New vegan dishes at Pho

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I have been singing the vegan options at Pho Restaurants in the UK for a while, so it should come as no surprise that I am blogging about these two new plant-based menu additions.

Check them out below.

And that’s it!

See you tomorrow.

 

Vegan Beer Fest shirts

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Now this is exciting!

Vegan Beer Fest UK events are coming up soon with dates in London, Coventry, Glasgow and Sheffield across the summer.

Each year we make a t-shirt for punters to buy on the day but in 2018 we have switched things up a bit.

You can now buy a unique t-shirt for each of the cities and you can only buy them online!

Each city has a white text on black as well as a black text on white variety from which to choose.

Even if you can’t make it along to a date, your purchase will help us put these events on and pay our official designer some extra income.

We are partnering with TeeMill to bring ethically responsible shirts to you this year. Each year we were left with many unsold shirts so allowing each customer to order exactly what they want will help us cut down on waste, as well as keeping our production, storage and transportation costs down.

Click here to see all the designs now and ORDER!

Keep looking for more merchandise coming soon.

Order your Vegan Beer Fest UK tickets online now.

Meet the traders

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The wonderful people of WinkBall Interviews have made a small collection of videos so you can meet the traders of Hackney Downs Vegan Market.

Check them out below and get all the info on the next market here. It happens every Saturday!

Ten vegan things you should eat in London

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I love doing these little wrap ups.

Every now and then I like to put together a list of food items I believe every respectable vegan should eat in London.

It is becoming tougher and tougher to make these lists due to the rapid pace with which the London vegan scene is expanding. There are so many things I would like to add to this list, but alas I only have ten spaces.

These aren’t in any particular order, so let’s just dive straight in.

  • Rueben on rye at Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diner in Camden

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhWUVCRl4MM/

  • Bacon Double Cheeseburger at Temple of Seitan (three locations)

  • Slow cooked Brazilian feijoada at Essential Vegan Café in Shoreditch

  • Fried Chicken Torta by Club Mexicana at The Spread Eagle

  • Seitan Guiness and Mushroom Pie at Cafe Van Gogh in Brixton

  • Parmigiana Chicken Pie at Young Vegans in Camden

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh50cF9FWb2/

  • Chocolate Hazelnut Sauce & Oreo Pizza at Purezza in Camden

  • Chocolate coated vanilla ice cream & salted caramel at JuiceBaby in Chelsea

  • Mushroom & broccoli frittata at Arancini Borthers (Kentish Town branch)

  • Beer battered tofish at The Brook in Hackney

Hackney Downs is HUGE

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This is a post to say thank you to all the traders and attendees who made this past Saturday at Hackney Downs Vegan Market such a huge success.

The winter months have been tough work for our traders who have been down there week after week. There was only one week where the ice was too treacherous to go ahead.

Our loyal customers have been wonderful and crucial when it comes to keeping the market vibrant. Even on some of the coldest days, people came from all over the city and even further afield to have fun and support independent business.

This past weekend was like a huge celebration with sunshine and warm, dry weather. Our traders who have been shivering through the cold finally got to enjoy a bright day and some had their busiest trading day ever.

Hackney Downs Vegan Market is more than just somewhere to get good food.

It is a collaborative approach to community and business, taking into consideration how we all need to be more inclusive and aware of diverse needs. Our market does the following:

  • The pitch fees we pay Hackney Downs Studios help keep their vibrant art and creation spaces affordable for resident artists.
  • Our independent traders have started to find a way to turn their passion into a living, with some using our market as a springboard to go onto bigger and better things such as opening their own shops.
  • The market helps keep money in the local community by giving trading space to local people.
  • We are actively challenging oppression by making spaces available for women traders, non-white traders, traders from LGBTQ+ communities, and disabled traders.

When you attend this market, you are making a difference.

I really can’t thank you all enough for making this ‘vegan-run event for vegans’ such a rewarding community space. Our message is to stop animal suffering and we try to do it while being kind to humans.

We have also organised Queer Vegan Yoga to take place on the first Saturday of the month inside The Well Garden, the onsite yoga studio. This is body positive yoga led by a queer vegan teacher. We have created this for people who feel locked out of yoga classes for any number of reasons. Click here to see the dates and book.

We have some other exciting developments coming up for the market, so stay tuned. RSVPing to the Hackney Downs Vegan Market Facebook event page is a great way to see news or follow me on my FGV Instagram account.

Extra note: Hackney Downs Vegan Market will not be taking place on Saturday July 14, 2018 due to the site being used for our 6th annual London Vegan Beer Fest. This is a ticketed event so if you would love to be a part of our big party, book early bird tickets online now.

Now, let’s enjoy some photos from last weekend!

Vegan eatery in Mexico City

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Mexico City is my home for at least half of each year, so I’m thrilled that it is also one of the vegan capitals of the planet.

The latest addition to the huge number of vegan eateries is the bricks and mortar restaurant of famed vegan street food trader Pan D’Monium.

Pan D’Monium has built a loyal customer following with their super cute street stall on Orizaba in Colonia Roma.

The women-owned and run business has now expanded with a permanent location, taking over a restaurant space on busy Chilpancingo. They are keeping everyone happy with pizza, burgers, hot dogs, shakes, and more.

I dropped by a few days ago to congratulate them on their new endeavour and of course to eat and drink.

Follow Pan D’Monium on Instagram and see the photos below.

FGV in German

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Great news!

I’m really thrilled to share news of the impending release of my first book in Germany.

Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Sh!t was published in English in January 2018 and I can now announce that the book is set to be released in German.

A deal has just been finalised with LEO Verlag publishers, an imprint of Scorpio. I’m still waiting to hear details of the release date, but I just couldn’t wait to share this news.

I have come to know Germany as one the world’s leading locations when it comes to the promotion of veganism and I am pleased that the message of my book is to be made available in the German language.

I will be sharing links and publication date news when they become available.

You can buy the English language version from Amazon, Foyles, WH Smith, Audible, and independent book stores.

Another vegan potluck event

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A few weeks ago, a lot of people enjoyed a vegan potluck event in London.

Anna and Amy took over Jaz & Jul’s Chocolate House near Angel for a collaborative food event. A bunch of people shared homemade food and had such a wonderful time, they are doing it all again on May 5, 2018.

This Saturday afternoon food club will run from 4pm until 7pm.

You need to book tickets in order to participate, so click here to book now.

You can also RSVP via the Facebook event.

Share food. Make friends. Get involved!

Build a vegan chocolate factory

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Here is your chance to feel like Willy Wonka.

So Sweet Couture Chocolate is a manufacturer of gorgeous vegan chocolate and they need help to take the next step in their growth by opening a chocolate factory.

The company already has premises in Pembrokeshire, Wales and now needs the help of the vegan community to get everything ready to roll.

So Sweet Couture Chocolate isn’t just asking for your money, they also have a great line up of chocolate rewards for those willing and able to help fund their factory expansion.

Check out these rewards:

  • £15 gets you 3 of their best selling chocolate bars
  • £25 gets you 3 of the TOP SECRET new flavour chocolate bar
  • £35 gets you a chocolate tool kit (because they are building!)
  • £50 gets you a chocolate lover’s hamper
  • £100 gets your name on the factory wall PLUS a special chocolate delivery
  • £250 gets you a chocolate making experience in the factory for two people

The family owned company needs your support with the following:

  • New Doors (the old ones leak)
  • Stainless steel tables
  • New commercial equipment (they even need the kitchen sink)
  • New materials to furnish their on site shop
  • New packaging and chocolate moulds

Buying some of their delicious treats by way of donation is going to help So Sweet Couture Chocolate realise their dreams while staying away from a pesky bank loan.

Click here to donate now and claim your reward!

You can also follow So Sweet on Instagram.

The return of Queer Vegan Yoga

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Queer Vegan Yoga enjoyed a fabulous debut a few weeks ago at The Well Garden located at Hackney Downs Studios, the home of Hackney Downs Vegan Market.

Tatum lead an incredible yoga class that was inclusive, friendly, and welcoming to all.

And now it is back!

You can now book your spot for this affordable and progressive yoga class for dates in May, June, July and August 2018.

The dates and times for the next four months are:

This class is for anyone who feels locked out of yoga classes. It is inclusive. It is for members of LGBT+ communities. It is body positive. We have a queer, vegan teacher.

Enjoy exploring yoga AND the best vegan food market on the same day!