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.
Tasty and only 49p!
Extra note: this photo originally appeared on my Instagram account.
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!
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.
FGV beer
There is big news and then there is ENORMOUS news.
In conjunction with The Dominion Brewery Company (home of Pitfield), I am beyond thrilled to announce a beer called Fat Gay Vegan.
Yes, that’s correct. My very own vegan beer.
My love affair with Mexico has inspired my first beer.
A lot of Mexicans are partial to salt in their beer. This was first introduced to me by my friend Julio almost 7 years ago in a gay bar in Mexico City and I was instantly smitten.
When it came to making my own beer, I wanted to reference this Mexican style so ended up with one of the most delicious drinks around by combining pale ale, pink salt and fresh lime juice.
My buddy Laurie of mega-rad band SLAVES heard about my foray into beer production and was keen to get involved. Laurie is an incredibly talented artist with a style I can’t get enough of, so his take of me in a Mexican wrestling mask for my beer label is a dream come true. (Laurie has his first solo art show next month in Edinburgh!)
Bottles of Fat Gay Vegan pale ale are set to start rolling out across London and then the UK in a few weeks but if you can’t wait that long, you are in good fortune.
London Vegan Beer Fest is the first place anywhere in the world you can get a taste of this new beer. Andy from Dominion has kindly organised a strictly limited cask of Fat Gay Vegan to be served at the event on Saturday July 16, 2016.
Be one of the first people on the planet to try Fat Gay Vegan beer!
Please note that there is only one cask of Fat Gay Vegan beer being served. This is a special preview of my beer and it will probably go quickly (mostly into my belly). Be early if you want to buy a pint of Fat Gay Vegan.
Online tickets for London Vegan Beer Fest are only £5 plus small booking fee. Buy them now!
Beer talks this weekend!
London Vegan Beer Fest isn’t just a place where you drink, eat and have a fab time. You can also learn stuff.
I’m absolutely thrilled to announce Oliver Coningham as a very special guest at our event this Saturday July 12, 2016.
Oliver knows a lot about beer and enjoys sharing his expertise and passion for the good stuff with others. It is for these very reasons we have asked Oliver to host two information sessions during London Vegan Beer Fest.
Session one taking place at 1pm will suit beer know-it-alls and novices alike as Oliver runs the assembled drinkers through the A-to-Z of vegan beer. Why is vegan beer vegan? Why is beer sometimes not vegan? How is vegan beer made? You’ll find this talk fascinating and it will equip you with all the info you need to go forward in life as a vegan beer expert.
Session two at around 4pm is set to feature Oliver telling you everything you need to know about different varieties of beer. Don’t know how to tell a porter from a stout or an IPA from a lager? This session will have you feeling like a beer expert in no time. Your new party trick down the pub will be explaining the brewing process for every drink being poured within your vicinity.
Oliver’s talks will be taking place in the gorgeous Galley, a stunning dining room featuring Thames views from every position. Sip your beer as you listen to our expert talk and make sure you come armed with some questions to ask. Buy your London Vegan Beer Fest tickets now.
Make sure you visit Oliver’s brand new beer and food pairing website called The Fork & Carrot. You’ll find reviews, event news and more. You can also follow Fork & Carrot on Facebook and Twitter.
You can see the full list of beers being served at London Vegan Beer Fest here and the full food menu here. Tickets are £5 in advance online or £8 on the day depending on available space.
RSVP and invite friends on the Facebook event page.
German vegan in London
I know I wrote about Bavarian Beerhouse and its vegan menu a little while back, but after visiting for myself a few nights ago I really wanted to sing its praises again.
This German bar with locations near Tower Hill and Old Street is maybe not where you’d expect to find plant-based cuisine. The non-vegan menu is all animal meat in different forms but surprisingly there are three vegan plates on the menu.
Check out what we got stuck into during our visit.
A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on
Hey?! What do you think?
That currywurst changed my life for the better. I can’t stop thinking about it.
You can visit Bavarian Beerhouse online.
Beer at London Vegan Beer Fest
Each year at London Vegan Beer Fest we have at least a few attendees who attempt to taste all the beer on offer.
All I can say for anyone looking to achieve this feat in 2016 is good luck.
Look at the line up of beer from some of the most-celebrated craft brewers in the London area. Buy your £5 online tickets here and start your drinking plans now!
Pressure Drop is a small, independent brewery operating out of a railway arch in Hackney. I am thrilled to have them represented at the event this year.
Wu Gang Chops The Tree 3.8%ABV (bottles) – foraged herb Hefeweisse – great with curry
Pale Fire 4.8%ABV (bottles) – fresh and tasty pale ale
Bosko 6.5%ABV (bottles) – sweet and hoppy IPA
Nanban Kanpai 6.5%ABV (bottles) – wheat IPA with yuzu, orange and grapefruit
Look who’s back! Moncada are one of the superstar breweries from London Vegan Beer Fest of years gone past and we have their beer again in 2016. You gotta try that Blonde.
Notting Hill Blonde 4.2%ABV (bottles) – light body/citrus and herbal hop aroma
Notting Hill Amber 4.7%ABV (bottles) – strong malt backbone & smooth caramel finish
Notting Hill Stout 5.0%ABV (bottles) – dark & velvety with defined roasted flavour
Beavertown is one of the most popular and loved indie breweries around so it makes perfect sense that their beer is at London Vegan Beer Fest on July 16. Stout in a can? Heaven!
Neck Oil 4.3%ABV (keg) – all day easy drinking IPA
Gamma Ray 5.4%ABV (cans) – juicy tropical with aromas of mango & grapefruit
Holy Cowbell 5.6%ABV (cans) – Indian stout style that is extra hoppy
Black Betty 7.4%ABV (cans) – Black India pale ale with aniseed tones
Smog Rocket 5.4%ABV (keg) – a smoked porter inspired by London smog
Orbit Brewery takes my two loves of music and beer to create a range of sonically-inspired brews that are brewed and bottled in SE17.
Neu Altbier 4.7%ABV (keg) – Malty, bitter, nutty & dry
Nico Köln Style Lager 4.8%ABV (bottles) – light, crisp & fragrant
Ivo Pale Ale 5.3%ABV (bottles) – elegant & aromatic
Peel Blonde Ale 4.3%ABV (bottles) – light bitter ale with lemons & peppery notes
Blast from the past! Five Points Brewery were at the very first London Vegan Beer Fest back in 2013. Their beer disappeared from our radar for a few years but now they are back in the mix. If you are new to this brewery, you will be blown away.
Pale 4.4%ABV (keg) – fresh, zesty & aromatic pale ale
Hook Island Red 6.0%ABV (bottles) – full bodied red rye ale bursting with flavour
IPA 7.1%ABV (cans) – lush & flavoursome IPA with tropical notes
Railway Porter 4.8%ABV (bottles) – classic London porter with hints of caramel & coffee
London Smoke 7.8%ABV (bottles) – Imperial Porter with smoked barley & wheat malts
This next brewery is an FGV favourite. Partizan from Bermondsey knocked our socks off last year so it was crucial that we saw their beer again in 2016.
Saison Raspberry & Lemon 4.0%ABV (bottles) – a summery beer where the name says it all
Pale Ale 5.8%ABV (bottles) – citrus aromas with sherbet & straw
X Ale 6.3%ABV (bottles) – malty chocolate taste with dark fruits
Indian Pale Ale 6.5%ABV (bottles) – classic IPA with dry aromas
Redchurch is an East London favourite only steps from Bethnal Green Underground. They serve up some of the most-loved brews on the eastside and I am thrilled to welcome their beers back to London Vegan Beer Fest in 2016. They are always a crowd favourite.
Paradise Pale Ale 3.7%ABV (bottles) – American style pale ale with intense hop character
Bethnal Pale Ale 5.5%ABV (bottles) – juicy fruit-packed pale ale with a huge hoppy nose
Hoxton Stout 5.9%ABV (bottles) – a deep black dry stout with complex malt flavours
Urban Farmhouse Saison 3.8%ABV (bottles) – seasonal packed packed with Summer aromas
Fourpure is a London-based family brewery with some of the tastiest drinks in the capital. A real favourite with vegans around the city.
Beartooth Brown Ale 5.3%ABV (cans) – flavours of caramel, chocolate & light coffee
Brewery Oatmeal Stout 5.1%ABV (cans) – fullbodied & creamy with chocolate & coffee aromas
Pils 4.7%ABV (keg) – dry crisp & refreshing with a spicy aroma
Session IPA 4.2%ABV (keg) – big & bold IPA with a powerful hit of hops
Flatiron American Red 4.7%ABV (keg) – malty & hoppy with notes of caramel & toffee
Savour Beer is a fabulous collection of beers designed to promote produce and produce farmers. It’s farmhouse brewing crashlanding in 2016 and it’s wonderful!
Saison 5.0%ABV (bottles) – floral, lemongrass & citrus notes
Blonde 5.8%ABV (bottles) – pine & floral notes with a biscuit sweetness
Dubbel 7.0%ABV (bottles) – burnt caramel & dark fruits with smooth maltiness
Sparkling Beer 10.5%ABV (bottles) – floral, spicy, rich & smooth
The Kernel Brewery is one of the true superstars of the local beer landscape. When you ask ‘what’s good?’ in a craft beer bar, the server often points you toward The Kernel.
Table beer 3.3%ABV (bottles) – fresh green vibrant aroma with citrus notes
Pale Ale 5.1%ABV (bottles) – premium hoppy pale ale
Indian Pale Ale 6.6%ABV (bottles) – dry & fruity with a refreshing dry finish
Export Indian Porter 6.5%ABV (bottles) – cocoa, roses & a hint of orange
1890 Export Stout 7.0%ABV (bottles) – huge dark taste with rum, raisin & smokey espresso
I adore that Howling Hops brew in an old Victorian warehouse in Hackney Wick, just as much as I adore their unique and delicious brews.
Bohemian Pils 4.6%ABV (bottles) – Pale, light & crisp Czech-style lager
Farmhouse Saison 5.5%ABV (bottles) – Seasonal Summer beer
Pale XX 5.0%ABV (bottles) – strong pale ale
IPA 7.2%ABV (bottles) – Gold IPA with fruity aromas
Good beers are brewed all over London, but something special is going on south of the Thames thanks to Brixton Brewery.
Reliance Pale Ale 4.2%ABV (bottles) – biscuit malt with pine & citrus aromas
Atlantic American Pale Ale 5.4%ABV (bottles) – bold bursts of citrus & tropical fruit
Effra Amber Ale 4.5%ABV (bottles) – zesty, dark & smooth
Windrush Stout 5.0%ABV (bottles) – rich, chocolatey & smooth
This is a London Vegan Beer Fest special announcement. New Zealand beer superstars Yeastie Boys are represented at our event in 2016!
Pot Kettle Black 6.0%ABV (bottles) – Porter described as ‘mindbendingly delicious’
Gunnamatta 6.5%ABV (bottles) – Earl Grey IPA with a bold floral nose
Phew! What a list.
There will also be bottles of cider plus a HUGE range of more mainstream vegan beers such as Peroni and Camden (kegs and cans!) should the mood take you! There is also a world exclusive keg beer to be announced just before the event, so stay tuned. Our lips are sealed.
Need something gluten-free to drink? We will have a few specialty bottles on the day. Ask the servers if you want one.
Not into beer or cider? The Old Ship W6 has a fantastic line up of vegan wine for the day. If you wanna get tipsy, we have got what you need.
Remember to plan your eating as well by checking out the mountains of food planned for the day.
Book your £5 (plus booking fee) ticket now or pay £8 on the day if we have space!
How to cook black beans
You can support the making of these videos and get early access and downloadable PDF copies of the recipes by becoming an FGV patron – click here.
Here’s the recipe!
Makes approximately two cups/serves four
Ingredients:
- 500g of dried black beans
- 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1⁄2 of a large white onion, chopped
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp dried epazote or 4 tbsp fresh chopped epazote
- Dried chipotle chiles*
- Salt to taste
*These are optional, depending on how spicy you want your beans. We added two to infuse a rich, smoky flavour into the beans. The chiles will break down during the cooking process.
Instructions:
- Rinse beans well under cold running water
- Soak overnight or for at least 6 hours
- Rinse beans again and place in a large saucepan with enough water to cover them by about 2”
- Bring to the boil and add all remaining ingredients EXCEPT the salt**
- Reduce the beans to a medium heat and boil for approximately 1.5 hours. Try a couple of beans at this point to see if they are sufficiently cooked. They should be soft right through
- When beans are cooked, add approximately 1 tablespoon of salt
**Do not add salt until the end of the cooking process otherwise it will prevent the beans from absorbing enough water to cook properly.
Black beans are ubiquitous in Mexican cuisine. Served either on their own, with rice, refried, inside tacos, as a garnish on tacos etc, they can be used in an infinite number of dishes.
Recipe and photo remain property of Sean O’Callaghan and Julio Alcantara and may not be reproduced without permission. © 2016 fatgayvegan.com
London comfort food spot closes
I have been out of the UK for six months and during that time many new vegan opportunities have arisen. I have a list of things I need to try that opened while I was in Mexico.
Near the top of that list was Top Dog, the US-style hot dog diner in Soho with an amazing separate vegan menu.
Josh first wrote about it here.
So, I rocked up today only to find the fast food joint closed! Peering through the windows, it looks as though it was shut down in a hurry as there were still boxes of food and kitchen equipment inside.
Josh reached out to the company today and got the following response:
@joshleuner Sadly no. We’re currently reviewing new venues to open a pop up version. Thanks for all your support and will let you know soon!
— Top Dog Diner (@TopDogSoho) July 11, 2016
Sad times. I didn’t get to try it!
Did you make it to Top Dog during its short lifetime? What did you think?
Food at London Vegan Beer Fest
The 4th annual London Vegan Beer Fest is racing closer and closer.
For many people, the main attraction is of course the wide range of beers available (list coming soon!) while others take the opportunity to catch up with old friends or even make new ones.
In 2016, I predict a brand new typer of punter at the event. The foodie.
Check out the INCREDIBLE menu that will be served on the day, tell me what you are most looking forward to at the event and buy your cheap online tickets here.
First up is the extremely irresistible Rainbow Potato stand.
Everything is not only 100% vegan on the mini-deli showcase, it is also 100% gluten-free. You will be able to build your perfect meal by choosing from the options below:
Choose 1 of the following: Baked sweet potato – Pink fir potato – Maris Piper potato
Add 1 of the following: Guacamole – Traditional hummus with extra virgin olive oil – Ranch dressing by Follow Your Heart – Sriracha Vegenaise by Follow Your Heart – Extra virgin olive oil with salt & pepper
Choose a further 4 toppings: Spiced sweetcorn salad (with mango, chilli, coriander & pomegranate) – Spiralised courgettini (with mint, lime, cashew crush & red quinoa) – Beetroot (with basil, balsamic & black quinoa) – Spicy smashed cauliflower (with chickpea, chive & coconut cream) – Zingy ginger carrot salad (with rose petal harissa & pistachio nuts) – Roasted peppers (with garlic, fresh oregano & extra virgin olive oil) – Mozzarella shreds by Follow Your Heart – Cheddar shreds by Follow Your Heart
Next we have Karma Wrap. This stand will be serving warm rolled flour tortilla crammed with delicious ingredients.
Choices?
The Naughty Falafeller – homemade falafel, pickled cucumbers & carrots, hummus, marinated white cabbage, fresh mint, parsley and chilli.
Holy Moley Guacamole – braised black beans, Cheddar shreds by Follow Your Heart, jalapeño, plum vine tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, lime, tortilla chips, spicy guacamole, organic sprouts and red quinoa.
Brunch O’Clock – hot sausage, scrambled VeganEgg by Follow Your Heart, hash brown potato, chestnut mushrooms and brown sauce.
Marrakesh Sesh – roasted aubergines & peppers, garlic, cous cous, hummus, coriander spinach, pickled beets and Mozzarella shreds by Follow Your Heart.
You can’t not have a Burger Bar at a beer festival, right?!
Check out the varieties on offer:
Mock duck burger – Royal kombu seaweed pesto, organic sprouts and Chinese cabbage
Smoked tofu burger – Cashew cream, ginger garlic, chilli, fresh coriander and rocket
Falafel burger – Hummus, fresh mint, baby gem lettuce, pickled carrot, sliced plum tomato
Beetroot and quinoa burger – Pickled cucumber, ranch dressing, baby mixed leaves and Cheddar shreds by Follow Your Heart
Imagine an FGV event without sweet treats? Yeah, right!
The Guilty Pleasures stand will be home to a stunning chocolate, sweet potato and date brownie as well as an amazing array of cupcakes and sorbets.
Last but not least, we have the Fruit Stall. This is where you will pick up Fruit Kebabs, Chilli roasted pineapple with Duppy Share Rum plus Strawberries with coconut cream.
Wow.
If you were at London Vegan Beer Fest last year, I’m sure you’ll agree this year’s food line up is a vast improvement on our set up in 2015. We now have multiple food stands, professional chefs who are used to cooking huge quantities of fresh food and a pub kitchen that is quickly becoming one of the most vegan-friendly in London.
In addition to all these wonderful vegan food stands outside, the entire pub is turning vegan for the day meaning attendees can order food inside or outside The Old Ship W6 safe in the knowledge that it is all plant-based.
Fine food, cold beer, wine, cider, live music, outdoor setting, beer info talks, river views, pet-friendly, family-friendly, gluten free options for food and drink…. I could go on and on.
Online tickets are just £5 plus 50p booking fee. Click here to book.
Tickets on the day will be £8.
You can RSVP and invite friends over on the Facebook event page.
Temple of Seitan
There is a new vegan food business in London that has me more than simply excited. I’m absolutely flipping my wig over this stuff!
Can you see that deep-fried, crunchy glory? Look at it!
Temple of Seitan is a street food endeavour that will turn even the most determined frown upside down.
There isn’t much more to say other than they make fried seitan. In fact, they make the best fried seitan I think I have ever encountered on the planet. I had a basket of the good stuff on Friday at the Just V Show and was so thoroughly blown away that I went back for another on Saturday.
You need to follow Temple of Seitan on Instagram to keep track of all the rad events they will be at in coming months.
I love Temple of Seitan and if you want to be happy, you will make them a part of your life. If you have no interest in being happy, forget I said anything and go back to looking at the slate-grey Victorian sky outside your double glazed window.