London

Now in Croydon

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The only time I have ever been to Croydon was when I had to wait in a stuffy, bureaucratic office to collect the biometric visa card that allows me to remain in the UK indefinitely.

It is not a destination to which I ever think of returning. Well, until now that is!

World famous and certainly legendary food maestro King of Cook Daily and Home has gone and opened a second version of Cook Daily in the new Boxpark retail and food complex in Croydon.

Yep. Croydon is as cool as Shoreditch right now.

Take a quick look at that menu above and it’s easy to see why early reports out of Croydon have been nothing short of rave reviews.

King has a way with ingredients that sets him miles apart from other vegan food creators in the capital (and now in Croydon). It is high class cuisine in a bowl that leaves you thinking about your next visit before you’ve even finished what’s in front of you.

Follow the new Cook Daily Croydon on Instagram and click here for the Boxpark website.

Autumn Yard goes vegan: one day only!

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If you thought my Vegan Christmas Market was enticing enough already, you are about to get another very persuasive reason to join me and a few thousand vegans in Hackney tomorrow (Saturday, December 17, 2016).

There is a brand new, gorgeous café and bar on the site of the market called Autumn Yard. The venue has been lovingly fitted out inside one of the old warehouses on the Hackney Downs Studios lot and it really is a beautiful space.

Autumn Yard features a large dining room and bar, as well as housing special pop-up events and happenings. There is a store inside the venue selling decadent cakes and gourmet pantry items.

The new dining space is getting into the festive swing with us plant-eaters by turning their food menu 100% vegan for the day to help us celebrate Vegan Christmas Market.

If you fancy a break from the jostling market crowds, make your way inside the restaurant for a proper sit down meal with table service.

On the menu for Autumn Yard tomorrow?

Starters

  • Falafel & Salsa Verde
  • Rosemary Butterbeans
  • Orange & Carrot, Roast Cumin Soup

Mains

  • Vegan Burger (sweet potato, beans & lentils) & Polenta Chips
  • Vegan Curry
  • Stuffed Butternut Squash

Desserts

  • Warm Chocolate Brownie
  • Banana Ice-cream
  • Roast Pineapple

Drinks

  • Vegan Coffees (almond & soy milk)
  • Apple Spiced rum

Cakes for the store

  • Vegan Cake pops
  • Vegan Tomato Cake
  • Vegan cookies
  • Pumpkin & Almond Cakes

So, now you have to struggle with the decision of what to buy from the incredible line up of vendors we have in the outdoor market as well as leaving enough tummy space to dine with one of London’s brightest new non-vegan restaurants as it goes vegan for one day only!

I almost feel like I need to apologise for the dilemma I’m putting you in. This could very well be the finest day for vegan food London has ever witnessed.

See Autumn Yard online, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram. Hey, why not give them a shout out online and say thanks for joining our vegan party? And keep checking in with them for ongoing vegan menu items and specials.

All images on this page are courtesy of Autumn Yard, so don’t steal them like I did.

Festive vegan cheese delivery

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This deal is going to FLY out, so please be quick if you want this limited vegan cheese delivery.

My pal Steph is a top chef. Everything she makes is tasty, but it is her vegan cheeses that set her apart from the rest. She carefully handcrafts exquisite artisan cheeses that never fail to impress.

And now you can be one of a very few people to get your hands on one of her limited edition Christmas cheese boxes.

Here is the deal.

Steph is selling these amazing cheeses together in a limited edition collection as a festive special. The four handmade cheeses are:

Stilton Style with Cranberry
White Stilton Style with Fig & Apricot
Onion & Chive Cheddar Style
Merry Berry (A Mixed Berry White Cheddar Style)

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Each festive cheese box you will also contain a surprise gift and a personal card from Steph. The cards are illustrated by Steph’s friend Rebecca Lehman who is a vegan artist.

Now the bit where you have to hurry.

There are only 50 Boxes available for purchase at the Animal Aid Christmas Fayre next weekend in Kensington. If you are heading to this huge London event, get in early and head straight to Steph’s Ponga Foods stand.

Or…

If you are nowhere near this show in London, Steph has saved 30 festive vegan cheese boxes for postal delivery. You need to email pongafoods@gmail.com to get hold of one for £35 (this includes delivery if needed!). They are being sent out after the 12th of December so you will get them in plenty of time for any festivities that are taking place in your part of the world.

What are you waiting for? Email Steph now to get your special vegan cheese delivery for just £35.

You should also follow Ponga Foods on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Exclusive at Vegan Christmas Market

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My first ever Vegan Christmas Market is coming up close at a rapid speed and I’m beyond thrilled with the fabulous vendor line up I have gathered together.

If you missed the initial announcement of food traders, you can get updated by clicking here.

But this blog post belongs to only one piece of news.

In a London exclusive, award winning vegan meat company Sgaia will be trading at the Vegan Christmas Market in London on Saturday December 17, 2016.

Sgaia is nothing short of a phenomenon. This company burst onto the UK vegan scene only a short while ago and has quickly developed into one of the finest brands on the planet.

But what will they be selling at the Xmas event?

You will be able to get your hands on their brand new festive fillet. This gorgeous looking slice of vegan meat is perfect for rolling and filling with your favourite filling as a roast dinner centrepiece.

Check it out!

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In addition to this AMAZING festive fillet, Sgaia will also be selling ready to consume sandwiches stuffed solid with all sorts of tempting seasonal fillings.

sandwich_smlI predict a stampede for this food. Sgaia will also be selling other packs of their incredible slices and burgers, so bring a few shopping bags.

Get over to the Facebook event for Vegan Christmas Market, invite your friends, dress warm and get there early on the day so you don’t miss out.

You also need to follow Sgaia on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Order your own home delivery of their food via their website if you can’t join us on the day.

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Vegan Christmas Market announcement

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As you have probably heard, I am teaming up with Hackney Downs Studios to bring London a super-fun and tasty Vegan Christmas Market on Saturday December 17, 2016.

The market is going to be rammed solid with some of the finest vegan food in the country and I’m so very excited to let you know about a few of the attractions.

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Please give a warm welcome to the first batch of confirmed stallholders for the Vegan Christmas Market:

Peanut Butter Bakery – adored vegan bakery stall certain to be swamped for their Christmas-themed treats. I’ve heard rumours of Xmas donuts. Follow them on Instagram.

Essential Vegan – always a sold out event for these caterers. Plenty of cakes that fans will be used to with some surprise festive twists as well. Follow them on Instagram.

Battered – this is a Vegan Christmas Market exclusive. The vegan fish and chips truck is driving to the capital ONLY for this event. Be one of the first in London to try their amazing food. Follow them on Twitter.

Temple of Seitan – if you don’t know how incredibly amazing this food company is, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Deep fried done to perfection. Follow them on Instagram.

Rupert’s Street – the unmissable bright yellow truck featuring Emily cooking up hearty winter warmers. Follow them on Instagram.

Mouse’s Favourite – the vegan cheese company taking over London is going to be well stocked with all your festive cheese needs. Bring a shopping bag for this stall! Follow them on Instagram.

That’s it for now. I don’t want to overwhelm you.

We have plenty more announcements to come so be certain to scribble the date in your diary and stay tuned for updates.

You will not want to be anywhere else as one of the best vegan food lineups in the country crash lands in Hackney for one day only.

RSVP to the Facebook event and be sure to invite friends. The event is free entry. It is an outdoor market in winter so please dress warmly.

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Hackney vegan

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London, don’t go getting getting delusions of grandeur and start thinking you are some sort of vegan capital now.

Latest plant-based news to reach my fat ears involves a pop up catering company switching from selling fish and dairy to trading in vegan food only. How fab!

Pesky’s are currently serving up delicious vegan diner-style comfort food at super trendy The Yard theatre in Hackney Wick. Get along until December 10, 2016 to taste their newly vegan menu.

Pesky’s themselves told me their favourite dish is the ‘buffalo cauliflower tacos’. They also do the buffalo cauliflower ‘flyers’ as a side, which are a vegan equivalent to buffalo chicken wings. Other sides include vegan mac ’n’ cheeze bites with sriracha, as well as triple cooked chips with a special salt blend.

What?! Triple cooked chips with a special salt blend? HOLY SHIT I NEED THAT IN MY LIFE.

Their signature dish is the original ‘Argy Bhaji Burger’ which is a large spiced bhaji burger with mango and chilli salsa.


If you can’t get along before Pesky’s shut up shop on December 10, don’t fret.

The now-forever-vegan food business has been invited back to The Yard to set up PERMANENTLY from February 2017.

Yep, London you are set to have another full time vegan food trader. Click here to see where The Yard is located.

Celebrate this news by buying food from Pesky’s and following them on Instagram.

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Urban Garden Show

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Have you ever thought about going to a Royal Horticultural Society garden show?

I know, I know. It al sounds a bit middle class and insufferable but the Urban Garden Show taking place this weekend actually sounds kinda cool… plus they have four vegan caterers on site for the event!

Now I have your attention, right?!

urban-garden

As you can see from the flyer, there is a whole lot to get involved with at this show including hands on workshops, retail stands, bars serving drinks and informative talks.

Most of you reading will be interested to know food is being served by Spice Box, Vegan Sweet Tooth, Rupert’s Street and Young Vegans.

The show is open on both Saturday November 12 and Sunday 13, 2016 just a small stroll from Victoria station so click here to get tickets and more information.

Have fun learning about small scale urban gardening AND support independent vegan business.

Have fun!

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Deep fried toffee apple pies

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Oh my.

Super-adored street food specialists Club Mexicana have just posted the champion of all teaser photos on their Instagram account.

Check it out.


Can you even cope with that?

As the post states, Club Mexicana will be serving up these delights at Hawker House this weekend. The street food market takes place very close to Canada Water Underground station on Friday and Saturday night. Click here to see the location on Google Maps.

Eat well this weekend, stay happy and keep doing what you can to improve outcomes for animals without relying on sexist, racist, homophobic or body shaming techniques! xx

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Second location for London legend

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This is grand news.

Cookies & Scream, one of my favourite places in London to grab sweet delights, now has a second location in the capital.

Screamers thank you so much for coming out to our little shop of treats! Y’all have a good night now #hollowayroad #veganbakery #glutenfreebakery

A photo posted by Cookies And Scream Vegan/GF (@cookiesandscreambakery) on


If you love what they have been doing at their Camden Lock location for several years, you really should get along to the new 100% vegan shop front on Holloway Road in North London.

Expect all the usual glory such as decadent shakes, cookies, ice cream sandwiches and the all-time champion of the universe… the Wookee bar. All gluten free too, if that is what you need.

Click here to see the store location on Google Maps and follow the bakery on Instagram. And tell them FGV loves them when you visit!

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Vegan Christmas Market

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This is your early warning to save the date.

Don’t say you didn’t know to keep Saturday December 17, 2016 free from all other engagements.

I am teaming up with Hackney Downs Studios to bring you Vegan Christmas Market.

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This is a teaser post to get you excited. Did it work?

More details to follow.

In the meantime, RSVP to the Facebook event to get all the updates and to invite friends.

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