Comedy events at London vegan eatery

The gorgeous Cafe Van Gogh in Brixton has just announced a series of comedy events.

Get fed vegan food AND have a laugh at the world!

The cafe says:

We’re proud to be hosting a summer full of Edinburgh previews in our cosy upstairs dining area. Ticket price includes a two course dinner (menu options available on our events pages) and a bunch of belly laughs.

Comedy Wednesdays at Cafe Van Gogh 88 Brixton Road SW9 6BE.
Only 20 seats for the first intimate dinner with Jenny Collier on June 6, 2018. £20 includes a two-course dinner. Book online now.

You can follow Cafe Van Gogh on Facebook and Instagram.

New vegan food business in Hertfordshire

Preet & Perry Go Vegan is a new vegan food business based in Hertfordshire about to launch themselves into festivals and events over the coming months.

Preet and Alex (Perry) are two friends who have come together because they both have a passion for ethical and sustainable vegan food.

The friends make vegan Indian dishes without using any animal products (including ghee). They are focused on serving well-balanced meals and educating people on just how nutritious food can help improve health. This includes exploring how they believe many spices and ingredients used in Indian cooking are beneficial for health.

Their first event will be Letchworth Beer and Food Festival on May 26 and 27, 2018.

A percentage of their profits will be donated to a charity in Jhingran, a village in Punjab India, helping a school provide free education and a hospital provide free health service and medication.

Follow Preet & Perry on Instagram.

Vegan jobs in Sheffield

Sheffield isn’t just a hot bed of vegan food, it is also a great place for a vegan to go looking for paid employment.

One of the best vegan food providers in the UK, Make No Bones, is looking for a bunch of talented food-focussed people to join them in their mission to feed the Sheffield masses in a compassionate manner.

Here is the advert:

Make No Bones is recruiting. They have full time and part time vacancies available. They are looking for people with the following skills:

  • A decent amount of kitchen experience i.e. chef work
  • Punctuality, reliability and trustworthiness
  • Flexibility as most of the shifts will be in evenings and on weekends
  • Strong work ethic and a passion for food is essential

If this sounds like you and you would like to be part of a team that is changing the world through tasty food, email lauren@makenobones.org with your CV and cover letter.

Follow Make No Bones on Instagram and Facebook.

New vegan cocktail bar for London

Here is some news you can drink.

Superstar vegan double decker bus restaurant Just Fab has recently opened a vegan cocktail bar on site. Just in time for the warmer weather, London!

If you can view the menu above, you will notice the bar is serving vegan White Russian as well as London Mule, Vegan Mary, and Espresso Martini.

So now you can eat some of the best vegan food in the capital (including burgers, lasagne, arancini, and more!) that is made on a real double deck London bus AND drink some tempting vegan cocktails all in the same location.

The bar is in the yard at 455 Hackney Road E2 9DY, just a short walk from Cambridge Heath train station. See the exact location thanks to Google Maps.

Opening hours are 11:30am until 10:00pm and a bit later on the weekends. The bus and bar are both closed on Monday.

Follow Just Fab on Instagram.

Vegan spot in Hackney extends life

The Brook in Hackney has been impressing vegans and the vegan-curious for the past few months, so it is great news to hear they have extended their residency for another six months!

Thea of The Brook told me:

Opening the pop-up in Hackney was a scary leap for us but it’s just been amazing. We’ve been so well received and it’s given us the confidence we needed to really push forward with what we’re doing on a bigger scale. Ultimately, we want to find a permanent site in central London to set up home, and we’re launching a crowdfunding campaign next month to support this, but that will take a while. So for now, at least, we’ll be staying put in Hackney until the end of the year while we search for a home.

How exciting!

The Brook also just won a Love London Time Out award for best restaurant in Hackney after only three months of being open! In addition, on June 1, 2018 The Brook is re-opening their Wallington location (temporary pop-up) on weekends so they can serve their south London crowd over the summer.

Click here to see the location of The Brook thanks to Google Maps.

Follow The Brook on Instagram.

Vegan food at Mighty Hoopla

I told you about the fab vegan food line up I have helped curate for Field Day 2018, but now I have even better news!

The food line up is staying on for a third day at the incredible Mighty Hoopla festival in Brockwell Park on June 3, 2018.

As if that food isn’t enough to entice you, the musical line up on the day is phenomenal.

Acts include some of my favourite pop performers of the past few decades including Lily Allen, TLC, Belinda Carlisle, Betty Who, B*Witched, Five, and even Vengaboys!

It is so ridiculously camp!

Imagine an incredible pop fest like that AND a huge range of vegan food traders from which to choose.

This event is going to sell out extremely quickly so grab your tickets now. Book here.

Vegan taco pop up in Brixton

Hey, vegan taco lovers.

Here is a fab menu available for one night only at a super cool bar in Brixton.

The talented people of Jump to the Beet catering are hosting another glorious pop up event at The Sympathetic Ear on Tulse Hill in Brixton.

The taco pop up is taking place on Thursday May 17, 2018 between 6:30pm and 9:30pm.

You can simply show up (see bar location thanks to Google Maps) or contact the venue through their website to book a table.

But what about the menu?

  • Wild mushroom, pasilla chilli salsa, pico de gallo
  • Breaded paprika cauliflower, roasted red pepper & tomato salsa
  • Black beans, roasted sweet potato, smoked chipotle
  • Smoky aubergine, baby sweet corn, ancho chilli, cashew nut

Sounds amazing.

Follow Jump to the Beet on Instagram.

Mushroom masterclass

There is a mushroom masterclass coming up this Saturday May 12, 2018 at Made in Hackney and if you can afford to attend, it looks like it will be extremely informative and useful.

“We will share our passion and knowledge of cooking and growing gourmet mushrooms, as well as practical tips and recipes, so that you can bring delicious umami flavours to your meals”

Mark Breen, Professional Chef & Cookery Tutor & César Hernán Rizzo Gómez, Urban Grower & Cook

The class will include:

  • How to cook different types of gourmet mushrooms to intensify their unique flavours and textures
  • How to bring out the delicious ‘umami’ flavour of mushrooms
  • How to grow gourmet mushrooms from used coffee grounds
  • How to store your mushrooms correctly to get the best from them
  • Various cooking techniques which will preserve the nutritional properties of mushrooms
  • Tasty ‘tried and tested’ recipes using mushrooms as a starter, a main or a side dish
  • A delicious organic plant based lunch and recipes to take home

César is an urban farmer and accomplished cook. He is the founder of ‘Article Number 25’, an Urban Farming Company aiming to change the food system, which grows different varieties of mushrooms from used coffee grounds and converts unused spaces into farms.

Mark is a professional chef and cookery tutor, working with various cookery schools across the capital. He also runs Seasonal Kitchen, a company offering unique dining experiences and private chef services.

Fee*: £70 (£55** Concession) includes a delicious organic plant based meal

  • This fee is used to fund the programme of free courses to vulnerable and low-income community groups. By attending a Made In Hackney masterclass you get a great day of learning AND you’re providing the charity with essential funds for them to continue their work with vulnerable community groups.

** Concessionary rate available for students, pensioners, unemployed and low waged

Click here to book a spot at this mushroom masterclass now! At the time of posting, their were only 8 spaces remaining.

New vegan coffee shop in Dalston

I simply cannot keep up with vegan news flying out of London.

I adore hearing it all, but there is too much!

I’m thrilled to announce that a brand new 100% vegan coffee shop and deli is opening tomorrow (Tuesday May 8, 2018) on Kingsland Road.

Happy Cat Coffee has been trading for a while as a market stall and pop up concern, but the Dalston spot marks their first ever permanent shop.

The first 20 people to visit on opening day (7am until 7pm) get a free dairy-free coffee to celebrate!

Happy Cat offers oat, coconut, soya, almond and cashew milks, and while you are there you can pick up some bean-to-bar chocolate. Everything is vegan and in the next week or so customers will be able to grab vegan steaks, vegan sausage rolls, and pasties.

Happy Cat is located at 374a Kingsland Road Dalston E8 4AA in a super cute space next to a tailor. You can see the exact location on Google Maps.

You can follow Happy Cat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Vegan food in Glasgow

When asked about the most vegan-friendly destination around the UK, I always list Glasgow in my top three. It often makes number one.

The Scottish city has long been a haven for plant-based foodies and there is actually too much choice if you are only visiting for a few days.

If you live there, you will already understand that Glasgow is a world class vegan city.

It might actually be difficult to keep updated with all the latest vegan news. That’s what prompted this blog post. I wanted to list all of the 100% vegan places in Glasgow. Please let me know if I have missed any.

This list doesn’t include the non-vegan places which offer fantastic vegan options, so please use the HappyCow listings to discover those hidden gems and join the Vegan Edinburgh and Glasgow Facebook group if you would like keep informed about all things vegan in that part of the world.

Now, let’s start our vegan tour of Glasgow!

The Flying Duck – junk food kitchen, late night bar, and live music venue that is famous for hosting mini vegan fetes inside!

Falafel To Go – I’ve seen so many photos online showing people lining up for this food, it must be good. This hole in the wall spot is near the corner of Hope and Sauchiehall.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUwX1tGh3gI/

Stereo Cafe Bar – solid comfort food in this legendary live music venue and bar. Tucked away on Renfield Lane, Stereo is one of the finest spots in Glasgow for food, drink and live music. They also host some fab club nights.

Picnic – this deli and cafe on Ingram Street in the Merchant City section of Glasgow is truly a gem of a place. They serve up fresh sandwiches, nutritious bowls, hearty breakfasts, and irresistible cakes and pastries.

The Glasvegan – this comfort food spot in St Enoch Square can only be properly represented by viewing the menu.

Mono Cafe Bar – what can I add when it comes to this legendary Glasgow location? The food is pure decadence and it remains one of the best places in the city to catch live music. Extra curricular activities include the on site record shop and our annual Glasgow Vegan Beer Fest which is hosted here!

Lotus Vegetarian Cuisine – I have never heard people rave as much about a place as people from Glasgow rave about Lotus. If you are in the mood for a very typical Chinese/UK food joint with all sorts of fried and sticky dishes, this is the place for you.

In Bloom – located very close to St Georges Cross subway station, this is a Nirvana-inspired vegan cafe serving tasty-looking food. Yes, as in Kurt Cobain!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh9AIFxFs1R/

The Hug & Pint – maybe my favourite place to eat in the city, The Hug & Pint is a gorgeous vegan kitchen combined with a fabulous beer bar and live music venue. Located between St Georges Cross and Kelvinbridge stations along Great Western Road.

The 78 Bar & Kitchen – with the return of superstar chef VSO to this kitchen, you can now consume some of the best vegan food in the UK at The 78. Top tip: try to grab a table close to the open fire on a chilly day. They get a few of them in Scotland, apparently.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiRXZVclfSS/

The V & V Cafe – this West End establishment is everything. By that I mean it is a coffee shop, a cafe, a mini grocery store, and a completely wonderful place for vegans to visit.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh6O9oqlfjL/

The Old Hairdresser’s – this isn’t a dining establishment but this music venue and gallery space serves only vegan booze. Situated opposite Stereo.

Serenity Now – another vegan spot on Great Western Road and another name inspired by a pop culture reference. This one takes its name from a famous episode of television sitcom Seinfeld. Those burritos, though!