Vegan hot chocolate

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Public service announcement: the Real Hot Chocolate Co has vegan offerings!

The company does produce non-vegan products (the white chocolate ones) but you can get your hands on some of their completely dairy free lines online and in some shops.

Owner of Real Hot Chocolate Co, Phillip Easton, told me:

There is so much emphasis on quality and range of artisan coffee, micro brew beers and specialist teas, but when it comes to hot chocolate (my drink of choice) 99% of people will reach for the instant powder. Luxury means putting squirty cream and marshmallows on top, and often the manufacturer’s directions aren’t followed, meaning a bad drink.
The Real Hot Chocolate Co changes the perception that this is okay, and pushes the need for quality hot chocolate.
I also developed a unique product specifically for coffee shops, giving a wide range of flavours and serving sizes with all natural gluten-free ingredients, made from real Belgian chocolate.
There’s also a range coming soon which is a bit darker (64.5%), from single-source Costa Rican cocoa which is Rainforest Alliance Certified.  It’s not yet released as I’m looking to distribute that rather than sell through the website – but I do currently sell it if I’m running a stall, and it is being served fresh in some coffee shops – such as Anna Loka, the vegan restaurant in Cardiff.
I sell directly to customers, wholesale to shops and cafes to sell packaged or fresh, and also as party favours and corporate gifts!
The product is truly artisan.  I design and make the moulds, packaging, website, recipes, etc.  The only thing I buy in is actually the Belgian chocolate – all other ingredients are as local as possible.
real hot chocolate co

If you like decadent hot chocolate, you might just want to check out the real Hot Chocolate Co online and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

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Vegan cakes in Margate

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A new vegan cake shop has opened in Margate, Kent.

The owner of Seaside Cake Parlour will probably look familiar to a lot of readers as the same person who owned, operated and baked for Cakes ‘n’ Treats in Camden (yes, the place with this history here, here and here).

Click here or on the photo below to read the full article about the new shop on the Isle of Thanet Gazette website.

thanet vegan cake story

The article states the baker Sarah (did her name used to be Kim?) also creates non-vegan wedding cakes in addition to the menu at her completely vegan cafe.

You can find Seaside Cake Parlour on Facebook and Twitter.

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Probably not vegan. Stop eating them!

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UPDATE

Wall’s have now confirmed to multiple people via social media and email that the new Swedish Glace ice creams ARE suitable for vegans. They have also apologised for the confusion caused by saying the opposite a few days ago. Buy them all, eat them all.

END UPDATE

I wrote about my bewilderment caused by the new Swedish Glace chocolate coated strawberry ice cream sticks not saying ‘vegan’ on the box when all other Swedish Glace products do have vegan written on them.

Well, straight from the source (with the source weirdly being Walls ice cream) we have been told that these products ARE NOT VEGAN.

walls

I am not 100% sure that this is true. People running social media accounts have made mistakes before but this matches up with Sainsbury’s listing the products as only vegetarian on their website.

swedish glace

I am still waiting to get a response to my email from parent company Unilever but I think it is safe to say that all vegans in the UK should STOP buying this product.

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New Swedish Glace in Sainsbury’s

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UPDATE

Wall’s have now confirmed to multiple people via social media and email that the new Swedish Glace ice creams ARE suitable for vegans. They have also apologised for the confusion caused by saying the opposite a few days ago. Buy them all, eat them all.

END UPDATE

This news is blowing up everywhere so you have probably already seen it, but in case you haven’t…

Sainsbury’s are now selling boxes of strawberry flavoured soya ice cream treats made by Swedish Glace. The chocolate covered delights come five to a box.

swedish glace

Exciting news, but weirdly the Sainsbury’s website lists this new product as suitable for vegetarians but not vegans. A quick search reveals they use ‘vegan’ to describe other Swedish Glace products such as this tub.

I’ve emailed Unilever (yes, that is the company in charge of Swedish Glace) to ask if the strawberry and chocolate sticks are made with only vegan ingredients but am yet to hear back.

Please fill us in if you have any information on the veganicity of these ice creams. I can’t get my chubby hands on a box from here in Mexico but I thought someone reading would have a closer look to see if the box is labelled vegan.

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Plant based with eggs?

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Much excitement was experienced when I got this photo tweeted at me this morning:


Wow. A plant based bar and restaurant opening this month in London. I was giddy with joy.

Giddy until I went over the the Instagram page of Farmacy.

Their definition of plant based is slightly different to mine in that it seems to include eggs. Eggs aren’t event close to plants, right?

I have commented below one of the Farmacy Instagram posts to ask if they are using ‘real’ eggs. I suppose there is a very slim chance that they have created a plant based food stuff that looks exactly like chicken egg when cooked, but I’m not hopeful.

So it seems you have ANOTHER almost vegan eatery to add to your list, London. Farmacy is set to be located on Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill.

Click here to follow Farmacy on Instagram. Scroll past the egg photos, of course.

Extra note: here is a link explaining why we shouldn’t eat eggs, even eggs from rescued birds in backyards.

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Vegetarian restaurant is now a UK chain

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By 1847 is a restaurant serving vegetarian food (with a solid showing of vegan offerings) located in the heart of Manchester. You can see my original post about the restaurant from WAY back by clicking here.

I’m not sure if I’ve been completely asleep but somehow I have missed how rapidly this business has expanded and how far flung the new locations are around the country.

By 1847 now have the original Manchester location plus Brighton, Bristol and Birmingham outlets. They are spreading quickly.

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Pop along to one of the restaurants to check out their vegan offerings, including a multi-course Sunday lunch option.

It’s a shame that such a gorgeous meat-free restaurant chain with a smart vision on how to expand still includes dairy on the menu. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my dining experiences with By 1847 but that enjoyment is dampened somewhat by knowing they serve animal derived ingredients.

By 1847 really know what they are doing with food, wine and beer. I sincerely hope they come to see dairy as an unnecessary part of their success.

Follow By 1847 on Instagram and visit their website for location details.

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Vegan bakery selection box

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Get your credit card ready. You are about to order the following box of vegan treats for home or office delivery.

vegan box

The Twice As Nice Bakery in Staffordshire has quite a bit of food on offer for vegans, but I particularly like this variety box that can be ordered via their website.

The ‘vegan bakery selection box’ contains the following:

  • 2 individual brownies (one topped with peanut butter swirls, the other with smoked sea salted caramel)
  • 3 ANZAC biscuits,
  • 2 baked doughnuts (shown with cinnamon sugar)
  • Hello Sunshine – a gorgeous lemon cake with a surprise marmalade filling and topped with candied peel.
  • A couple of vegan friendly chocolate bars.

The cost of the box is £18 and that includes delivery within the UK.

Click here to view and order the vegan box online.

You can follow Twice As Nice Bakery on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

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InSpiral has a new name

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Remember this post about InSpiral Lounge of Camden maybe closing? Well, it did.

InSpiral as a wholesale food business still exists, making excellent kales chips and raw cakes, but the canal-side café serving food with extremely mixed results is gone.

In its place?

It sounds like exactly the same thing, just with a different name. Now called Campbell’s Canal Café, reports on social media suggest not much has changed with the place. Some of the same staff, still serving cow milk. Mixed reviews on the food.

If you are interested in finding out more about the new incarnation of InSpiral Lounge, you can like the new Facebook page.

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Pico de Gallo recipe – simple & delicious

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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:

  • 3 or 4 fresh Roma tomatoes
  • 1 small white onion or half a large one, peeled
  • 1 Serrano chile
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 fresh lime, juiced

Method:

  • Chop onion into approximately 1cm cubes
  • Cut tomatoes in half lengthways and scoop out seeds and pulp (these can be saved for other dishes such as Salsa Roja)
  • Chop tomatoes into approximately 1cm chunks
  • Carefully scrape seeds out of chile and chop into very small pieces
  • Combine chopped tomatoes, onion and chile in a large bowl and add olive oil, fresh lime juice and salt to taste
  • ¡Buen provecho!

Serve with tortilla chips or on top of your favourite hot dish. Pico de Gallo can be eaten immediately or chilled before serving.

picodegallo

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

Vegan ice cream shop in London!

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London, I know I haven’t been the kindest to you when it comes to celebrating your vegan credentials. I’ve said you are behind the times. I’ve moaned about your lack of plant-based eateries. I’ve jetted off to all manner of glamorous locations in order to have my compassionate consumer needs met.

And now you do this. I feel so guilty, like I didn’t believe in you.

On Wednesday March 2, 2016 you are getting your very own 100% vegan ice cream, froyo and shake shop right in the middle of Soho. Can you handle this news?!

Yorica! is a revelation. This Wardour Street space is set to serve decadent ice cream flavours, mountains of toppings, frozen yoghurt tubs and some of the most outrageous shakes you will see anywhere. The toppings include gummy bears, marshmallows, cookies and sprinkles.

Every single thing served by Yorica!, from the cones to the cream, will be vegan. The company is crafting their creamy treats with rice milk and the entire range in store will be nut and gluten free.

Check out some of the photos being posted by the company on social media in the lead up to the grand opening.

Stunning.

Here is what you need to do:

  • Follow Yorica! on Twitter and Instagram
  • Attend the opening of the store this week (location on their website)
  • Take photos
  • Make me insanely jealous by tagging me on social media

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