Mexico otra vez

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This post serves two functions.

Firstly, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my love of Mexico. I adore it in so many ways, some of which have been highlighted here on my blog. You might recall:

All this is great, but you are probably still wondering why I’m dragging you down memory lane.

Mexico City from high
Mexico City from high

Josh and I have just booked a short vacation for Mexico this February and I want your help. Are there any places you know of that I must visit during my trip? Obviously I’m more concerned with eating, but I am open to all suggestions. Tell me best places for groceries, wonderful vegan meals you’ve enjoyed or even cultural or sightseeing tips. I want it all!

¡Vamanos!

Seasonal madness

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This post is one of the shortest in the history of my blog.

I simply wanted you to know about this Christmas-themed product at Tesco. I was too scared to try them, so I am hoping someone can post a review below. They honestly look vile.

Apparently they are only available until December 23rd so get in quick (if you can stomach them) and let me know your opinion below.

Are these tasty?
Are these tasty?

Tasty tasty

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You know about London Vegan Drinks taking place in Whole Foods Market Kensington this Thursday, right? No? It takes places on Thursday December 19th, 2013 between 6pm and 10pm. We normally have more than 100 friendly people in the room.

So now you know. Read more about it here.

But there is something you would have no way of knowing and that is the amazing line up of companies coming along to let us sample their vegan products on the night. Check them out:

Vintage Roots with vegan sparkling wines
inSpiral with vegan cakes
Dip Society with vegan dips
CoYo with vegan ice cream
Booja Booja with vegan truffles

Come along to London Vegan Drinks this week for a tasty, social event like no other on the planet!

Bottled it

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The fab people of Vintage Roots sent me a bottle of vegan wine to review. Here is my review: Kip and I guzzled it. It was nice. Order vegan wine from Vintage Roots.

As you can see, I have little expertise with wine parlance so I’ve asked the infinitely more qualified Kip of Messy Vegetarian Cook to share her reflections. You can like Kip on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

What’s the 411, Kip?

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Eat in Soho

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Can you believe it? I’ve only just made it into one of the longest-standing and most-loved vegetarian restaurants in London. Shame on me.

Mildred’s of Soho is one of those places I always told myself I would get to one day. It was always just around the bend. Days turned into weeks turned into years and I still hadn’t put my fat foot through their doorway.

A few weeks back, I decided to break the drought and discover why Mildred’s is such a popular eatery for people deciding to give meat a miss.

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Looking good and feeling fine

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I don’t often write about pop-up events not related to food and/or beer but I have no problem making an exception for one of my favourite cruelty-free skincare companies.

Leading up to Christmas (and a little bit beyond as well), festive shoppers who care about their skin AND animal welfare can shop ’til they drop in the Premae Skincare pop-up store just off world-famous Carnaby Street.

I have written about this vegan skincare company previously, so it is no secret I am a huge admirer of Clare Eluka and her ethical products. Clare is one of the hardest working business owners in the UK and I am continually thrilled to see the professional advancements she is making and hear about the never-ending platitudes piling up for her range.

Face balm by Premae
Face balm by Premae

If you are looking for a festive gift for a loved one, or just want to give the range a try for yourself, pop into the pop-up soon. Support an independent, ethical business for Christmas and beyond!

The Premae pop-up store is located in unit 2.8 of Kingly Court on Carnaby Street. The closest Underground station is Oxford Circus.

New vegan kicks

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UPDATE: This cafe has now closed!

Have you been along Oxford Street in central London lately? Longstanding businesses are being turfed out as the area gets dissected by the Crossrail tunnel project currently tearing up that part of the city. Shops are closed or closing and it is a sea of discount retailers mixed with scaffolding.

It’s a bit of a sad visual but something good has come of this messy situation. London just got a new vegan cafe!

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Vegan beer night in Shoreditch

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Can you ever have enough vegan beer? If you said yes, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. If you said, “No, FGV. There can never be such a thing as too much vegan beer!” then I’ve got news to make you smile.

Get down to east London this Saturday (December 14, 2013) for a festive vegan beer pop-up bar put on by the good folk of Pitfield Brewery. There will be microbrewed craft beers on the bar including their limited run Christmas beer, Hoxton Scotch Bonnet, as well as a DJ spinning some tunes.

Limited run vegan Christmas beer
Limited run vegan Christmas beer

Of course all that vegan beer is incentive enough to attend this cool event, but it gets better still. The Pitfield Brewery Christmas Party is being held in the slightly-spooky venue known as The Ditch, located in the basement of Shoreditch Town Hall. Located at 380 Old Street, the venue is a short 5 minute stroll from Old Street Underground Station (take exit 2 out of the station).

The party starts at 7pm and runs until midnight. Oh, I almost forgot. The party will cost you nothing to enter. Yep. FREE ENTRY!

 

Box it up

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Vegans have got a good life in London. We can dine in fancy restaurants like Saf. How about cake delivered straight to your house? Sure thing. Vegan gourmet hot dogs are another treat and don’t even get me started about Cookies & Scream in Camden.

Yes, life is grand. But there is always room for improvement and expansion. Enter food delivery service The Urban Kitchen.

Before I dive into telling you how delicious the meal was I was sent to review, I would like to state up front that this caterer is not a vegan company. That being said, all of their vegan dishes are clearly marked online and they are very approachable people. If you are wondering about any ingredient or element of a dish, get in touch with them.

Now, down to business.

Delivered with style
Delivered with style

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Choc orange delight

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When I handed out my Day of the Dead vegan supper club goodie bags, one of the items that got a lot of attention and murmurs of appreciation was the Chocolate Orange Pud cups from vegan dessert experts Pudology.

As you might know from an old post of mine, the Pudology cups are filled with smooth, sweet and irresistible gluten free pudding. They can be purchased online from grocery retailers in either chocolate, strawberry, lemon or banoffee flavours and are starting to become more widely available in high street supermarkets, too.

You know all this. Why am I droning on about puddings that you have seen and tasted?

I am simply giving you a refresher course so when I give you my opinion on the new Pudology flavour, you can skip quickly to the part where you run to buy your own pack.

The Chocolate Orange Pud is delicious. It is dense, creamy and decadent. The orange is perfectly balanced with the choc. The pudding pots come in packs of two and I don’t know if I will ever be able to show enough restraint to eat just one and save one for later. They are too lovely.

Chocolate Orange Pudding
Chocolate Orange Pudding

The Chocolate Orange Pud cups are currently exclusive to Sainsbury’s but I have been assured by Pudology that we will start seeing them popping up in independent health food stores in the new year.

Tasty!

Follow Pudology on Twitter