New vegan pizza and beer hot spot for London

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The team that founded Young Vegans Pie Shop – London’s only vegan pie and mash outlet – have opened a new pizza restaurant in Bethnal Green, East London.

Young Vegans Pizza Shop opened its doors to the public for its launch on Wednesday the 13th of November, 2019. The restaurant contains 30 seats, a licensed bar, and a dedicated takeaway/delivery counter.

The Pizza Shop began life as ​Death By Pizza​, a small pop up based out of a ramshackle hut with clay pizza oven in Hackney serving up highly rated wood fired vegan pizzas. One year later and the company has rebranded it to Pizza Shop, aligning itself with the Pie Shop, and relocating to a much bigger space in Bethnal Green.

Young Vegans has always proudly produced all ingredients at their prep kitchen in Camden. These include mock meats and vegan cheeses, and the vegan mozzarella used at the Pizza Shop.

The revamped menu retains previously popular pizzas such as the Devil’s Coglioni (seitan pepperoni, mozzarella and marinara sauce) and the Holy Ghost (ricotta, mozzarella, marinara, red onions and spinach) as well as new favourite Horror Show (butternut squash, caramelised onions, mozzarella, marinara, walnuts and rocket). What’s new is the full set of starters and desserts, from mac ’n’ cheeze and mozzarella fingers to cheesecake and a cookie dough pie.

Alongside the much expanded food menu, Young Vegans Pizza Shop serves a range of cocktails, wines, and local craft beers from Hackney Brewery.

The restaurant’s weekly opening hours are Wednesday to Friday from 5pm-10pm, and Saturday and Sunday from midday-10pm.

You can follow Young Vegans Pizza Shop on Instagram.

You can see the exact location of the restaurant thanks to Google Maps.

Taiwanese vegan food in central London

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Gil and I were recently invited along to an extremely popular (and busy!) restaurant in Covent Garden to try their vegan options and I was more than impressed.

Din Tai Fung is an award-winning global restaurant chain that was once named one of the top 10 restaurants on the planet.

The London location is just steps from the famous Covent Garden market.

The chain has really upped their game to make the menu more welcoming to vegans and from I sampled, they are doing a damn fine job.

Check out the photos below of my delicious meal including mushroom and truffle dumplings, sweet bean buns, garlic greens, savoury rice, and iced tea.

You can see the exact location of Din Tai Fung London online thanks to Google Maps.

Latest issue of T.O.F.U. Magazine out now

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Continuing to showcase personal stories and long-form interviews around topics of oppression and activism, T.O.F.U. Magazine is proud to announce the release of its latest issue, which focuses on capitalism and veganism.

From whether or not voting with our dollar and working within the system is creating change to dreaming of ways to build something different, T.O.F.U. #15 shares the thoughts and experiences of vegan business owners (e.g., Herbivore Clothing, Food Fight!, and Scapegoat Tattoo), activists (e.g., lauren Ornelas of Food Empowerment Project), and more to try and make some sense of the tangled web we weave when money gets involved.

“When you’re looking at the intersections between capitalism and veganism, there are no easy answers,” admits Ryan Patey, T.O.F.U.’s Editor and Co-Founder. “However, as veganism gains in popularity in many parts of the world, and large companies continue to seek profit without a real interest in our ethics, it’s a subject we’re going to have to tackle more and more.”

Thanks to the contributions of vegans involved directly with the capitalist system through operating vegan businesses and those trying to live outside of it as much as possible, T.O.F.U. #15 hopes to help encourage these tough conversations, both within the community and ourselves.

As always, the new issue is available through a pay-what-you-can system (because increasing access instead of profits is important!) along with all the other past issues.

Click here to access the latest copy of T.O.F.U. magazine.

Follow T.O.F.U. on Instagram and Facebook.

Best vegan curry in the UK

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I was recently invited by Pho to pop into one of their restaurants to try the new vegan Christmas menu.

In case you don’t know, Pho is a restaurant chain around the UK serving up amazing Vietnamese street food and a quarter of their menu just happens to be vegan, making it a loved destination for plant based eaters.

The Christmas menu is not seasonal specific food but rather focussed on giving you the choice of two courses for £14.50 or three courses for £18.50.

The menus have been designed with groups in mind such office Christmas parties, seasonal meet-ups for friends, and family dinners. It is the perfect place to suggest if you are being dragged along for a mandatory end of year dinner because there is SO MUCH vegan choice.

Check out the vegan Christmas menu for Pho below.

I ate a few things in order to give you some feedback (research purposes only!) and I was blown away. As always, the vegan options at Pho are amongst some of the best dishes on the planet in my opinion.

First up I had the Chả giò. These crispy spring rolls are served with lettuce and herbs for wrapping before plunging into the accompanying dip. I picked the peanut dip but you can opt for soy ginger sauce.

I also tried two mains. They offered! What was I meant to do?

I had the giant bowl of Phở chay, featuring tofu and button mushrooms in veggie broth with rice noodles. This dish was simply delicious.

My final dish was Cà-ri. This rich, fragrant Vietnamese curry with tofu and
mushrooms was topped with nuts and served with broken rice.

This was the tastiest and most enjoyable curry I’ve eaten in my life. I will order it every single time I return to a Pho restaurant, without fail.

Make sure you get along before Christmas to enjoy the Christmas menu prices.

The restaurants do also serve meat but are extremely proud of their vegan options and do everything they can to make plant based diners feel at home.

Click here to visit the Pho website and find your nearest location.

New vegan full English breakfast in Wagamama

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The future we never thought would be possible has arrived.

Airports haven’t been known as hotspots for plant-based food. Traditionally, vegans have needed to pack our own snacks when spending time in transit or otherwise deal with uninspired crisp selections.

Imagine my shock today when I discovered a vegan full English cooked breakfast at Wagamama while waiting for my flight at Heathrow Terminal 3 in London.

This marks a huge shift in the state of mainstream plant-based foods.

The full English features seitan bacon, scrambled tofu, sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, sweet potato, and toast.

The meal isn’t cheap at £10.25 but it certainly feels like good value when held up against other airport meals.

And the thrill of enjoying a plate of hot vegan food before a flight cannot be overstated. It is a real joy.

If you want to follow my travel and food adventures, follow me on Instagram.

New vegan croissants for the UK

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On the morning of Friday November 1, 2019 (World Vegan Day) I was invited to a new product launch and let me just say that you are in for a treat!

La Boulangere is a French baked goods company that has just launched vegan croissants and pains au chocolat into the UK market!

These were some of the finest vegan pastries I have ever tried.

La Boulangere vegan croissants and pains au chocolat are now available from Ocado, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons.

Get shopping and enjoy. These are very special products.

Breaking News: M&S going all vegan with own wines

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BREAKING NEWS

M&S welcomes World Vegan Day (Friday 1st November) with the commitment to have an entirely vegan-friendly own-label wine range on shelf by the end of 2022 – a UK first for a chain retailer.

Animal-based ingredients are commonly used in wine production across with the most common including egg whites, milk protein and animal gelatine. Substituting these for plant-based alternatives such as pea protein, or modifying vine management and winemaking techniques means the wines are 100% suitable for those following a vegan-based diet.

M&S was an early pioneer of this movement, first labelling wines as ‘suitable for vegetarians’ back in 1998, with ‘suitable for vegans’ following in 2005 – now all bottles are clearly marked on the back label.

Currently 70% of the M&S wine range is suitable for vegans, representing a significant offering already in place. Many customer favourites are already part of the vegan-friendly range, including popular wines such as M&S Prosecco (£7), Chablis (£12), Vinalta Malbec (£9) and Delacourt Champagne NV (£25)

Commenting on M&S’ long-standing dedication to this goal, Sue Daniels, M&S Winemaker, said: “We’ve made this commitment as part of our overall aim to make M&S products more relevant to more customers and to take action to reflect their changing dietary demands.

“Obviously, such a large-scale commitment isn’t without its challenges – however we have been working on alternatives with winemakers for several years and have already seen radical changes in more traditional areas such as France and Spain. We will be supporting the rest of our partner wineries every step of the way towards this goal.”

The commitment supports M&S’ focus on plant-based eating, having earlier this year launched its hugely successful vegan-friendly range Plant Kitchen comprising over 60 products from vegan firsts such as Plant Kitchen Coleslaw to new customer favourites Cauliflower Popcorn Bites and Cashew Mac & Cheese.

This Christmas, the retailer is extending its vegan range to offer customers for the first time a complete vegan-friendly Christmas dinner, whilst this week sees the launch of a brand new vegan sandwich into its popular vegan sandwich range the Plant Kitchen Nutcracker Sandwich, £3.50.

Visit the M&S wine shop online.

Top ten things to see at VegFestUK London

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It is that time of the year.

London Olympia is transforming into the UK’s biggest vegan lifestyle show once again over the weekend of Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October, 2019.

VegFestUK London will feature new products, cooking demos, informative talks, a food court, and opportunities to mix with thousands of other vegans and vegan-curious people.

To celebrate the 2019 outing of VegFestUK London, I’ve picked my top ten reasons why you should go.

Check them out below:

Ananda’s Marshmallows – Stall Number WM9: Ananda’s is famous for their vegan versions of Wagon Wheels, the much-loved sweet treat featuring marshmallow fluff sandwiched between to soft cookie discs. They call their version the Round Up. This weekend you can buy three for the price of two across the entire range.

LGBT Vegan Socials with FGV – Natural Therapy Zone Level 2: Yes, I’m singing the praises of my own social event. These two one-hour sessions are nothing more than an organised space where LGBTQ+ vegans and our allies can get together and meet each other. Just chat informally! There will also be cupcakes to eat.

Arancini Brothers – Stall Number CAT16: I shouldn’t need to tell you but Arancini Brothers make some of the finest vegan comfort food on the planet. Their savoury risotto balls are heavenly and I highly recommend you make their stand part of your weekend eating plans.

DÁPPA – Stall Number CAT1: Soft serve ice cream, anyone? I’ve eaten quite a bit of vegan soft serve ice cream around the world and these people make some of the best I’ve tried. They always are on top of their game when it comes to toppings as well. Be early for this because they will be BUSY.

Vegan Culinary Cruises – Stall Number QA5: You can come along to this stand to learn all about upcoming luxury vegan cruises taking place in Cambodia/Vietnam and the South of France but more importantly, it is where I will be based most of the weekend. Please come and say hello to me!

Follow Your Heart – Stall Number CB4: A must visit at any vegan show, FYH will be showcasing their incredible cheeses and salad dressings. Their legendary vegan mayonnaise, Vegenaise, is what I consider the best vegan product on the planet. Grab a jar or two!

Made In Hackney – Stall Number ME1: Made in Hackney is the amazing community kitchen project hosting out of this world vegan masterclasses. Money raised from these events helps run cooking and meal planning classes for at risk and low income members of our community. Stop by to learn about the charity and you can even grab a discount code to use against one of their future masterclasses.

Moo Free Chocolates – Stall Number CK4: This company is still one of my favourites of all time. I simply cannot get enough of their ‘hunnycomb’ variety. It is milk chocolate without the milk. Cows are friends!

Mouse’s Favourite – Stall Number WL3: You need to get along to this cheese stall early if you want the best pick. They will sell quickly. I especially recommend their camembert as it is one of the finest I have ever enjoyed.

Workers Playtime – Stall Number U16: Fabulous vegan shoe brand making their VegFestUK debut. Try and buy from two of their most popular styles plus check out what else is on the horizon. Stylish and ethical footwear.

Choosing a top ten was tough. Rest assured there is a lot more for you to discover at VegFestUK London this weekend.

Check out full details online here and buy advance tickets.

Follow VegFestUK on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Vegans are obsessed with IKEA

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Trends in the vegan world are tough to keep up with as there seems to be a never-ending stream of breaking news and product launches in 2019.

I’ve made it my business to know what is happening when it comes to plant-based developments over the past decade but I sometimes feel like I have vegan fatigue from the ridiculous number of news stories breaking every week.

Yes, I am tired and worn out from trying to stay updated with vegan developments however there is one story within this swell of stories that still has the power to get me excited and hold my interest.

IKEA.

I am obsessed by how obsessed vegans are with the plant-based products of IKEA. This is the strange and wonderful world we find ourselves in right now. IKEA is somehow the hottest global trend in veganism!

I spend a lot of time in Mexico City and we do not have an IKEA here. Can you even imagine?! I’ve got IKEA envy. Every single day I watch vegan after vegan post photos of plant-based foods from their local IKEA and I don’t have one near me.

Because I’m currently out of the IKEA loop, I’ve pulled together a few recent Instagram posts showcasing this love affair between UK vegans and the Swedish-founded mega store… plus a few photos from IKEA-loving vegans from around the rest of the world, too.

And until the Mexico City location reportedly opens next year, these photos are all I have.

Let’s do this!

UK photos first up.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B36W_uZJYs0/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B34HkJLJldu/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3wMkObJB8t/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3PuH9upZ2N/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3PryWPBgbB/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B16HsJBpGjX/

Rest of the world.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3mWzhDnXjw/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3koXEHJYEn/

If I haven’t showcased your favourite IKEA vegan eats, please let me now all about it in the comments.

In the instance I ever do make it to an IKEA, the first place you will hear about it is my Instagram account.

Legendary vegan bakery in London robbed

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The legendary vegan bakery Ms Cupcake of Brixton, London was broken into last night.

Sharing the news on their social media, staff showed the broken window where entrance to the shop was gained using a brick.

The update also stated that cash was stolen from the business.

The Ms Cupcake bakery is one of the true pioneer vegan businesses in the UK and was largely responsible for launching the booming interest in veganism we see today.

I recently interviewed Ms Cupcake founder Mellissa Morgan for Tenderly online magazine. We talked about the trials and tribulations of running an independent vegan business and how the biggest hurdles are often completely unexpected.

In the interview (which you can read online here), Mellissa talked of how the business recently recovered from a flood. This break in was never going to have good timing, but right now feels particularly difficult for the team.

Please consider what you might do to help support the Ms Cupcake team as they move past this trouble.

My suggestions are:

  • Visit the store as soon as you can and spend up big (they sell a huge range of pantry items, packaged sweets, ice cream, and of course legendary cakes and slices)
  • Follow Ms Cupcake on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook
  • If you are at VegFestUK London this week at Olympia, stop by the Ms Cupcake stall (stand number CAT0 – next to One Planet Pizza) and buy lots of cake

In addition, you can catch Mellissa presenting a talk at VegFestUK London on Saturday October 26, 2019 between 1:15pm and 1:45pm.

Mellissa will be talking about all things sweet on the Foodies Stage.

Learn how you can use alternatives to refined sugars in your baking but still get immensely indulgent and decadent results. Over the years Ms. Cupcake has changed and developed her recipes to reflect changing customer tastes and now you can learn her secrets. Find out how this Brixton bakery has removed a third of the sugar from their cupcakes and cakes and introduced both a menu of refined sugar free items and a menu suitable for diabetics.

Get all the info about VegFestUK London (including tickets) online here.