If you think all the best London vegan food is in Hackney, I’m about to hip you to some news you can use.
Say hello to Amrutha Lounge.
Amrutha started life as a mobile food truck (which I wrote about here) but recently opened this permanent eatery in Earlsfield, SW London.
What do the founders say about their food?
Innovative vegan dishes and heart-warming classics are lovingly prepared on the premises by our chefs on a daily basis. The food is made from scratch with an emphasis on taking simple ingredients and elevating them to extraordinary levels, that’s our version of ‘Vegan Soul Food’.
You can follow Amrutha on Instagram. See the exact location thanks to Google Maps.
This Switzerland-made range of vegan cheeses took London by storm when it was previewed at VegfestUK late in 2017 and ever since vegans have been scrambling to get their hands on their products.
The camembert made by New Roots is next level and their other divine cheeses aren’t far behind. It is no wonder people have been hunting all over the capital for this stuff.
Well, the hunt for New Roots just got that little bit easier now that they have signed a deal to be sold in Planet Organic stores around London.
8th March, 2018 is International Women’s Day and a collective of women-led vegan food businesses are getting together to collaborate on a one-off menu at the Spread Eagle London.
Apart from serving up tasty vegan food, they are giving 100% of all the money made (none of them will take any money to cover costs) to a charity called Working Chance. This charity supports women leaving the criminal justice system, helping them to get back into the workforce and break the poverty and re-offence cycle by pairing them up with employees.
The menu is fabulous:
ARRIVAL – glass of prosecco/Old Blue Last beer – The Spread Eagle
STARTER – chorizo and purple potato tacos with pickled chiles, avocado salsa verde, and lime – I Will Kill Again x Club Mexicana
MAIN – jackfruit jelfrezi torta with pink onions, pickled chiles, and sour cream raita, served with tortilla chips and salsa – Spice Box x Club Mexicana
PUDDING – warm chocolate chile mud pie with vanilla ice cream – Young Vegans x Club Mexicana
Click here to book your table on the Spread Eagle website for anytime after 6pm on March 8th and be part of their big ‘fuck you’ to patriarchy and big businesses cashing in on women and veganism. Don’t be fooled by other markets and pop ups trying to ride the promo wave of International Women’s Day.
Join Itis for an evening of vegan food and Caribbean party vibes on Friday March 23, 2018 in SE15.
The food experts will be serving a gourmet 5-course meal, created by their own executive chef. The Caribbean-inspired menu will include the region’s flavours combined with their chef’s own personal twist. They’ll have island music and drinks going all night.
THE FOOD
Trini-Style Corn Soup: A traditional street food made with split peas, pieces of corn, coconut milk and fresh herbs and spices
Pholourie: Fried, spiced dough balls served with a tamarind sauce
Salad: Mixed leaves, rocket, beetroot, cherry tomatoes and carrots served with a fruity vinaigrette
Jerk Shrimp Pasta: Linguini tossed in our homemade mild jerk-cream sauce, with red and green peppers, corn, onions and mushroom topped with vegan jumbo shrimp
Dessert: Oreo base cheesecake with fruit coulis
THE DRINKS
A glass of Caribbean Rum Punch and a non-alcoholic glass of homemade sorrel juice will be served. They will also have a bar serving Caribbean cocktails and drinks for you to purchase additional drinks from on the night if you wish
Itis always make a huge impression when they trade at Hackney Downs Vegan Market so I feel confident in saying you don’t want to miss this 5-course extravaganza taking place in southeast London.
I haven’t done a little wrap up post like this for a while, so I wanted to jump on the blog quickly and give you an overview.
My inbox is swarming with correspondence from people wanting to know what is ‘must eat’ food if they only have a few days in London.
This following collection isn’t meant to act as a definitive list, rather it highlights ten things I highly recommend when you are next in London. The list is in no particular order.
Check it out and let me know if I have left any of your favourites of my list.
Number 10.
Get along to Temple of Seitanfor their fried vegan chicken. They have two locations where you can pick up this world famous food.
Arancini Bothersis a chain that recently transformed into a 100% vegan business and you have got to get to one of their locations for their risotto balls. Too good.
Young Vegansknow pies like nobody else and their Camden Market eatery is heaven. The mashed potato and gravy sides elevate an already incredible eating experience to another level. I highly recommend the Seitan and Ale pie.
The seitan burger at Wulf & Lambis one of the finest things to eat in London. Their special blend seitan is the closest to ground beef in the city and it is TASTY.
Vanessa at Essential Veganis a food superstar and her take on vegan Brazilian cuisine is a MUST-EAT when in London. Get the cheese balls. Eat them while hot. Leave happy.
One of the best things to eat on the planet is the doner chip box from What The Pitta. I simply CANNOT walk past their Shoreditch location without ordering this item.
Dough Societyis the first vegan donut and coffee shop in London. The Homer donut is one of their regular offerings and it is one of my favourite sweet treats in the capital.
The Snix bar from JuiceBaby is a pure delight. Shortbread base, gooey caramel and peanuts covered in raw chocolate. I would do almost anything for one right now.
This week has been a big week for Arancini Brothers and a big week for vegan London.
The fast food chain is celebrating all three of its bricks and mortar locations having finally become 100% vegan.
It started as somewhat of an experiment at their Old Street location which saw the outlet switch to a fully plant-based menu for Veganuary, however the decision swiftly followed to turn all three locations vegan.
Forever!
To help Arancini Brothers celebrate its first week as a fully vegan business, we have invited them to trade at Hackney Downs Vegan Market this Saturday with their food truck (Saturday March 3, 2018).
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bftg0lWA8ZT/
The gorgeous food truck will be selling fresh risotto balls and succulent burgers.
If you haven’t enjoyed the Arancini Brothers experience, this Saturday is your chance to make it happen.
You can see the full trader line up for Hackney Downs Vegan Market online here.
You can read about the new in-store vegan menu by Arancini Brothers online here.
If you are one of the hundreds of people (maybe thousands) who have turned to me for London eating advice over the past few years, you would have been told to eat at CookDaily.
King of CookDaily has been busy serving up some of the tastiest vegan food on the planet for a while now and his Shoreditch restaurant is nothing short of legendary.
Noodle and soup bowls absolutely burst with flavour and the food is so incredibly popular, you’ll often find yourself caught short if you leave a visit too close to closing time.
In huge news, King reached out to me today to announce that he has finally signed his very first book deal.
This 100% vegan café is a beacon of fairness and compassion. It is run as a workers cooperative, meaning the owners share all responsibilities and profits. I’d love to see more vegan business in London using this model.
The café supports its local community in wonderful ways, including allowing space for fundraising events.
Get along to Black Cat Café as soon as you can to congratulate them on their reopening. Follow them on Instagram as well.
Denai of Dee’s Table always does amazingly well whenever she appears, so this one night only pop up supper club is going to have them rushing in.
Denai’s take on modern Jamaican cuisine is delicious and this menu for her Ultimate Vegan Ribs Feast taking place at 10 Cable Street on February 23, 2018 is the stuff of dreams.
What’s on the menu?
Jackfruit Ribs
Ginger Beer BBQ Sauce
Mac & Cheese with Thyme Bread Crumb
Smokey Homemade BBQ Beans
Roasted Squash Hominy Cornbread
Whole roasted potatoes
Corn on the cob
And Salads
Dessert to share:
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Pizookie
Vanilla Ice Cream
Salted Caramel Sauce
This is a Friday night in London and the food is stunning, so click here to book your spot NOW!
Following on from many talks I’ve had with friends and people I’ve met at events around London, it became clear to me that our city needs a body positive yoga class designed for the LGBTQ+ community and our friends.
I also wanted it to be delivered and taught by a vegan.
Queer Vegan Yoga is a collaboration between Fat Gay Vegan, yoga teacher Tatum De Roeck, and venue The Well Garden located at Hackney Downs Studios (home of Hackney Downs Vegan Market).
Starting as a special event on Saturday March 10, 2018, Queer Vegan Yoga is an affordable space for people to explore what yoga can do for them even if they have felt excluded from other yoga classes in the past.
Spots are £12 and you can book for either 1:00pm or 2:30pm by clicking here.
This class is for all body types with a ‘vegan lesbian yoga teacher’ who is committed to inclusive teaching. Here is a little bit about Tatum:
Tatum was a Londoner living in LA picking up lots of jobs and cliches, she was an actress/waitress and a vegan lesbian yoga teacher. Then she got some cancer and her relationship with yoga changed. Her mat became a place of sanctuary, she couldn’t do all the poses but her mat was a place that accepted her even when bald, itchy, tired and sore. She now lives in London and is passionate about creating fun classes in which everyone can be themselves. She believes we don’t need to adapt our bodies into yoga poses but rather yoga should adapt to each of us.
Tatum and FGV
Queer Vegan Yoga is a class committed to exploring yoga that is beneficial to each individual regardless of body size, gender identity, or sexuality.
The first sessions of Queer Vegan Yoga will take place at The Well Garden on Saturday March 10, 2018 at 1:00-2:00pm and then 2:30-3:30pm. You can book a spot for either of these classes online now.
