vegan UK

Podcast September 21, 2021

by

It’s time for another podcast episode of my mini news roundup.

This week’s episode find me chatting about vegan gummy sweets, vegan pizza, and a new vegan pub kitchen in central London.

Listen up and enjoy!

FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year – Fat Gay Vegan

As the year ebbs away join me for a chat about the tough task of going home, Whitney Houston, and vegan food on QANTAS planes.
  1. FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year
  2. FGV’s Mini News Roundup December 7, 2022
  3. FGV’s mini news roundup – news, views, and reviews from the plant-based world and beyond
  4. Fat Gay Vegan mini news roundup March 17, 2022
  5. FGV mini news roundup December 23, 2021 – vegan news and reviews

Podcast episode for September 14

by

The latest mini news roundup with all the latest from the world of FGV has been released.

Hope you enjoy!

FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year – Fat Gay Vegan

As the year ebbs away join me for a chat about the tough task of going home, Whitney Houston, and vegan food on QANTAS planes.
  1. FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year
  2. FGV’s Mini News Roundup December 7, 2022
  3. FGV’s mini news roundup – news, views, and reviews from the plant-based world and beyond
  4. Fat Gay Vegan mini news roundup March 17, 2022
  5. FGV mini news roundup December 23, 2021 – vegan news and reviews

Vegan ready meals

by

I’ve never really gotten into frozen ready meals.

I do like the idea of food being made and delivered ready to my house to eat, but there hasn’t been a huge choice when it comes to vegan versions.

But now there IS a fabulous choice and it is called Planty. I’m so stoked that the company sent me a mixed box of their meals to try for myself.

The food included in the Planty meals has been of surprisingly high standard. I don’t know why I expected it not to be but I guess I had some misgivings about frozen ready meals not being great quality.

Not only is the food delicious, but the company is also doing their bit to be as ethical as they can.

The packaging is recyclable and their delivery is carbon neutral.

But what meals do they currently serve?

The line up includes:

  • Aubergine moussaka
  • Mac No Cheese
  • Polpette Alfredo
  • Not-a-chicken Tikka Masala
  • BBQ Banana Blossom Burrito
  • Sweet Chili Tempeh Stir Fry
  • Yaki-Miso Udon Noodles
  • Smoky Pearl Barley & Sweetcorn Casserole
  • Red Thai Sweet Potato Curry
  • Butternut & Mango Madras
  • Shepherd-less Pie

I have no hesitation in recommending Planty for anyone looking for easy to consume vegan ready meals. These people are doing a great job.

These meals were sent to me for free but my opinion is legit and honest.

Click here to shop for your own Planty meals and follow the brand on Instagram.

Things sent to me for free

by

It feels like a long time since I’ve done one of these blog posts.

There isn’t much writing. It’s all about the freebies I have recently been given.

Check them out below.

Swipe through the post above to see these crackers made from peanuts. Yes, peanuts!

I was invited to try the cuisine of PlantXology, a vegan Indian food stall on Brick Lane. Watch the video above.

I got my hands on some of the new Wicked Kitchen products launching into Tesco. Watch the video above to see them all.

My mate Phillip gave me these crisps and I was a bit freaked out by the ‘game’ aspect. Don’t like the hunting reference, but the crisps were nice… and of course vegan.

Homethings are the makers of eco-friendly and vegan house cleaning products. You keep the refillable spray bottles and just re-order the dissolvable tablets. It all comes in recyclable packaging.

Wasabi sent me some vouchers to try their new vegan salmon. I also grabbed the vegan chicken katsu when I was there.

Stem & Glory invited me to try their menu at their London restaurant. I was VERY satisfied. Take a look through the Instagram post to see all the dishes I devoured.

https://veganculinarycruises.com/

New oat milk on the block

by

With the non-stop tidal wave of plant-based milks crashing onto the vegan scene, it can a tough job trying to stay updated on the best options.

I know we all have different tastes and preferences, but I am happy to tell you this recent release by Co-Operative supermarkets is my new favourite.

I have become a big fan of oat milk but often find my favourite brands are a bit pricey for my budget.

Thankfully, the Co-Operative GRO label now has an affordable option priced at just 79p and in even better news… it tastes just us good as the pricier brands IMHO.

I am unsure if 79p is an introductory offer, but I am certainly stocking up just in case. Let’s hope it stays low!

Huge thanks to Co-Operative stores for making the experience of being an ethical consumer that little bit more afforadable.

Swansea’s first 100% plant-based coffee shop

by

Two entrepreneurs from Swansea have joined forces to open Swansea’s first 100% plant-based coffee shop.

Ground Plant Based Coffee, based on Francis Street in Brynmill, is a joint project between three times national Stand-Up-Paddleboard Champion, Matt Barker-Smith and Helen Wilson, founder of Womankind Yoga, who runs Europe’s largest Beach Yoga Class on Swansea Bay.

Matt and Helen found common ground in a passion for paddle boarding, the environment, better health and plant-based food which led them to make the commitment to create a new coffee bar in Swansea, where oat milk is served as standard.

Ground Plant Based Coffee has also committed to not selling any products in plastic, serving drinks using 100% biodegradable cups and lids.

All the food is made by hand by Helen, in her home kitchen in Craig Cefn Parc, near Clydach.

The takeaway only coffee bar is based within The Sup Hut, on Francis Street.

Matt says, “We wanted to open a business that represented all the things that are important to us, protecting the planet and encouraging people to lower their carbon footprint through food and drink choices. We have strived to do this with great barista coffee and sweet and savoury bites to eat, made only from plants.”

“The popularity of people taking up SUP, has led to a greater understanding of how important our oceans and our responsibility to the eco system that we take so much fore granted – which goes hand in hand with an increasing awareness that the impact of our diet plays on our personal carbon emissions and the future of our marine life and environment.”

Helen, who opened the doors also in celebration of her 40th birthday, says: “We have had a fantastic welcome from the local community and businesses and have been delighted at people’s reception to a coffee bar that serves only plant milks.”

Helen has worked in the vegan industry for 14 years as a professional animal rights campaigner, educator, consultant and chef. She has been following a vegan diet for 14 years and gave up meat when she was 10.

You can visit Ground Plant Based Coffee online and be sure to follow the cafe on Instagram and Facebook.

Really Good Beer is really good… really!

by

Do you like beer? Do you like making positive choices for the planet as a consumer?

Well, say hello to your new vegan beer supplier!

Launched in March 2021, Really Good Beer is all about sourcing beer from small breweries and chaneling partial profit to good causes.

That sounds EXACTLY like my drop of amber.

What is the ethos behind Really Good Beer? The gang over there says:

Our mission? To create gorgeous beer that helps solve important problems whilst you’re drinking it. Clever huh? OK, not Einstein clever, but we like to think we wouldn’t be kicked out of A-level business studies.

After realising that the five largest mega-brewers in the world make nearly 60% of all the beer on Earth, Really Good Beer jumped into action.

What was the plan of action to make sure they could make a difference to the world of beer and the world in general?

First: we brewed our first beer in a shared space in Hackney but we realised the better model was to get our beer brewed at existing small breweries (who really know their stuff).

We spent a long time (and tasted a lot of beer) finding the right partners and now work with several; they are all small, independently owned, focused on sustainable production, and (pretty much) all award-winning.

And second: we track down the most impactful projects and charities seeking to solve some of the planet’s biggest problems to pair with each of our beers; then we think of a low-key genius name that brings together the beer, cause and charity partner.

The beers are never mass produced and Really Good Beer are committed to giving 2.5% from the sales of all their beer to initiatives that tackle the biggest problems facing people and the planet.

Really Good Beer has just been named in the Top 12 IPAs in The Independent Best Buys and named as “Best Beer with Purpose”. Amazing! (read more about that here)

You can also read about some of the small charities each beer supports online here.

It sounds like a winning situation all round. Beer from small producers and money for charities… and I almost forget to mention that all the beer from Really Good Beer is vegan!

Click here to buy through the web shop (soon to be in bars and stores) and follow Really Good Beer on Instagram.

New vegan ice cream hotspot for London

by

Copperhouse Chocolate, London’s only vegan chocolate shop and cafe, has launched a new vegan ice cream range in its Chapel Market cafe in the heart of Islington.

Juliet Sampson, owner of Copperhouse, already had the idea to create her own delicious vegan ice cream and lockdown provided the perfect opportunity to experiment after their usual supplier moved out of London.

They currently sell six flavours that are all made with organic coconut milk as the base and of course contain their famous house blend hot chocolates. Favourites include Raspberry Chocolate (using Copperhouse Chocolate Raspberry Dream hot chocolate with a homemade raspberry swirl), Mint with brownie chips (with fresh mint and crumblings of homemade vegan brownies), and Coffee caramel (a delicious combination of Monmouth coffee and salted caramel swirl).

All the ice creams are made using organic ingredients and are 100% vegan. They are available as scoops priced at £2.50, oat milkshakes £4.90, cookie ice cream sandwiches with a choice of peanut butter and choc chip homemade cookies £5.50 and the decadent Hot Chocolate affogato using their delicious range of homemade hot chocolates £4.50.

The affogato is made with a lusciously extra thick hot chocolate using only the finest vegan milks, it is unlike any other vegan hot chocolate and is similar to Italian/Spanish hot chocolate but made to order. It can also be finished with decadent whipped coconut cream.

The ice cream is also available in a range of takeaway tubs that can be taken home for the freezer and are priced at £9 for a 450g tub – perfect for a delicious ice cream treat this summer.

Copperhouse Chocolate is proud of their single-origin hot chocolates from Colombia, Madagascar and Ecuador which each having their own distinct tastes.

The cafe also hosts a Chocolate Happy House every Friday for between 3-4pm where customers can get a free cookie with every coffee or hot chocolate purchased.

Located just moments away from Angel tube station, Copperhouse Chocolate promises a welcoming cosy space to relax with a comforting cup of proper hot chocolate, delicious ice creams, and vegan food all the while offering a home for community groups, meetups, and gatherings to connect in London.

See the exact location of Copperhouse Chocolate thanks to Google Maps.

Follow Copperhouse Chocolate on Instagram.

Win a year’s supply of vegan sweets

by

This competition is all about the win/win.

By simply taking part, you will be raising funds for an important social enterprise that is helping tackle homelessness in London. And if you win the comp? You get a one year’s supply of vegan pick n mix.

Oh, yes. You actually can’t lose! Well, you might not win the sweets but you get the meaning. You win by helping.

I suppose you want facts now. Well, I’ve got ’em.

Poster Bakes is an online vegan pick n mix shop founded to raise funds in support of The Connection, a social enterprise helping people move away from the streets of London and towards a happier and more fulfilling life.

The price of a single bag of sweets from Poster Bakes could cover the cost of someone receiving a shower, breakfast, and a cup of coffee in The Connection which in turn opens the doors to more in-depth support.

The vegan pick n mix initiative has been incredibly popular and I have a feeling it is about to go into overdrive.

You can enter this competition for a chance to win one year’s supply of vegan pick n mix from Poster Bakes! You just need to buy some sweets and find a golden ticket in your order.

It’s getting all Willy Wonka up in here!

The competition starts Monday 14th June, 2021 and will be running for a few weeks until Poster Bakes have sent out all their golden tickets tickets.

They will be randomly giving away 5 golden tickets in total, each of which will entitle the winner to a year’s supply of free sweets (a 500g bag every month for 12 months). Winners will be chosen at random from those who have entered the giveaway. This is what you need to do:

I’d love to know if you entered and I’d love to know if you win. Don’t forget who hooked you up with this info if you are suddenly swamped with vegan pick n mix.

£5.50 for a vegan sausage roll

by

Hello from London, one of the most expensive places on the planet to buy a vegan sausage roll!

In this weeks mini podcast episode, I moan about the cost of vegan sausage rolls. I also talk about changing my name to Plum King (just a joke, not a fact). In addition, I chat about where I have been eating recently (not a joke, just a fact).

FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year – Fat Gay Vegan

As the year ebbs away join me for a chat about the tough task of going home, Whitney Houston, and vegan food on QANTAS planes.
  1. FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year
  2. FGV’s Mini News Roundup December 7, 2022
  3. FGV’s mini news roundup – news, views, and reviews from the plant-based world and beyond
  4. Fat Gay Vegan mini news roundup March 17, 2022
  5. FGV mini news roundup December 23, 2021 – vegan news and reviews

The June 10, 2021 news roundup is possible because friendly people sponsor me on Patreon. I get to talk about and write about vegan business because of this support.

Thanks!

Follow me on Instagram and be sure to investigate the vegan travel adventures I am hosting online here.