Have you almost gotten a handle on gift buying for Christmas?
Good. I’m here to tell you about your next vegan gift giving opportunity.
Valentine’s Day!
Moo Free are one of my favourite sweet treats companies on the planet and I’m thrilled to hear about this new product they are launching in 2020.
Inspired by their Hazelnut Truffles that hit the shelves recently, Moo Free has now created the perfect self-indulgent treat or thoughtful gift.
The heart-shaped truffles are filled with a soft raspberry centre which uses a unique raspberry concentrate mixture to achieve its mouthwateringly wonderful flavour.
Made from a white chocolate alternative recipe, these tasty new truffles are created using UTZ certified cocoa in association with the Rainforest Alliance, which helps support sustainable farming and provides better opportunities for farmers, their families, and our planet.
Produced in Devon, these new Moo Free truffles are certified vegan and are gluten and soya free.
Moo Free‘s White Raspberry Truffles will be available to buy from their online factory store (you can pre order now) and in a select number of Waitrose stores at the RRP of £4.99.
The company has been around for a number of years now and I adore how they keep expanding their range, sometimes even releasing limited edition vegan sweeteners and syrups.
Speaking of limited edition releases, the brand has just a few days ago released four Christmas products which are available in Aldi stores around the UK.
So, what have we got in the range?
Gingerbread Syrup
Cinnamon Syrup
Choc Shot Winter Spice
Choc Shot Mint
All of the Sweet Freedom products are perfect for adding to coffee, frappes, cocktails or drizzling over pancakes and porridge.
Follow Sweet Freedom on Instagram and get your Christmas supplies from Aldi stores.
One of the fastest growing fast food brands in North America just got a financial boost and vote of confidence from a Disney star.
As more and more people come to understand the value of a vegan lifestyle, a lot of people are also investing in plant-based companies. 2019 is the year that saw a whole bunch of celebrities and influencers associating themselves with leading companies focussed on the vegan and plant-based field.
Mena Massoud, the start of Disney’s Aladdin live action remake, has announced he has become an investor in San Diego-based Plant Power Fast Food.
Although best known as an actor, Massoud is recognised by his fans and social media followers as a passionate advocate of a plant-based diet. He is the founder of the travel show Evolving Vegan and is also known to regularly share photos of vegan cuisine or his thoughts about the vegan lifestyle with his 2.4 million Instagram followers.
Photo by Kathryn Page
Since opening their first location in San Diego in January 2016, Plant Power Fast Food has grown to a five unit chain with four additional locations in current development. They also have a new food truck operation in Los Angeles.
Describing his love of the brand, Mena states, “I’ve spent a great deal of time touring North America visiting a lot of plant-based restaurants. Plant Power Fast Food immediately stuck out as a big player. They have massive ambitions in the space, and they don’t just outsource their products like many of the other companies in the marketplace. There is great attention to detail, and we share the same outlook, that in order to cause real change, we have to make plant-based living accessible to the masses.”
He added that a vegan diet is much more than a fad or passing trend: “It’s about evolving in the right direction so that we can help save our planet, our bodies and our fellow living souls.”
Do you all remember that Ethiopian restaurant located at Art Works shipping container village at Elephant and Castle?
It used to have a lot of vegan options and the owner was super passionate about the food.
Well, guess what? It isn’t there anymore.
But also guess what?!
Beza has moved to another location in Elephant and Castle and has turned 100% vegan. Yay!
Both the food and interior of the restaurant look sensational.
Beza describes the restaurant as an “Ethiopian restaurant in London that specialises in traditional Ethiopian vegan food.”
Their menu is alive with truly delicious and nutritious seasonal food, all served in a beautiful setting. Everything on the menu is 100% vegan. The restaurant is proud to serve the local community with inspiring exotic dishes.
London. You are quickly becoming the most vegan place on the planet.
From north to south and east to west, the UK capital is overflowing with plant-based places to eat. There is so much choice in fact, it can be difficult working out how to cram it all in. Or more likely, how to pick just a few.
I’m here today to give you my pick for the best vegan things to do in London on the weekend of December 14 and 15, 2019.
Plan your weekend well and have a fabulous time!
Of course I have to pick the 4th annual Hackney Downs Festive Vegan Market. I started this locally-focused but broadly-loved market to help independent vegan traders have a decent shot at making a living from their work. It only comes back for special occasions such as Christmas, but the heart of this event never dies. Support it on Saturday December 14, 2019 between 11am and 5pm. Full details online here.
2. Get along to the grand opening weekend of the new Picky Wops restaurant on Brick Lane. Cristiano, Andrea, and their team have worked hard to bring their world famous pizzas to this new permanent location and you really want to be a part of this history-making opening. Try the pasta and desserts, too! Read my blog post about the opening online here.
3. Enjoy baked Christmas-themed goods from legendary vegan business, Ms. Cupcake of Brixton. The bakery is now stocking a massive range of their seasonal cakes and goodies, including a chocolate caramel reindeer cupcake that is too cute. The shop is also the only place in the UK to buy ready-made vegan Yorkshire puddings and if you spend £30 or more in store this weekend (both days), you get a free copy of the latest edition of the Vegan London Guidebook valued at £9.99. Click here for the Ms. Cupcake website.
4. Do a massive vegan grocery shop for Christmas at an independent vegan store. GreenBay Supermarket in West London has everything you need for festive celebrations including gourmet vegan cheeses, roasts, boxes of chocolates, sweets, ready to serve cream, and even panettone. Follow GreenBay on Instagram and see their exact location on North End Road thanks to Google Maps.
5. The end of the year makes a lot of us feel sentimental so it is the perfect time to catch up with friends and loved ones. Message your nearest and dearest and tell them you are meeting up for drinks at London’s superstar vegan pub, The Spread Eagle on Homerton High Street. Enjoy their fantastic cocktails and leave a bit of stomach space for the tasty cuisine of in-house kitchen experts Club Mexicana. See the exact location of the pub thanks to Google Maps.
Eat Natural are those snack bars that vegans always get harassed by in supermarkets.
You know when you are looking for something quick and easy to grab when you are at the checkout or running out the door quickly? Eat Natural bars are ALWAYS there, in every store.
If you are anything like me, your brain gets excited for a millisecond before you remember that they contain honey.
It’s not the worst thing to happen to humanity, but it is a little bit annoying.
Eat Natural must have gotten tired of vegans like me complaining (nagging works!) because they have now released three products suitable for vegans and one of them is even called Simply Vegan.
The new products include:
Simply Vegan – a gorgeously coconut-ty bar with a lovely swoosh of proper dark chocolate underneath, packed with nuts and dried fruit
Maple syrup, pecan and peanut bar – part of their ‘bars with benefits’ range. It carries extra protein thanks to all the nuts and seeds
Low Sugar Granola – a stunning granola made with coconut blossom nectar
I would recommend a store in which to look for these however I do believe they are sold almost everywhere in the UK.
I’m in no way saying that is a bad thing, I’m just commenting on how it seems to be popping up everywhere in London.
One of the most-loved vegan pizza joints in the UK capital is Good Belly which is located inside The Railway Tavern just a few steps from Dalston Kingsland Overground station.
The pizzas at Good Belly get rave reviews from those in the know, so I can only imagine how delicious these two Christmas-themed specials will taste.
The first seasonal special I want to tell you about is their Christmas Day Pizza. It is constructed from a cranberry & merlot tomato base, mushrooms, red onion, stuffing crumbs, bacon bits, parsnip puree, and shredded sprouts.
That is one dreamy Christmas pizza!
Another special they have is their flaky (and delicious) Santa’s Sausage Roll. Good Belly assure me it is one of the best sausage rolls on the planet.
Check it out.
Both of these specials from Good Belly will be on their menu until December 22, 2019 so hop along rapidly if you want some seasonal treats.
You can see the full regular menu from Good Bellyonline here, follow the restaurant on Instagram, and check out the exact location of The Railway Tavern thanks to Google Maps.
I know a lot of people love an old-fashioned cream tea but finding a vegan version in London can be tough.
There is good news out of West London, however.
The Stables café located at Osterley House is now serving vegan cream tea!
Maybe you are scratching your head at the mention of cream tea.
What is it?
Cream tea is a variation of afternoon tea and is traditionally served with scones, clotted cream, and jam. The idea of cream tea is usually attributed to the tea rooms of Devon and Cornwall.
The StablesCafé is located inside Osterley Park & House in Isleworth, West London. The café is open between 10am and 5pm, 7-days a week.
You can see the exact location of the café thanks to Google Maps.
This is a super quick blog post to let you in on some good news.
Viva! Campaigns is of course a tremendously successful and loved animal protection and lobbying group that has been busy promoting veganism for many years.
How many years? The group just celebrated its 25th anniversary!
As part of their quarter of a century celebrations, Viva! has handed out a bunch of awards for people, groups, and businesses that they believe have done a great job in improving outcomes for animals.
And I was awarded one!
After almost a decade of running this blog and all the associated social media accounts, it is a real thrill to be appreciated in this way by a group that I respect so deeply.
Massive love and thanks goes to the entire Viva! team for everything they do to make the world a better place.
And thank you from the bottom of my chubby gay heart for this recognition. It is a wonderful feeling.
You can see all of the Viva! award winners online here.
Legendary vegan bakery Ms. Cupcake of Brixton are now stocking Mabel’s amazing vegan Yorkshire Puddings. They are the ONLY place in the country to get these for Christmas.
The Yorkshires come pre-made in a batch of four, which you can keep frozen until you need to bake them off.
In Mabel’s own words, these Yorkie’s “give you that authentic flavour, with a crispy top, a soft bottom, shaped perfectly for you to pour gravy into.”
As an added bonus they are palm oil free and use compostable bio-plastic packaging.
Get down to Ms. Cupcake quickly to pick up a pack or two for your festive meal. It’s the perfect excuse to get some cake in, too!
Follow Ms. Cupcake on Instagram and see their exact shop location thanks to Google Maps.
