vegan

Make mine a mezze

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Some things slip past me. I’m not infallible when it comes to knowing about all the vegan food in London. I try my best to eat everything on offer, but I am just one FGV.

Overlooking a vegan option would be excusable if we are talking about a tiny cafe tucked away in the backstreets of an outer suburb, but not when it comes to a chain of cafes with approximately 200 locations worldwide… with two locations within ten minutes of my front door!

The two Le Pain Quotidien outlets near my house somehow managed to escape my attention for a while, but I will definitely be popping in to try their vegan options often after my experience last week. I was casually strolling past the Notting Hill location of this global chain when a little carrot image at the bottom of their menu caught my eye.

Instead of the expected ‘suitable for vegetarians’, I was faced with ‘100% botanical/vegan’. I quickly hurried inside.

I’m not going to be hysterical and say these people are the saviours of high street vegan dining, but the few offerings were very well thought out. My trio of hummus mezze was fresh, tasty and difficult to finish due to size. The beetroot, green pea and chickpea varieties of hummus were nicely accompanied by fresh vegetables and bread.

Notting Hill location
Notting Hill location
They dangled a carrot in front of me
They dangled a carrot in front of me
Trio of hummus mezze
Trio of hummus mezze

The cafe proudly state on their menu they always have a selection of vegan muffins and the rotating monthly specials always seem to include a ‘botanical’ option.

You will need to dig a little deeper into your purse than some eateries require, but healthy and thoughtful eating for vegans has certainly got a good friend in Le Pain Quotidien.

Around the World with FGV

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Four nights in central London. Four visiting chefs. All vegan. This multi-night food event is a celebration of vegan cuisine from all over the globe and something food lovers certainly do not want to miss.

Spread across Friday nights in March 2014, Around the World with FGV is a collaboration between London’s leading vegan event planner and four of the finest vegan cooks in the UK.

Each night will be an intimate affair accommodating only six diners. The menu for each event has been personally created by the visiting chef, who will also handcraft the meal on their corresponding night. The dining experience is to be hosted by Fat Gay Vegan (that’s me!) in his home.

Who is doing the cooking and what are they making? Hold on to your hats!

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LGBT Vegan London

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Here’s a quick public service announcement.

Did you know I started a Meetup group for people in London who identify as LGBT and vegan? The group has been running for just over a year and our outings have included trips to the pub, overeating in Camden and even a stroll around an art gallery.

The photo above shows a bunch of us from the group crowding out Koshari Street in central London recently. Future plans include a language exchange, a regular book swap and of course lots of vegan eating.

If any of the above sounds like a good time to you, please get on over to the Meetup group and sign up. We would love to have you join us!

New vegan business

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My friend Jess wrote to me a few days back to let me know about a new vegan business that has popped up in central London.

I won’t get a chance to get along to their opening but thought it would be an idea to spread the word in case you can make it. It sounds lovely.

So, what is the scoop?

laborganic

LabOrganic Opening Party this Sunday!

This all day event will take place at the brand new store in central London (58 Neal street, London WC2H 9PA) from 10am – 6pm on Sunday 19th January 2014.

Visit on the day to try a large selection of unique and delicious cold-pressed organic juices, superfood blends, mylks, health boosters, salads, raw snacks & much more.

You will meet many like-minded healthy Londoners and hear from the LabOrganic founders about the upcoming news & events at 4pm.

Above is the official word from the company. I reached out to them via Twitter and they confirmed that everything they sell is vegan and gluten-free. I am intrigued.

Report back here if you make it down to the opening.

Crepes in Brixton

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My friend Wayne contacted me last week with news of a crêperie serving vegan crêpes and I couldn’t wait to share the news on here. Thanks Wayne for use of your photo and for this wonderful news. I am looking forward to trying!

Wayne wrote to me, “Senzala Creperie is in the labyrinth that is Brixton Market. I was wandering around the market today looking for somewhere to have lunch when I stumbled upon Senzala and was overjoyed to see their menu had a vegan section – only three options, but hey, that’s better than a lot of other eateries. My meal was very tasty and satisfying. They can do gluten free crepes too. Their website is under construction so no help there, but there are reviews if you google Senzala. This is my crepe with caramelised onions, mushrooms, asparagus and lots of protein-rich rocket.”

Vegan crepe!
Vegan crepe!

Italian afternoon tea

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On Saturday February 1st, 2014 between 5pm and 8pm, my pal Sara is hosting an afternoon tea packed full of herbal tea, Italian coffee and sweet and savoury Italian finger foods with a British twist.

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You MUST check out the menu below:

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FGV guide for single men

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Hey! Yes, you. Single, straight vegan man. Come over here for a moment. I have something I would like to talk to you about.

You know how tough it can be as a single vegan, right? It is difficult to find time and situations for romance. You want to be in a relationship and you can’t imagine fostering intimacy with a non-vegan.

You might be thinking the answer to this situation is to go to as many vegan social events as possible and approach as many women as you can.

Wrong. Treating vegan social events as your own singles hotline leads to women feeling harassed, annoyed, objectified and unsafe.

But maybe you have no idea what I am talking about. Well, good news follows below.

I have taken time out of my intensive eating schedule to lay down some common pointers on how you can be a valuable and valued member of your local vegan community. The tips detailed below will help you rise from the ranks of creeper and sex pest to the lofty heights of respected and respectful member of your social group.

Fat Gay Vegan’s Guide for Single Straight Vegan Men

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Snack

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Vegan snacks. I eat a lot of them and one of my favourites is this tub of piri piri houmous by Sainsbury’s. It is true that I would probably eat most things with a clearly-visible vegan symbol, but this is special in it’s own right. My advice: best eaten with corn chips.

Are there dips and spreads you think I should try? I’m always willing to experiment for the sake of the blog!

Reward for you

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What’s better than a gorgeous vegan meal in a convenient central London location?  A 10% discount off your total bill at the end of your meal, that’s what!

I had the pleasure of working with Saf Restaurant & Bar to help deliver a memorable dinner party on New Year’s Eve and now I get the thrill of offering a special discount to all my readers.

Saf reached out to ask if my readers would like a discount to dine with them until February 28th, 2014 at a 10% discount. I said, “Of course!”.

The restaurant has an attractive menu featuring raw starters, hearty mains, irresistible desserts and an impressive selection of vegan drinks. I truly believe it is the leader of the pack in London at the moment for vegan dining.

How do you get the discount?

Gorgeous, unique dessert of white chocolate dumplings with vanilla ice cream in cinnamon broth
White chocolate dumplings with vanilla ice cream in cinnamon broth

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Burger

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You know I adore Saf. I love them so much I even worked with them to host a New Year’s Eve dinner and now I have even another reason to be a fan. Their mouthwatering burger is now available for £4.50 as a bar snack. Perfect for a quick bite. Maybe you can even find the time to wash it down with a vegan beer or cocktail. I see a lot of these burgers in my future!

See this and other photos over on my Instagram account.