New vegan cheese launch

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London, hold steady when you read this news.

One of the best vegan cheeses I have ever tasted is launching in the capital tomorrow (Saturday September 24, 2016) and you will be kicking yourself if you don’t make an effort to get some.

I first tried Mouse’s Favourite at the Viva! show in Brighton a few weeks back and was beyond blown away. Their Camembert is probably one of the finest vegan cheeses on the planet.

camembert

Rarely do you get a plant-based product this outstanding and now you can buy some of the good stuff for your very own.

Get along to GreenBay Supermarket on Saturday for a world exclusive as the makers of Mouse’s Favourite cheese set up a tasting station from midday and sell their finery in a retail setting for the first time ever.

Check out what the company had to say about the launch event:

This Saturday at GreenBay we are giving out samples of Mouse’s Favourite for customers to try. The samples on offer will be our newest cheese, Camembert, as well as our Cider Washed Rind, Almond Pyramid, Original Cream and Smokey Cream. This is almost our complete range except for the Rich Aged Dulse which won’t be aged in time.
We are very excited about Saturday because it will be the first time ever that our cheese is available in a shop, and not just any shop, we couldn’t be more delighted that it’s in GreenBay the newly opened 100% vegan store. All the above cheeses will be available for purchase (again except for the Rich Aged Dulse – but it will be in the future).
Having Mouse’s Favourite in GreenBay is the culmination of 5 years of research and development by Gabrielle to produce the finest quality ‘cheese’ made from the best possible ingredients. The production processes and techniques mirror the traditional craft of hand made cheesemaking wherever possible.  We have both been vegan for ten years and believe that you don’t have to sacrifice anything or feel like you are missing out. As well as perfecting the taste and texture, we have tried to make a product every bit as alluring and beautiful and varied in range as dairy cheese. Vegetarians often cite cheese as the one food that they couldn’t do without, the one thing stopping them becoming vegan. It’s a gratifying thought that our cheese could help people along on their journey.

Wow. Let’s take a look at some of those other cheeses.

almondpyramid cashew_cream_cheese_packaging washed_rind_cashew_cheese_slice

From top: Almond Pyramid, Cashew Cream Cheese and Washed Rind Cashew Cheese.

Be one of the first people in London to get your hands on Mouse’s Favourite at GreenBay Supermarket tomorrow from midday. Be quick. This stuff is going to fly out the door, especially that Camembert.

You can visit Mouse’s Favourite online, follow them on Instagram and like them on Facebook.

You can also get details about GreenBay online and follow them on Twitter or Instagram, as well as like them on Facebook.

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Indian cooking class this weekend!

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If you want to learn how to cook gorgeous, mouthwatering vegan Indian food, I’m sure your first point of call in London should be Nishma Shah.

This Saturday (September 24, 2016) you can join Nishma for a wonderful culinary adventure as she teaches you the ins and outs of Indian home cooking.

shambhu-panel

The following is lifted from the event description:

This is a prime opportunity to learn some authentic Indian home cookery, from Shambhu’s chef Nishma Shah. Nishma is of Indian heritage, has been immersed in Indian culture all her life and is proud of it, and importantly loves making and teaching delicious plant-based Indian food.

The class price is £40 and includes refreshments, food tasting and even a container of leftovers (if you all don’t eat everything there and then).

The class is limited to 12 people and can be booked online here.

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Vegan cake in the country

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Wanna try and stop the vegan food revolution sweeping the UK? I pity the fool!

There is now a vegan cake and coffee shop in the Yorkshire village of Mytholmroyd in Hebden Bridge!

My Kind of Cake is now serving all manner of sweet bakes including cheesecake, Victoria sponge, coffee & walnut plus so many more. It sounds like cake heaven.

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The shop is a 40-minute drive west of Leeds (just past Halifax) so it might feel a little off most radars, but the area is gorgeous and well worth a sightseeing weekend. Keep driving another hour after Hebden Bridge and you’ll find yourself in Manchester, so there is plenty to see and do in that part of the world.

You can visit My Kind of Cake online and like them on Facebook.

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Hollywood actor proudly vegan

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I spend far too much time reading Hollywood gossip sites but sometimes I get a little bit more than procrastination out of the activity.

I’ve just read an interview with actor Harley Quinn Smith in which she talks about her veganism.

My favourite part of the interview (which you can read in full on Just Jared) reads:

Initially, it was very difficult to say goodbye to cheese and ice cream, but honestly there are SO many amazing vegan options that at this point in the game I don’t even really miss non vegan food! If you stop thinking as vegan food as a replacement, but instead you start thinking of it as it’s own thing, it will become a lot easier to commit.

Great advice!

harley-quinn-vegan

Harley Quinn Smith has starred in several feature films written and directed by her father, Kevin Smith. This includes the comedy Yoga Hosers released this year.

You can follow Harley Quinn Smith on Instagram.

Yay for Hollywood vegans!

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More vegan Quorn products

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It seems the major vegetarian food brands are in a race to bring out more and more vegan products. The tide is turning at a rapid rate for plant-based supermarket products and I can hardly keep up.

A few days ago I reported on new vegan soups by Quorn while only yesterday I posted about new products suitable for vegans by Linda McCartney Foods.

Now Quorn are back at it again with these new breaded fillets, popping up in mainstream supermarkets everywhere this week.

new-quorn

Have you tried this new item? What did you think? Sound off in the comments below!

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New vegan products by Linda McCartney

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Finally.

After baffling us with new products that were almost vegan for so long, Linda McCartney Foods has launched four new items onto the market that are completely plant-based.

Check them out.

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If the image above isn’t showing clearly let me tell you the range now includes vegetarian chorizo & red pepper sausages, vegetarian shredded hoisin duck, vegetarian beef burrito mix and vegetarian pulled chicken.

Reports have been coming in that all of these are in shops right now, so keep a keen eye out during your next shopping trip and let us know what you think when you get your hands on them.

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Vegan in Vegas

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Regular FGV reader Ari wanted to share her experiences of vegan food in Las Vegas.

Check it out!

On a trip to Fremont Street in downtown, we visited The Container Park (think UK’s box parks) to catch lunch at Simply Pure, a vegan semi-raw food joint. A menu by Stacey Dougan consists of tacos, wraps and grilled cheese. My hubbie and I went for the crowd favourite, Ultimate Sampler, because variety wins in my books and this eliminated my affliction of food envy. 

The Ultimate Sampler consisted of Zucchini Pasta Trio, Nacho Grande, Jicama Chili Cheese Fries and Asian ‘Chicken’ Lettuce-Wrapped Tacos. The Nachos Grande with ‘beef’ and ‘cheese’ (cashew sauce) was the stand out on the plate although all the sauces were good. I’m pretty sure I let out an mmmhhh after the first nacho. Courgetti is never one to get my eco-engine going but this was the best courgetti/zucchini pasta I’ve tasted. Usually my hopes of good courgetti are dashed with slime and blandness. None of that here!

Upon leaving the container park, something caught my eye… The sign outside gourmet hot dog, Cheffini’s, read ‘VEGAN’. Hello! It would have been rude to ignore.

See the 'vegan' on the chalkboard!
See the ‘vegan’ on the chalkboard? You might have to squint.

Of the many options of which they can make vegan, we had to choose something a bit simpler as the intention was to leave with a regular vegan dog to-go for an afternoon nosh. No funny business. However, ‘vegan Salchipapa’ (deep fried vegan hot dog bits served over french fries!) caught my eye at the final hurdle.

Vegan Salchipapa from Cheffinis
Vegan Salchipapa from Cheffinis

I choose the pineapple sauce (instead of the included signature sauce which has mayo). Excellent sauce choice for the dog and fries. If only there was more time to try their different creations and sauces… a good problem to have.

Other vegan haunts to visit if you’re in Las Vegas are:

Ronald’s Donuts – retro, basic shop a couple of miles from the strip with two vegan options – glazed and soy cream – on my visit (menu changes daily). Amazingly light, fresh and very tasty. 

Settebello – Italian chain restaurant with decent vegan options.

Buffet at the Wynn – delicious vegan options clearly marked and staff can identity dishes for you. The spring rolls will make you wonder if you can sneak any in your purse. Incidentally, since Steve Wynn went vegan he has ensured that all food outlets in the Wynn hotel/casino have good vegan options!

Thanks, Ari. Sounds like you had some fantastic eating experiences in Vegas.

Of course Ari only just scratched the surface of vegan food options in Las Vegas. If you are heading their for a visit, make sure you take a look at Happycow to find out everything plant-based on offer.

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Quorn launch vegan soups

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Oh!

I’ve never eaten vegan Quorn but seeing as news of their brand almost broke my blog last time, I figured you would all want to know about this development.

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The Quorn Facebook page states these are available in Sainsbury’s right now.

Both of these soups feature the vegan Quorn pieces. This is a perfect example of how huge corporations are responding to vegan demands. If it makes money for them, they will do it.

What do you think?

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Vegan hairdresser

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We all like to buy dairy-free custard and long ago we gave up meat, but how far can we go to remove animal exploitation from our lives?

Well, the next step for a lot of us will be only choosing vegan hairdressers to style us. If you go to a hair salon and can afford it, why not choose vegan?

Maddy reached out to me this week to let me know about her fabulous vegan hair styling service in Oswestry, Shropshire.

This is what she had to say:

I’m Maddy, a vegan hairdresser passionate about trying to do as much as I can to ensure my work impacts as little as possible on the environment.

The plant-based revolution is picking up huge momentum over recent years and I want to join in and help be the change.

I’m lucky enough to have the most amazing bunch of clients and although a lot aren’t vegan, they totally embrace my choices and the vegan element to my work. I’ve noticed they’ll tell me about their personal changes towards a cruelty free lifestyle too.

I have looked at all aspects of my work to see what I can do from products to printing, refreshments to washing powder. For me it has been a process of breaking everything down and building it all back together to make sure every part is cruelty free.

If you’re looking for a forward thinking stylist, look for a salon that stocks and uses Organic Colour Systems; British made, organic, cruelty free products.

You can visit Maddy’s Facebook page here.

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Next level vegan cake

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There is only one place in the UK where you can buy the following cakes this weekend and that is Manchester Vegan Beer Fest.

Check this out.

brownie-1 cheesecake

I’ll give you a moment to regain composure….

OK.

These stunning cake creations are handcrafted by the talented Vanessa Almeida of Essential Vegan and will be served on both Saturday and Sunday as part of Manchester Vegan Beer Fest.

Vanessa is the exclusive sweet food trader at the event so she is making sure she is bringing her A game.

There will be the luscious brownie with chocolate sauce and strawberry coulis, as well the the gluten free passionfruit cheesecake. Not pictured is the stunning eclair which will also be making an appearance.

Not only will Vanessa be serving up these world class vegan cakes, she will also give happy drinkers pairing suggestions. Yes, buy a beer and a cake that work together to make you even more satisfied!

Manchester Vegan Beer Fest also welcomes V-Revolution and Mother•May•I as they serve savoury food. You can see the full beer list here.

Tickets for the event are just £4 (plus tiny booking fee) in advance or £7 on the door if we have space. Book now. You can RSVP to the Facebook event and invite friends.

mvbflandscape

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