Bristol

Vegan business closing

by

This is sad news.

One of the best vegan food providers in the UK is set to cease trading tomorrow (Saturday August 22, 2015). I am terribly saddened to report the end of The Mighty Food Fight.

Hannah and Isabel have decided to pack away their magic donut recipes and shutter up the food truck, as this much-adored Bristol business is wrapping up.

14027_780249918719916_6970971845427276713_n

Here is what the food superstars had to say when I asked for comment:

It’s goodbye for now from us and our beloved food truck René! We’ve had an amazing adventure serving the lovely people of Bristol and beyond some tasty Mighty Sub Rolls and many glorious vegan donuts. We’re so grateful to all our loyal Food Fighters and everyone who has supported us, particularly when René was poorly. We’ll miss all of our customers but we hope that we’ve inspired people to seek out the best cruelty-free flavours. Fancy a chance to try a TMFF donut before we close? Come on down to Moor Beer Tap on Days Road, Bristol, between midday and 8pm this Saturday where we’ll be holding our Last Hurrah with vegan beer from Moor, along with two other street food traders from Bristol Eats.

10885137_792216010856640_7895546384352404785_n

Terrible news for anyone in love with spectacular vegan food.

You really should do whatever it takes to get along to this final trading day for The Mighty Food Fight. Hannah and Isabel will be serving up hundreds of vegan donuts including Boston Cream, Strawberry Daiquiri, Lemon, Lime + Toasted Coconut and many more.

10407744_740692719342303_4382698362128420953_n

As this final event is run in conjunction with Moor Beer Company, you can also look forward to vegan mac ‘n’ cheese balls drowned in a fig, tomato and Moor stout ketchup.

Don’t make excuses. Get to the event from midday for stunning vegan food. Get all the details on the Facebook event page.

While you are feeding yourself silly, make sure you take the time to thank Hannah and Isabel for everything they have done to raise the profile of vegan food in Bristol. They have made a profound difference.

vote vegfest 2015

Blanck Mass

by

Benjamin John Power is a leading force in the field of electronic music. He enjoys a celebrated partnership with Andrew Hung under the band name Fuck Buttons and has recently released a solo project album.

a0510809623_10

Power on his own goes by the name Blanck Mass and his latest collection of tracks, Dumb Flesh, was unleashed upon the world last month. Since the release, Power has been frantically working to keep up with the demands of promotion and touring so I was thrilled when he agreed to answer a few questions for little ol’ me.

But why would FGV wanna talk to a electronic music champion? It just so happens that Benjamin John Power is a dedicated vegan.

Check out what he had to say.

Read more

Vegan truck

by

When an opportunity comes along to help a vegan business, it is our duty to seize it.

The Mighty Food Fight is a super fun food truck parked in Bristol that has been serving up 100% vegan treats to locals since October 2014. When I mentioned I was traveling to Bristol for a business trip a few months back, I was inundated by people telling me I must track down this truck. It is a much-loved resource in the city.

14027_780249918719916_6970971845427276713_n 10885137_792216010856640_7895546384352404785_n

The food truck is the brainchild of Hannah and Isabel, two dedicated and compassionate people on a mission to bring quality plant-based foods to the Bristol masses. They work tirelessly to give their customers a cruelty-free option and they have won many adoring fans in the process.

1012984_785782511499990_6206138164337508099_n 1016889_740092232735685_8230162322834028790_n 10407744_740692719342303_4382698362128420953_nFor all the above reasons, you simply have to support The Mighty Food Fight in their time of need.

The truck is currently in a garage, waiting on repairs. Repairs cost a lot of money, you know. To get The Mighty Food Fight back on the road is going to set Hannah and Isabel back approximately £750.

That is certainly a lot of money for a small, independent vegan business but not that much when you combine the awesome power of our community.

Let’s break it down like this.

75 people could donate £10 and the truck could be repaired. How about 150 people fronted up a fiver to get the job done? It is completely reasonable to believe there are 750 compassionate humans out there willing to part with just £1 each to make sure the world doesn’t lose this incredible vegan food truck.

To me, this is a no brainer. If every single person reading this gave at least £1, Hannah and Isabel would be back on the streets of Bristol in record time. If you don’t buy one coffee or tea this week and give the loose change to this cause instead, they will reach their goal easily.

Click here to donate now. Do it! It is a kind and thoughtful act of selflessness, plus you are giving cruelty-free food a much-needed boost in the UK.

Donate!

Please follow The Mighty Food Fight on Twitter.

TeenVGN

by

This is the world’s fastest blog post.

I am having dinner with Laura and Kylie of TeenVGN at Cafe Kino in Bristol.

Do you know about TeenVGN?

I’m going to ask them to dictate to me right now, telling me about their group. I’m going to type as they speak. Live blogging!

Laura is talking now:

TeenVGN is the social network for young vegetarians and vegans, supporting them as they generate creative ideas for a compassionate future.

You can follow them on Twitter, like them on Facebook and visit their website.

TeenVGN not only beat me to the best blog award at the VegfestUK awards this year, they are also hosting an incredible summer camp and you can register your interest here.

fetch>UID>-1
Laura & Kylie of TeenVGN

 

NYE bottom advert

Win tickets for VegFest

by

I love a good giveaway. Don’t you? Of course, some giveaways are superior to others and the prize up for grabs in this competition is definitely at the higher end of the scale.

VegfestUKBristol2014PosterFinal2

You know all about VegFestUK. You are aware the Bristol chapter of this vegan lifestyle, food, education and music extravaganza has been a much loved event for over a decade. You know it is the biggest vegan show of its kind in Europe. Of course you are aware that people travel from all over the UK, Europe and the planet to attend. There isn’t a person reading this who isn’t already aware they can visit the official VegFestUK website here for all show information. I probably don’t need to tell you the event this year is spread across May 23, 24 and 25, 2014.

I won’t bore you with what you already know. Instead, here is some new information to arouse your interest.

COMPETITION

VegFestUK Bristol organisers are generously giving me the opportunity to gift two pairs of tickets to the Friday and Saturday night concerts taking place as part of this year’s event. That’s right. One lucky winner will score two tickets to the Friday night gig and two tickets to the Saturday night gig.

That’s a fab prize. Check out the talent the winner will be experiencing.

Friday May 23, 2014

VegFest UK is throwing a huge disco party featuring the Bristol Samba Band, ABBA Gold tribute band, the legendary Boney M feat. Maizie Williams and Gwen Dickey’s Rose Royce. There will also be musical action from DJ act Just a Couple of Mums.

Saturday May 24, 2014

VegFestUK goes punk on the Saturday night with live sets from Goldblade fronted by the awesome John Robb, Ruts DC and Peter Hook and the Light.

Here is how you can enter to win a pair of tickets for both nights.

Comment below telling me about your favourite musical act. Make it funny and interesting. Share tales of concert experiences, first records, obsessions gone wrong or anything related to your musical pick. Your favourite band, singer or performer does not have to be appearing at VegFestUK in order to mention them.

It is that simple. The competition will close midnight April 30, 2014. I will pick a winner based on how amusing/engaging the entry is but I’m sorry to say I can’t choose someone I work with or am friendly with already. The tickets will be sent to the winner via post from VegFestUK organisers. You will need to leave a way for me to contact you in the instance you are the winner. A link to your Twitter account would be fine.

Get entering!

Follow VegFestUK on Twitter

Like VegFestUK on Facebook

 

Best vegan breakfast?

by

My partner Josh loves to jump onboard now and then to let you know about the food making him smile.

Please give him a warm welcome as he returns to let you know about an amazing vegan breakfast he consumed in Bristol. Could this be the best vegan fry up in the UK? Answers in the comment section, please!

Take it away, Josh.

FGV’s recent post about the vegan brunch at Down To Earth in London reminded me of a trip earlier this year to Cafe Kino in Bristol. This was my third trip to Bristol yet for some reason I had never made it to the cafe before. Passing through on the way from Cardiff to Bath with my sister-in-law and nephew from Australia, we stopped off at Cafe Kino one morning to fill our bellies before a long day of driving.

For those that don’t know about Cafe Kino, it’s a co-operatively run vegan cafe (except for cow milk in the drinks) situated in a picturesque area of Bristol. They’re open every day of the week, selling mostly home-made vegan food.

On the morning of my visit, I of course gravitated towards the vegan fry-up. It arrived quickly at my table with sausages, baked beans, hash browns, fried mushrooms, fried bread, bacon rashers and grilled tomatoes. It. Was. Perfect.

Amazing vegan fry up in Bristol
Amazing vegan fry up in Bristol

I can’t remember how much I paid but I remember thinking it was very reasonable for the amount of food I received. I wish there was something like this in London!

You can vote for Cafe Kino (and FGV!) in the VegfestUK awards

Follow Cafe Kino on Twitter

Will you remember me?

by

When you put a lot of time and effort into something, it’s nice to get some recognition. It makes you feel warm and fuzzy, right?

I have been plugging away at this blog and its associated activities for two and a half years. How time flies when you are guilt-tripping yourself into meeting self-imposed publication dates. Seriously though, I feel I have been consistent in sharing my thoughts on vegan food, products and events throughout the UK and the world. I’m proud of this little corner of the Internet.

My first FGV blog entry... EVER!
My first FGV blog entry… EVER!

It would seem the pride I have in my own abilities isn’t completely unfounded as my blog has been nominated for an award.

VegfestUK is a series of huge vegan festivals that take place in Brighton, Bristol (happening this weekend May 24-26, 2013) and London. Running for ten years, the events are a celebration of all things plant-based and are hugely popular outings for vegans and non-vegans alike.

VegfestUKBristol2013PosterPortrait

To celebrate their tenth year, VegfestUK organisers want to recognise vegan businesses, personalities and products with their own award show. Thankfully, they have included a vegan blog category meaning I was able to sneak in with a nomination.

Please visit the voting page and pop a little tick next to my name (if you feel I deserve it). If you do vote for my blog, please let me know in the comments section below. I would like to include you in my acceptance speech at the award ceremony taking place in London this October.*

*This might not happen in reality

 

Say vegan cheese

by

Every now and then something so revolutionary comes along, it turns the vegan world upside down. Vegusto is one of those things. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Vegusto display at VegFest 2011

During the last few months I have been enjoying a new vegan cheese range known as Vegusto. It isn’t easy to find in the UK but when you do get your hands on it, you won’t soon forget. The plant-based cheeses are made in Switzerland and are slowly working their way around Europe. I spoke with representatives at the recent Bristol VegFest who assured me they are toiling away with plans to get the range into health food stores around the UK as soon as possible.

Read more

Sweet as a bird

by

Flavoured syrup is a dietary staple, right? A fabulous range of products known as Sweetbird has got me thinking that very thought.

A box of vegan goodies from Beyond the Bean wholesalers

A little while ago I was contacted by a friendly human asking if I would be interested in sampling some of their vegan syrups. I hammered out a positive response as quickly as my fat, gay fingers could type. It surely would go against the natural order of the universe for me to decline. It is always lovely to be offered a gift, but I’m a whole lot happier when the gift turns out to be ample amounts of sweet liquids and powdery chocolate.

Read more