vegan London

New vegan cafe and art space

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A speciality, sustainably minded vegan coffee shop and arts space on Hackney Road in East London has just opened. It’s called Unripe Banana.

Upstairs they have a coffee shop with a bit of extra seating downstairs and then also downstairs they have an art gallery and events space with artist studios.

On the menu at the moment they have coffee by Origin Coffee Roasters that they pair with nut mylks made by the East London Mylkman. They also have Oatly Barista available as well as cashew and almond.

They told me their plan is to set the bar for vegan speciality coffee and eliminate the idea of dairy free mylks being bad.

They have a selection of different cakes/croissants available and even offer a cheese and tomato filled croissant.

The menu also includes a cheese pesto and rocket toastie, a tofu BLT, smavo marmite and chilli on toast (smavo being smashed avocado) and a spicy chickpea blend with spinach and avocado. There are also different flavours of overnight oats and right now they have carrot cake jars of overnight oats.

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Unripe Banana is minimal waste and against air miles so they do everything with a ‘think locally’ mind set and avoids plastics wherever possible.

They also have a retail section where they sell UK designed dungarees by Lucy and Yak, their handmade banana mugs and a variety of different items by artists and makers.

Click here to see where exactly Unripe Banana is located thanks to Google Maps (just a few steps from Hackney City Farm on at Unit 7, 268 Hackney Road).

Follow Unripe Banana on Instagram. The café is open 7:30am until 4:00pm Monday through Friday and 9:00am until 4:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Cooking class

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Here is some info about an upcoming vegan cooking class taking place in London.

Join in a celebration of vegan cooking with diverse recipes drawing on Lee Watson’s recent travels around the world. Lee will be cooking a variety of nutritious and tasty dishes at this event in Brixton on Saturday October 21, 2017.

Techniques will be explained clearly and you will receive a bespoke recipe booklet meaning that you’ll have the confidence and resources to try all the dishes at home. Lee will share loads of ideas and tips, and you’ll get to taste all dishes at the end when you enjoy a buffet lunch.

You’ll be shown:

  • Plant-based cheese
  • Raw desserts
  • Simple curry tips
  • The best of tofu and tempeh
  • Ultimate breakfast smoothies
  • Buddha/Poke bowls
  • Wholegrain dishes
  • and much more

A spot at this event costs £40 per person.

Lee will be signing copies of the ‘Peace and Parsnips’ book after the event.

Click here to RSVP to the Facebook event page or click here to book a ticket.

Breaking News: Follow Your Heart news

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Breaking vegan news is coming thick and fast these days, so it can sometimes feel like we might be reaching a point where it stops being a big deal.

Well, don’t get jaded just yet because this next piece of news is certainly worth getting excited about.

Superstar brand Follow Your Heart from California is launching three of its products across 130 Sainsbury’s locations from Sunday October 8, 2017. Yes, this weekend!

This launch includes the finest vegan mayo product on the planet, Vegenaise. This legendary plant-based mayo just celebrated its 40th anniversary. 40 years old and we just got it listed in a major mainstream UK supermarket.

Better late than never! Here is the full list of participating stores. Sainsbury’s Store List

Alongside the iconic vegan mayo, Sainsbury’s stores will also be stocking the Vegan Honey Mustard Salad Dressing and the Organic Vegan Caesar Salad Dressing.

You can send your love to Follow Your Heart via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Congratulate them on this giant leap forward and let them know how happy you are to have them in the UK with more accessibility.

Don’t forget that you can also buy Follow Your Heart products from local independent health food stores. Do that when you can, people! Support local business.

Yay for the growth of veganism and vegan mayo.

 

Best vegan restaurant in London

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It has taken a long time but we finally have a world class vegan eatery in London thanks to Wulf & Lamb.

Of course we already had delicious food and ground-breaking food businesses for vegans, but we have never really had the complete package of outstanding food, gorgeous decor and full vegan alcohol menus.

Now we do.

My experience of walking into Wulf & Lamb near Sloane Square last night was as close to spirutual as a non-believer like me is going to get.

I was blown away by the stunning interior and more than amused when the server told me that even the furniture was vegan. Josh and I took time to order at the bar before heading upstairs to the gorgeously decorated dining space.

Every dish delivered to my table was outstanding or exceptional. The mac n cheese, seitan burger and raw cheesecakes were all standouts that I could easily consume every day. The chilli with rice? I’m getting gay married to it.

Take a look at some of the cuisine that was consumed at our table.

Whether you are looking for grab-and-go deli style food, cakes and juices or a finer dining experience with a full bar, Wulf & Lamb is the stuff of vegan dreams.

Click here to see the exact location thanks to Google Maps.

Visit the Wulf & Lamb website to see the menu, including breakfast specialties.

Follow Wulf & Lamb on Instagram.

Buy one get one free

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Super quick piece of valuable information for you.

Spice Box is a fab vegan street food trader that has just announced a permanent residence at the KERB run Camden Market re-launch on October 6, 2017.

To celebrate their new home, Spice Box have announced a very special deal. Between October 7 and 13, 2017 they are offering ‘buy one get one free’ on their combo boxes.

Savings!

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You can follow Spice Box on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with all of their Camden adventures.

Don’t forget to grab those savings!

Forest Gate vegan

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Mr Singh’s is a London-based family business most famous for a range of chile sauces but is now launching its first vegan food space in Forest Gate, London.

Yes. Forest Gate!

The brunch club is officially launching on October 15, 2017 and is set to trade on Sundays only at the moment with expanded hours coming in the future.

The entirely vegan menu includes:

  • Parantha (​Punjabi breakfast flatbread​​)​ ​- plain or stuffed served with pickle and Mum’s mixed vegetables with optional yoghurt
  • Stacked fluffy pancakes – sweet or savoury
  • Big breakfast – scramble, sausages, beans, toast, and mushrooms (option to make it Singh Style)
  • Amaranth Breakfast Bowl – topped with seeds, sliced fruit, berries, nuts, desiccated coconut and optional peanut butter
  • Vegan Nutella on toast with bananas
  • Drinks – teas, coffees and Punjabi Spiced Tea

Check out some of these photos the business sent over.

You can find the brunch spot inside Johnny Rocco’s Bar of Awesome on Cranmer Road. Click here to see the exact location via Google Maps.

Follow Mr Singh’s on Instagram to keep updated on the brunch club. It’s about time Forest Gate got on the vegan map!

New vegan product by Baileys

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It has been a very long time coming, but the new Almande vegan drink by Baileys has arrived in the UK and is well worth the wait.

I was invited along to a product tasting session a few nights ago and was blown away by this drink. I think it is going to make a lot of vegans very happy in the UK.

I got chatting with the Baileys team at the event and threw down a challenge.

I said that I was so confident of my photo of their drink getting 1,000 likes on Instagram that I would bet on it.

If the post did get 1,000 likes, Baileys would have to send their team to Hackney Downs Vegan Market this Saturday (September 30, 2017) with bottles of Almande for free taste sampling.

Well, guess what.

The post got more than 1,000 likes in just under an hour!

You can get a free tasting of the new vegan Baileys Almande this Saturday at Hackney Downs Vegan Market. Get full market details here and RSVP to the Facebook event here.

A bet is a bet.

Almande is currently available to buy in Whole Foods Market stores around the UK. New retailers to be added soon.

Extra note: The tasting is for those 18+ and you might be asked for ID. Always drink responsibly.

BREAKING: Tofurky sandwiches launch in UK

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We have waited and waited for this day.

Finally, it is here.

Superstar vegan brand Tofurky is launching its ready-to-consume sandwiches in the UK next week!

You have probably noticed I’ve recently been bemoaning the state of grab-and-go sandwiches in this country but the tide is now turning.

Yes, sandwiches are everywhere you look but the options for vegans or those wanting to choose vegan now and again have been abysmal. One particular Instagram post of mine caused a LOT of discussion on the topic.

Thankfully, Tofurky has come to our rescue with four superior sandwiches being launched in the UK from October 2, 2017.

The four flavours set to launch are TLT (Tempeh, Lettuce and Tomato), Chipotle Chick’n, Ham-style Salad and Chick’n and Sweetcorn.

Tofurky founder Seth Tibbott told me via email this morning that everyone at the company is thrilled with not only the exceptional taste of the protein-loaded sandwiches, but also the look of the packaging.

To be fair, it is gorgeous.

Here are the four flavours lined up at a recent trade event.

I can’t decide which flavour is tempting me the most. I suppose you can’t say no to a classic like ham and salad. But the chicken and sweet corn!

Seriously, I would need one of each. The FOMO is too real.

All four sandwiches will be on the shelves of Whole Foods Market stores across London from October 2, 2017. A few weeks later this will expand to include all As Nature Intended stores plus other health retailers.

After this initial London launch is a success (I mean, as if they won’t fly out!), look for the sandwiches to start rolling out further afield and especially into large, mainstream food retailers.

Are you excited? Could you pick a favourite? Where would you like to see these Tofurky sandwiches sold?

Follow Tofurky on Instagram to keep track of more exciting developments. Thanks for saving us from sandwich mediocrity, Tofurky!

Sandwiches in London

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I’ve written about Queen Picnic in the past but thought it was time to share an update about this fabulous London-based sandwich producer.

Take a look at the current line up of packaged sandwiches Queen Picnic has now made available through West London vegan grocery store GreenBay.

The range includes chicken-style seitan with vegan mayo, spring onion and parsley, beef-style seitan with tomato, rocket and dijon mustard, vegan cheese with pickle, lettuce and tomato, deli-style turkey seitan with smoked ‘cheese’ and cranberry sauce, as well as smokey salmon-style carrot with vegan cream cheese, dill and red onion.

Queen Picnic want hungry vegans to know that their sandwich line will be popping up in more locations soon, but in the meantime you can all get along to GreenBay Supermarket.

Follow Queen Picnic on Instagram.

Fat Gay Vegan at VegfestUK London

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I’m happy to announce that I will be taking part in the annual VegfestUK London event happening on October 21 and 22, 2017.

I will be talking during two events:

Main talk in auditorium on Saturday – Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Shit

Sean O’Callaghan (Fat Gay Vegan) previews his book ‘Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Sh!t’, set to be published via Nourish in January 2017. Sean will discuss themes from the book including expanding compassion beyond the plate to include other social justice issues.

Activist Corner talk on Sunday – So you wanna start a local vegan market?

Join blogger, journalist and event planner Fat Gay Vegan as he hosts a Q&A session on the importance of setting up local, independent vegan markets. His popular Hackney Downs Vegan Market has just become a weekly happening and FGV wants you to start one in your area, too!

In addition to my talks, there will be a table selling exclusive advance copies of my new book Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Shit. This early release is only for VegfestUK London. If you are unable to make it to the show but are still interested in grabbing a copy of my book, you can pre-order via Amazon ahead of the January release by Nourish Books.

Click here to find out more info about VegfestUK London and to buy advance tickets.