UK

Vegan in south east London

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Vegans and vegan-curious of south east London. Get ready.

Two fab-looking vegan happenings are taking place in the Peckham/Nunhead area in an event location called Space at 61.

Space at 61 is available to hire for parties, art galleries and now it seems even vegan pop-up food events. Two vegan events are taking place before the end of April, so let’s get stuck into the details.

Event the first.

Yep. The flyer above says it all but to recap…

This is a two-day takeover by Core of Life featuring smoothie bowls, waffles, breads, cakes, and plenty of drinks.

The takeover is set for Tuesday April 25 and Wednesday April 26, 2017. Food is served between 10am and 4pm both days.

And the next pop-up at Space at 61?

The V Spot is showcasing a new spring menu featuring some of their favourite seasonal British vegetables on Saturday April 29, 2017 between 7pm and 10pm.

The 3-course, all vegan homemade menu is as follows:

Starter-Aparagus & sorrel salad with mustard aioli
Main- Garlic Fried Samphire, Courgetti & Chilli Pasta
Dessert- Rhubarb Cheesecake

There will be a welcome drink served and you are permitted to bring your own beverages for the main meal. The V Spot will have herbal tea and water available.

Tickets are not refundable, but they are transferrable. You can buy them online here.

There you have it. Two reasons to get involved in Peckham/Nunhead.

Click here to see the exact location of Space at 61 thanks to Google Maps. Follow Space at 61 on Facebook to find out more about future vegan events.

Art for animals

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Up to forty artists are set to show their work in a London gallery to advocate for animal rights.

Here are all the details you need.

Artist Aisha Eveleigh has organised an art exhibition in central London to raise awareness of animal exploitation and its consequences.

The name Behind Closed Doors refers to the way our mistreatment of animals is hidden from the general public. Most of us have little idea what happens to animals behind the doors of factory farms, slaughterhouses and vivisection labs.

The exhibition seeks to bring these issues into the light, changing the way we think about animal rights.

For this reason, Aisha views the Behind Closed Doors exhibition as a form of activism. Vegan artists like Dana Ellyn and Sue Coe will be exhibiting their work, whilst YouTubers Earthling Ed and Vegan Geezer are among those giving talks.

The exhibition will take place at the Strand Gallery in London. It will be open from the 26th to the 29th of May, with an open event day on the 27th. On this day, there will be a variety of talks and performances, along with creative workshops to get involved in.

If you’d like to support this inspiring project, make a donation via the Indiegogo fundraising page. Donating £5 gets you unlimited entry into the exhibition, while donating more gets you added perks. Even if you can’t make it to the event, donations will no doubt be very much appreciated!

For more information on the exhibition, visit the website.

You can also RSVP and invite friends on the Facebook event page.

Temple of Hackney update

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After taking London by storm and firmly establishing themselves as darlings of the mainstream tabloids, vegan fried chicken shop Temple of Hackney has just celebrated one month of trading.

So, how are they doing?

Is business still thriving as the grand opening frenzy fades into the past?

I caught up with owner and Temple of Seitan founder Rebecca McGuinness to find out exactly how the situation is for London’s first vegan fried chicken shop a little over a month in:

Congratulations on such a tremendous opening period. Just how busy has it been in the shop? Has it surpassed your expectations?

Thanks so much! It’s been unbelievable, we never thought in a million years we would be this busy and we are so grateful for all the support. It’s been a lot of hard work but to have this response in just a month as a small business is so surreal and we feel so lucky. We have acquired a second kitchen to keep up with demand and have gone from 4 staff to 13 in a matter of weeks!

What is the general feedback you and the team have been getting from customers?

General feedback has been really positive, the homemade meats have been met with great response, but the surprise dish is the mac and cheese – I would say it’s as popular as the chicken!

We also notice a lot of feedback about the friendliness and great service from our team. We definitely have to give them a shout out as they truly are the nicest and hardest working bunch around!

Do you have any sense of how many non-vegans are eating with you? What has their reaction been like?

We have had a lot of non-vegans come through that are trying to cut down on meat consumption but also some that come out of curiosity or along with vegan friends. We have had people say they prefer seitan chicken on several occasions which is obviously the highest honour! Haha.

The mainstream press has really taken to your story in a big way. How does all that attention feel and how are you managing the PR demands while running the shop?

It can be very full on and unfortunately due to this we aren’t as quick to get back to everyone at present – but as I say we are so lucky to have this kind of press as a small business and certainly wouldn’t be enjoying the instant success we have had without it.

Do you have any upcoming developments or top secret news you would like to share with my readers? What can they expect from Temple of Hackney in the future?

We do! We are working on a new menu that we plan to reveal very soon, including some exciting dishes we have shared early on in our Instagram feed. The menu will still have the “chicken shop” vibe, but will feature some new junk food favourites. We can’t wait to share them with everyone! We will also have extended opening hours shortly.

Finally, do you have a message for your loyal customers who have helped make the opening such a success? I’ve seen photos of them lining up out the door in the rain and snow!

We really do have the most incredible customers and are constantly in awe of their patience and kindness. From those who have been with us from our first stall in Brixton, our weekend stalls in Brick Lane to the new friends we have met in Hackney, we cannot thank you all enough. This first month of opening has been very challenging and we have learned so much in such a short space of time- but to have the support and understanding of the community made our transition from street food pop up to store a dream come true. We couldn’t have come this far without you. We say this often but the UK has the most incredible vegan community and has been so welcoming and friendly to a couple of junk food fiends from down under.

Follow Temple of Seitan on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

New vegan ice cream

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Fry’s Family Foods have been at the forefront of vegan chilled and frozen grocery items in the UK for years.

The brand has a loyal following of consumers (me included) who adore their meat alternatives.

Those fans have suddenly got a whole lot more to celebrate as Fry’s Family Foods have now released their very own vegan ice cream range into the UK.

Yep. Another vegan ice cream brand!

As you can see, there are five flavours to get involved with and they are all currently exclusively available via Ocado. I’ve been assured that it won’t be long until they are also stocked by Holland & Barrett.

The coconut based ice creams are available in Salted Caramel, Vanilla Bean Espresso, Madagascan Vanilla Bean, Toasted Coconut and Tons of Cookies varieties.

How excited are you to have another vegan ice cream option in the UK? Have you tried these tubs by Fry’s? How were they?

You can visit Fry’s online on Facebook.

Viva La Vegan

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Here is a spot of news not only for people attending my Vegan Christmas Market this weekend, but for those looking for quirky, cute and fun clothing accessories with a bold vegan angle.

Voted Best Vegan Fashion Brand 2015 and 2016 in the UK Vegan Awards and Best Vegan Clothing in the Vegfest Awards 2016, Viva La Vegan is an upbeat vegan statement wear brand of apparel and accessories.

The company was born from their love of animals, a desire to positively promote veganism and a commitment to do their bit for the planet all while looking good. The VLV team are a committed bunch of vegans and eco ambassadors who tell me they are not interested in stereotypes, just a love of style and contemporary fashion. And helping animals!

Of course you can shop with Viva La Vegan via their website, but you can also get your hands on their cute Xmas-themed badges, greeting cards and their regular (and very popular) clothing at Vegan Christmas Market this Saturday in Hackney (December 17, 2017).

You can also follow Viva La Vegan on Facebook and Twitter.

Vegan meal dlivery

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Here is some welcome (and tasty) vegan news.

JP and Alex are brothers who have taken their love for plant-based eating and created a home delivery meal service that will have you drooling.

After working in the kitchen with chefs, restaurateurs and nutritionists, JP and Alex launched allplants with the goal of delivering delicious, handmade, plant-based meals direct to doorsteps across the UK.

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The brothers say that every meal they sell, from their light and cheesy Cashew Mac to their Jerk Jackfruit, is hand-prepared using nothing but plants.

“Over the past year, we’ve searched and experimented to find the best ingredients and recipes that add layers of flavour to each of our nourishing dishes. We’re so excited to now deliver our menu to homes across the UK,” says JP.

allplants are serving six delicious tasting dishes for two to share, delivered to homes all around the UK. Each meal is ready-to-eat so if you are looking for simple food that also sounds tasty, allplants is the answer.

In the future they will be launching seasonal menus plus a wider range of products.

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Here is a quick insight into what they are delivering:

Jerk Jackfruit – source of protein.

Chargrilled jackfruit seasoned with jerk spices and a blend of freshly torn greens, red peppers and kidney beans, on a bed of sticky black rice and peas.

Moussaka – source of Iron and B12.

Layers of roast aubergine, forest mushrooms, roast potatoes & ragù, topped with a creamy, coconut béchamel sauce.

Black Bean Chilli – source of protein and B12

Slow and smoky black-bean chilli folded through dark chocolate and chipotle peppers, topped with coconut milk cornbread biscuits.

Claypot Tagine – source of protein and iron

Pot-roasted squash, medjool dates, chickpeas & toasted almonds in a fragrant stew of spices.

Cashew Mac – source of protein and B12

Wholegrain pasta tossed with cheesy cashew cream, smoke-baked chestnut mushrooms, kale & roasted tomatoes.

Bourguignon – source of protein and iron.

Braised portobello mushrooms with caramelised shallots, roasted beets, lentils and quinoa served in a warm, red wine stew.

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allplants dishes are available for £9 each (serves two) from their website. Each dish is delivered frozen to keep it fresh. Just heat it and eat!

You can keep updated with allplants via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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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 brownies

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I just found out about these vegan brownies called 100% Natural and they look so delicious, I just had to share.

What better way to get you up to speed than to ask the company to personally fill us in? This is what they said:

A mother and daughter duo, Jess and Charlotte began making raw brownies at their kitchen table at home in Brighton. Passionate about creating products that taste good and do good, their delicious brownies are made only from the finest, ethically sourced, organic and vegan ingredients. All of our products are free from wheat, gluten and dairy but they are first and foremost delicious and have been awarded multiple stars in the Guild of Fine food Great Taste awards.

100% Natural is now stocked in the likes of Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic and London’s prestigious Sourced Market as well as independent delis and health stores around the UK. More recently you can find them at Curzon Soho which we see as a huge achievement. Now you can watch great films with great snacks!

100% Natural told me the raw brownies can even be fried up in some coconut oil before being topped with coconut ice cream.

I’m sold!

Check out these fab photos of the vegan brownies.

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These look fabulous.

You can find out more on the 100% Natural website.

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Rabbit in Exeter

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This is beyond fabulous.

The UK city of Exeter has just gone and gotten itself what I believe to be its very first vegan café. Is that right? Is this the first?

Not only is Rabbit the first fully vegan place to eat, is has the cutest logo I have seen in a long while.

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I’ve been watching the food roll out of Rabbit for a few weeks on social media and everything looks exquisite.

The café is serving up mouthwatering cakes, toasted sandwiches, cheeseburgers, sundaes and more. And from the amount of furry friends I’m seeing in photos, the place must be completely dog-friendly too.

You had best believe I absolutely want this breakfast muffin!


Doesn’t it look scrumptious?!

What about this?

Get over to the Rabbit Instagram account to keep track of all the deliciousness they are serving and like their Facebook page. You can eat with them from Tuesday until Saturday each week, between 10am and 4pm.

Extra note: this café is run by the same fab people running Exeter’s vegan grocery store, Seasons. I wrote about that a while ago. Click here to read! The café is only a few hops away (get it?) from the store. See the location on Google Maps.

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