traders to access the space even though they might not identify within the above outlines.

The very first Hackney Downs Vegan Market is scheduled for Saturday March 18, 2017. You can RSVP and invite people over on the Facebook event page. This is where I will be posting stall updates and news of available trading space.

If you identify as BME, LGBTQ, a person with a disability and/or a woman and would like to feature your market at Hackney Downs Vegan Market, you can email me at sean@fgvpr.co.uk to find out more information.

Unfortunately we won’t have space for every interested trader, but we will of course be keeping a waiting list and will work hard to include as many people as possible.

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.