My new favourite chocolate

Have you all seen this vegan chocolate in your local shops?

I’m obsessed with this #vegan chocolate by @cocoalibre

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

I picked this bar up in my local Sainsbury’s a few days back and I can’t stop thinking about it ever since.

Cocoa Libre is a gorgeous company in North Somerset making the sweetest range of vegan products. They have chocolate penguins, dark chocolate discs, orange chocolate frogs and a whole bunch of gift boxes.

All of the milk chocolate is made with rice milk and is one of the creamiest and most delightful dairy alternatives I’ve tasted.

You can order the full range from the Cocoa Libre online shop and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.

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Vegan cheese hampers

I adore Vegusto cheese.

This brand is actually one of my all-time favourites. Ever since I first blogged about it way back in 2011, there hasn’t been a week when I haven’t had some Vegusto in my fridge.

Given my unwavering love for this brand, you will understand my excitement at this latest development.

Subscription hampers from Vegusto!

cheese

Click here or on the image above to visit the shop.

Imagine getting a box of this delicious vegan cheese delivered to your house every month! I also like the look of those meal packs featuring the additional ingredients needed to cook up tasty dishes.

Yay for home delivery of vegan cheese!

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Vegan surf camp

What follows on this page is one of my favourite guest posts of all time.

I won’t explain as Elena from The Vegan Society does such an amazing job. My words would only get in the way.

Vegan Surf Camp By Elena Orde from The Vegan Society

Sun, miles and miles of beaches and all the delicious food you can eat… have I got your attention yet? Vegan Surf Camp is a haven for globetrotting vegans, located in the wonderfully green Plage-Moliets in the South of France. The camp runs throughout July and August each year, and I was lucky enough to visit in the second week of their season.

Let’s begin with the important stuff… the incredible food. Each night the staff laid out an array of amazing homemade dishes. A few examples include mushroom and seitan stew, crispy garlic bread, tomato and ‘tofu feta’ salad, vegetable tempura, burgers, fried potatoes, plus the camp’s own vegan mayo, which they literally made by the bucket.

dinner spread plate1 plate3 plate2

As a complete surfing newb I didn’t know how I would take to it. But with the guidance of the surf instructor I actually managed to stand up on the board a handful of times over the course of the week (before plunging into the sea and having a little drink of ocean each time). So I think that counts as a win.

If surfing isn’t your bag, the camp has so much else to offer. You can go for walks along the coast or in the surrounding woodland, become embroiled in ping-pong wars, or lounge around the camp’s outdoor bar in their rainbow-striped hammocks or on their rustic decking complete with cat-patterned upcycled cushions. It’s all gloriously Instagrammable.

beach and vsc flag decking hammock2 surf crew beach

The camp also offers daily outdoor yoga sessions in the woods. What with the warm breeze and the chirruping wildlife, the atmosphere was so relaxing that I found myself dozing off during the end-of-session Savasana. I can definitely get behind a yoga pose which basically consists of having a bit of a lie-down with your eyes closed.

yoga

The only downsides to the camp were due to my own lack of preparation. If you’re going, take suncream. Take a lot of it, and use it. Or you will end up like me, with randomly-placed patches of sunburn from where you fell asleep in the sun and your towel slipped off a bit. Also: come prepared with mozzie repellent. I found myself having some very un-vegan thoughts towards these little guys as they nibbled on me in the evenings.

Members of The Vegan Society receive 5% off their Vegan Surf Camp booking fee, plus hundreds of other great discounts. Sign up here.

Vegan Surf Camp runs throughout July and August each year. Get more details and pricing here: https://envegansummercamp.wordpress.com/

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Vegan jam tarts in UK supermarket

Not a lot of writing with this post but what needs to be said other than VEGAN JAM TARTS?!

Get to Sainsbury’s to try these gluten free, vegan jam tarts. I love them!

Yes! Jam tarts in Sainsbury’s labelled #vegan

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on


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London pub goes meat free

This is a bit unexpected.

Just around the corner from where I currently reside in Brentford/South Ealing is a rather gorgeous pub called The Lord Nelson.

The pub has a particularly attractive beer garden and some awesome entertainment, but what really sets it apart from other watering holes in the city is the fact that every now and then it goes meat free.

With a chef who used to work at Vanilla Black now in charge of food, The Lord Nelson is taking an unusual step for a London pub. Or maybe it isn’t so uncommon now. Do you know of any pubs in the UK doing meat free nights or weeks?

The Lord Nelson has its current meat free menu running until July 23, 2016. Ask to see the special vegan version of the menu when you dine.

Now for some photos!

Drinking a pale ale by @littlecreatures_hk at @thelordnelson #vegan #beer

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

Mock duck curry at @thelordnelson in Brentford #vegan

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

Pulled jackfruit with a chilli sauce at @thelordnelson in Brentford #vegan

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

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Vegan ice cream hot spot in London

I am writing this on the morning of what is set to be the hottest day of the year in London. I debated writing about a few different topics but then decided it could be about nothing but ice cream.

Did you know there is a road in London where there are two shops selling vegan ice cream? Today would be a perfect day to head there.

First up is Juice Baby.

I have raved about this Kings Road eatery in the past, but the addition of gorgeous hand held ice creams makes Juice Baby a must visit destination. No debate.

Josh and I shared the Vanilla & Salted Caramel as well as the Double Choc Chip.

Check it out!

Beating the London heat with amazing #vegan ice creams by @juicebabyuk of Chelsea. Look at that caramel!

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And what else is happening on this Chelsea thoroughfare?

Just short of three blocks along Kings Road is a pop up frozen banana ice cream shop called Nana Nice Cream.

This is where you get banana soft serve in a cup with gourmet toppings. You can also buy take out tubs of various flavours (which are also now being sold in Iceland supermarket stores!).

Look at this soft serve glory I experienced.

Get to Kings Road, Chelsea for some cool treats this Summer.

Nana Nice Cream bar is open until the end of August.

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Vegan fashion sale starts this week!

Do you like nice things? Do you like your nice things to be ethically sourced and made? Then you need to know about this lovely event from House of Tammam in London.

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The central London boutique and ethical bridal shop is hosting a sale that is running from Tuesday July 19 until August 7, 2016.

What’s it all about?

Atelier Tammam opens it’s doors once again for an indie fashion extravaganza. Inviting the best vegan and ethical designers from around the world, find exclusive designs from top talent; Fashion from Nancy Dee, Outsider, Cecilia Hammarborg, Deborah Campbel, Miksani and others. Krausz Jewellery, PoZu, Bourgeois Bohemme and Beyond Skin shoes, Duskies sunglasses and many more incredible sustainable designers.

If you want to feel like a super special VIP, grab yourself a £10 ticket to a special friends and family night this Friday July 22, 2016.

This exclusive party runs between 4:30 and 8:30pm and includes complimentary wine, vegan treats and 10% off everything in store.

This is one party vegan fashionistas will not want to miss. Book your ticket now and RSVP to the 3-week long fashion event on Facebook.

Like the House of Tammam Facebook page.

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My first Zizzi visit

My blog post about the vegan menu at Zizzi a little while back blew up big time. People love reading about vegan pizza!

I wrote that first post while I was still in Mexico, so one of my first jobs to get done upon my arrival in London was a trip to my local Zizzi.

Oh my!

Checking out the #vegan menu at @wearezizzi in Chiswick right now!

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

Guzzling this #vegan berry cider by @aspalluk at @wearezizzi in Chiswick

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

This #vegan pizza at @wearezizzi is DELICIOUS. Check out that @mozzarisella melted all over!

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

Vegan cider and vegan pizza? I was in heaven.

I thought the pizza was one of the finest I’ve had in a long while, but not pictured here is the rather dull vegan garlic bread. It had no discernible flavour. We thought we had been given plain bread and, when we asked our server, we were told the kitchen had rubbed garlic across the bread. It must have barely touched it!

The bread was the only disappointment in an otherwise gorgeous meal. The Mozzarisella cheese is perfection when melted.

Yay for vegan options at Zizzi!

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Vegan chocolate in Co-op

Need a quick chocolate fix?

Drop into your nearest Co-operative supermarket for a bag of these cocoa butter and rice flour chocolate buttons.

They are gorgeous.

London Vegan Beer Fest recovery with #vegan chocolate buttons.

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

Tasty and only 49p!

Extra note: this photo originally appeared on my Instagram account.

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Gorgeous range of condiments

I’m back in the UK after six months in Mexico, so of course one of my top priorities is catching up on all the vegan grocery developments I’ve missed.

Like this!

waitrose

This range of condiments by Providence Deli caught my eye during a recent stop at my nearest Waitrose supermarket.

Onion relish, black olive paste, basil pesto and those gorgeous-looking tomatoes all had my mouth watering.

I quickly discovered that each and every jar in this range is labelled as being suitable for vegans. I guess that means I should really try them all, right?

You can visit Providence Deli online.

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