vegan

Vegan food with the NHS

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I’ve been hearing rumblings and rumours over the past few weeks of people having positive vegan food experiences with the National Health Service (NHS).

Of course your vegan experience depends on where you access the NHS, as different trusts are in charge of different parts of the country and they are responsible for individual menus.

My buddy Quarrygirl (follow on Twitter and Instagram for vegan glory) has given me this photo to share with you all from her latest NHS situation in London.

Just look at all of this clearly marked vegan eating!

Even just a few years ago (months?!) this sort of plant-based food choice would have been the stuff of dreams.

I’m thrilled to see veganism being taken seriously by the UK’s health services and hospitals. Now we need to get them to serve ONLY vegan food.

If you have a recent positive experience of NHS menus, please share in the comments below. I would love to see how this new way of thinking is spreading around the country.

Vegan in Orlando, Florida

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Post by:

Earlier this month, I had the good fortune to visit Orlando. This was my first time visiting the city as an adult (and as a vegan) so I was keen to check out all of the food offerings. I stayed with a friend and colleague Randall Abate who does incredible work in the field of Animal Law. Click his name to read more about his work.

The first night, we headed to one of his favourite spots, Ethos Vegan Kitchen… and I can see why he likes it! We started with the garlic knots and sausage rolls. The knots were heavenly with a dense, buttery dough… almost like a croissant, only made better by the garlic dipping butter that they came with. If you ever go to Ethos, you have to order these! The sausage rolls were also incredible. I’m not sure if they were using Tofurky sausages or if Ethos are making their own, but the delicious, meaty seitan filling contrasted perfectly with the flaky pastry and were incredible when dipped into the accompanying Dijon mustard sauce.

For a main, I had a cornbread skillet topped featuring a delicious cornbread base, topped with black beans, vegetables and chunks of tender seitan. It was even served in the skillet pan itself! I also had a garden salad with grilled tofu and ranch dressing which was exquisite. I couldn’t finish everything but the leftover skillet made a fantastic breakfast the next morning!

Of course I couldn’t go home without trying something from their dessert menu but because I was so full, all I could manage was a chocolate chip cookie. It was really good and I wish I could have tried their other desserts like the ice cream sundae or the chocolate Amaretto mousse. I’ll have to go back. Check out Ethos online here.

The next day, I headed to Market on South which is a collective space close to downtown where various vegan businesses are represented. This is such a fabulous idea and I wish every city had one. The two main food vendors are Dixie Dharma (savoury food) and Valhalla Bakery (sweets). Unfortunately I had filled up with leftover cornbread skillet for breakfast (see above) so I didn’t have a huge appetite and only ordered two small sides: the baked mac n’cheese and the crispy Brussels sprouts. Thankfully, the two sides were beyond tasty: the Brussels sprouts were deep fried to perfection and served with an apple cider vinegar reduction. Amazing!

I couldn’t fit in anything else right then and there, but I couldn’t leave Market on South without trying the incredible-looking desserts from Valhalla. Just look at the dessert case photos above. Who could resist temptation like this? I got a ‘Brookie’ to go… it’s a cross between a brownie and a cookie! I had it later that afternoon with a cup of coffee and it was outrageously delicious!

Later that evening, my friend and I had time for a quick bite to eat before driving to Gulfport, so we popped into a branch of worldwide chain Loving Hut… except that this one was called Loving Vegan Market & Cuisine so I’m not sure if they are directly connected to the Loving Hut chain or if they are somewhat affiliated. Anyway, all that mattered to me was they were 100% vegan. The restaurant itself leaves a lot to be desired as it has all of the ambience of a convenience store but thankfully the food was spot-on. They also have several aisles of vegan products for sale so it would be a great place to visit for a snack and to stock up on some vegan staples. Visit Loving Vegan Market & Cuisine online.

The quantity of vegan establishments in Orlando is so numerous, I would need a return visit to cover them all. I barely scratched the surface of what’s out there during this recent trip.

Goat Cafe

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I got a message from my friend Anna this morning saying, “Sue, have you seen the Goat Café drama?” to which I responded, “No, Sue. What going on?”.

Firstly, we call each other Sue. It’s an Abigail’s Party thing.

If you are not aware, Goat Café is possibly the only fully vegan eatery in the northern town of Huddersfield.

But the drama?

In a bizarre Facebook exchange with a handful of customers, the person in charge of their social media abused and berated some customers.

By abused, I mean:

  • asking how soon someone will die
  • calling names such as ‘fucking control freak’
  • responding to criticism with ‘fuck you and fuck your plans’

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Reports are online of the Goat Café social media person also taking the argument and name-calling onto personal Facebook pages of customers including one instance of them using the term ‘fucking cocks’ to describe people voicing their concerns.

The backlash from the local and online vegan community has been swift and brutal.

The café has seen it’s star approval rating on Facebook plummet with more than 300 one star reviews being posted since the conflict commenced.

I don’t completely understand what started the tirade of abuse, but a lot of the conflict seems to surround a post by the Goat Café in which they expressed their plans to stop accepting credit cards and social media in their business.

This somehow turned into a particularly nasty exchange with a customer who had previously complained about a meal that wasn’t to her liking. You can see references to all of this on the Goat Facebook page (it might take a bit of sifting through as I believe the café has started deleting its older posts related to the situation).

The Goat Café serves an incredibly valuable purpose for Huddersfield and the surrounding area. I hear of vegans travelling from nearby towns once a week as it is the only place where they can be assured a 100% vegan menu.

My two visits to the café have been welcoming with solid food choices.

Whatever is happening to their team internally to result in this situation, I genuinely hope they sort it out not only for their own sake but for the valuable contribution their café and food make to the community.

Also, I don’t like seeing people attacked verbally. It’s not OK and rightfully people won’t stand for it. I have concerns for the owners who have always presented as kind and approachable. This behaviour appears completely out of character. I have concerns for the workers at the café and their job security.

Abusing people and name-calling on the Internet doesn’t fly in this day and age, least of all when the abuse is directed at your customers. People will shut your business down or at least work extremely hard to make it happen.

Hoping for the best but fearing the worst for Goat Café. Another drink, Sue?

Recipe for gorditas

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Support these videos via Patreon.

Ingredients:

  • 500g corn flour/corn masa – make sure it is the one that says ‘suitable for tamales’ 1 cup of water
  • Salt
  • Vegetable oil
  • Refried black beans
  • Makes approximately 10 gorditas

Instructions:

  • Wash hands carefully or wear food-safe gloves for this recipe
  • Put the corn flour/masa in a large bowl and sprinkle in about 1 tablespoon of salt
  • Add a splash of water and some of the oil and start mixing with your hands
  • Keep adding water bit-by-bit until a solid dough is formed
  • Scoop out a 2” ball of dough and roll between your palms until smooth
  • Make a dent in the middle with your thumbs and place approximately 1 large tablespoon of refried beans into the middle of the ball
  • Fold the sides over and use your hands to create a flat disc-shaped gordita approximately 1⁄2 an inch thick
  • Heat approximately 1” of vegetable oil in a large pan to a medium/high heat
  • Place gorditas into the hot oil and fry for approximately six minutes, turning halfway to ensure that they are golden and crisp all over
  • Remove gorditas from oil and drain on paper towel for approximately three minutes
  • Use a sharp knife to cut the gordita open and fill with your favourite toppings and condiments.
  • We like fresh white onion and coriander/cilantro, topped with salsa verde but anything goes really

Recipe and photo remain property of Sean O’Callaghan and Julio Alcantara and may not be reproduced without permission. © fatgayvegan.com

Wagamama in Amsterdam Centraal Station

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Post by:

josh panel

I recently had to meet my elderly Dutch aunt in Amsterdam for a brief lunch before catching the train back to London. Of course Amsterdam has many vegan options but given the time constraints and accessibility concerns, I wanted something close to Amsterdam Centraal Station.

A quick search online showed that I was in luck as Wagamama has a branch inside the station and there were rumours that they had a separate vegan menu available to customers. We arrived shortly after they opened and were greeted by the friendly servers who, like everyone else I met in Amsterdam, spoke perfect English. When I asked for the vegan menu, I was delighted when the server brought this to me:

Vegan menu at Wagamama in Amsterdam Centraal Station

How great is it that they have actually taken the time to see which dishes are inherently vegan and which ones can be easily made vegan and how to do so! This is in stark contrast to the UK Wagamama restaurants where if you ask about veganism, you are shown some crusty old ring binder with all sorts of confusing charts about crustacea, grains, egg etc. Kudos to the Amsterdam branch for being on top of shit!

Yasai Itame curry at Wagamama Amsterdam Centraal Station

I played it safe and ordered what I always order at Wagamama – the Yasai Itame cury (no mushrooms, extra tofu) which is a delicious mix of rice noodles and assorted vegetables in a piquant coconut broth. It was wholly delicious and I’m terrified of ever ordering anything else at Wagamama in case it doesn’t live up to this dish.

So, if you’re in Amsterdam and in need of delicious vegan food in a hurry, pop into Wagamama and thank them for having a vegan menu.

Amazing vegan restaurant in Mexico

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If you’ve been in the same room as me during the past few years, you will have probably heard me talking about how incredible the vegan food scene is in Mexico City. I never stop banging on about it.

As if I wasn’t impressed enough with the food scene in this mega city, Vegan INC had to go and take things to a whole new level tonight.

Situated in a posh shopping mall in the upmarket area of Polanco, Vegan INC is a casual vegan dining restaurant with two locations in the northern city of Monterrey. This Mexico City location has been open for a few months with a second outlet set to open later this year.

The food is absolutely exquisite. Take a look at some of the dishes we devoured.

My first time at this gorgeous #vegan restaurant in Mexico City called Vegan INC. @veganinc_cdmx

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

Fabulous beetroot tartar with hummus and avocado at @veganinc_cdmx #mexicocity #cdmx #vegan

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

Incredible BBQ bean burger with kale chips at @veganinc_cdmx in Mexico City. #vegan

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

Burned broccoli platter at @veganinc_cdmx in Polanco, Mexico City. #vegan

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

Delicious #vegan mac n cheese at @veganinc_cdmx in Mexico City. #cdmx

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

Cheesy potatoes at @veganinc_cdmx in Polanco, Mexico City. Delicious! #vegan #cdmx

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


Out table was overflowing with out of this world plant-based cuisine.

And in an FGV first, we were too full for cake so I have definite plans to head back to Vegan INC as soon as possible to try out the impressive dessert case.

Get to Mexico. Dine with Vegan INC. Follow them on Instagram.

Revisiting an old favourite

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Longtime readers of my blog will know how much I love the northern city of Leeds. Last night Josh and I found ourselves staying with a friend as we passed through overnight on our way to Vegfest Scotland. What better way to spend our 12-hour stopover then getting delicious vegan takeaway from one of my favourite Leeds restaurants?

The Grove Café has an extensive vegan menu which I’ve talked about previously. Last night we went a bit overboard and ordered the following: vegan cheeseburger and fries, naan bread, onion bhajis, mushroom rice, basmati rice, saag aloo, tarka dahl, chana masala and pasanda curry. Phew! Check out the photo from my Instagram feed which shows the amazing spread that we enjoyed:

Visit The Grove Café online

Extra note: this photo originally appeared in my Instagram feed.

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Brand new menu from one of the best

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It’s no secret that I adore Make No Bones in Sheffield.

You only have to check out my previous post to see why I blathered on about it being one of the best places to get vegan cuisine in the UK. The food really is outstanding.

But it gets better.

Take a cheeky look at the brand new menu being launched by Make No Bones this week. I’m desperate for all of this!

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How do I even begin singing the praises of this menu?

Beer battered fish and chips? Pumpkin pie brownie with whipped cream? Philly cheesesteak? There is too much good stuff going on with this menu. I think it would cause me genuine distress to be forced to choose. I want it all.

This menu is going live THIS WEEK so get along and fill up.

Tell them FGV loves them and their food forever. xx

Follow Make No Bones on Instagram.

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Top ten at VegfestUK London

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Are you heading to the huge VegfestUK London this weekend?

I’ve put together a list of ten things you CANNOT miss during this two day event.

Please be warned that some of this stuff is going to be in huge demand and is likely to sell out extremely quickly. Don’t waste time if you are keen on any of these things.

10.

Heart of Cake – stand number CN3 Saturday only.

Fabulous cakes, handcrafted to perfection. So pretty and tasty. Make a special attempt to get some macarons.

Macaron heaven over here 💘 #vegan #veganmacarons #vegfest2016 #aquafaba

A photo posted by Heart of Cake (@heartofcakelondon) on


9.

Ms. Cupcake – stand number CAT6

Of course this legendary business has a sweet stand, but also look out for their hot food outlet selling tasty savoury delights.

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8.

Tofurky – stand number WB4

This sandwich fridge photo almost broke the vegan Internet when I featured it a few weeks ago and I’m thrilled to say it is BACK for VegfestUK this weekend.

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7.

All Glamour No Guts – stand number WA6

These gorgeous t-shirts are on special offer for £10 or you can get the design on a tote bag for just £5. I love this design! They also have lots of other products and jewellery to get your hands on.

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


6.

Just Fab – stand numbers CE4 CE8

Don’t waste time trying to get your hands on these cheesy pizza dough balls. Go there first up or risk missing out. Just Fab make some of the best food in the country and they have plenty for you snap up during this show.


5.

Follow Your Heart  – stand number WE10

One of my favourite brands on the planet are sampling their new cheese slices, soon to be launched in the UK. Get a sneak preview this weekend!


4.

Mouse’s Favourite – stand number CN3 Sunday only

Don’t act like you don’t know! This cheese company is one of the finest you will find anywhere. If their camembert doesn’t sell out in about an hour, I’ll eat my shoe. Yes, my shoe is vegan.

What?! Just bought #vegan Camembert from @mousesfavourite – so good!

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


3.

Essential Vegan – stand number CAT8

Go no further if you are looking to enjoy one of the best seitan burgers ever created. An FGV favourite.

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2.

Temple of Seitan – stand number CAT17

This is number two on my list but could easily be number one. Actually, let’s call it joint first place on my top ten list. If you don’t think food is an emotional experience, you should watch my tears as I look at this photo.

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1.

Sgaia’s Vegan Mheats – stand number CG6

Of course this is number one. I know these mheat and cheeze boards are available in extremely limited numbers, so you had better run when the doors open. These are going to fly out in no time at all.

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That’s it. That’s my top ten things not to miss at VegfestUK London in 2016.

How many were already on your radar? Anything that is new to you? Anyone going to try and eat and see all of that?

I hope you all have a wonderful time. Sadly I won’t be at the show as  am flying out today for the vegan cruise through the South of France. If you want to find out how you can join me for the next 100% vegan cruise happening over New Year’s Eve, click here.

Also, I was nominated in the VegfestUK Awards for the best blogger/info website category. The awards winners are announced at 3pm Saturday so please go along and exact revenge if I don’t win. LOL!

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People for the unethical treatment of people

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I’m torn.

Do I write ANOTHER blog post about People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA) following ANOTHER appalling social media post by the group or do I ignore it?

Does using my platform to denounce and shine a light on the sexist and anti-women tactics employed by PeTA make a difference? Or am I just giving them more attention?

All I know is that it doesn’t feel right to sit around and say nothing. Not responding to this latest social media atrocity makes me feel culpable.

Therefore, I thoroughly denounce and reject this recent tweet by PeTA.


As you can see, PeTA has taken the despicable phrase spoken by Donald Trump as part of his description of how he physically treats women and they’ve attempted to turn it into a humorous slogan for rescuing cats.

This is a crass and insensitive campaign by PeTA.

By attempting to appropriate the vile language of sexual assault for the sake of making a joke statement about animal protection, PeTA has trivialised the plight of women.

Language surrounding sexual assault and harassment of women IS NOT theirs to reappropriate for another cause, no matter how noble that cause is deemed. Their actions are unethical, inconsiderate, ill-advised and show absolutely no respect for survivors of sexual assault.

The act of raising awareness for animal protection does not need to borrow language associated with human forms of oppression, nor does it have the right to do so.

PeTA knowingly uses these tactics to be provocative with zero concern shown for how their actions affect real people. They do not seem to understand or care that their actions are part of a broader problem.

The animal rights organisation has erased women from the situation, only to replace them with cats. They are showing no regard for the gravity of sexual assault, instead reducing it to a punchline meme to grab cheap and quick attention for their campaign.

Animal rights defenders need to do better when it comes to campaigning ethically. PeTA are amongst the worst offenders when it comes to humiliating, erasing and ridiculing people in the name of animal protection. It needs to end.

Women are under attack globally, both physically and institutionally. PeTA should accept that they have a responsibility to not only stop contributing to the subjugation of women, but to also work towards redressing it actively.

I sigh heavily in closing. How do we reach them? PeTA‘s actions are not in my name and I must make that heard. It’s the very least I can do.

Please tweet your concerns to PeTA.

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