London vegan café celebrates two years

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This blog post is a bit personal and soppy.

I hope you are all OK with me bigging up two of my friends and their fabulous business.

Essential Vegan Café is an all-vegan eatery in Shoreditch, London and today it is celebrating two years of trading.

Essential Vegan is an independent café run by chef Vanessa Almeida and her husband Neni.

I got to know Vanessa and Neni several years ago through the vegan scene in London. They would both come along to events I hosted and it wasn’t long until we counted on each other as friends, not just vegan comrades.

Vanessa and Neni work as hard as anyone I’ve ever met in the vegan community, if not harder.

I have seen them pull all-nighters, often multiple nights in a row, in order to prepare for large scale vegan festivals such as VegFestUK. At the first ever Hackney Downs Vegan Market Vanessa was swamped by customers and sold out of everything instantly, resulting in her actually RUNNING home to bake more cakes for attendees while Neni stayed at the stall and chatted with customers.

Their shed/hatch window takeaway stall in the now-defunct PUMP foodcourt in East London was crucial in pushing vegan food forward in the capital. Vanessa and Neni worked tirelessly to make delicious seitan burgers and succulent cheesecakes to keep the hungry crowds satisfied.

Essential Vegan also became famous around this time for their gourmet plant-based cheeses.

Vanessa has invested thousands of hours in order to perfect her handcrafted artisan cheeses. If you consider yourself a vegan cheese fan, you owe it to yourself to get along to Essential Vegan to buy a few of Vanessa’s creations.

As Essential Vegan Café turns two years old, it is also important to recognise how Vanessa has helped put Brazilian food on the London map. As a chef, she is a pioneer in the UK.

Vanessa and Neni relocated from Brazil to London many years ago and it was a dream of theirs to feed traditional dishes from back home to the population of their new home. They have realised this dream with Essential Vegan Café.

Feijoada is one of their specialties and I promise you will struggle to find a weekend brunch as delicious as this anywhere else in London.

I haven’t even touched on the rest of the sensational menu which includes cake, cassava chips, Brazilian cheese balls, seitan wings, salad, quiche, and casserole.

Congratulations to Vanessa and Neni for two years of Essential Vegan Café. I’m truly inspired by your determination, work ethic, and commitment to improving outcomes for animals.

See the exact location of Essential Vegan Café thanks to Google Maps (just a few skips from Shoreditch High Street Station).

See the Essential Vegan Café menu online.

Follow Essential Vegan on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

5 online UK vegan shops you should support

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I understand that I rattle on endlessly about the importance of supporting independent vegan businesses, but like anything worth saying it is worth saying until you can’t say it any longer.

With that unstoppable determination in mind, I want to share my list of the top 5 online UK vegan shops that you could be supporting right now.

It includes a mix of groceries, cheese, clothing, wine, footwear, and baked treats.

Shopping online with these businesses keeps money in the pockets of vegan and independently-owned operations, allowing them to offer work to other vegans.

These businesses support other independent traders. Your money spent with these people keeps money in local UK communities, more so than if you shop with huge chain stores.

Are you ready for my list?

The Vegan Kind Supermarket is grocery heaven for online plant-based consumers. Of course the shop grew from the runaway success of their monthly subscription boxes, but the online shop has become an unstoppable force all of its own.

Click here to shop with The Vegan Kind Supermarket. They offer 15% off your first order!

Follow The Vegan Kind Supermarket on Instagram.

The Third Estate is not just the physical vegan boutique in London. Angela and James also operate an online version of their ethical shop. These people care about every aspect of doing the right thing by animals, people, and the planet so expect fairtrade and zero sweatshop goods. Select from a range of gorgeous boots, dress shoes, sneakers, sandals, handbags, belts, backpacks, clothing, and seasonal trinkets and candles.

Click here to shop with The Third Estate. Be sure to check out the online sale section.

Follow The Third Estate on Instagram.

Ms Cupcake is a world-famous, pioneering vegan bakery based south of the River Thames in Brixton, London but did you know they also deliver a selection of their treats all around the UK? Choose from tray bakes, cookie sandwiches, muffins, brownies, branded merchandise, and even the Ms Cupcake recipe book!

Click here to shop with Ms Cupcake. Look for seasonal items available for a limited time.

Follow Ms Cupcake on Instagram.

La Fauxmagerie is a 100% vegan gourmet cheese deli in East London. If you are a cheese lover, this place is your dream come true. If you don’t have a lot of spare time for vegan cheese shopping in that part of the city or you live at the other end of the country, why not shop for their gourmet cheeses online?

Click here to shop with La Fauxmagerie. Spend over £100 for free shipping. It’s easier to do than you think with such a huge range! Perfect for special occasions.

Follow La Fauxmagerie on Instagram.

Vegan Wine Box is THE online place to shop for home delivery wine that is all guaranteed to be vegan. Their selection of mixed cases is perfect for adventurous drinkers. The company has a strong focus on sustainable wines and you won’t get cheap, nasty vino in any of your deliveries. You can order a one-off box or subscribe for monthly deliveries.

Click here to shop with Vegan Wine Box. Look out for the Prosecco and rosé boxes!

Follow Vegan Wine Box on Instagram.

Have I missed your favourite online UK vegan retailer? Tell me in the comments.

Aquafaba masterclass for London

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London. What are you doing this Saturday October 5, 2019?

This aquafaba masterclass being hosted at Made in Hackney is exactly where you need to be. Aquafaba is versatile and a true must-use ingredient in every serious foodie’s kitchen.

When is the masterclass? Saturday 5th October 2019 between 10:00am and 2:30pm.

I’ll show you all the tips and tricks for using aquafaba as an amazingly versatile vegan egg replacer to make delicious meringues, chocolate mousse, mayonnaise, butter and more

Bruna Oliveira, Raw Chef & Nutritional Therapist

If you have made it this far and don’t know what the flip I’m talking about, let me briefly explain.

Aquafaba is the name given to the liquid leftover when you open a tin of chickpeas. Clever people discovered that this liquid has similar properties to egg white meaning it can be whipped into meringue, used for buttercream frosting, and even helps make vegan chocolate mousse a reality.

This masterclass will include:

  • Learning all the tips and tricks for using aquafaba as an amazingly versatile vegan egg replacer
  • Making vegan versions of show desserts such as pavlova, perfect meringues and chocolate mousse
  • How to use in baking to create light, fluffy pancakes and waffles
  • Techniques for using in delicious vegan omelettes, mayonnaise and butter
  • A delicious organic lunch and recipe pack
  • 10% discount in neighbouring wholefood shop, Food for All

Bruna Oliveira graduated in physiotherapy in Brazil before moving to London in 2008, where she studied Naturopathy and Naturopathic Nutrition at CNM London, in order to pursue her passion for healthy and natural living. Bruna loves creating delicious recipes with the aim of inspiring people to transform their lives through making positive changes in their diet.

Fee: £84 (£66 Concession) inclusive of VAT, includes a delicious organic plant based lunch.

This fee is used to fund the Made in Hackney programme of free courses for vulnerable and low-income community groups. By attending a Made In Hackney masterclass you get a great day of learning AND you’re providing the charity with essential funds to continue their work with vulnerable community groups.

Click here to buy your aquafaba masterclass ticket now.

View all upcoming classes at Made in Hackney online here.

Follow Made in Hackney on Instagram.

UK Vegans of Colour event London

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Esme of London Afro Vegan and Deserted Cactus fame is putting on an amazing community event focussed on vegans of colour in the UK and she needs our help to make sure it runs smoothly.

Any event in London is sure to face financial obstacles and the UK Vegans of Colour event taking place in Peckham on October 5 and 6, 2019 is no exception.

Esme has created this historical, first time event to bring together the most talented and diverse showcase of designers, activists, crafters, artists, and culinary creatives.

The two-day event will feature workshops, discussions, demos, and talks.

Sessions include:

  • Parenting whilst vegan discussion
  • Black History talk
  • Intersectionality panel
  • Womens health
  • Multiple cooking demos

There will be vegan food traders serving up mouthwatering cuisine, as well as vendors selling crafts, candles, and clothing. Make sure you check out the designated area for children if you have young people in your life!

The UK Vegans of Colour event is welcoming to all vegans and vegan-curious people, however it is firstly a safe space created to celebrate and elevate the voices, experiences, and knowledge of vegans of colour.

This crucial event is looking for your support. Your donation will help Esme put on the best community collaboration possible while ensuring she is not out of pocket herself.

Every single pound raised will go directly to the logistical and organisational needs of UK Vegans of Colour. Costs include venue expenses, promotions, travel, and infrastructure.

By supporting UK Vegans of Colour financially, you are helping Esme and her guests resist oppressive forces that silence and minimise their voices within the vegan scene and broader society.

Donate now and share this campaign. We are aiming for £1,000 so we just need 1,000 kind people to send £1 our way. Or one rich person to send us £1,000. Or 100 middle class vegans to give £10 each. Geez, you get the idea. Give what you can!

You can also support the event by attending the event. Book tickets to UK Vegans of Colour online here

Read more about the UK Vegans of Colour lineup online here

Follow UK Vegans of Colour on Instagram

Vegan job in Glasgow

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Big news for kind humans looking for a vegan job in Glasgow.

Legendary vegan food, drink, and music venue Mono has a job opening.

Read what they said:

Our precious Hanna is leaving us soon (horrifying news!), so we’re be looking for a new Assistant Manager.

Supervisory or management experience is essential. The job is very customer focussed, so you’ll have a super chill demeanour and be able to deal creatively in stressful situations. Have a head for numbers and, of course, be up for evenings and weekends.

Mono is, of course, vegan. We don’t expect you to be, but we do expect anybody working here to respect a vegan way of life.

If you’re keen, check the job description online here for more details, and click here to apply.

Get your application in before October 25, 2019 at 5pm.

Amazing Indian and African cooking masterclass

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“In this class I will teach you some delicious and healthy East African dishes with a North Indian twist, taking the best from both culinary worlds.”

That is what my buddy Nishma Shah from Shambhu’s, award-winning vegan catering and education, has to say about her upcoming cooking masterclass at Made In Hackney on Sunday September 29, 2019.

The class will include:

  • How to create tasty plant based Indian and East African curries and accompaniments such as ‘Pumpkin Roti’
  • Learn to make healthier versions of starters such as ‘Crispy Bhajia’ and ‘Spinach & Banana Fritters’, plus a stunning selection of chutneys
  • Learn to use protein-rich millet create delicious dishes such as traditional ‘Githeri’
  • How to use spices effectively and create spice blends
  • Create a sumptuous Indo-African fusion dessert such as ‘Baked Chocolate Molten Mandazi’, served with an authentic hot spiced drink
  • A delicious plant based organic lunch and recipe pack
  • 10% discount in neighbouring wholefood shop Food for All

Fee: £84 (£66 Concession for students, pensioners, unemployed, and low waged)) inclusive of VAT, includes a delicious organic plant based lunch.

This fee is used to fund the Made in Hackney programme of free courses to vulnerable and low-income community groups. By attending a Made In Hackney masterclass you get a great day of learning AND you’re providing the charity with essential funds to continue their work with vulnerable community groups.

Click here to book now and follow Shambhu’s on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also follow Made in Hackney on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Two vegan businesses in the UK bow out

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Running a vegan business in 2019 is brutal.

The costs associated with keeping a business alive can swamp an entire operation overnight and it takes nerves of steel to keep an independent set-up running and in profit.

Even with the best intentions and highest work ethic, circumstances can transpire to force the closure of a business. This can happen unexpectedly and suddenly. The decision to close a business isn’t always about money but it usually plays a big role.

Two women-owned, UK-based vegan businesses have announced closure within a 24-hour time period this week and as sad as I am to see them go, I’m also overwhelmed by feelings of gratitude for how these two businesses pushed veganism forward over recent years.

First news to hit my radar was the announcement that multi-award winning Hannah Banana Bakery was closed with immediate effect.

Owner and baker Hannah started the business back in 2011 and went on to absolutely change the landscape of free-from baking.

Her cakes and treats made fans out of people all over the UK and got more than a few rave mentions on this blog.

Hannah has announced this week that her business has come to an end immediately due to her decision to take on a different job.

The baked goods made by Hannah Banana Bakery were second to none and what Hannah did for families on the south coast is nothing short of amazing. Her cakes (and the excruciating and relentless hard work to get them made on time) allowed people to mark celebrations without feeling as though they were missing out.

Truth be told, they were getting better cakes from Hannah than they would ever have gotten from a non-vegan place.

Hannah Banana Bakery was one of the best and the UK is not the same without it. Thank you Hannah for being such a hard working vegan hero for so many years.

Sad news part two?

Legendary and groundbreaking retail dessert company Pudology is no more.

Watch this Facebook video from founder Lucy to hear the news.

Pudology is one of those brands that forged the way for the mainstreaming of veganism.

When Lucy started her plant-based dessert brand, she threw herself into it 100% and made enormous, groundbreaking strides.

Her amazing products got mainstream supermarket listings and gave hope to people all over the UK that veganism and deliciousness could go hand in hand.

Pudology dessert pots were widely available and vegans everywhere were delighted to have a world class, accessible product to call our own.

Lucy was always a wonderful supporter of events I hosted and never lost sight of the importance of giving back at a grassroots level. I gave away hundreds of her dessert pots over the years at potlucks and parties.

Pudology will be sorely missed but never forgotten.

What Lucy contributed with her gorgeous brand cannot be overstated. The UK supermarket landscape would not be swamped with vegan options like it is today without her personal sacrifices and invaluable contributions.

Thanks again to Hannah and Lucy. They made an indisputable difference in the fight to improve outcomes for animals and raise the profile of veganism in the UK.

Vegan meat company teams up with sandwich company

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Award-winning Oumph! is launching into a new segment in the UK, with vegan food-to-go products. The launch is thanks to a successful collaboration with Bristol based Real Wrap Co.

Distribution for the range starts September 30 into over 35 universities across the UK, as well as hospitals, schools, colleges and retail outlets.

The launch includes both cold and hot eats, focusing on global fusion and bold flavours, including a ‘Philly Style’ Sourdough Hot Pocket and BBQ Sriracha Baguette.

“We are extremely excited to be working with Oumph!”, says Chloe Somerville, Head of Brand at Real Wrap Co. “The demand for innovative plant-based food-to-go is growing daily, particularly with the rise of flexitarians looking to reduce meat consumption. For us, Oumph! has been the perfect meat alternative due to the amazing taste and texture, making it ideal for sandwiches and hot eats.”

Anna-Kajsa Lidell, Co-founder & Head of Progress Strategy at Oumph! and Food for Progress, comments:

“The Real Wrap Co. is a perfect partner for us, as they share our values in creating plant-based foods which focuses on food appeal. We’re pleased that our products will be reaching students and hospitals, to help a larger audience find tasty plant-based foods”.

The product range includes:

  • Madras Oumph! Sandwich with Red Onion, Lettuce and Mango Chutney
  • Mediterranean Oumph! Sandwich with Slow Roast Tomatoes
  • The Real Oumph! Baguette with BBQ Pulled Oumph!, Hummus and Sweet Pickled Veg
  • BBQ Sriracha Oumph! Baguette with BBQ Pulled Oumph!, Sriracha Vegan Mayonnaise and Coriander
  • Carribean Jerk Oumph! Baguette with Lettuce and Mango & Chilli Salsa
  • Indian Oumph! Sourdough Hot Pocket with Onion Bhaji and sweet Caramelised Onion Chutney
  • Oumph! ‘Philly Style’ Sourdough Hot Pocket with Jalapeno, Red Onion and Vegan Cheese
  • Indian Oumph! Sourdough Hot Pocket with Onion Bhaji and sweet Caramelised Onion Chutney

All of these plant-based options are completely vegan.

This is huge news for the UK and huge news for the advancement of accessible vegan food. Much love to Oumph! for working tirelessly on these advances. They don’t rest on past success.

Follow Oumph! on Instagram.

Importance of vegan supper clubs

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Hey vegans.

Yes, we have SO much vegan food on our doorstep these days but we need to make more of an effort to get along to pop up supper clubs.

Super clubs and limited dining experiences are not only exciting food opportunities that you just can’t get anywhere else, but they are often crucial in helping independent chefs and business people kickstart their food career (or even keep an existing business alive).

A successful run of supper clubs can help a chef get cash together to buy new equipment. If you are already running a successful vegan café, money can be so tight that you need to find creative ways of raising funds outside of normal opening times.

This is one of the reasons why we see independently owned vegan businesses renting out their spaces after hours to pop up events. These little bits of cash injection can be the difference between buying a new piece of electrical equipment or not. That cash flow can help cover bills and expenses during slow weeks.

A pop up gives a chef the space to test new recipes. This makes it exciting for diners who will be exposed to new and exciting dishes as the food creators really put their best into impressing supper club guests.

Supper clubs are also valuable social spaces for local vegans to come together.

Yes, we can go to most mainstream restaurants now and expect to be catered for very well but sometimes it’s refreshing to be surrounded by likeminded people who are only eating vegan food.

Living as a vegan in a non-vegan world can be exhausting so supper clubs and pop ups act as a form of respite.

Eat well and support independent business!

Yes. Supper clubs are a win-win situation.

Yoga and vegan food retreat

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Join my buddy Louise Wallis for 3 days and 2 nights of yoga (and delicious vegan food) in an idyllic Dorset location this November.

Enjoy energising Vinyasa Flow Yoga in the morning, gentle Yin Yoga in the afternoon, and blissfully relaxing Yoga Nidra before bed. Take a dip in the indoor heated pool, walk to the beach, or sit around the wood burner and relish every moment.

This weekend retreat marks the official end of Summer, and celebrates two festivals: World Vegan Day (1st Nov) and Day of the Dead (2nd Nov). Louise, your retreat host, is the founder of World Vegan Day. This celebration has grown exponentially since its creation in 1994. This year it will be 25 years old.

The food at Bonhays (the venue) is an event in itself. Expect a taste-fest of wholesome vegan delights cooked up by resident Chef, Evie. On Friday evening she will pull out all the stops for World Vegan Day with an extra special meal, and on Saturday night, enjoy Mexican-inspired cuisine.

The retreat includes:

  • 3 x days and 2 x nights full-board stay in a beautiful eco-Retreat
  • Exclusive use of the venue & all facilities, including heated pool
  • 6 x Yoga / Meditation / Relaxation classes
  • Delicious vegan meals prepared by resident Chef
  • Complimentary gift bag
  • Free WiFi and parking

This retreat is going to be EXTREMELY popular so book early.

Click here to discover prices and get booking!