London

Indian cooking class this weekend!

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If you want to learn how to cook gorgeous, mouthwatering vegan Indian food, I’m sure your first point of call in London should be Nishma Shah.

This Saturday (September 24, 2016) you can join Nishma for a wonderful culinary adventure as she teaches you the ins and outs of Indian home cooking.

shambhu-panel

The following is lifted from the event description:

This is a prime opportunity to learn some authentic Indian home cookery, from Shambhu’s chef Nishma Shah. Nishma is of Indian heritage, has been immersed in Indian culture all her life and is proud of it, and importantly loves making and teaching delicious plant-based Indian food.

The class price is £40 and includes refreshments, food tasting and even a container of leftovers (if you all don’t eat everything there and then).

The class is limited to 12 people and can be booked online here.

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ANOTHER London café turns vegan

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The plat based news keeps rolling in at breakneck speed.

Salad Pride is a café and eatery situated in Neal’s Yard, slap bang in the middle of the Covent Garden district of central London.

They recently announced via their social media they are now 100% plant based!

Check out the Instagram announcement below:


How cool!

Get over to the Salad Pride website to check out their menu. Follow them on Instagram and Twitter, and of course like them on Facebook.

Click here to see their location on Google Maps.

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Diwana Bhel Poori House on Drummond Street

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Post by:

josh panel

Last month I had a quick slap-up dinner with my friend Ari before seeing the amazing band Slaves. We decided to try one of the vegetarian Indian restaurants on Drummond Street. We had previously been underwhelmed by Chutneys so we decided to give Diwana Bhel Poori House a go.

Diwana bhel puri houseWe started with Bhel-Poori and Bhajya…

bhel pooriThe Bhel-Poori was a delightful mixture of textures and flavours. Crunchy crushed fried poori and puffed rice contrasted with soft cooked potato, onion and chilli, all bathed in a delightful sweet and sour sauce. I could have ordered another portion!

bhajyaThe bhajya (or bhajis as I normally see it written) were perfectly crispy and crunchy on the outside and soft and satisfying on the inside.

Following our delicious starters, we shared a Thali as a main and it did not disappoint.

thaliFilled with a generous quantity of food, the Thali contained three delicious curries, a creamy and tasty dhal, more bhajya, puris and rice. Everything tasted exceptional!

I would definitely head back to Diwana Bhel Poori House and recommend that you do too!

Visit Diwana Bhel Puri House online or follow them on Twitter.

P.S. Why doesn’t London have a 100% vegan Indian restaurant??

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IVJFD 2016 with Black Cat

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As you know, the 3rd annual International Vegan Junk Food Day is taking place on Monday August 29, 2016.

You can read all about this marvellous festival here.

I’m thrilled to announce the first participant in this year’s celebration is Black Cat Café of Hackney.

black cat cafe

The café is opening special hours just for #ivjfd16 (between 4:30pm and 10:00pm) and the menu they have lined up is going to make you drool and the super cheap price is going to make you clap with happiness.

(Read this and book straight away – last year’s International Vegan Junk Food Day booked out solid in record time)

For just £15.50 you get to choose 1 main, 2 sides and 1 dessert if booked in advance via info@blackcatcafe.co.uk (so do it now!).

There are also prices for single items if you fancy dropping in during the special opening hours, but you really should get the meal deal and secure your food.

MAINS (£7.50)

  • The fishless burger: ale nori battered cod, remoulade, tartar sauce, rocket
  • Jack fruit quesadillas: slow cooked jackfruit in rich chilli mole, guacamole, carrot and onion escabeche, melted cheese.
  • Black Cat classic beef style burger: seitan and soya mince patty, cheddar cheese, rasher, beefsteak tomatoes, butter lettuce, house made pickles and basil garlic mayo.
  • Curry hot dogs: tofu sausage, mango chutney, onion relish, wholegrain mustard, curried home made ketchup

SIDES (£3.50)

  • Deli potato salad: new potatoes, gherkins, garden peas, diced carrots, chives, house made herby mayo.
  • Hand cut herby potato wedges: raw garlic, vinegar 
  • Hackney Salad: mixed leaves, olives, tomatoes agave mustard dressing.
  • Crunchy slaw: thinly sliced cabbage, red onions, fresh chilly, coriander, sesame seeds, fresh mint and coriander

Dessert (£4)

  • Ice Cream Boat: chocolate and vanilla ice cream, banana, crushed biscuits, chocolate orange sauce, whipped cream
  • Cake (selection in the fridge)

How about that menu?!

Email Black Cat Café right this second to secure your meal for International Vegan Junk Food Day 2016. Be sure to use #ivjfd16 across social media to share your good time eating adventures on August 29, 2016.

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Kebabs with FGV

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You’ve heard all about the incredible vegan döner kebabs being served up by What The Pitta in Shoreditch, you’ve drooled over the countless Instagram posts flooding your phone and you’ve made a promise to yourself to get to this brand new food venture ASAP.

Well, friends. The time has come.

Monday-Deal

Join food lover extraordinaire Fat Gay Vegan (that’s me!) for a night of kebabs and socialising as he celebrates the launch of What The Pitta with a Monday night party that will be the talk of the town.

Between 6pm and 9pm on Monday August 22, 2016, What The Pitta will be launching an exclusive Monday night meal deal.

For just £9 you will get:

– a döner kebab

– a cold drink

– a piece of baklava

I’m not sure where else in London you are going to get a deal like this. We are even paying the booking fee for you. All you pay is £9 for a wrap, a drink and a sweet when you book online.

Amazing value, indeed!

This launch event is strictly ticketed only and space is limited to 100. Book your ticket now and we will see you on Monday. Fat Gay Vegan will be on hand across the three hours of the event to check you in and hand you a meal deal token. Swap the token at What The Pitta for food, drink and sweets then join the party.

BOOK YOUR TICKET NOW FOR JUST £9!

Once you have your online ticket, you can drop in anytime between 6pm and 9pm on Monday August 22, 2016. Stay for as long as you like, or grab your food and run. It’s up to you!

Follow What The Pitta on Instagram.

Click here to RSVP to the Facebook event and invite friends.

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Vegan food in Hounslow

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Sometimes things surprise me in London.

Did you know about this place called Old School Vegetarian Restaurant in Hounslow? Knock me over with something other than a feather because feathers are usually obtained through cruel means.

I can’t believe I just found out about this place when I’ve often lived less than a 15-minute drive away.

The restaurant is on a well-known thoroughfare called Hanworth Road, just a little further west than the Hounslow Bus Garage (if you know, you know).

The restaurant is brightly decorated and, for a vegetarian restaurant, there is quite a significant number of vegan or able-to-be-vegan meals to select. Obviously there is nothing they serve that couldn’t be vegan so here’s hoping they are on their way to being completely plant based.

Josh and I indulged in a burger and wrap, both accompanied by the most delicious coleslaw and seasoned fries. We also snuck in a caesar salad while I made short work of a creamy almond butter shake.

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on


The fries are my life. So crunchy.

Top notch food that was very tasty, however it should be noted that all the vegan meats were Fry’s Family Foods. I know it annoys some people when you go to a restaurant and they are using brands you can buy and use at home.

That’s not a concern of mine as long as the food is done well. Old School Vegetarian Restaurant does it well.

Follow the restaurant on Facebook.

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Huge queer party with vegan BBQ

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London, you are in for a treat.

Legendary queer club/bar night Club Wotever is hosting a glorious summer party featuring live shows, DJ sets, disco action and even a vegan BBQ on Saturday August 20, 2016.

Yes, a freaking vegan BBQ in a queer dance club!

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The event is billed as a MEGA Summer PARTY (caps completely necessary) for gender benders and allies, run in a unique collaboration between Eagle Vauxhall & Wotever World.

I’m sure I already had you interested with the mention of gender bending, queerness and righteousness, but this next piece of info is going make you swear allegiance to this late night dance party.

Much-loved plant-based food heroes Cafe SoVegan are running an outdoor BBQ in the courtyard of the venue!

I need dance floor tunes and inclusiveness and vegan BBQ. Amazing!

The Eagle is fully wheelchair accessible and you can get free entry into the event if you arrive between 9pm and 10pm, otherwise you will be paying the extremely reasonable £6 after 10pm.

You really should take a moment to RSVP on the Facebook event page and use the invite button over there to let friends and enemies know where you will be on Saturday August 20, 2016.

VBF-TWCover

Exclusive London event

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This is huge news.

Carol J. Adams is heading to London to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her groundbreaking book The Sexual Politics of Meat on Thursday September 8, 2016 and will be joined in conversation by celebrated comedian (and vegan), Sara Pascoe.

This is a rare chance to be part of something special, London.

You will need to move extremely quickly for this. It is going to sell out in record time.

The event page for this conversation says of the book:

The Sexual Politics of Meat is an inspiring and controversial exploration of the interplay between contemporary society’s ingrained cultural misogyny and its obsession with meat and masculinity. By exploring a relationship between patriarchal values and meat-eating this conversation will bring together ideas from feminism, vegetarianism, animal defence, and literary theory.

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This book is a critical piece of text from one of the most important vegan voices of the past few decades (in my humble FGV opinion).

The evening is a chance to hear a conversation between two notable vegans, take part in a Q&A, mingle over some drinks and buy your very own copy of the 25th anniversary edition of The Sexual Politics of Meat at a reduced price.

Book your ticket NOW! Click here.

These tickets will not last long. I warn you.

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Fabulous vegan cake

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There is a superstar baking business in North London that you need to know about.

Heart of Cake is situated in Stoke Newington and is run by the fabulous Lizzie. Lizzie is a one-person cake creation machine, handcrafting some of the finest vegan delights in the capital.

Lizzie recently got in touch with me to ask if I would be interested in sampling one of her creations.

Um, yeah OK. I think I’m kinda interested in VEGAN CAKE!

Check out the photos below to see what Lizzie made especially for me.

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on


Yes! How ridiculously incredible does that chocolate and coconut cake look? Lizzie is a freakin’ cake hero.

You need to follow Heart of Cake on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Get in contact via social media or email Heartofcake@hotmail.com to find out how your life can be improved with a special order from Lizzie. Get your cupcake, cake and macaron needs fulfilled and generally just be more satisfied with your life by buying treats from Heart of Cake.

Extra note: look out for Lizzie and her Heart of Cake creations at VegfestUK London later in the year!

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Vegan döner kebab in London!

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London, finally.

The capital is now home to a 100% vegan döner stand. It really has felt like a lifetime waiting for something like this to open.

What The Pitta sprung up in the Pump food court in Shoreditch only five days ago but such is the excitement surrounding the food stand, I have already been contacted by numerous people asking me if I had visited.

My visit today assured me of two facts.

Fact one: What The Pitta make huge, tasty döner wraps stuffed with soy meat, salad and chilli sauce. I’m known for eating a lot of food all the time and even I was slowing down towards the end of mine. It’s big.

Fact two: What The Pitta is going to need new, larger premises soon. I predict the street food stand is going to rapidly become one of the most-visited vegan hotspots in the city.

Check out these photos from my visit and follow What The Pitta on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Yas! Slay! Tasty #vegan kebab by @whatthepitta in Shoreditch. Make it your mission this week to eat here. #london

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on


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