Vegan Quarantine: Day 10

Hi all.

Welcome to Vegan Quarantine: Day 10. This daily video series is my small way of trying to keep spirits up in the vegan community and also support independent vegan businesses, charities, and musicians.

All links for everything discussed are below.

Hit up Post Punk Kitchen by Isa Chandra for an amazing selection of recipes:
https://www.theppk.com/

Volunteer with the NHS during current crisis:
https://www.goodsamapp.org/nhs

Read my article about how freelancers and self-employed are at risk, and what we can do to support community:
https://tinyurl.com/rgod9en

Vegan Cantonese restaurant in Accrington still open for take out. Their Facebook page:
https://tinyurl.com/qkyhq8s

Order beer from Bad Seed Brewery for home delivery:
https://brasscastle.co.uk/product-tag/guest-brewery/

Follow Bad Seed Brewery on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/badseedbrewery/

Order my book online:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fat-Gay-Vegan-Drink-L…/…/184899351X

Music recommendation of the day. Hayley Mary with The Piss, The Perfume:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhkkwTe6gb4

Vegan Quarantine: Day 8

Hi all.

I am back with Vegan Quarantine: Day 8. This daily video series is my way of keeping spirits high in the vegan community and keeping us all connected.

I like to give shout outs to independent vegan business, charities, and live performers.

Please use the links below to follow up on everything mentioned:

Legendary London vegan fast food chain What The Pitta have reduced hours for DELIVERY ONLY via UberEats and Deliveroo. Follow the eatery chain on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/whatthepitta/

I am still working with Vegan Culinary Cruises. We have a cruise planned for NYE to celebrate 10 years of FGV! Please use all the links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veganfoodcruise/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/veganfoodcruise
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veganfoodcruise/
Email newsletter sign up: https://veganculinarycruises.com/our-newsletter/

My friend Steven runs a pet minding business in Jacksonville, Florida called Walk Wag Pet and Purr. Follow for awesome animal photos:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walkwagpetandpurr/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkwagpetandpurr/

Need a good vegan banana bread recipe? Here it is from Connoisseurus Veg:
https://www.connoisseurusveg.com/vegan-banana-bread/

Are you currently in Brisbane, Australia? Order food from GrassfedVegan for pick up or delivery and follow them on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/grassfedplantbased/

Order my book online:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fat-Gay-Vegan-Drink-L…/…/184899351X

Visit The Vegan Society website:
https://www.vegansociety.com/

Need more global and progressive news than you are currently being served? Watch Democracy Now! daily:
https://www.democracynow.org/

UK drinkers. Order beer for delivery from Brass Castle Brewery:
https://brasscastle.co.uk/

Treat yourself to some vegan EDEN Perfumes:
https://www.edenperfumes.co.uk/

Music pick of the day. Dead of Night by Orville Peck:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3esGD6lcMM

Vegan Quarantine: Day 7

Hi all.

I am back with Vegan Quarantine: Day 7. This video series is my way of trying to keep spirits high in the vegan community as well as support independent businesses, charities, and musicians.

All links discussed can be found below.

Louise Wallis – Yoga & Pilates is going live with yoga classes on Facebook. Find out more on the page, including the next class on Tuesday morning, March 24.

Useful and easy vegan soup recipes from The Vegan Society:
https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/recipes/soup

When you order with Uber Eats in the UK from a independent restaurant, they waive the delivery fee. Find out more here on TechCrunch:
https://techcrunch.com/…/uber-eats-uk-waives-fees-during-t…/

Order my book Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Sh!t online:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fat-Gay-Vegan-Drink-L…/…/184899351X

Listen to one of my favourite bands, Los Abandoned, on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/36O00E6Ipz0GDvj1X7AJjS

Vegan Quarantine: Day 6

Vegan Quarantine: Day 6

Hi all. I am back again with another video to try and keep spirits high in the vegan community and help support independent vegan business and charities.



All of the links for everything mentioned in the video can be found below.

Moo Free Chocolates is a gorgeous vegan chocolate company. Order from them directly online, including all their Easter egg treats!:

https://www.dairyfreechocolates.com/…/a…

Fooska is Bangladeshi vegan street food available for home lunch delivery:
https://www.eatfooska.com/

Arancini Brothers are still open in Dalston and Maltby Street for takeaway and delivery. Order via Just Eat, Deliveroo, and Uber Eats:
http://www.arancinibrothers.com/

Yoga and pilates online with Louise Wallis – Yoga & Pilates. Starting on Monday March 23 from 9:15am. Pay what you can.

Yoga classes live on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/louisewallis/

Make your donation/payment here:
http://www.mindbodyzone.co.uk/pilates-c…

Watch this fab song by super fab band Love Like Hate, a band made up of vegans in my home city of Brisbane, Australia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch…

Vegan Quarantine: Day 5

Hi all!

I’m back with Vegan Quarantine: Day 5.

This video series is my way of trying to keep spirits up in the vegan community, give you a friendly face to look forward to each evening, and support independent vegan business.



Links for things I discuss are all below. Please click and share.

The Made In Hackney Community Cookery School crowdfunder is still motoring along. Donate here:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/made-in-h…

A gorgeous new vegan food business in Somerset called Plantsidecafe was only open a week and has closed due to the global crisis. Follow them on social media for when they reopen:

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/plantsidecafe/

Goyo’s Burgers is a vegan fast food joint that JUST opened in Mexico City. Please follow them on Instagram to help cheer them up at this difficult time:
https://www.instagram.com/goyosburgers/

I’m listening to a lot of Trixie Mattel music! All links for music, rescheduled tour dates, and a make up line being switched to all vegan:
https://www.trixiemattel.com/

Shout out to The Third Estate. Vegan shoe store and boutique in London. You can and should shop online with them:
https://thethirdestate.co.uk/

Follow them on Insta:
https://www.instagram.com/thethirdesta…/

Vegan Quarantine: Day 4

Hello friends.

I am back for Vegan Quarantine: Day 4.

These videos are happening daily to help keep our spirits up within the vegan community and draw attention to independent businesses that are struggling, charities that need our help, and musicians that need support.



Links for everything I mention are below.

Check out this GOOD NEWS story about food outreach being undertaken by a vegan business in Tennessee:
https://tinyurl.com/vpat2dg

Help Earthcake vegan bakery in Bristol pay their bills! Crowdfunder here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-bristol…

Legendary London band Colour Me Wednesday (packed full of vegan members) get to keep all the money if you buy their music via Bandcamp TODAY. Please do:
https://colourmewednesday.bandcamp.com/

London vegan eatery Essential Vegan Cafe has closed during the crisis. Please follow them online to show support:
TW: https://twitter.com/EssentialVegan
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/essentialveg…/

Sweet Yourself Vegan is selling vegan pick & mix for delivery! Order online for UK delivery:
https://www.sweetyourself.co.uk/

Follow me (FGV) on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/fatgayvegan/

Made In Hackney Community Cookery School fundraiser now has a stretch target of £50,000:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/made-in-h…

Order vegan pick n mix for delivery

Hey, UK friends.

Can’t get to the shops for some pesky reason (sarcasm) but are craving pick n mix sweets?

The wonderful people of Sweet Yourself Vegan are here to help you out.

Order your favourite vegan sweets for home or office delivery!

Some of the categories they are selling include:

  • Jelly sweets
  • Liquorice
  • Sour
  • Sugared
  • Fudge
  • Gluten free

You can buy bags of 100% vegan sweets individually by type or opt in for a jumbo pick n mix delivery.

If you use the code LAUNCH20 you will get 20% off your first order during their launch week.

Sweet Yourself Vegan currently only deliver within the UK.

Click here to shop online now and follow Sweet Yourself Vegan on Instagram.

Vegan Quarantine: Day 3

Vegan Quarantine: Day 3

Hi all. Fat Gay Vegan back again with another video to try and keep spirits high within the vegan community AND draw your attention to independent businesses and charities that need our support.

Links are below for everything I discuss. Please add your own links and suggestions in the comments.



UK wide. Order bake at home vegan pies from Young Vegans. Pies delivered to you at home or work:
https://www.youngvegans.co.uk/shop

Sunshine Vegan Deli in Sheffield is doing contact takeaway, delivery, and even ready meals:
https://www.sunshinedelisheffield.com/

The Green Edge – Brisbane’s Largest Vegan Grocery Store & Cafe – all the info is in the name! If you can’t go out, shop via their online shop for delivery of vegan groceries:
https://www.greenedgeonline.com.au/

Picnic, 103 Ingram Street, Glasgow – this vegan cafe and deli is still open in the heart of Glasgow. Order via UberEats and Deliveroo:
http://picnic-cafe.co.uk/

The 78 Bar and Kitchen and Stereo Cafe Bar are two Glasgow vegan businesses currently crowdfunding in order to pay their staff.

The 78: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/covid-fun…

Stereo: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/pay-it-fo…

Unicorn Grocery is a vegan coop supermarket in Manchester. They now have special opening time slots for 70+ and vulnerable people. Support this vegan business:
https://www.unicorn-grocery.coop/

Charly Bliss is a fabulous indie band that I would love for you to listen to and buy their merch!
http://charlybliss.com/

Vegan Quarantine videos

A lot of us are locked indoors due to the global pandemic, so I thought I would post daily (hopefully) videos on Facebook.

I want us to have some social interaction while we try to do some good in the world.

I’m also sharing the videos here on the blog if you prefer to watch here, so check back daily.

Here are some of the links mentioned in today’s episode:

Ms. Cupcake is closing down. Read my emotional blog post here:
https://tinyurl.com/vfy9wvn

You can order from Ms. Cupcake for home or work delivery for a few more days. Read about it here:
https://tinyurl.com/w29l5j6

London vegan food business bar dei baci have been forced to supply via Deliveroo only. Follow them on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bardeibaci/

Knave’s Kitchen in Leeds is STILL open and do pick up and delivery options. They will also organise contact free delivery:
https://www.oportobar.co.uk/knaves-kitchen/

Made In Hackney Community Cookery School in London has cancelled all of its classes. They are running a fundraiser to transform into an emergency food delivery service for at risk people:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/made-in-hackney-4

I am listening to this cool band called Beach Bunny. Read about them and listen to their album Honeymoon:
https://www.beachbunnymusic.com/

Read my piece on how the global pandemic is hurting freelancers and low waged people like me:
https://tinyurl.com/rgod9en

Independent vegan pizza in Manchester

I don’t know how you are all coping with me saying the same thing over and over, because I’m even sick of the sound of my own voice.

It is distressing to watch all of our vegan money be sucked up by huge corporations while independently owned local vegan business go under.

Ms Cupcake of London has recently announced they will be closing their doors (read about it here) and now we have this warning shot being fired by vegan pizza specialists Zad’s of Manchester.

Read the fill statement below:

It’s been a tough six months for us, here at Zads. We sent an email out around New Year explaining many of the issues we had been having, but it seems to have been picked up by a lot of junk mail filters (the Happy New Year subject probably could have done with being a little more original perhaps).

As many others have already said, the mainstreaming of veganism is incredible and something we’ve all dreamt of for a long time, but it comes at the expense of many vegan businesses; hardly a week goes by now that we don’t hear of another independent vegan business calling it quits and shutting up shop. We’re not quite ready for that yet, but we do need to make a few changes.

From this week, we will now be closed on Mondays AND Tuesdays, plus we will not be opening until 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

For some time now, our weekday takings have all but disappeared. It is not uncommon for us to not even take enough to cover staff wages, let alone the cost of the food we’re selling and the other costs which come with running a business. We have always been in the fortunate position of not being here to make a fortune. The owner of Zad’s has never taken a penny of income from the business and the business was set up as an extension of the vegan activism which he and the other founding staff members feel is so important.

We hope that compressing our opening hours a little will make the business a little more viable and if it is possible, we will take the opportunity to hire an extra driver at the weekend, to help take off some of the strain during busy periods. We would also dearly love to pay our staff a little more too, which they so thoroughly deserve. This also means that a small price increase is coming in the next couple of months, along with a few small changes to our menu.

Thank you all for your wonderful support, every order, every positive review, or lovely message, really does mean the world to us. We’re trying our very best to make this work, but we can promise you it’s not easy. Many sleepless nights over the last six to twelve months and probably more to come.

We have been inundated with amazing reviews recently, so we know you love what we do – we do, too.

OK. Back to me, FGV. I’ll put it simply again.

If we do not support independent vegan businesses, they will disappear. When we only spend our money in huge conglomerates, our money disappears out of our communities. Local people cannot make a living being vegan if we don’t support them. They can’t pay their bills. They can’t employ other local people.

If you live near Zad’s and you have the spare cash to eat takeaway food occasionally, please make a pledge to do it.

Visit Zad’s online and follow them on Instagram and Twitter.