London vegan news, reviews & events
The reader tips I receive are invaluable. As much as I try to eat every vegan item in the UK, a Fat Gay Vegan can only spread so far.
One of the longest-serving reader contributors to my blog is the wonderful Jeanette. She has often sent me little snippets of information and has been a solid contributor with comments as well.
The latest piece of news sent my way by Jeanette is all about the fabulous 1066 Cake Stand in Hastings.
Here is some wonderful news for the vegans and beer lovers of Leeds.
Wharf Chambers Co-operative Club has announced the return of its beer festival, showcasing some of the best in Yorkshire breweries. A hit in last year’s heatwave, the event is going ahead on 19-20th September at the club on Wharf Street, Leeds offering a selection of 25 beers across the spectrum.
Among those returning are last year’s favourite, the award winning Golden Salamander from Bradford, along with new offerings from the likes of other favourites Brass Castle, Marble and Two Roses. The festival is also including beers from in and around York, such as the Great Yorkshire, Rudgate and Harrograte Breweries as well as the York Brewery itself, with a few from further afield such as Wold Top from outside Scarborough. In addition to casks there will also be a selection of keg beers from Golden Owl, Northern Monk and Brass Castle.
There will be over twenty casks and several kegs in the selection with cider lovers also being catered for. All beer and food will be suitable for vegans so everyone can get stuck in.
To make sure all attendees are having the best time possible, local DJs will be spinning tunes throughout the event and into the night. I am upset that I won’t be able to make it to Leeds for this event but thrilled to see such wonderful vegan happenings in the Northern city that holds a special place in my heart (once you have lived in Armley, you never really leave Leeds).
Entry to the Wharf Chambers Beer Festival will be £4, which includes a free half pint and souvenir glass.
Get over to the Facebook event page now to RSVP and invite friends.
Vegan dining in the capital rises to a previously unseen level as Fat Gay Vegan collaborates with legendary Caffè Caldesi of Marylebone. Sunday 5th of October, 2014 is a date for dedicated food disciples.
Caffè Caldesi is located in London’s Marylebone and is the flagship of the Caldesi group of Italian restaurants and cookery schools. The restaurant is known for its un-comprising dedication to creating authentic Italian regional food under the watchful eye of patron Giancarlo Caldesi. Giancarlo, a Tuscan by birth, has been running Italian restaurants for 40 years in the UK and along with his wife Katie has written many books on the regional food of Italy. The couples latest book ‘Venice – Recipes lost and found’ is due to be launched in October 2014.
Caffè Caldesi is a favourite haunt of Italian ex-pats in London given that it truly is the ‘real Italian’ – you won’t find chequered tablecloths or packet grissini here. The restaurant is split into a downstairs bar/cafe and an upstairs fine dining restaurant, the dishes served in both are seasonal, regional and authentic providing the customer a choice of the classics and less well known.
When Giancarlo and Katie considered delving into the (for them) unexplored world of vegan fine dining they called on the experience of Sean O’Callaghan, known throughout the UK as blogger and event planner Fat Gay Vegan.
Sean has pulled together an exquisite menu utilising the skills of Italian-born vegan chef Sara Mittersteiner. Sara, of vegan supper club Pomodoro E Basilico fame, has lovingly crafted a selection of dishes perfectly matched to an autumnal fine dining experience in this stunning Marylebone setting.
The menu is as follows:
Primo Piatto – Main Course
Tagliatelle al Cacao con Crema di Noci, Fave e Fave di Cacao – Chocolate Tagliatelle with Walnut cream, Fava Beans and Cacao Nibs
Secondo Piatto – Second Course
Erbazzone – Spinach Quiche
Contorno – Side
Insalata di Finocchi allo Zafferano – Saffron Fennel Salad
Dolce – Dessert
Tiramisù al Caramello – Caramel Tiramisù
In addition to this peerless plant-based menu, diners will be treated to a glass of peach Bellini and an amuse–bouche on arrival as well as tea or coffee following dinner. A selection of vegan beer, wine and spirits will be available for purchase from the bar.
Caffè Caldesi, Fat Gay Vegan and Chef Sara are the ingredients guaranteed to bring London a night of magical vegan eating never before seen in the capital.
Book early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets are priced £35 plus booking fee and are non-refundable. Seating is unreserved however we will endeavour to meet emailed seating requests prior to the evening.
Visit Caldesi online. Follow Caldesi on Twitter. Like Caldesi on Facebook.
I am heading up North this weekend for a bit of fun and sun at the Northern Vegan Festival being held in Blackpool. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I will be hosting a speed meeting event designed to let compassionate people meet compassionate people in a fun atmosphere. Also…. PRIZES!
The session will run from 5pm and is not only a unique way to touch base with other vegans, it is also a chance to win some fabulous cruelty-free prizes.
Check out this incredible list of prize sponsors. If you want to be in with a chance to take one of these lovely items home, come along and meet compassionate people rapidly this Saturday (September 13, 2014).
Now, the prizes:
MAJOR UPDATE
People have been emailing me like crazy today saying they have been told by Tesco that this product has milk proteins as an ingredient even though it doesn’t say so on the label.
I have been on the phone with Tesco for a long time just now only to be assured by the customer service person there is NO milk protein as an added ingredient.
Of course I explained the mixed messages we are getting and my service person has told me they will look into it in fine detail and get back to me ASAP, but that might not be until Monday. In the meantime I suggest anyone who doesn’t want to eat a product that purposively contains dairy milk stays away from this item.
I’ll report back as soon as I can.
I don’t know what to say. I am overwhelmed by this vegan news out of London. Hold on to your jaunty hats, kids.
Last night I received a text message from Angela of The Third Estate with a very special grainy photo attached.
There are no words.
Joe and Jess in Berlin just sent me the craziest set of photos featuring all the awesome vegan goodies they stumbled upon this week. I don’t think they are regretting their move from London to Berlin in the slightest.
Before I share the photos, I wanna post the brief message that accompanied the email.
Here are some photos for you:
Cookie dough ice cream
Cookie dough ice cream againNew Alpro dessert, we bought the lemon pie flavour
Oven tray with attachable lid – bet you want one for potluck!
Oh the oven tray and lid possibilitiesVegan festival
Veganz catering
Sandwiches from somewhere at the vegan festivalVegan lard (yes, that’s right)
Now the photos!
What are you getting up to this weekend?
I have put together a few ideas to save you from having to stagger around the Internet in search of fun. If you’ve got any other top tips for the weekend, please post them in the comments below.
Here it is then. FGV’s top vegan and vegan-friendly things to do in London on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September, 2014.
My buddy Kay has just sent me some fab photos and info following on from her trip to a raw vegan cake cafe in Prague. How awesome is that?!
Check out the photos below (including a wonderful pug portrait) and see what Kay had to say about the experience.
Sometimes I do things other than eating and drinking.
My review of the new Sinead O’Connor album has been published over on rad website Louder Than War. Click here to read it.
Cheers.
Here we go. I know you love my grand sweeping declarations.
The Essential Vegan pop up cafe at 297 Portobello Road in West London is currently serving the best vegan food in London. No doubt about it being number one in my FGV opinion.
I ate there today and was so moved by the delicious cuisine, I almost cried. I was overwhelmed with joy. London has been playing catch up with other international cities when it comes to outstanding plant-based eating and I feel we have come of age.
Check out the heavenly food from earlier today.