Vegan in Seville

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Guest post by Mirel.

I hadn’t chosen to visit Seville for the food, but a quick Google told me that some gems awaited me in this tiny but perfectly formed city.

We stayed at the Hotel Fernando III on a bed-and-breakfast basis. Vegan breakfast options were pretty decent; a huge selection of breads, jams, dairy-free margarine spread, cereal, soya milk (already out on the buffet table), three types of juice, nuts, seeds and fresh fruit was all available. From the hot options the baked beans, fried tomatoes and breakfast potatoes were suitable for vegans too.

Directly opposite our hotel was a charming tapas bar called La Bartola. It had good reviews on HappyCow and it was in an incredibly convenient location so we decided to check it out. They had a small but interesting menu with all vegan items clearly marked and knowledgeable staff on hand to provide extra information if needed.

We had the aubergine bruschetta and the sushi, which was battered and deep fried. It sounded like sacrilege at first, but one taste was all the convincing we needed! It was utterly delicious with a crisp outer but still fresh and zingy in the middle. The baked aubergine on the bruschetta had been roasted to perfection before being topped with fresh tomatoes and rocket. It was something I could easily eat every day!

The old town is tiny and very compact so there isn’t much need for public transport, it’s best explored on foot. As we walked down one little road we stumbled upon a lovely little smoothie bar called Milk Away. They sell lots of healthy options like porridge, fruit pots, salad bowls and so on but we had a giant smoothie each. You can choose any combination from the dizzying selection of options they have or pick one of their suggested blends.

While strolling around, we saw vegan options being proudly offered in so many places, sadly we didn’t have time to try them all.

Our final stop was at Bar Alfalfa. A good friend of mine had recommended that we visit this place during our trip, this was the only recommendation we had. It lived up to our expectations with some truly special options packed full of flavour. We had the red pesto bruschetta, pumpkin soup and seeded red pepper hummus with toasted breads. I know nobody can go wrong with hummus but this one definitely surpassed expectations. They told us that the pesto was made from scratch on the premises and the bruschetta was generously topped with toasted pine nuts. The soup was the perfect consistency and came topped with a few extra vegetables.

UK favourite sweets in vegan versions

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ConVEctionery is a new business that launched around a month ago and is already getting some amazing reviews.

Their popularity seems to come down to them creating products that we all miss from our non-vegan days and replicating them for vegans.

ConVEctionary made these treats for friends and family at first and the feedback was so sensational, they thought they had better let even more people try for themselves.

Check out these vegan versions of Jammie Dodgers, Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kat fingers, and Rocky Road.

It all looks fabulous.

You can order for UK delivery and if you use the promo code EASTER, you can get a 10% discount!

Click here to order and be sure to follow ConVEctionery on Instagram.

Vegan nuggets in LA cinema chain

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Back in December, Los Angeles city councilmember Paul Koretz introduced a bill that, if passed, would require entertainment and travel venues around the city to put at least one vegan dish on their menus.

The Fry Family Food Company and Los Angeles cinema chain Laemmle Theatres decided to get a jump on the passing of the bill and have partnered to bring delicious, healthy vegan products to three Laemmle Theatre locations around Los Angeles.

Family-owned Fry’s is a global plant-based food brand based in South Africa which sells its products in 28 countries around the world and is about to make its U.S. retail debut this spring. Laemmle Theatres, also family owned, is one of the most iconic cinema chains in Los Angeles with its origins dating back to the 1930s.

Fry’s Chik’n Nuggets, which are both non-GMO and gluten-free, are now available in Laemmle Theatres in Santa Monica, North Hollywood and Glendale.

This is fabulous news and I truly believe this is just the start of a new wave of vegan food catering in entertainment venues.

Extra news: some extra gossip on the grapevine suggests Laemmle Theatres will soon be introducing additional menu items from Fry’s including hot dogs and sausage rolls.

Follow Laemmle on Instagram and view movie times/locations online.

Follow Fry’s on Instagram and view their entire range online.

Vegan dining at Wembley Stadium

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Guest post by Mirel.

Thanks to a huge stroke of luck, I was able to win a pair of tickets for the FA Cup Semi Final to watch Manchester City v Brighton & Hove at Wembley Stadium this weekend. As an added bonus, these tickets were for the Bobby Moore Club level and came with the full corporate hospitality package which is something I’ve never dreamed of experiencing before.

We submitted our dietary requirements in advance and Wembley Stadium confirmed this was all in hand. I had no further information about the food ahead of time, but hoped for the best and knew that if it was terrible we could always buy some tasty Indian food from nearby Ealing Road after the game. Online reviews rave about the hospitality experience and I couldn’t wait to try it out for myself.

Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted at the bag search before heading to the turnstiles and into Wembley Stadium. After our tickets were scanned, we were welcomed into the Bobby Moore Club by a team of well-polished and friendly staff who were waiting to receive us. They quickly matched up our ticket numbers with a table booking and a hostess took us across the restaurant to our own private table. A waiter was ready to receive us at the table, pulled our chairs out and offered us a glass of champagne.

After our glasses were filled, he said “May I just confirm that you are our vegan guests?”. We said yes and he handed us our menu for the day.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but this was instantly impressive. A 5-course fully vegan fine dining menu packed with delicious and inventive things; no portobello mushroom burgers in sight!

A bowl of olives and a bowl of luxury mixed nuts were already on the table so we placed our order for the meal and got started on the nibbles while we waited.

We were then offered a bread selection and our waiter kindly brought over an allergen sheet for us to check before we ate anything. The bread was produced in a bakery which also handles dairy so he alerted us to the possibility of traces, but dairy wasn’t used as an ingredient in the bread so that was perfectly fine for us. Instead of butter, we enjoyed the bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

The restaurant was slowly filling up but there was no dip at all in the impeccably high levels of service. Our drinks were topped up and the starter arrived.

As a lifelong soup fan, I was guaranteed to love this course but it was even better than I anticipated. Delicately flavoured, the perfect texture and topped with a few baby pea shoots, this was a fantastic way start to the meal.

The main course followed and it was easy to see how much care had gone into the careful plating of this meal. The colours really popped and made the whole thing look so instantly appetizing.

The amount of flavour in the roasted and pureed vegetables was absolutely amazing. At first the portion seemed on the small side, but it was deceptively filling and beautifully done.

Dessert wasn’t groundbreaking at all, but it was still fresh and delicious.

It would have been lovely to have a slightly more inventive vegan dessert than a fruit salad. I wasn’t expecting an aquafaba meringue, but maybe a fruit crumble, a flapjack, some coconut yoghurt, or even some vegan ice cream which is readily available in our supermarkets these days.

After the first three courses were over, it was time for tea and coffee before heading out to our seats to watch the game. At halftime we headed back inside the Bobby Moore Club restaurant and the halftime snacks awaited us. We each had a plate with a falafel, some fresh vegetables and a pot of hummus to dunk them all in.

We headed back to our outdoor seats and watched the second half of the game, Manchester City were victorious with a final score of 1 – 0. It wasn’t over for us though as we headed back to the restaurant one final time to enjoy our post-game cheeseboard and one more drink before hitting the road.

I had been dubious about the cheese as we know that all vegan cheeses are not created equal. But this one was something special! It was really rich and delicious, but not overpowering at all. I didn’t ask but if I had to guess I’d say it was cashew-based. Either way, we absolutely loved it.

And just like that, our hospitality experience was over. It isn’t something I could have done without being lucky enough to win tickets but it was an incredible day and I enjoyed every minute. It was also impressive to see such excellent vegan options being offered in a place where the average guest isn’t a vegan. Top marks to Wembley Stadium and the Bobby Moore Club!

Wholesale vegan brownie

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Brighton Bakery is a 100% vegan wholesale bakery based in Brighton.

Since 2015, they have supplied coffee shops and restaurants nationwide with trays of their banging brownies and freakin’ awesome flapjacks. This year, they have launched their best-selling brownie as an individually packaged product for sale in retail environments.

It’s a frozen product, which will have defrosted in transit to you so will be ready to eat!

The bakery is super stoked that their product is available from The Vegan Kind Supermarket which means that anyone in the country can now have the brownies delivered straight to their door.

You can follow Brighton Bakery on Instagram.

Vegan food at Butlin’s

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Award-winning plant-based Oumph! is now on the menu in The Diner at Butlin’s Minehead and Bognor Regis resorts.

Oumph! is offered as a plant-based option in a selection of dishes on both the starter and the main course section of the menu.

“We are really proud of our exciting new menu in The Diner and are pleased to be offering our guests the choice of Oumph! as a vegan topping on our Traditional Tacos as well as the House Cobb Salad. Our new menu features everything from authentic American dishes and build your own burgers to delicious thick shakes, delighting our guests and providing great value for money,” says Jenny Cooper, Head of F&B and Retail Marketing at Butlin’s.

At Butlin’s one of the best things about getting away is giving yourself the time to do things you don’t often get to do at home, and Butlin’s know that sitting down together to enjoy a meal as a family can be one of those things.

Jenny Cooper continues:

“In the past year we have seen increased demand for us to offer a wider variety of vegetarian and vegan menu options. Oumph! is the perfect choice since it is very versatile and suitable in a range of different dishes. The fact that it’s not only vegan but also gluten-free is an added bonus.”

Dave Smith, Head of UK Foodservice at Oumph! and Food for Progress comments:

“We’re pleased to see that a family focused establishment like Butlin’s have chosen Oumph! to add value to their menu. No doubt this will be very welcome for the ever-increasing number of Oumph! fans among vegetarians, vegans and flexitarians.”

While you wait for your next family vacation at Butlin’s to come around, you can visit the Oumph! website and follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Vegan retreat in French Alps

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How about a fully vegan summer retreat in the French Alps?

Amanda and her husband have put together a truly sensational 4-day retreat at their chalet situated in the French Alps above the popular alpine town of Morzine.

The couple have spent the last four years renovating their old farmhouse and it is now a beautiful 5-bedroom retreat.

They plan to offer retreats throughout the year and this summer 2019 outing is your first chance to experience the beautiful setting.

The summer vegan retreat takes place between June 27 and 30, 2019.

You get to eat vegan food, hike through stunning countryside, enjoy a few yoga sessions, visit local towns, or just kick back on the terrace and drink in the views.

The cost of this stay is £450 per person based on sharing a twin room.

If you would like to find out more or book a space, you can email info@poleski.co.uk and let yourself be known to Amanda.

Exclusive vegan dining pop up in Hoxton

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New vegan food creators Plant Life present a series of nights featuring vegan tacos and cocktails accompanied by live music at The Bach, Hoxton.

Sounds fab, right?!

The event is spread across April 11, 12, and 13, 2019 between 6:30 and 10:30pm.

Wanna see the menu?

  • Arrival cocktail: gin, cherry liqueur, Elderflower, blueberries, raspberries, fresh lime & mint
  • Tacos and fries: Lightly battered spiced cauliflower taco, pomegranate, baby chard, tahini & coriander sauces/ BBQ Jackfruit, crispy seitan taco, cheeze, spring onions, mayo, lettuce & pickle/ Loaded fries with gravy, cheeze & crispy onions/ Battered tofu taco, pink onions, tartar sauce, slaw, fresh chili & lime/ Sticky tofu, fresh herbs, nutty hoisin sauce, mayo, chilies & spring onions served in a rice pancake
  • Dessert cocktail: kahlua, vodka, oat cream & hazelnut milk, served with a chocolate truffle

Sounds sensational.

This is going to be a very popular series of events, so book your tickets online now.

You can follow Plant Life on Instagram.

Vegan supper event in Balham

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Sassy Plants (formally That Sloppy Vegan) are having another pop up event in South London this month!

The second supper club is taking place in Balham on Friday April 12, 2019 at Brother Marcus located at 9 Chestnut Grove, London SW12 8JA.

The dinner will run between 7:30pm and 10:00pm.

Wanna know about the menu?

Enjoy a middle eastern inspired, totally vegan dinner. Sassy Plants is all about promoting incredible flavour within an entirely plant-based menu for vegans and non-vegans alike.

Four courses will be accompanied by great music and the awesome atmosphere of Brother Marcus.

Check out the sample menu below:

  • Appetiser – Selection of Meze
  • Starter – Kofta with Twisted Tabbouleh and Smoked Sauce
  • Main – Ras-el-Hanout Grilled Aubergine on Mushroom Infused Buckwheat & Pearl Barley with Seasonal Vegetables
  • Dessert – Warming Apple Tart with Cardamom Infused Vanilla Cream

Tickets are £35 and available online here.

Follow Sassy Plants on Instagram for more updates.

Vegan eating with airlines

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Big news this week involves a new vegan lasagne offering on the latest Ryanair inflight menu.

Coupled with all the other amazing advancements we are seeing around the, veganism is showing no signs of slowing down.

The vegan lasagne (and other snack and drink offerings) on Ryanair got me thinking about a few predictions I made in the ‘Future of Veganism’ chapter of my book Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Sh!t.

See this short excerpt below:

As we explored in the vegan travel chapter, life on the road for those wanting plant-based sustenance is improving and I believe we are set to see significant improvements. It stands to reason that the more we flex our compassionate consumer muscle, the more airlines will be willing to explore making vegan food available to passengers. In a ‘you read it hear first’ moment, I expect a major airline to replace their vegetarian inflight option with completely plant-based menus very soon. It might have already happened by the time this book hits shelves.

Not only is it a more inclusive policy to make the vegetarian meal a vegan option (everyone can eat vegan, only vegetarians and some animal eaters would choose to eat the vegetarian option), it makes complete financial sense. Why create an extra meal category when you can cover a lot of bases with vegan food? Airlines operate just like any other business looking to squeeze extra profit and I think we will see some fundamental changes to vegan food offerings based on the bottom line alone.

The vegan food expansion for travellers will not just be confined to eating in the air. Food on trains, ferries and other forms of transportation has already started to become more inclusive for vegans. A recent blog post guest written for me by a reader showcased a fancy three-course meal on a ferry company called Viking Line that runs between Stockholm and Helsinki. I’ve even ordered a hot vegan burger whilst traveling on a train down the Californian coastline. I honestly almost fell over when I saw a vegan burger option featured on the dining carriage menu.

I’m thrilled to see my predictions starting to play out and I’m excited to see how things will change during the next year or two.

Surely it isn’t unreasonable to think we will have a fully vegan airline menu in the not too distant future?!

To read more of my predictions you can order my book via Hive (makes order via your local independent bookstore), Amazon, WH Smith, Foyles, and Audible.