London vegan news, reviews & events
As you might know, I am currently in Mexico City where I am eating up a storm.
Stay tuned here or to my Instagram feed for lots of shots of delicious vegan food from the Mexican capital.
Photo above shows a bag of giant dark chocolate and almond treats I bought in the nearby grocery store. They are fabulous.
I was talking with my friends at the Cool Chile Co a few days ago about the different brands of seitan available in the UK. Following our chat, I went on a quick exploration of my usual shopping haunts to see if any new wheat meat products had passed me by recently.
And one had. Wheat chunks in a tin!
I am not sure how long this canned seitan product has been available in the UK, but my discovery in Vx last week marked the first occasion I had laid eyes on it.
Sadly, I am yet to taste the Nuvale Vegetarian Cubes as I flew out of London for Mexico City before I could attack the product with a can opener. Have you tried the chunks? What are they like? What is your favourite ready made seitan?
I am late. Six days late, actually.
I offer my heartfelt apologies for keeping you waiting for my January news round up. I do have a good excuse. I have been eating a lot.
I know that Marks and Spencer have for a long time shared a list of products that are suitable for vegans (usually available in a pdf format), but I’ve never noticed them using the ‘v’ word on any actual grocery packaging.
Until now.
Josh sent me the following photo taken to his recent stroll through the M&S Ealing Broadway location. The word vegan can clearly be seen on this houmous packaging.
I am not sure if this is the start of a new trend by the retailer or a one off. The only products I have previously seen marked vegan in store were bottles of wine.
Do you buy anything from Marks & Spencer that carries a vegan label?
Cookies & Scream in Camden isn’t just one of the best bakeries in the UK. I’d put my money on it being one of the finest on the planet.
This point of view was only strengthened today by my discovery of their new tiramisu creation. I was gobsmacked. The pie filling was decadent, gooey and delicious, while the cream topping was second to none.
Buy this pie.
You can follow me on Instagram for more photos on the go.
This is some enjoyable news, indeed. Congratulations to Leeds on welcoming the first ever Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival.
After quickly browsing the event website, it looks like it is going to be a solid show. The organisers have promised 100+ stalls, cooking demos, food samples, informative talks and more. It is all happening on May 10, 2014 right in the heart of Leeds city centre.
There is a general call out for presenters, stall holders, businesses and volunteers so do get involved if you would like to make The Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival and event to remember.
Anyone planning on attending?
Check out the website for full details
Follow the festival on Twitter for updates
Like the festival on Facebook
**MAJOR UPDATE**
I wanted to tell you that all attendees at London Vegan Breakfast Club will receive a 10% off voucher to be used on the day in nearby vegan boutique Vx. Follow Vx on Twitter.
Also, attendees will be served Mirabilia Organic Olive Leaf Tea and will get a free sample pack to take home. Follow Mirabilia on Twitter.
Your meal (if you attend) will include sausages by Fry’s Vegetarian, tofu by Soyfoods and organic baked beans by Mr Organic.
**MAJOR UPDATE END**
I like to create situations where people can eat a lot of tasty vegan food. It’s my thing.
So get ready for the next BIG vegan food event, London.
At 10am on Saturday 22nd February, 2014, I will be joined in central London by 40 hungry breakfast fanatics for a mouthwatering vegan fry up like no other.
I have teamed up with my friends Shambhu’s Vegan Catering to craft a community event set in an open plan kitchen and canteen just minutes on foot from bustling King’s Cross Station. This is more than just a breakfast. It is a chance to socialise with London vegans while enjoying a decadent meal crafted by one of the leading vegan catering companies in the UK.
So what’s on the menu?
Your breakfast plate will feature:
– Succulent vegan sausages
– Scrambled tofu (Shambhu’s style) made with organic tofu
– Organic baked beans (delicately enhanced with secret spices)
– Irresistible garlic mushrooms
– Decadent fried wholemeal bread
– Crunchy hash browns
– Wilted spinach & cherry tomato warmed slightly
In addition to this scrumptious serving, you will be able to drink fairtrade or organic tea (breakfast, rooibos or green) and coffee to your heart’s content. Not a hot drink fan? Orange juice will be available by the jug, too.
This is going to be an extremely popular event so please don’t hesitate with booking. There are no hidden fees. Tickets just £15 and that includes your food and any drinks you want.
Join the Fat Gay Vegan email subscriber list to be the first to know of upcoming events.
Contact me for child tickets
I would like to offer you the choice of hearing the good news or the bad news first, but to be honest I only have devastating news.
I am decidedly depressed to break the news that Saf Restaurant & Bar located in Whole Foods Market Kensington is set to close forever.
Remember how I raved about Mella Cafe on Oxford Street? I was so excited to share news of a completely vegan eatery serving up tasty, healthy food in the centre of the capital.
Well, there is some sad news to be shared. I just received the following message from Lynda via Facebook:
“I’m working in Berners St from today so I went along to Mella just now (for the first time – very excited) and it was all boarded up down there. The Bureau de Change man said yesterday was their last day and the landlord came to see the owner. He doesn’t know what was said, but that was that.”
Thanks to Lynda for the heads up but this is such a shame. I would love to know what happened and if the people behind Mella plan on resurfacing elsewhere. Anybody know?
You gotta support vegan businesses, people!
Some things slip past me. I’m not infallible when it comes to knowing about all the vegan food in London. I try my best to eat everything on offer, but I am just one FGV.
Overlooking a vegan option would be excusable if we are talking about a tiny cafe tucked away in the backstreets of an outer suburb, but not when it comes to a chain of cafes with approximately 200 locations worldwide… with two locations within ten minutes of my front door!
The two Le Pain Quotidien outlets near my house somehow managed to escape my attention for a while, but I will definitely be popping in to try their vegan options often after my experience last week. I was casually strolling past the Notting Hill location of this global chain when a little carrot image at the bottom of their menu caught my eye.
Instead of the expected ‘suitable for vegetarians’, I was faced with ‘100% botanical/vegan’. I quickly hurried inside.
I’m not going to be hysterical and say these people are the saviours of high street vegan dining, but the few offerings were very well thought out. My trio of hummus mezze was fresh, tasty and difficult to finish due to size. The beetroot, green pea and chickpea varieties of hummus were nicely accompanied by fresh vegetables and bread.
The cafe proudly state on their menu they always have a selection of vegan muffins and the rotating monthly specials always seem to include a ‘botanical’ option.
You will need to dig a little deeper into your purse than some eateries require, but healthy and thoughtful eating for vegans has certainly got a good friend in Le Pain Quotidien.