New vegan business in Cornwall

Come on, people. If you don’t have a 100% vegan café in your town in this day and age, you had better get busy opening one yourself.

The UK is exploding with vegan eateries and I am struggling to keep up with reporting on them all.

Next up? The Cornish town of Truro!

The Cornish Vegan is a super cute looking plant-based café set to fling open its doors tomorrow (Tuesday September 13, 2016). I can’t wait to see food photos start to flow out of this place and I’m thrilled for all the compassionate diners across Cornwall who now have another option on their doorstep.

Loving our new shop front with our logo! #thecornishvegan #truro #vegancornwall

A photo posted by The Cornish Vegan (@the.cornish.vegan) on


You can see the exact location of The Cornish Vegan on Google Maps.

Visit The Cornish Vegan online, follow them on Twitter, follow them on Instagram and like them on Facebook.

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ANOTHER London café turns vegan

The plat based news keeps rolling in at breakneck speed.

Salad Pride is a café and eatery situated in Neal’s Yard, slap bang in the middle of the Covent Garden district of central London.

They recently announced via their social media they are now 100% plant based!

Check out the Instagram announcement below:


How cool!

Get over to the Salad Pride website to check out their menu. Follow them on Instagram and Twitter, and of course like them on Facebook.

Click here to see their location on Google Maps.

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Café in London turns vegan

I don’t know a lot about Love and Scandal in Waterloo, but I do know the central London café is turning into a 100% vegan establishment.

Big news, right?!

Check out the post below that recently appeared on their Instagram account.


It looks as though you can drop in from Monday September 12, 2016 and everything will be plant based.

This is top news for lots of reasons. Obviously the most important yay! is for compassion and animals, but also yay! for something vegan near Waterloo station.

Follow Love and Scandal on Instagram and Twitter.

Click here to see where Love and Scandal is located.

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Eat well in Manchester

I was passing through Manchester a few weeks back and made time for Lotus Vegetarian Kitchen, a restaurant I had heard so much about but never quite got my act together to try.

But finally I made it and I’m so delighted I did.

The menu is extensive and packed solid with all the types of food I love. Sizzling plates. Fried rice. Noodles. Mock meats. Fried wonton. Lotus has it all.

Check out what was on my table, including the hollowed out pineapple filled with fried rice! Also, I’ve started with this super cute serving of fruit that was delivered to our table for free. So rad.

6-fruit 5-pineapple 4-noodles 3-sizzling-plate 2-dumplings 1-lotus

The food at Lotus is superb. It would be my favourite place to dine if I lived nearby.

One curious point is why the restaurant isn’t 100% vegan. I can’t see what on the menu couldn’t be vegan. There is already no cheese. Hope it can iron out any honey-related issues (or whatever it is) soon. It would be fab to be able to visit it knowing it was totally plant-based. However, most of the menu is vegan and clearly marked as such so get on with it.

Visit Lotus Vegetarian Kitchen online for opening hours and location.

Extra note: I think Lotus is the perfect place for a Manchester Vegan Beer Fest recovery dinner. Save me a seat!

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Beer list for Manchester Vegan Beer Fest

Sink your teeth into this amazing list.

(Tickets for this event available here. Saturday is more than half sold out, so be quick if you want to be there on the first day. Once it sells out, there won’t be tickets on the door.)

Now for the beers!

MANCHESTER

  • BAD SEED – HEFEWEIZEN – wheat beer – 5.1% ABV – citrus, spice, vanilla, clove – KEG
  • BEER NOUVEAU – SISTER TO NUN – pale ale – 4.9% ABV – very floral hoppy pale ale – KEG
  • BEER NOUVEAU – T EIPA – international IPA – 6.6% ABV – sweet, hoppy finish – KEG
  • BLACKJACK – BRAMLING CROSS – amber – 4.0% ABV – mid-tan, light berry notes – CASK
  • CHORLTON – VIENNA DARK – red Germanic – 7.4% ABV – full bodied dark ale – KEG
  • CHORLTON – WAIMEA SOUR – single hop sour – 5.6% ABV – medium bodied sour pale ale – BOTTLE
  • CLOUDWATER – SORACHI ACE GRISETTE – Saison – 3.5% ABV – light, dry, peppery – CASK
  • CLOUDWATER – BRETTED CREAM ALE – sour cream ale – 4.8% ABV – soft, haystack, lemony – KEG
  • MARBLE – TE ARAI NEW ZEALAND PILS – pilsner – fresh crisp limes – KEG
  • MARBLE – PINT – pale ale – light malt, dry, citrus – CASK
  • RUNAWAY – SUMMER SAISON – Saison – 4.2% ABV – peppery, mild citrus, refreshing – KEG
  • SEVEN BROTHERS – WATERMELON WHEAT – wheat beer – 4.5% ABV – wheaty with a hint of watermelon – KEG

LONDON

  • BREW BUDDIES – MOSAIC PALE ALE – pale ale – 4.5% ABV – single hop mosaic, tropical fruits, woody, pine – CASK
  • BRIXTON – LOW VOLTAGE – session IPA – 4.3% ABV – magnum, columbus, simcoe, mosaic hoppiness – KEG
  • CLARKSHAWS – GORGONS ALIVE – amber ale – 4.0% ABV – malty hoppy loveliness – CASK
  • CLARKSHAWS – STEAM BEER – hybrid – 3.9% ABV – lovely half lager half ale – CASK
  • 5 POINTS – RAILWAY PORTER – porter – 4.0% ABV – chocolate, coffee, caramel, nice hop – CASK
  • MONCADA – RED RUBY – red ale – 5.0% ABV – red beer with rye malt – CASK
  • ORBIT – NEU            – German alt – 4.7% ABV – creamy, nutty, dry – KEG
  • ORBIT – NICO – German Klon – 4.8% ABV – light crisp fragrant- KEG
  • REDCHURCH – PARADISE – pale apa – 3.7% ABV – mosaic, chinook, columbus hoppiness – KEG
  • REDEMPTION – ROCK THE KAZBEK – blond beer – 4.0% ABV – pale ale Czech hops lemony zesty – CASK
  • WEIRD BEARD – MARIANA TRENCH – pale ale – 5.3% ABV – mango, kiwi, grapefruit flavours & aromas – BOTTLE
  • WEIRD BEARD – ATTACK OF THE RYECLOPS – rye beer – 5.5% ABV – dried grass, orange zest, peppery rye – CASK

YORKSHIRE

  • NORTHERN MONK- TRUE NORTH – pale ale – 3.7% ABV – British pale ale with USA twist, orange & pine notes – KEG
  • NORTHERN MONK – COMMUNION – pale ale – 5.1% ABV – fruit gum, tropical fruits, malty sweetness – CANS
  • BRASS CASTLE – COMET – blond ale – 4.3% ABV – golden beer tropical fruit flavours – KEG

SOMERSET

  • WIPER AND TRUE – KALAIDESCOPE – pale ale – 4.0% ABV – blueberry mango, orange citrus – BOTTLE
  • WIPER AND TRUE – KIWI LILT – pale ale – 5.8% ABV – tropical fruit & pine flavours – BOTTLE
  • MOOR – UNION’HOP – pale ale – 4.1% ABV – Honeydew Melon, citrus, apricot & peach hops, malt sweetness – KEG

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

  • STROUD – GOLDEN FRINGE – pale ale – 3.8% ABV – fruity, nice bitter finish – CASK
  • WILD BEER – WILD GOOSE CHASE – sour pale – 4.5% ABV – tart, fruity gooseberries – KEG

ESSEX

  • COLCHESTER – CENOSILLCAPHOBIA – pale ale – 3.8% ABV – excellent hoppy pale ale – CASK
  • BILLERICAY RHYTHM STICK – amber ale – 4.8% ABV – malty earth bitterness – CASK
  • GREEN JACK – RED HERRINGS – smoked red ale – 5.0% ABV – smoked malts, fruity smoky beer – CASK
  • GEORGES – COCKLEBOAT – amber ale – 4.0% ABV – chestnut red, grassy hops – CASK
  • PITFIELD – 1850 LONDON PORTER – porter – 5.0% ABV – chocolate currant flavours – KEG/BOTTLE
  • DOMINION – WOODBINE RACER – American pale ale – 4.2% ABV – honey sweet, tropical fruit hops – KEG/BOTTLE
  • DOMINION – FAT GAY VEGAN BEER – salt & lime – 4.5% ABV – salty pale ale with a lime twist – CASK
  • PITFIELD – SEA SHEPHERD OCEAN WARRIOR – pale ale – 4.5% ABV- malty sweet, light citrus finish – CASK/BOTTLE
  • RED FOX – BLACK FOX PORTER – porter – 4.8% ABV – rich flavoured black beer with smooth chocolate notes – CASK

SUFFOLK

  • GRAIN – BLONDE ASH – wheat beer – 4.0% ABV – cloudy wheat beer, bubblegum, orange, coriander flavours – CASK

EAST MIDLANDS

  • TWISTED BARREL – BEAST OF A MIDLANDS MILD – mild – 3.5% ABV – chocolate vanilla coffee – KEG

BERKSHIRE

  • WILD WEATHER – BOHEMIAN LIKE YOU – oatmeal pale ale – 2.9% ABV – Honeydew melon, cantaloupes & freshly peeled grapes – KEG

Drink up, friends!

mvbflandscape

Vegan event in Bristol

Are you anywhere near Bristol on Sunday September 11, 2016? You need to get along to this rad event.

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Firstly, how can you go past an event called Absolutely Fabulous Vegan Festival? You would have to be a monster of a person to pass this by.

Secondly, what an awesome line up of food vendors!

There is set to be pizza, raw cheesecakes, donuts, corn dogs, burgers and so much more. I would be all over this event if I was in Bristol.

Get along and RSVP to the Facebook event page.

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Seaside vegan food

How about vegan food from a waterside business?

Potato Tomato are offering just that as a completely plant-based caterer based in Whitstable Bay, Kent.

I asked owner Niki for a bit of insight into what she does and why:

I started the business in May this year when I needed a new challenge. My first event was the Kent Vegan festival where I shared a stall with Compassion Cakes.

We advertised a vegan pop up for the end of May which was a big success. We did an afternoon tea and then a three course meal in the evening.

Potato Tomato now has a permanent base in the Harbour Market Whitstable. We’ve had a really successful summer selling salads alongside hot foods such as our double stack cheeseburger, pulled jackfruit and seitan skewers. We also stock brownies, blondies and lemon drizzle from Compassion Cakes.

I love chatting to the people who come to the hut. Having been vegan since I was a baby I’ve grown up feeling like the only vegan in the village (except for my sister) so it’s really great seeing how many people are now vegan. I definitely feel positive for the future of the business as the vegan movement is growing all the time. We now have seating at the Hut so I am excited about the events I can put on over the coming months and I am looking forward to expanding and developing the menu.

Sounds fab. You should follow Potato Tomato on Facebook.

Now for some photos!

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Hot vegan breakfast

Why is it so tough to get a cooked breakfast?

The UK is famous all over the world for fry ups and cooked breakfasts, so you think it would be an easy task to find a quality vegan version.

Not so. I can’t really think of any in London that I would rave about. Please correct me if I’m mistaken.

A few weeks back I did stumble across a delightful vegan breakfast in a vegetarian café in Lancaster called The Whale Tail Café.

Check it out!

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It wasn’t complicated but it was expertly put together.

Sausages, tofu, beans, hash browns, tomatoes, mushrooms and a side of toast. It was perfect.

Visit The Whale Tail Café online and visit for this satisfying meal soon.

And…

Pop your recommendations into the comments for fab vegan breakfasts.

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Vegan chocolate factory open day

How about all your dreams coming true at once?

Chocolate-producing heroes Ethicoco are flinging open the doors to their factory for one day only and it sounds like quite the event.

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Check out what they have to say about their open day taking place on Saturday September 24, 2016:

Hampshire’s only chocolate factory is opening its doors for a limited time, offering you a glimpse into the workings of a successful independent business and one-man (and his daughter) empire.

Alongside exploring the delights of Ethicoco’s one-of-a-kind bean to bar chocolate, the event will also include a delicious vegan BBQ, absolutely free; as well as a cash bar.

Join us to learn more about successfully running your own business, the art of chocolate making, or just to enjoy some excellent food and drink. As an added bonus, the first ten people to arrive on the day will each receive a gift bag of chocolates!

This sounds like a fantastic day out.

What’s not to love? A chocolate factory, a free vegan BBQ and a cash bar!

RSVP to the Facebook event here. Visit the Ethicoco website to find out more info on their range.

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Diwana Bhel Poori House on Drummond Street

Post by:

josh panel

Last month I had a quick slap-up dinner with my friend Ari before seeing the amazing band Slaves. We decided to try one of the vegetarian Indian restaurants on Drummond Street. We had previously been underwhelmed by Chutneys so we decided to give Diwana Bhel Poori House a go.

Diwana bhel puri houseWe started with Bhel-Poori and Bhajya…

bhel pooriThe Bhel-Poori was a delightful mixture of textures and flavours. Crunchy crushed fried poori and puffed rice contrasted with soft cooked potato, onion and chilli, all bathed in a delightful sweet and sour sauce. I could have ordered another portion!

bhajyaThe bhajya (or bhajis as I normally see it written) were perfectly crispy and crunchy on the outside and soft and satisfying on the inside.

Following our delicious starters, we shared a Thali as a main and it did not disappoint.

thaliFilled with a generous quantity of food, the Thali contained three delicious curries, a creamy and tasty dhal, more bhajya, puris and rice. Everything tasted exceptional!

I would definitely head back to Diwana Bhel Poori House and recommend that you do too!

Visit Diwana Bhel Puri House online or follow them on Twitter.

P.S. Why doesn’t London have a 100% vegan Indian restaurant??

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