gluten free

Best vegan cake in Europe

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I have been racking my feeble brain for a witty or whimsical way in which to announce this epic news, but I have been reduced to a quivering mess and can no longer think. I’m going to just have to come straight out and say the facts.

The best vegan cakes and desserts in the whole of Europe are now available in London.

If you have been loitering around these parts of the Internet for a few years, you should be able to recall this mammoth post I wrote about irresistible vegan cakes in Barcelona created by the magical company known as Lujuria Vegana.

Their cakes are absolutely peerless in Europe. I am a super fan.

Imagine then my sheer delight/shock/convulsions of hysteria when I was confronted by masses of Lujuria Vegana desserts sitting in the chilled fridges of the brand new Whole Foods Market location in Fulham. I almost fell over.

The range in Whole Foods is staggering in size. You can see by the photos below that I was completely unable to control myself and bought many varieties. I was overcome by a cake buying frenzy.

As far as I can tell, this particular Whole Foods Market is the ONLY place in the UK selling these gluten free and vegan desserts. I had heard whispers of them making inroads over here but this is the first time I have seen them on a store shelf.

Check out my photos (yes, I bought ALL cakes featured). Get to Fulham. Buy many cakes. Be happy.

Follow Lujuria Vegana on Twitter.

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Gluten free Japanese secret supper

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So, you are hunting around for a niche dining experience. Think you have seen it all? Think again. Leading London-based secret supper club expert The Vegan Ronin is hosting a special lunch that will have you redefining your understanding of the word exclusive.

Before I explore the actual food component of this limited event, I want to quickly let you know only five people will be able to book a space just in case you want to skip ahead of my ramblings in order to book instantly.

cropped-vrheader

OK. Down to business.

The Vegan Ronin proudly presents a five course gluten-free Japanese lunch. Oh yes!

In an intimate setting, the fortunate and tiny group of diners will be served the following menu:

  • Lotus chips, yuzu spinach salad, seared daikon, ginger-miso aubergine and Japanese potato salad
  • Tofu course: fresh tofu, yuba, agedashi dofu, ganmodoki (Buddhist tofu patty), tofu sesame salad
  • Tempura zaru soba with all the fixings
  • Traditional meal ender of mixed miso soup, rice and fresh pickles.
  • Sesame brittle and daigaku imo (candied sweet potatoes fries)

Make haste and get on over to the booking page. Once you have registered, you will receive notification on how to secure your booking.

  • When: Saturday 25th January, 2014 – 1:00 -4:00 pm
  • Where: Finchley Central, North London
  • Cost: £35 pre-pay donation
  • Drinks: A Japanese aperitif is included – BYOB permitted

See my own personal experience of eating at a Vegan Ronin event.

Choc orange delight

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When I handed out my Day of the Dead vegan supper club goodie bags, one of the items that got a lot of attention and murmurs of appreciation was the Chocolate Orange Pud cups from vegan dessert experts Pudology.

As you might know from an old post of mine, the Pudology cups are filled with smooth, sweet and irresistible gluten free pudding. They can be purchased online from grocery retailers in either chocolate, strawberry, lemon or banoffee flavours and are starting to become more widely available in high street supermarkets, too.

You know all this. Why am I droning on about puddings that you have seen and tasted?

I am simply giving you a refresher course so when I give you my opinion on the new Pudology flavour, you can skip quickly to the part where you run to buy your own pack.

The Chocolate Orange Pud is delicious. It is dense, creamy and decadent. The orange is perfectly balanced with the choc. The pudding pots come in packs of two and I don’t know if I will ever be able to show enough restraint to eat just one and save one for later. They are too lovely.

Chocolate Orange Pudding
Chocolate Orange Pudding

The Chocolate Orange Pud cups are currently exclusive to Sainsbury’s but I have been assured by Pudology that we will start seeing them popping up in independent health food stores in the new year.

Tasty!

Follow Pudology on Twitter

I long to nibble your ears

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My love of Moo Free Dairy Free Chocolates is well documented and I jump at any opportunity to sing their praises. The confectionery company are unparalleled when it comes to making a vegan product that tastes like milk chocolate.

I have often proclaimed it the best vegan chocolate in the world, so obviously every new product must be chronicled. It is my FGV duty.

Wanna know what they have up their crafty sleeves for Easter this year? It is an organic Bunny Bar and it is delicious.

The Bunny Bar by Moo Free is perfect. It is just the right size for a snack, it is the same fabulous Moo Free taste we adore and it retails for a lot less the a pound. The recommended shop price is only 69p.

How terrific is that?! Get to a store or order online. Then I suggest starting with the ears…

Moo Free Bunny Bar
Moo Free Bunny Bar
It was made for my hand... & belly!
It was made for my hand… & belly!

Follow Moo Free on Twitter

Visit Moo Free online

 

 

I know you’ll take another

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As a sugar-loving vegan, certain times of the year are tougher than others.

My recent trips to grocery stores and supermarkets have been met by a familiar sight for this time of year. Christmas shopping frenzy means I am confronted by countless varieties of boxed chocolates, truffles and candy. This onslaught of boxed confection also sweeps through my life around Valentine’s Day, mothers day and an increasing number of commercialised celebrations.

As a fat, gay vegan all I wanna do is drop a few of these boxes into my basket as I waddle to the checkout. Until a few days ago, this was but a dream.

Enter Celtic Chocolates.

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Gimme that Pudology

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If you missed out on September’s London Vegan Potluck, I am sorry to say you also missed out on one of the best vegan dessert products to ever be available in the UK. But don’t be too sad… Pudology tubs are spreading across the country like wildfire.

Dairy-free desserts are becoming increasingly common, but not much of the market can claim to be anywhere near as delicious as these creations. Pudology make their mouthwatering puds in chocolate, strawberry and banoffee flavours.

My personal favourite is the chocolate. You know when something is sweet, creamy, smooth and irresistible all at the same time? Enough said. When Pudology samples were available at the potluck, the banoffee flew off the shelves and many attendees were singing some fairly extravagant praises for the dessert.

FGV eating Pudology
Delicious vegan desserts

Grab some of these vegan and gluten free wonders today from Goodness Direct and Selfridges.

Visit Pudology online

Follow Pudology on Twitter

Like Pudology on Facebook

Many thanks to Cookie Von Stir for the photos

Guest review: London Vegan Potluck September 2012

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The London Vegan Potluck stormed back into the capital this week and the food was on another level of awesome. New vegan dessert champions Pudology were on board as sponsors to add to the enjoyment.

Because I was too busy eating on the night, my dear friend Cookie Von Stir has kindly dropped in to show you what you missed.

Follow Cookie Von Stir on Twitter

Visit Cookie Von Stir online

Take it away, Cookie!

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Heather my dear, there’s a new flapjack in town

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Isn’t the word ‘flapjack’ a bizarre thing? Where on Earth does it come from? I would love to know the etymology of the word flapjack. Answers on the back of a Morrissey postcard, please.

While I sit back and wait for the mountains of mail adorned with pictures of the Mancunian poet, I might as well inform you of a delicious vegan flapjack I discovered on a recent food expedition.

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And it spread

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TOPAS bring some of the best vegan meat products in the world to my plate with their Wheaty range. The fact they are market-leaders is non-negotiable and I’ve known it for a long time. If you haven’t tasted their Chorizo sausage, you haven’t lived.

But what I didn’t know about TOPAS is that they produce a small and mouthwatering range of vegan pâtés. I recently discovered the three flavours of pâté made by this vegan company and it is safe to say I will only be growing more familiar with them in the future.

The TOPAS pâté range features paprika, marjoram and mushroom flavours. Most of the ingredients used are organically-sourced and all of the flavours are gluten free.

TOPAS mini pots of vegan pâté

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Yum yum chocolate chip

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As a FGV, I am prone to making devilishly-bad food choices. I want cake all the time. Cider and beer are my best friends. There isn’t enough fried potato in the world to satisfy my cravings. I am known for being an overeater and proud of it.

But now and again I make the scary leap into the realm of healthy snacks… and if the good folk of InSpiral Lounge keep doing what they do so well, the leap will happen more regularly than even I could imagine.

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