vegan

Day of the Dead 2014

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I host a few big parties each year and my Day of the Dead extravaganza is certainly one of my favourites. Lots of candy, a vegan feast and a chance to wear one of my Mexican wrestling masks all night… what’s not to adore?

Get ready to party your socks off as Day of the Dead takes over London on November 2nd, 2014 from 3pm. For the third year in a row, I am asking you to celebrate with me as I show you why I love this festival so deeply.

dotd 2014

This year’s party is set to be the biggest and best yet as I team up with brand new vegan venue Kabaret of Wood Green. This huge venue allows our party to explode in size and what we have lined up for entertainment is sure to thrill.

Need some reasons why you should book a ticket?

  • massive vegan buffet to keep you well fed – prepared by chef straight from Mexico City 
  • Vanessa of Essential Vegan giving a cooking demo and talking of Finados (Day of the Dead) celebrations in Brazil
  • Emma of Veganbnb Travel talking about her vegan holiday business in Spain and Guatemala and giving you an insight into Day of the Dead celebrations in Guatemala
  • a 100% vegan bar staffed by the wonderful owners of Kabaret
  • Day of the Dead craft activities
  • pose for photos with a luchador (Mexican wrestler) thanks to KANKUN
  • venue decorated for a traditional Day of the Dead celebration
  • buffet contributions by Scoff Sweets, Cocoafeliz chocolates and Bloom’s popcorn
  • altar to place photos of dearly departed loved ones so they can celebrate with us
  • stay late and dance into the night
  • dress in Day of the Dead costumes for a chance to win prizes (check this for inspiration)
  • more to be announced

This is going to be a party to be remembered. I am thrilled to be helping vegan London take part in a celebration that has roots all over the world.

Below is the buffet menu.

dotd menu

Tickets are available for £25 (plus booking fee) and are non-refundable, although you are welcome to sell on or gift to a friend in the instance you can’t attend. This price is only for pre-purchased tickets and the cost will rise on the door if we have space.

The party is all ages and a specially-priced ticket for children under the age of 18 costs £18 plus booking fee. All attendees under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Anyone wanting to buy and consume alcohol will be required to prove they are of legal drinking age.

Ticket price includes vegan buffet and activities, but not drinks. You will be required to pay for your own drinks at the bar. The bar takes card payments.

Book now by clicking here!

Learn to bake

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I am proud to announce a collaborative event between Fat Gay Vegan (that’s me) and the exquisite Le Pain Quotidien. 

The age old traditions of eating well and enjoying life have been at the heart of Le Pain Quotidien since the start of their business. As my readers and event attendees know well, this outlook on life is one I wholeheartedly share. Anything non-vegans can have, vegans can have just as good if not better.

In a celebration of our shared love of quality ingredients and good eating, FGV and LPQ bring you a hands on baking event on Thursday October 23rd, 2014 from 6pm called The Art of Vegan Baking.

This exclusive food crafting session is limited to only 12 spaces and is set to be more than a regular baking class.

Guests will be welcomed by Fat Gay Vegan to the gorgeous LPQ Borough, just a few minutes walk from London Bridge Underground station. The entry price of £27 includes:

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Best vegan candy in the world

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Calm down with your Vego bars. I’ve got No No’s.

Time for one of my bolder-than-fudge proclamations. Are you ready? No No’s are the best vegan candy product in the world.

But what are they?

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Vote for vegans

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Here is your chance to make a difference for a vegan or vegan-friendly company.

There is this thing going on at the moment called the Urban Food Awards. It is an initiative to bring attention and recognition to small business traders making a go of a food business in London.

What is interesting for all of us reading this is the inclusion of some wonderful vegan and vegan-friendly enterprises in this year’s nominations. Check them out.

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Vegan jam jar

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This is a super quick post to ask a question.

Has Hartley’s always labelled their jam jars as suitable for vegans? I only noticed last week and was pleasantly surprised. Have they been doing this for a while? Have you noticed any other mainstream products being labeled recently?

back label front label

vegana bottom ad

Eating raw in West London

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Somebody call my therapist. This was my second raw meal in a month and I’m a bit frightened by how much I enjoyed the experience.

Have you been to Nama in Notting Hill?

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Vegan peppermint slice

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Get to your nearest Waitrose store, buy a box of these vegan delights and start eating.

I was waddling through Waitrose in Westfield White City a few days back when my chubby eyes spied an intriguing box of biscuit treats. Of course having the word ‘vegan’ printed on the package meant I hastily tossed them into my basket and trotted happily to the checkout line.

For a gluten free product, the Lazy Day peppermint slice is an outstanding item. Heck, it is a super high standard regardless of the freefrom credentials.

Tasty, crunchy and incredibly difficult to stop eating.

You can like Lazy Day Foods on Facebook.

slice box

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Win Naturally

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I stumbled into a vegan-friendly grocery store in Manchester a few weeks ago and it was all so surreal and unexpected. I’m a bit lost for words.

I’ll try my best.

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Chaos Theorie

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As you know, my mates Joe and Jess relentlessly taunt me with photos of their vegan conquests in Berlin.

All the pics they send over get me hot and bothered but I must admit this latest treat takes the cake. Check it out below.

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Vegan venture

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There are some fabulously exciting things happening for vegans in London and most of them are pop up ventures. What’s behind this drive to sell food in temporary locations?

London is surely one of the most expensive cities in the world for real estate. It was announced this week that the average house price in London is £514 000 while the average house price in central London is £1.6 million. The increase in property prices in London over the past year has been at a rate of 19%. This is staggering.

The cost of renting commercial space in Camden Stables Market is upwards of £1000 a week. You can see why vegan start ups can only afford to run temporary events and pop ups are the new trend of getting food to the masses. Vegan businesses cannot get permanent premises unless they have a hell of a lot of money behind them.

Get up and get out of the house this weekend and support a vegan pop up venture. Show the people making cruelty free food for the masses that you care.

You might very well start with the brand new Club Mexicana pop up in east London. The taco masters have set up temporary shop in The Convenience, an inventive and quirky cafe near Chatsworth Road with a roof terrace for dining.

The Club Mexicana pop up runs from 6pm Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from 4pm on Sundays. See the current menu below but be warned it will be rotating so not everything will be available every night. Rumour has it they are working on a Mexican seitan burger and that chocodilla on the menu sounds fabulous.

The pop up will run until October 12. Follow Club Mexicana on Twitter.

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