vegan Hackney

Vegan burger battle

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Oh. My. Buns.

Do you enjoy decadent vegan burgers? Well, you had better along to Hackney Downs Vegan Market on Saturday Septmeber 16, 2017 between 11am and 5pm as four of the best vegan food traders in London go head to head with gorgeous burger creations.

It’s a Vegan Burger Battle, people!

Should we explore the options?

1- Temple of Seitan – soft white bun lightly toasted featuring a special recipe burger sauce, crunchy hash brown, succulent burger with gristle, fried mozzarella block, and a slice of bacon. 

2 – Big V London – the Classic Facon Cheeseburger. Classic plant meat burger with melted mature cheddar, crispy house maple bacon, burger sauce, spicy tomato relish, red onion, pickles on a toasted custom poppy seed Brioche bun.

3 – Cafe SoVegan – the Mac Daddy. A southern style chicken burger topped with salad, mac no cheese and crispy onions.

4 – Eat Chay – Korean BBQ Big Mac with vegan cheese and homemade vegan kimchi.

If you had to pick just one, what would you do? OK, that’s a bit cruel. I’ll let you pick two.

This version of Hackney Downs Vegan Market is going to be one of the best showcases of vegan burgers you can get in the UK.

If burgers are not your thing (please leave), rest assured that we have a stunning line up of sweet and savoury food from a huge roster of street food traders.

You can see the full line up here and you can RSVP to the Facebook event online here.

Yay for vegan burger battles!

Vegan market intensity

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Here is a quick blog post to reiterate my feelings about community markets.

Get out of your house and START A VEGAN MARKET.

I hosted my monthly Hackney Downs Vegan Market on Saturday and to say in was swamped by people would be a monumental understatement.

Check out this photo I shared from the day.

Thousands of vegans and vegan-curious people swarmed the market and many of the vendors could not cope with the demand. Cake stands that thought they would be safe by showing up with hundreds of cakes sold out within the first few hours. Temple of Seitan sold out of almost 500 bacon cones with hours still remaining of the event. Battered sold hundreds of portions of vegan fish. Big V had their busiest day at our market ever. Café SoVegan know how to make a lot of food and they sold out completely for the first time ever.

Some people have suggested that we should have more stalls or that the vendors should make more food. Neither of these things can happen. Our space has limitations around the number of stalls permitted and the vendors are making as much food as they possibly can. They are stretched beyond their limits.

The answer to this problem is simple.

More people need to run more vegan markets around London. You can see that the demand clearly exists. When thousands and thousands of people show up to my market on the same day as a sold out 1,000 person vegan food event is also being staged in Kings Cross, you know there is not enough being done to meet the demand.

I am only one person and I do what I can, but we are in desperate need of other community-minded people to step up and start local markets that celebrate and support independent businesses.

Start small. Don’t think that 4,000 people are going to swarm your event. Keep it local. You can do it if you simply start. Get an idea and run with it.

Do it for your neighbourhood. Do it for the business owners. Do it for the animals.

Vegan sandwiches in London

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News for vegan sandwich lovers.

Street food business Queen Picnic are now appearing EVERY Sunday at Chatsworth Road and they have this fabulous line up of packaged sandwiches. I want them all!

The Queen Picnic beef-style seitan, rocket, tomato and mustard sandwich. Coming to a store near you!

A post shared by Queen Picnic (@queenpicnic) on


Not only can you get your hands on these tasty savoury delights between 11am and 4pm each Sunday at Chatsworth Road Market, you will also start seeing these sandwiches popping up in local stores and supermarkets.

Follow Queen Picnic on Instagram to stay updated on stockist locations and new flavours.

Exclusive vegan supper club for London

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London, I know you have a lot going on when it comes to vegan eating but you need to make a special effort to get along to this exclusive dining event in Hackney next week.

Plates is a company specialising in plant-based contemporary dining experiences with modern English menus and are about to launch a Saturday night residency in Hackney at Autumn Yard located at Hackney Downs Studios on Saturday August 5, 2017.

Check out the flyer for the launch night below.

 

The food they put together looks exquisite and the launch dinner includes a gorgeous 4-course menu crafted from fresh ingredients. I think it’s safe to say you will be very well fed (and satisfied) if you book a ticket for this exclusive event.

Autumn Yard is a stunning venue and this launch event for Plates is incredible value at £25. Book your ticket now.

You should also follow Plates on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to stay updated with this season of supper clubs in Hackney, plus all of their future events.

Vegan night market and roller disco

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London, events rarely come along like this.

Join me for a massive party this Thursday night (July 6, 2017) from 6pm as Hackney Downs Studios throws open its doors for the annual Open Studios event. This is going to be so much fun.

Hackney Downs Studios is known as the home of Hackney Downs Vegan Market and the upcoming London Vegan Beer Fest, but what a lot of people don’t realise is it is also home to a lot of artists, workshops, stores and artisan producers.

Yes, the studios are real studios!

For one night a year, Hackney Downs Studios lets you get behind the scenes by touring all of the spaces and getting up close and personal with all the artist spaces. You can even get hands on with artists, makers, illustrators, designers, potters, record labels, gin distillers, architects, video makers and more.

Try your hand at live screen printing or get crafty with weaving workshops. There will be roaming theatre performances, live painting, exclusive sample sales, installations and music, food, drinks and dancing.

But what’s in it for vegan food lovers?

Food on the evening comes in the form of a vegan mini night market. Buy and devour food from this wonderful collection of vegan traders:

Need more to entice you down this Thursday?

There is a FREE roller disco taking place inside Hackney Showroom with a DJ and after party going on until midnight. Yes, a freakin’ roller disco that won’t cost you any money and they have skates to use on site!

It’s all sounds too good to be true. Hang out with artists behind the scenes, buy vegan street food, and get disco fever on roller skates. And it’s all for free!

You need to register for a free ticket online here so they know how many people are coming along. You can also RSVP/invite friends on the Facebook event page.

Extra note: Hackney Downs Studios is the site for the 5th annual London Vegan Beer Fest taking place on July 15, 2017. More info online here.

New vegan café for London

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You can never have too many vegan cafés, but East London is pushing it!

Say hello to the new vegan café on Hackney Road called Sazzy & Fran.

The café owners reached out to let me know the idea behind their business is to provide tasty, economic vegan meals with a good balance between nutritious and indulgent. They have a rotating menu every week, with a different main dish made fresh every day. You can enjoy your meal in a lovely outdoor space, which is perfect as we head into summer.

You have just got to say yes to vegan French toast!

Sazzy & Fran Café is located at 499-505 Hackney Road in container 16c. Click here to see the exact location thanks to Google Maps. It’s just around the corner from Cambridge Heath train station.

You can follow Sazzy & Fran on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

New vegan spot for London

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I’m trying with all my might, but I simply cannot keep on top of all this vegan news coming out of London.

I’m happy to let you know about a 100% vegan juice bar and plant-based café in (where else?!) East London.

This isn’t technically the first time I have mentioned MOTHER of Hackney Wick but it is the very first time I am celebrating some of their gorgeous food and drink photos.

Check this out:

Recipe testing – say no more. #independentmakersmakingadifference

A post shared by MOTHER (@mother.works) on

MOTHER – everyday we take the best natural ingredients and create delicious food and drink.

A post shared by MOTHER (@mother.works) on


So enticing!

You can click here to see the exact location of MOTHER thanks to Google Maps.

You should also follow MOTHER on Instagram and Facebook.

More vegan options in Hackney

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If you find yourself struggling to find something vegan to eat in Hackney (HA!!!!!!), you might decide to make your way to this new(ish) vegetarian café where you find a whole lot of vegan options.

Say g’day to Lele’s on Lower Clapton Road.

I’m not sure why a vegetarian business with a handful of animal-derived ingredients wouldn’t just launch as vegan instead, especially in Hackney. It seems so much easier to get press and attentions as a vegan place, too. Lele’s is going to have a tough time drawing the plant-eaters away from 100% vegan Black Cat and Temple of Hackney, which are both within strolling distance.

Anyway, my job is to show you the vegan food and where to find it so take a look at this scrumptious food.

A post shared by LELE’S 🌱 (@leles_london) on

A post shared by LELE’S 🌱 (@leles_london) on

A post shared by LELE’S 🌱 (@leles_london) on

Click here to see the exact location of Lele’s thanks to Google Maps.

You can follow Lele’s on Instagram.

Extra note: I’m not just talking shit about vegetarianism for fun. Click here to read my blog about why vegetarian isn’t really that much of a compassionate choice.

Vegan kitchen for hire

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A quick post to share this fab news from my friends at Made in Hackney.

VEGAN KITCHEN TO HIRE – NEW CLIENT SPECIAL OFFER!

Are you a vegan food start-up looking for a 5-star food hygiene rated 100% vegan kitchen to hire? Look no further. Award winning charity Made In Hackney hires out it’s eco-community kitchen to vegan food companies and start-ups – meaning your hire fee helps fund amazing community work as opposed to going to a faceless landlord. The kitchen has three hob islands, a range cooker, domestic cooker, a dehydrator, vitamix and plenty of work surfaces. Freezer and storage space available with additional fees applicable.

Until the end of June 2017 we are offering all NEW CLIENTS an amazing never to be seen again day rate of £60 per day for a trial two month period. This is an amazing deal!  

If you’re interested read more here and contact venue manager Andi on: andi@madeinhackney.org

*Prices after the trial two month period has ended will be negotiated according to frequency of bookings.

Extra note: you can chat with Made in Hackney at this month’s Hackney Downs Vegan Market. Learn about all the great things they do for their community, discover the line up of cooking classes on offer and find out if you can get involved.

New monthly vegan brunch club in London

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Hey, do you all know about Pesky’s?

This completely vegan food provider is the resident restaurant at The Yard, Hackney Wick. They serve plant-based cuisine that looks superb and I originally wrote about them back here.

Well, now I have some new news about Pesky’s and it’s fabulous.

Once a month, commencing Sunday April 9, 2017, Pesky’s will host a vegan brunch club.

The brunch consists of two drinks (Bloody Mary or Mimosa) plus the main meal of either decadent pancakes or a full English breakfast (with dessert and sides) for £18 in advance or £20 on the day.

You can buy tickets for the launch event online here.

Stay updated with all future brunch dates by following Pesky’s on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.