Drive thru

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San Diego has everything to make this FGV happy.

Vegan donuts? Plentiful and decadent. Can I get nutritious and delicious soul food that is still cruelty free? Sure thing. Gay dive bars, Native Foods, gorgeous beachside neighbourhoods, farmers markets everywhere and vegan Mexican food? Yes to all of it.

Then surely it doesn’t have a fabulous vegan fast food restaurant with drive through window? It couldn’t that awesome, right?

Check it out. Evolution Fast Food is what every compassionate person deserves to have in their life.

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Cake glory

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I wanted to share this photo for two reasons.

1. Oh my. Can you believe how amazing these giant vegan cupcakes look? I saw this incredible line up in Whole Foods Market San Diego and was more than impressed. Come on London stores, get on it. I want over the top vegan cupcake designs.

2. I didn’t buy one. I was so overwhelmed by the choice I actually couldn’t decide on one. I stood there for roughly five minutes and then walked away calmly. I am a bad FGV, for sure.

Which one would you have picked?

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Free Winona

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Do you want Winona to be free? You got it!

I am teaming up with The Gallery Cafe in Bethnal Green for a season of free films starring the one and only Winona Ryder.

Join me in The Chapel (access through the cafe) every Tuesday evening in June for these free movie events. Of course vegan food and drink will be available from The Gallery Cafe kitchen, however purchase is not required to enter the event.

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All you have to do is book a ticket to secure a seat. So simple.

We are kicking off the FREE WINONA season on Tuesday June 3, 2014 at 7pm with a screening of the 1988 classic Beetlejuice. Book your free ticket now.

Stay tuned for further film announcements.

Inflight sameness

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My recent flight between London and Los Angeles featured vegan food that made me feel like I had seen it all before.

The provider of the inflight meals for British Airways must think they have discovered the winning formula for vegan food because I seem to be getting the exact same meal every time I fly.

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North West Vegan Festival

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I honestly struggle to keep track of all the new vegan events and festivals popping up around the UK. It is wonderful to see the explosion of plant based activities taking place all over the country.

Grab your calendar and circle June 7, 2014 because we have another event to add to this ever-expanding list.

The North West Vegan Festival is a bumper event with more than 100 stalls that will feature all the usual activities such as cooking demos, educational discussions, film screenings and lots of vegan food. Oh yeah, there will also be vegan beer!

Get all the information you need from the event website and drop by the Lancaster Town Hall from 11am on June 7 for a big day of compassionate socialising.

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So popular

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Here’s a quick post to let you know I made it back to my favourite place to eat in the USA and it was perfect.

Native Foods Cafe is a rapidly-expanding restaurant chain in the USA with locations far and wide. News of a huge financial investment deal means they are now set to appear in even more cities over the next few years.

I would be the happiest FGV in the world if they could find a way to open a London branch. I would eat there every day. Honestly.

Follow Native Foods Cafe on Twitter and then check out my most recent feast below. The Oklahoma cheese burger is the stuff of legend and the Native wings are crunchy sticks of irresistible glory. I threw in some polenta bites and lavender lemonade to make sure it was a well-rounded meal at their Santa Monica location.

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Big enough for me

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Los Angeles is the danger. If you are vegan, you need to get to LA to experience what it is like to live without restriction.

I am currently in the area to attend Los Angeles Beer Fest and eat what I can. This city is a vegan mecca and plant-eaters are not sidelined or treated as an afterthought. Vegan is front and centre.

One shining example of LA’s love for vegans is the glorious Viva la Vegan supermarket in the Ocean Park Blvd. neighbourhood near Santa Monica.

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Top secret

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This blog isn’t all about too much beer and food. I sometimes like to use it as a platform for other worthwhile topics… and they don’t often come more worthwhile than the crucial work being carried out by NAVS.

Not sure what I am on about?

I have invited Jan Creamer (chief executive of the National Anti-Vivisection Society) to share some important information with you relating to a rare public consultation you NEED to know about. 

Read carefully and act on the information supplied.

Take it away, Jan.

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Travel kindly

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My bag is packed (almost) and the excitement is starting to kick in. This Friday I am jumping on a flight to Southern California for a brief vacation and lots of sunshine.

I have grand plans that include seeing Steven (one of my longest-serving and dearest friends) who now lives in San Diego, drinking/eating my own weight at the LA Vegan Beer and Food Festival and taking in some live performances by my favourite artists (Jill Sobule and Suzanne Vega).

This blog post isn’t just to boast about my fun trip. I also wanted to let you know about the special travel-size personal care products I purchased from Superdrug for my journey.

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I have written on a few occasions about my love for the cruelty-free value to be enjoyed by shopping with Superdrug but this is my first mention of their travel range.

Almost anything you would want or need for a holiday can be sourced in this mini size. The bottles and containers come in under the allowed volume for cabin inclusion, meaning you can pack them in your hand luggage. This is fantastic if you only want to travel with one bag. No waiting around at the luggage carousel and you still have everything you need.

Of course it is all incredibly inexpensive. You have got to love Superdrug for their commitment to making cruelty-free care products at low prices. Everyone can afford to be vegan on holiday!

Spring supper

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If you are in London this week and are not attending London Vegan Drinks, I have two questions for you.

Question the first: why the heck not? Question the second: it’s because you are going to this fabulous vegan Italian supper club, right?

My pal Sara is a much-loved food creator and she has once again put together an eating experience for hardcore foodies. Sara has just arrived back in the UK following a vacation in South Africa and she is fired up, ready to put some serious food on the dinner table this week.

Check out the menu.

STARTER – Farinata – baked chickpea pancake with red onions served with handmade vegan garlic mayo

MAIN COURSE – Handmade Beetroot Ravioli filled with Fava Beans in cheesy cream

SECOND COURSE – Artichoke and Asparagus Gratin

SIDE – Blood Orange, Beet and Fennel Salad served with handmade sourdough

DESSERT – Caramel Tiramisù

Sounds lovely, right? If you are reading this soon after I posted it, you need to act quickly to book your ticket.

All details can be found here.