Like I do now and again, I am standing aside for Josh to fill you in on some of our latest eating adventures.
Anyone ever been near Heathrow airport and found themselves hankering for some curry? Tell us all about it, Josh…
Hounslow hunger games
vegan
Mairzy doats and dozy doats
I think I might consume too much soy. I’m not one of those soy naysayers who decry it as evil but as a vegan, it is very often my go to food.
Soy (or soya in the UK… I can never get used to that) is in so many of the delicious products I consume. Soy meats, soy cheeses and soy milk are the staples of my eating plan. Now, I’m not a health food specialist or qualified nutritionist but I do understand that all foods should be consumed in moderation.
With that in mind, I have taken to swapping out the soy milk in my breakfast for the occasional splash of oat milk. Provamel have come up with a high quality oat milk that is making my breakfast routine a little more varied.
Cocina cruda es mi amor
If you read my ramblings with any regularity, you’ll have noticed I don’t follow the healthiest of eating regimes. Fats, sugars and a whole lot of carbs are usually hanging around my plate. I know what healthy eating is, but there are some habits that are a bit more than a struggle to break.
However, these less than desirable (but tasty) eating habits are increasingly being challenged by the delicious raw food I have been coming into contact with lately. inSpiral Lounge of Camden have me well and truly hooked with their raw crackers, granola bites and kale chips. Saf are also magicians of raw snacks of which I increasingly can’t get enough.
Then of course there is the relatively-new vegan raw restaurant in Madrid that has captured my heart, belly and taste buds. Oh my!
La piel que habito
I am a true believer in the well-known (to the point of worn out) adage that inner beauty counts more than what’s on the outside. Good deeds, a kind spirit and a socially-just ethos are infinitely more valuable than being sexy and knowing it.
But having said that, the skin we live in is an important component in the upkeep of our physical and emotional wellbeing. Unhealthy or irritated skin can lead to debilitating conditions and low self-esteem. Fortunately for cruelty-free consumers concerned with keeping their outside intact, Premae Skincare is available to put a little balance (and luxury) back into your life.
You can crush us
I’ve met a lot of vegans over the past few weeks.
London Vegan Drinks has turned into a massive event and I am extremely fortunate to encounter new faces every month. My decision to volunteer as a buddy for the London Vegan Campaigns vegan pledge month has afforded me with the opportunity to meet wonderful new (and hopefully lifelong) vegans, while I’ve enjoyed dining and drinking with some of my blog readers who have been visiting London.
As positive as all of these situations have been, I must admit to being a bit shocked by a recurring admission made by some of these newly-acquainted vegans….
Yum yum chocolate chip
As a FGV, I am prone to making devilishly-bad food choices. I want cake all the time. Cider and beer are my best friends. There isn’t enough fried potato in the world to satisfy my cravings. I am known for being an overeater and proud of it.
But now and again I make the scary leap into the realm of healthy snacks… and if the good folk of InSpiral Lounge keep doing what they do so well, the leap will happen more regularly than even I could imagine.
Edgware of glory
There is something comforting about the international chain of franchised vegan restaurants known as Loving Hut. They are simply everywhere. I have eaten in LH locations in Brisbane, Australia and Madrid, Spain. Outlets have popped up in Philadelphia, Nice and Xalapa. When you are in an unknown city and feeling a bit challenged in your quest to find a vegan meal, Loving Hut can really be a welcome sight.
The finest Loving Hut I have eaten in is definitely the restaurant located in Edgware in London, UK. Yes, it still comes with the sometimes intrusive Ching Hai information espoused in all Loving Hut locations but their menu is by far the most expansive and impressive I have seen.
Not such a groovy cat
I am such a greedy FGV. All you need to do is slap the word ‘vegan’ on your product and I’ll purchase it. If you want me to enjoy it enough to come back for more, all I ask is that whatever you sold me tastes slightly better than average. I’m not too fussy.
In the case of a recent cupcake purchase, I will certainly not be coming back for more in the foreseeable future.
Beer makes you feel the way you ought to feel without beer
I’m feeling romantic. Come with me as I spirit you back to 2005, the year I first met one of the true loves of my life. People often say you can’t help who you fall in love with and in that vein, dear FGV readers, I would like to introduce you to Original Pale Ale by Coopers Brewery.
Stay calm. Don’t freak out.
So you think you’ve seen it all when it comes to vegan candy and chocolate? Be prepared to have your entire sugared-confectionery schemata redefined.
The ridiculously-talented people behind Moo Free Dairy Free Chocolates just can’t help themselves. They are literally compelled to keep creating delicious treats that I can’t resist. Just when I thought the vegan Easter egg by Moo Free was the pinnacle of desire, they had to go and blow the game apart… again!
Check it out! Moo Free are about to launch this stunning range of finger-sized snack bars and I can barely contain my excitement.