Simplest and best guacamole

 

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Here’s the recipe:

Makes approximately two cups/serves four

Ingredients:

  • 3 ripe avocados
  • 1⁄4 of a large white onion
  • 1 1⁄2 Roma tomatoes
  • 1 green chile
  • 2 limes
  • A fist­sized bunch of fresh cilantro/coriander
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

  • ­ Chop the onion into 1cm square pieces.
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  • Do the same with the tomatoes
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  • Cut the avocados in half lengthways and scoop out the flesh. Chop into medium­size (approx. 2cm) cubes
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  • Carefully scrape the seeds out of the chile* and chop into very small pieces
    ­
  • Wash and pat ­dry the coriander/cilantro. Chop leaves and stems into small pieces.
    ­
  • Combine onion, tomato, chile, cilantro and avocado in a large bowl and add lime juice, salt and pepper to taste
    ­
  • For the best flavour, allow flavours to infuse for at least 30 minutes before serving

*Alternatively, leave the seeds in the chile if you like your guac hot!

Serve on its own with tortilla chips or use it on top of tacos, enchiladas, lasagne etc.

Recipe and photo remain property of Sean O’Callaghan and Julio Alcantara and may not be reproduced without permission. © fatgayvegan.com 

guacamole

New vegan ice creams in London!

Oh dear. I don’t want these new vegan ice creams, I seriously NEED them.

I have written about Juice Baby in the past. This small food provider on impossibly ritzy King’s Road in West London is home to a delicious raw taco bowl and the most glorious caramel slice (read about the eatery here).

News has just reached me of the brand new addition to the Juice Baby line up and if you don’t mind, I’d rather let the photo do all the talking.

I’m not being hysterical when I say they might very well be the finest vegan ice creams I have ever set my chubby eyes upon.

Juice Baby has just moved to the number one spot on places I must visit as soon as I return to London in July. Please dear readers, don’t eat them all before I get there.

Follow Juice Baby on Instagram.

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Closed vegan café in London set to reopen

Vegan Hippo didn’t exactly disappear with a lot of tears.

The Soho-based café was a bit more miss than hit and loving reviews weren’t flowing from the mouths of diners. However, the owners have seemingly taken advantage of their down time in order to reevaluate how they create and serve food.

And now they are back on the scene. The following message was posted on the Vegan Hippo Facebook page two days ago:

Vegan Hippo is about to reopen! We’ve listened to feedback and are starting again with a new and improved menu, and lots of take-away food too for eating in the park or taking to the office. All suggestions welcomed! Tell us anything you’d especially like to see us offer. Thank you!

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Are you excited about the return of Vegan Hippo?

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Vegan ice lollies only £1 for 5!

Even though I’m in Mexico City sweltering with near (or just over) 30 degrees Celsius temperatures most days, I’m not going to pretend I don’t know how exciting it is when the weather gets a little warmer in the UK.

I saw on a news website that some parts of the country are even pushing 20 degrees Celsius. I am thrilled for you all as I know the last few months have been a bit rough when it comes to weather.

To help you celebrate, I thought I would share this information.

You can buy a box of five vegan ice lollies from Morrisons for just £1. That is damn good value.

Put on your best bikini, grab four of your best friends and get down to the local common with a box before the sun disappears again.

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Click on the image above to visit the listing on the Morrisons website.

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UK supermarket launches new vegan spreads

Roll up, roll up.

Veganism is spreading (pun clearly intended) and Tesco is the latest large supermarket chain to launch its own versions of vegan margarine.

Check out these two varieties:

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Both tubs are listed as suitable for vegans on the Tesco website. Click here and here to see the detailed nutrition information.

Have you tried either of these spreads yet? I would love to hear your feedback.

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Best vegan food in London just got better

Do you remember when I swore a lot about the food from Cook Daily?

In this blog post (and this one) I wasn’t shy about telling you how freaking awesome this Shoreditch food provider is and I insisted you should all get over there to eat.

Well, now it appears the best food in London has gone and gotten an upgrade.

King from Cook Daily tagged me in this short Instagram video to let me know how the already amazing Full English bowl has been improved.

Check it out!

Yes!

I’m loving life in Mexico City at the moment but I would be the happiest FGV on the planet if I could get my hands on this bowl in East London.

Head on in to Cook Daily for this food glory and please say hi from a very hungry and jealous FGV.

Follow Cook Daily on Instagram.

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New vegan UK business debuts this week

How would you like to be one of the first people in the UK to experience delicious handcrafted vegan food from a new UK business?

Get along to the Kent Vegan Festival (Saturday May 7, 2016) this weekend to meet talented chef and all round fabulous person, Steph Hinton.

Steph is about to launch her very own vegan deli but before she does, she is serving up mouthwatering aged cheese, raw cakes, succulent pulled jackfruit wraps, meat free sausage and much more this weekend at the festival.

steph

I asked Steph to give us a little insight into what people can expect from her food stand this weekend, as well as her food philosophy that will power her 100% vegan deli when it opens later this year in Kent.

Here is what she had to say:

“I have been a qualified chef for just over 15 years now. I have travelled and worked around the world including top restaurants in New Zealand, Australia & the UK. I have worked for John Torode & Jamie Oliver (not that I like admitting that now!). I was originally trained as a pastry chef but have also learned all other culinary techniques including butchery and cheese making.

I became vegan through working at Fortify Café and worked closely with James to veganise the eatery. I now have a huge passion for vromage (vegan cheeze – you can’t take the chef-iness out of me!) and after finding out I have a severe gluten intolerance, my focus has shifted to inventing my own range of gluten free meat substitutes and breads.

My business will be a start up vegan catering company that is 100% gluten & refined sugar free, with the end goal of growing into a gourmet delicatessen that utilises organic ethical goods and ingredients wherever possible while working to a low waste ethos. I will be making healthy and wholesome food that tastes like you are ‘cheating’. My aim is to show people that free from vegan food can not only be accessible and affordable, but bloody tasty too!”

Check out Steph’s website here, like her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

I can’t wait to see how her artisan deli business develops over the coming months and I would love to see food photos from anyone fortunate enough to eat with Steph this weekend at the Kent Vegan Festival. You can find out all the details of the event and RSVP on Facebook.

Now, just for fun, here are some photos of the Kent Vegan Festival from last year.

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Nigerian vegan pop up event in London

There is some bad news and some good news.

Bad news.

A short while ago you missed an amazing Nigerian vegan pop up event by chef Tomi Makanjuola that left people raving.

Check out these photos.

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The good news?

Tomi is hosting a second edition of this Nigerian pop up so you no longer have to feel sad about missing out.

Get along on May 11, 2016 at La Suite West Hotel at 7:00pm. Of course you will need a ticket, so click here to book.

Tomi has announced the menu for this next event and it includes:

Starter: Avocado and roasted corn salad with cassava crispbread

Main: Yam pottage with quinoa and vegetable crisps

Dessert: Decadent chocolate mousse with pineapple meringue 

Book your seat and make sure you also visit Tomi’s blog, The Vegan Nigerian.

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HUGE Newcastle Vegan Festival this week!

Do you live in Newcastle? Do you live near Newcastle? If you fall into one of these two camps, you have ZERO excuse for not being at the Newcastle Vegan Festival this weekend (Saturday May 7, 2016).

If you are a little further from the Northern city, start thinking about how you are going to get there.

This third annual outing for the festival looks set to be packed solid with chocolate, takeaway treats, free samples, vegan cheese and probably too much good stuff to write about here.

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As well as all things food the Newcastle Vegan Festival will be the place to hear informative talks, meet compassionate friends and watch demos.

All of this fabulousness will set you back only £2 if you are a big person. If you are a younger version of a human, your entry price will be £1.

Get over to the Facebook event for more info, to buy tickets and to let them know you are coming. You can also invite friends via Facebook. Do your part and help make this the biggest and best Newcastle Vegan Festival ever.

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Is this the best new vegan eatery on the planet?

To be genuinely impressed by a new vegan eatery is a rare occurrence. Yes, I know many places do a good job of feeding us compassionate people and a good job is often just what you need. I’ll even return to a café that does a good job.

What I want to talk about here is when you dine with an establishment and they blow you away. The service is exceptional, the decor is gorgeous and everything you try from the menu is above average.

People of the Internet, please meet Elk Bistro of Mexico City.

Elk Bistro is a joint venture between super talented chef Veronica and the owners of vegan grocery store, VeganVille.

The bistro opened mere weeks ago in conjunction with the second location of VeganVille but you would be forgiven if you thought the eatery was a long time established. Every single part of what they do had been polished to perfection before they opened the doors to diners.

The central courtyard is immaculately renovated with a grand Canary Island date palm towering over proceedings. Cutlery and tableware is stylish, while the friendly people looking after you make you feel like nothing is too much trouble.

And now the food. I can’t do it more justice than the following photos.

Just dined in the most gorgeous #vegan bistro/deli in Mexico City called Elk. #cdmx

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

Toasted bread with sunflower seed salsa at @veganvilleelk in Mexico City. #vegan

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Delicious horchata and agua de papaya at @veganvilleelk in Mexico City. #vegan

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Gorgeous lentil and chard soup at @veganvilleelk in Mexico City. #cdmx #vegan

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Stunning pad Thai with tamarind and soy sauces on the side at @veganvilleelk in Mexico City. #cdmx #vegan

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

Wheat steak, crunchy wedges and BBQ sauce at @veganvilleelk in Mexico City. #cdmx #vegan

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Almond milk vanilla flan with pistachio at @veganvilleelk in Mexico City. #cdmx #vegan

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

Every dish placed on my table at Elk Bistro has been exquisite.

Dining with Elk is made even more special by the fact that you have to walk through a 100% vegan grocery store to exit. Talk about exit through the gift shop!

VeganVille is stacked solid with vegan cheeses, meats, pantry items, personal care products and more. There is even a cute deli/takeaway food counter positioned at the front of the store. It is an extension of Elk and it is here where you can pick up gorgeous cream cakes and ham and cheese croissants before you depart.

If you have been considering a trip to Mexico City, Elk is the last piece of convincing you need.

Follow Elk on Instagram.

All photos in this post originally appeared on my FGV Instagram feed.

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