vegan

Vegan anti-oppression collective

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Have you been wondering how a vegan might consider that their personal choices and the language they employ can be linked to furthering or challenging a wide range of oppressions? Is this something you would like to discuss with other curious vegans in a supportive, safe space?

The vegan community in the UK does a lot of valuable outreach, education and activism with the goal of improving outcomes for non-human animals, but many of us are also coming to understand that our animal-positive activities shouldn’t stand alone from other oppressive concerns.

We can and should be considerate of how our activism can perpetuate negative stereotypes and oppressive forces in the world. We can challenge inequality and inequity related to sexism, queerphobia, ageism, ableism as we fight to improve outcomes for animals. We don’t need to choose which type of oppression we resist and fight to redress, we can work against multiple oppressions at the same time.

So what about a vegan anti-oppression learning collective?

I am hoping to find vegans who are interested in forming a collaborative group of people who want to meet regularly in London (and hopefully in other UK locations) to explore topics of connected oppressions and intersectionality theory via suggested readings, public screenings and meeting guest speakers.

Maybe there is already a group like this operating in the capital, so please let me know if there is.

There is a now a private Facebook group you can join where you can help develop the shape, intentions, shared content and outcomes of the collective. We can start to discuss a safe space policy for the group, how we would like the Facebook page to be managed and who will be willing to take on administration duties for the page and future real life meetings.

If you have been thinking about these topics, join the closed Facebook group to help commence the building of the collective.

Maoz London closed?

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This is terrible news.

A reader named Chris posted on my Facebook page yesterday to ask if I knew anything about Maoz on Old Compton Street being closed. He said it was shut with no sign of it being temporary and the HappyCow listings site has it marked as closed.

I am devastated.

I can’t remember the number of times I’ve stumbled into the store for a bag of hot chips after a few too many pints at a nearby gay bar.

It really was one of the best places for vegans to eat in Central London.

Falafel and Belgian fries from Maoz in London
Falafel and Belgian fries from Maoz in London

I have emailed the company to see if they have any news regarding the closure. If you have any further information, please let me know.

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Queer Vegan Disco special event: One night only

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London has never really known a party like Queer Vegan Disco.

This now-defunct monthly night was always the brightest and best celebration of the LGBT community, our friends, fabulous music and compassion.

If you were one of our regulars, or someone who always thought they would like to attend but never quite made it, there is some great news in store for you.

Queer Vegan Disco returns for one night only this summer!

qvd prince

Your host Fat Gay Vegan (that’s me!) will be back from a 6 month stay in Mexico City and is desperate to resurrect this night one more time.

We will be playing a LOT of our favourite Prince tunes as a celebration of the artist formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince, plus we will have our usual mix of indie, pop, alternative, rock, dance, 80s, 90s and more.

Of course the venue for this QVD return is the always 100% vegan Kabaret in Wood Green.

We expect turnout to be huge for this one time event, so you will most definitely want to buy your ticket in advance to ensure your entry.

Advance tickets are just £3 plus a small booking fee. If we have any space left on the night, door tickets will be £5. Click here to buy your ticket now.

You should also RSVP to the Facebook event and use the invite button to tell all your friends.

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Closed vegan café in London set to reopen

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Vegan Hippo didn’t exactly disappear with a lot of tears.

The Soho-based café was a bit more miss than hit and loving reviews weren’t flowing from the mouths of diners. However, the owners have seemingly taken advantage of their down time in order to reevaluate how they create and serve food.

And now they are back on the scene. The following message was posted on the Vegan Hippo Facebook page two days ago:

Vegan Hippo is about to reopen! We’ve listened to feedback and are starting again with a new and improved menu, and lots of take-away food too for eating in the park or taking to the office. All suggestions welcomed! Tell us anything you’d especially like to see us offer. Thank you!

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Are you excited about the return of Vegan Hippo?

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Vegan ice lollies only £1 for 5!

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Even though I’m in Mexico City sweltering with near (or just over) 30 degrees Celsius temperatures most days, I’m not going to pretend I don’t know how exciting it is when the weather gets a little warmer in the UK.

I saw on a news website that some parts of the country are even pushing 20 degrees Celsius. I am thrilled for you all as I know the last few months have been a bit rough when it comes to weather.

To help you celebrate, I thought I would share this information.

You can buy a box of five vegan ice lollies from Morrisons for just £1. That is damn good value.

Put on your best bikini, grab four of your best friends and get down to the local common with a box before the sun disappears again.

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Click on the image above to visit the listing on the Morrisons website.

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Bwyty Fegan Newydd – New Vegan Restaurant

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Post by:

josh panel

Forgive the (possibly dodgy) Google translation in Welsh, but I was really excited about a new 100% vegan restaurant in Bangor, Wales. I reached out to the owners to find out what it was all about and here’s what they had to say:

We decided to open a vegan restaurant simply because it’s the right thing to do. We were tempted to hide behind the vegetarian safety net but decided to be brave and follow the heart. The support has been amazing and it turns out that there is certainly a demand for this modern cuisine. People are most certainly waking up to the effects our meat and dairy consumption is having on the planet. Also the health implications that processed meat is having and the disgraceful treatment of animals is appalling and needs to stop. We can’t always barge into slaughter houses or testing labs to protest but we can produce businesses that oppose such things. We can create easier ways for people to find cruelty free food.

Voltaire is vegan food but not typical vegan style, the food is actually more in keeping with regular restaurant food, it just happens to be vegan. Our meals are fusion, worldly and totally delicious! We wanted to create indulgent food, not just healthy. Food to treat yourself with! Creamy mushrooms and crispy battered cauliflower. Summer fruity curry with warmed naan, or Tibetan fried noodles with a choice of caramelised parsnip or non meat pieces. We love comfort food at Voltaire and our customers are our family.

I’m so pleased that they decided to take the 100% vegan route and the food sounds right up my alley. Check out the picture they sent me and another one I found on Instagram. I can’t wait to make my way to Bangor and get some of that beer-battered cauliflower!

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Like Voltaire on Facebook.

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Vegan restaurant owners not vegan

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There has been quite a bit of upset in vegan circles this week about the founders and majority owners of Southern California vegan restaurants Gracias Madre and Café Gratitude selling beef products (i.e. dead cows) from their family farm.

I reached out to the PR firm for Café Gratitude to find out a little more information about the situation. One of my main concerns was whether the plant-based menus were ever going to start serving meat.

Here is their response:

“We want to assure all of our supporters that Café Gratitude and Gracias Madre have always served and will continue to serve 100% organic, plant-based cuisine prepared with ingredients sourced responsibly from vendors and farmers who share our commitment to preserving the integrity of the environment.

Founders Matthew and Terces Engelhart do not personally follow a vegan diet. They reside on their privately-owned Be Love Farm in Vacaville, California where they practice regenerative agriculture, and harvest organic produce for personal consumption for friends, family and neighbors in the area.

Given the growth of the restaurants in Southern California, the majority of produce served at Café Gratitude and Gracias Madre is supplied by local farms with the exception of organic peaches in the summer, and organic butternut squash in the fall and winter months, which are both sourced from Be Love Farms.

To learn more about regenerative agriculture practices visit www.belovefarm.com and regenerationinternational.org.”

Apart from the horrible irony of animals being killed on a farm called Be Love, do you see a problem with eating at one of these restaurants? Is it effective to put financial pressure on the restaurant chain because the co-founders raise cows for food on their own farm or is this also putting unnecessary pressure on other co-owners who are are vegan or risking the jobs of vegan workers.

I eat at many vegan restaurants and from many vegan food companies where the owners or CEOs are not vegan. I could name half a dozen or so just off the top of my head. The CEO of Veggie Grill is not vegan. The owner of VegBar in Brixton is not vegan. Not everyone in a management position at Fry’s Family Foods is vegan. Some of the biggest vegan food brands on the planet are making profit for non-vegan investors who spend said profits on animal product consumption.

And what about our 100% vegan businesses with vegan owners? Should we be demanding that they do not buy produce from farms that also raise and kill animals for food?

This post is certainly not an attempt to tell people how to react to the Café Gratitude situation, but to create thought and debate. I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic. Should these restaurants stand alone and be celebrated for their plant-based menus or should vegans be demanding the founders and co-owners change their other business practises by applying financial pressure via a boycott?

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Ask FGV video March 2016

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Each month I take questions from some of my Patreon supporters and I try to give helpful answers.

Check out the March 2016 video below and be sure to find out how you can get involved with these questions (and get early access to my cooking videos) over on my Patreon page.


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Clothing-optional vegan pop-up in London this weekend!

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Post by:

josh panel

Well here’s something you don’t see very often.

This Saturday and Sunday there is a pop-up sauna in South Tottenham with vegan food provided by The Magic Cauldron and the Facebook page for the event says that swimwear is optional! Housed in a converted horse trailer, the sauna is open to all interested people and towels can be hired for £3. Interested yet? If not, then let me tell you about the food.

The Magic Cauldron will be at the pop-up event providing 100% vegan food. Here’s the flyer for the event:

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It all looks and sounds divine:

  • Baked turmeric falafel
  • Red Cabbage Vietnamese Rolls
  • Sweet potato, carrot & courgette fritters
  • Creamy roasted red pepper curry & rice
  • Roasted beetroot & fennel hot lentil salad

So if you’ve always fancied getting your kit off and getting stuck into some tasty vegan food, then this weekend could be right up your alley!

Like The Magic Cauldron on Facebook.

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London, you are losing awesome vegan food

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Oh no!

Vegan friendly pub kitchen Phil T’s in Camden in closing in a few days. You have just one week to get there and sample some of their outrageously-tasty savoury goodness.

This is the announcement made by the kitchen on their Instagram page:

It is with great regret that we have to announce that Phil T’s at the Black Heart will be closing with our last day being Saturday the 26th of March. Phil has a big new project that will be taking up most of his time and though we wanted to keep the kitchen going we have been unable to find the right person to run it for us. So even though it was a hard decision we have decided that instead of letting the quality of the food and service suffer it’s time to bow out. Thanks to all of you who have come in and supported us and enjoyed our food. Hopefully it’s not the last you’ve heard of Phil T’s but in the meantime we’ll let you know about Phil’s new project once it’s up and running.

Now there’s only one thing left to do and that’s for Phil to get back into the kitchen for the last week and dish out all your favourites and a few daily specials! So if you want to have one last taste of Gourmet Trash Food at its best then you’ve got eight days to eat your fill. Hope we’ll see you there! (Opening Times: 2pm-10pm today, 12pm-10pm Sunday 20th, 3pm-10pm Mon 21st-Thurs 24th, 12pm-10pm Fri 25th-Sat 26th)

Vegan crab cakesBuffalo cauliflower wings with blue cheese dip

Get on it, people.

Crab cakes, buffalo cauliflower wings and more: done vegan and done well until this Saturday and then it’s GONE.

Follow Phil T’s over on Instagram in case they pop again in the future.

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