Getting hung up all day on smiles

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Notting Hill Carnival is bursting into action this weekend but I’m not sure I can deal with the sheer number of people that will be swarming the area. Instead, let me give you an insight into some of the vegan finds within this world-famous district by traveling back in time ever so slightly.

A few weeks ago, I made my first ever visit to Portobello Road and I discovered more than a few vegan highlights.

My first treat was a super sweet watermelon juice served cold from a nondescript stall. The fruit chunks were pulverised before my very eyes and the temperature outside was sweltering, hence no photo due to guzzling.

The photos that have survived are included below.

The vegan churros were served piping hot. I know it is an issue but I adore food lifted straight from scalding oil. I dined on scrumptious falafel and was delighted to see the stall promoting the food as 100% vegan. Josh picked up more falafel plus a cold lemonade from Falafel King and he wants me to pass on his recommendation.

If groceries are needed, the compact Portobello Wholefoods is brimming with vegan products including tofu, plant-based meats, bulk grains and snacks. There is also a vegetarian cafe/bakery called The Grain Shop. I didn’t purchase anything, but a quick peek inside revealed a large number of vegan options.

Verdict? Portobello Road Market is a vegan-friendly utopia waiting for you to show up and eat!

Vegan churros
Vegan churros

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Free vegan food in Brixton

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If you didn’t know, I run a PR business. I only work supporting vegan companies or products. As a rule, I try not to promote my clients on this blog but if my blogger and PR roles ever intersect I make sure it is very clear.

The reason I have decided to post the following information regarding my client Fry’s Distribution is that I want as many people as possible to be aware of this event where free vegan food will be given away. Yes, my business interest is to help them but my personal interest is to support the spread of veganism.

With that disclosure out of the way, will you be coming along for a free vegan sandwich? I’ll be serving!

ENORMOUS FOOD GIVEAWAY SET FOR BRIXTON 

Brixton locals are set for a free dinner next week as leading vegetarian food company Fry’s Distribution undertakes massive food giveaway on Coldharbour Lane.

Join frozen vegan food giants Fry’s Distribution on Thursday August 29th, 2013 from 6:00pm as they cook up and serve hundreds of mouth-watering sandwiches for the people of Brixton.

Pat Drummy of Fry’s spoke of the motivation behind the event:

“At Fry’s, we pride ourselves on reaching out to local communities in order to show them how easy, tasty and healthy meat-free eating can be. Our message is about doing what is best for your family, animals and the planet by reducing the amount of mass produced animal products you consume.”

Pat continues:

“2013 has been an incredible year for our company with record increases in sales due to meat scandals and our entire range has recently been listed with online supermarket Ocado. People are coming around to the idea of not having meat with every meal and we want to show the people of Brixton how it can be done.”

The giveaway is taking place inside the much-loved Ms. Cupcake bakery located at 408 Coldharbour Lane. The owner of the bakery, Mellissa Morgan, spoke of her support for the event:

“I am always looking for inventive and interesting ways to give something back to the Brixton community. When I was approached by Fry’s Distribution about using my shop to host this giveaway, my initial reaction of saying yes was based on what a great thing it will be for the people in the area. As a vegan business owner myself, I also look for opportunities to spread information about kinder and more environmentally friendly food.”

More than 300 sandwiches will be given away on a first come basis and the event will commence at 6:00pm sharp.

Fry’s products can be purchased at Brixton Wholefoods in Atlantic Road.

Brunch in a Royal Borough

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PLEASE NOTE: since this was written, the owner of the cafe has been convicted of animal cruelty. Read the update here: http://tinyurl.com/qy6qatz

If you ever find yourself waking up in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea with a rumbling belly, you won’t have far to travel for a hot vegan breakfast.

Just a quick stroll toward the Holland Park end of the area will reward you with a plant-based meal from Down to Earth on Kensington High Street.

Down to Earth Kensington
Down to Earth Kensington

If you know anything about this part of London, you will be aware of how expensive it is to live, drink and eat in Kensington. Down to Earth is no exception. Our vegan fry up was delicious but carried the hefty price tag of £7.50. That might not seem like a huge figure to some readers, but the food on the plate was not piled high.

There was a lot of what appeared to be Taifun vegan sausages, coupled with a bit of pepper and mushroom. This was topped with two slices of house-made ciabatta. My meal was tasty however I felt there was an over-reliance on the sausage. I would like to see the sausage reduced in favour of cooked greens or even some beans to bulk the meal out.

Vegan breakfast
Vegan breakfast

The restaurant doubles as a deli and there is a decent selection of vegan items available, including Vegusto cheese and inSpiral kale chips. The interior is spacious and light. I highly recommend booking and asking for a window seat as Kensington is a hotspot for people watching in London. On the downside, I discovered the hard way that a Sunday morning hangover doesn’t mix very well with the large number of families frequenting the cafe with small children.

Attractive & spacious interior
Attractive & spacious interior

The Down to Earth menu contains an impressive selection of vegan options and a huge range of fresh juices, so I am definitely up for making a few more trips. I am especially tempted by their raw and gluten free mains.

Visit Down to Earth online

Best value in London?

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Josh has stopped by with some news for budget-conscious vegans regarding what could very well be the cheapest takeaway lunch in central London for plant-eaters.

Read all about it and then make lunch plans for tomorrow!

First day back at work today and as I hadn’t brought anything for lunch, I found myself wandering around Tottenham Court Road at lunchtime deciding how to fill up without spending a fortune. Fortunately I remembered that Sagar have a location just a short walk from my office so I headed down Percy Street and less than five minutes later was walking back to my office with a takeaway vegan thali. How exciting!

The thali came with two different curries/dahls, fried rice, salad, coconut chutney and a paratha bread. Everything was seriously delicious and the best part is that it was £3.50. Yep, you read correctly. £3.50. That’s less than some places charge for a lousy old sandwich.

If you want to eat in the restaurant, the cost goes up ever so slightly to £4.95 but that’s still pretty darn cheap for a delicious vegan thali in central London. Yay for Sagar!

Takeaway vegan thali - is this the cheapest vegan lunch in London?
Takeaway thali – is this the cheapest vegan lunch in London?

Most vegan-friendly location in London

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I get asked a lot of questions as a vegan blogger based in London. People want to know where they can get a fry up, which beers are vegan and who sells the biggest range of plant-based products.

I am usually able to assist but there has always been a question  for which I have struggled to determine an answer. People want to know the most vegan-friendly suburb/location/area in the UK capital.

The problem with London is the vast distances you must travel to find vegan food. Catch the Tube to Edgware for one of the best Loving Huts on the planet to understand what I mean. Vegan business are spread far and wide, making it difficult to name the number one spot for plant eaters.

However, there certainly are hotspots popping up around London where a vegan would have no problem eating their fill. Take Brixton, for example.

Following is a collection of vegan food I stumbled across this weekend as I strolled around the iconic London neighbourhood. From make-shift market stalls to one of the most well-known vegan bakeries in the world, Brixton is certainly not short of cruelty-free food options.

The collection below doesn’t even cover everything on offer in Brixton. There is a raw juice bar, a vegan-friendly pizza restaurant, a falafel stall and much more.

Check out the mouthwatering photos and then let me know in the comments your pick for London’s most vegan-friendly neighbourhood!

cake and shake
Oreo milkshake & cotton candy cupcake from Ms. Cupcake vegan bakery

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Friends reunited

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London can be a beating.

Living in such a huge city of course has its advantages, but you can also get swallowed up in the sheer scale of things. I have friends who live on the other side of the city and I can get through an entire calendar year without seeing them. Everyone is busy and it can take hours to get across town.

One victim of London’s gigantism is Saf. This 100% vegan restaurant is one of the finest places for plant eaters to dine out in the capital, but I rarely make it along. One of the last times I visited was for this blog post from April 2011. That is far too long between visits.

This week I decided to bridge the gap between myself and Saf. I slipped in on my own for a quick lunch and my choice of main was exquisite. I adored my Summer Risotto featuring  organic Arborio rice with a miso cream, fresh broad beans, grilled courgettes, roasted garlic and saffron all topped with a shaved fennel salad.

£11 is a fair chunk to pay for a main meal but the quality and freshness of my meal warranted the price tag. It was delicious and felt as though someone had really considered the combination of ingredients.

Risotto at Saf
Risotto at Saf

I am so glad I have reconnected with Saf. I promise I won’t let London come between us ever again.

Visit Saf online

What’s your bag?

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If you missed out on attending London Vegan Beer Fest, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on holding a small piece of it in your hand.

I have an extremely limited run of tote bags left from the event and I am offering them for sale right here. For £6 (or £7 outside the UK) you will get a limited edition, hand printed, organic cotton London Vegan Beer Fest tote bag posted through your letterbox.

But that is not all.

Because I am a kind and loving FGV, every buyer will also get a super cool ‘DRINK VEGAN BEER’ pin/badge and a copy of the beer fest programme.

These London Vegan Beer Fest bundles are a lovely memento of a superb community event. Once these are gone they will not be reprinted, so grab a little piece of vegan history while they last!

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Click the button above for the bundle if you are in the UK (£6)

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Click the button above for the bundle if you are outside the UK (£7)

 

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Vegan feast in a Royal park

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London, get ready to experience Mexican food like you have never experienced it before.

I am proudly partnering with esteemed restaurant group Peyton & Byrne to present a Mexican inspired vegan supper club held in the gorgeous surrounds of St. James’s Park.

On Thursday August 8th, 2013, food enthusiasts will have the rare chance to be immersed in a 100% plant-based Mexican meal on the covered balcony of Inn The Park. I am working alongside the staff of this Oliver Peyton-owned eatery to deliver a sumptuous and exotic range of dishes inspired by the hustle and bustle of the streets of Mexico City.

Booking details at bottom of page.

Inn The Park (1)

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Whole lotta love

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If you like a good party with plenty of vegan refreshments, wonderful people and plant-based food options, you would have been in your element last night as London Vegan Drinks made its debut in Whole Foods Market High Street Kensington.

Almost 150 vegans and vegan-friendlies converged on the gorgeous Kensington High Street mega-store on Thursday July 18th, 2013 for what is now one of the biggest monthly vegan events on the planet.

We felt so loved!
We felt so loved!

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