vegan

What does a FGV sound like?

by

Here is an interesting turn of events for the coming week.

On Tuesday January 29, 2013 at 7:00pm (London, UK time) you will be able to watch me host a global video chat on Google +. That’s right! No matter where in the world you are situated, your Internet connection will allow you a front row seat so you can see and hear a real life FGV in action.

But what’s it all about?

Google + Local in London have asked me to host a Hangout (video chat) for new vegans and people considering trying a vegan diet on for size. They didn’t have to twist my chubby arm too much, especially when they agreed I could bring two friends along for the ride.

Helping me field questions on the evening will be Catherine ‘Kip’ Dorrell of Messy Vegetarian fame. As a lot of you already know, Kip’s blog is one of the best on the entire planet for creative plant-based cuisine and recipes.

Also joining us will be vegan blogging megastar and all round publishing busy person Laura Hooper Beck. Laura is probably best known to readers of this blog as the founding editor of one of the most popular (and awesome) vegan blogs out there today…. Vegansaurus!

How does the Hangout work?

If you have a Google account, head on over to the event page and sign up. Once there, you can add questions you would like our panel of vegans to answer.

If you don’t have a Google account but would still like to be involved, visit the event page as the Hangout is taking place and there will be a link for the live video stream. Anyone can watch, with or without a Google account.

Click here for the event page on Google +

Hope to see a lot of you in cyberspace!

Eat and be charitable

by

I love announcements and I especially love announcements featuring a whole lot of vegan food. If the news can also contain a bit of info about a cool animal charity too, I am giggling with delight.

This month, London Vegan Potluck will be hosting a raffle on behalf of Moo Free Chocolates. The company is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for new chocolate making equipment in order to expand their business.

Any money gathered from the raffle will be added to the Kickstarter fund. Moo Free are supplying us with a selection of their delicious and tempting treats for the competition. Read about my love for Moo Free Chocolates here and here and here and here.

FGV approves
FGV approves

As Kickstarter requires fundraisers to reach their full target before collecting any of the money, Moo Free have indicated they would like the raffle funds to go to The Farm Animal Sanctuary in the instance of their target not being reached.

Find out about and donate to the Moo Free Kickstarter campaign here

Follow Moo Free on Twitter

Discover The Farm Animal Sanctuary here

Like The Farm Animal Sanctuary on Facebook

Come along to the February London Vegan Potluck. You could win some tasty vegan chocolate. You might just raise some funds for a compassionate company. There is a chance your money will support a wonderful animal sanctuary. And you are certain to eat a whole lot of delicious, homemade vegan food. Winners all round!

No horsing around

by

Horsemeat fever has taken over the UK as major retailer Tesco became embroiled in a scandal concerning their beef burgers.

If you feel like being disgusted on multiple levels, check out some of the news stories and exposés surrounding this topic. It is truly disgusting. Horses and pigs rendered into powder before being added to beef burgers. Revelations that beef burgers only need to contain slightly less than 50% beef to be legally named a beef burger. Approximately ten thousand live horses are shipped out of the UK every year once they are at the end of their working lives, destined to be chopped, pulverised and rendered into ‘food’.

The horror goes on and on and on.

Thankfully for people who choose to opt out of this death and despair cycle, vegan companies such as The Redwood Wholefood Company are here to make sure tasty treats are never off the menu just because someone rejects horrific cruelty.

My life got a whole lot tastier a few days ago when I picked up the new frozen beef style pasties by Redwood from a local retailer. I must admit, lately I have been a bit skeptical of the consistency of Redwood products. For every four products I adore, there seems to be a straggler that comes along that doesn’t do them any favours. I won’t name names as I’m not here today to criticise. It’s a big food love in.

Frozen beef style pasties
Frozen beef style pasties

However, the beef style pasties are vegan food perfection. Crunchy, flaky pastry gives way to a stunning filling consisting of beef style chunks, herbs, gravy, swede and potato. I was delirious with joy. I haven’t had a pastie in a very long time and certainly can’t recall ever experiencing one as tasty as the Redwood variety.

Read more

Fill me in

by

As you all know, there is a glorious vegan food destination located down in Brixton that has been keeping me well fed for over a year and a half. The Ms. Cupcake bakery is a world-class cupcake specialist that also supplies hungry people like me with chocolate, cookies, snacks and vegan ice cream.

If you haven’t managed to get down there yet, this piece of news I’m about to share with you will seal the deal. If you are already a regular, you might just want to prepare to do your happy dance for what is in store.

Read on…

Read more

Tart with a heart

by

Brixton is already a fab place for vegan food.

To start with, there is the amazing Ms. Cupcake vegan bakery with their huge range of cakes, savouries and packaged treats. You probably are also aware of the gorgeous vegan pizza options available from Franco Manca. I’ve even heard whispers of a new French vegetarian restaurant with vegan options.

Yes, Brixton is a fun place for vegans to go hunting for snacks and it just got a lot more exciting with the arrival of vegan cake stall The Vegan Tart.

Read more

Leeds has gone global

by

I get a lot of stick for giving bad reviews to restaurants. Some people are of the mind that it is detrimental to veganism to publish negative reviews of vegetarian establishments that serve sub-standard vegan food. Maybe they think a cafe deserves credit for just trying to include us. That attitude doesn’t fly with me.

Why shouldn’t we expect the best when paying for vegan goods and services? Why shouldn’t we speak up when we think what we received was less than the best?

Restaurants and cafes deserve to know and I have the right to voice my opinion in any way I see fit. And when a veggie restaurant serves me delicious and well-made vegan food, I’m the first one to get the news out. I don’t complain for the sake of complaining.

All I do is tell it like it is and the way it is in Leeds at the moment is very promising indeed! A new vegetarian cafe has popped up in this Northern city and their commitment to vegan options could teach many vegetarian eateries more than a thing or two.

Global Tribe Cafe in Leeds
Global Tribe Cafe in Leeds

Read more

Oceans apart

by

Bowl For Oceans is turning into what will surely be an amazing event. We have vegan snacks to feed attendees. We have three very different DJs to supply us with an eclectic mix of tunes. We have karaoke. We have ten pin bowling. We even have pool tables.

But one thing we won’t have with us on the day is all of you.

final bowling

Distance gets in the way of a lot of celebrations and Bowl For Oceans is no exception. That noted, a lot of you have reached out to say even though you can’t be physically with us on the day, you would still like to make a contribution to the fundraising efforts.

In order for friends to make a financial contribution even if they are not in London on the day, we have created a special non-attendee donation ticket. For just half the price of a full ticket, you can help us in our campaign to raise money and awareness for the UK arm of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Click here to buy a ticket or make a donation NOW!

Your ongoing support and dedication to helping animals is what makes events like Bowl For Oceans possible. Please spread the word across all of your networks and help us make the biggest donation to Sea Shepherd that we possibly can.

I’ll be gone

by

Businesses come and go quickly and sadly vegan businesses can be the swiftest departures of them all. It is extremely difficult to stay afloat at the best of times and even harder when you are part of a ‘niche’ market.

I am sad to hear of the closure of a gorgeous vegan cafe in Barcelona called Vegan Bakery. I had only just visited a few months ago and now it appears to be no more. I’m not on the ground in that town to do my usual snooping, but I have seen whispers on the Internet that the close is temporary until a new location is found.

I would love to hear from anyone involved in the cafe or anyone with information on their future. It won’t be too long before I’m heading back that way and I would really love to support their endeavours.

Until then, take a sneak peak of what I enjoyed during my recent visit to Vegan Bakery.

Read more

Give ’em the old Razzle Dazzle

by

I was starting to think I couldn’t be more excited about the upcoming Bowl For Oceans fundraising party for Sea Shepherd UK, but then this happened…

There are companies that make nice food, there are companies that do good things for others and there are companies that are run by lovely people. Razzle Dazzle Ices somehow manage the rare trifecta of possessing all of these traits.

Razzle Dazzle is a family-owned and operated company from Taunton, Somerset. As stated on their website, their drive to create a tasty dairy-free ice cream came from wanting their son (who can’t eat cow milk) to be included in treat time. But after setting out to perfect their recipes in their own home for their own enjoyment, Razzle Dazzle then put their efforts into spreading the vegan ice cream love far and wide across the land.

The Razzle Dazzle Ices range includes such tantalising flavours as Mango Sorbet, Coconilla and Hintamint. Check out where all five of their fun flavours are available right now! They even sell to stores, cafes and restaurants, just in case you are a business owner and want to impress your customers.

wp95721e3f_06
Razzle Dazzle tubs

But what was this blog post supposed to be about? Oh, that’s right! Razzle Dazzle Ices are coming to Bowl For Oceans!

January 6, 2013 is the date where compassionate party goers are in for a big treat. Not only does their ticket purchase get them bowling, karaoke, music, pool tables and crisps by Barrow Boys, it now also gives them a chance to sample Razzle Dazzle Ices for free.

The company will be on hand to dish out their tasty wares to attendees and talk about how they create such delicious, cruelty-free delights.

If you have already purchased your tickets for this mammoth event, congratulations are in order because you are in for one fun day out in London. If you are yet to snap up your entry, act fast to ensure you are part of what is surely going to be one of the most-talked about events of Winter.

Buy your Bowl For Oceans tickets online

Visit Razzle Dazzle Ices online

Like Razzle Dazzle Ices on Facebook

Follow Razzle Dazzle Ices on Twitter

Tickets and tickets and tickets

by

By now you are well aware of the giant fundraiser party called Bowl For Oceans taking place on Sunday January 6, 2013 from midday until 5pm. I don’t need to tell you that we will be raising money for Sea Shepherd UK while bowling, listening to awesome DJs, performing karaoke and playing pool in a Central London location. You know all of this!

And you also know the party is being sponsored by Fry’s UK and Barrow Boys Crisps. Your knowledge also extends to being aware of the Facebook event page where you have RSVPd and invited all your friends. I won’t waste your time by telling you this again.

SeaShepherd_logo_black

The only bit of info relating to the party that I’m not convinced you know is where to buy tickets. So here we go:

Tickets are available online here

Tickets can be bought at Ms. Cupcake in Brixton and Vx in Kings Cross

Tickets can be purchased from me (Fat Gay Vegan) at London Vegan Drinks

I think we have covered all you need to know. If I have missed anything out, fill me in. Otherwise, I will see you at Bowl For Oceans. I will be the one NOT singing karaoke!