vegan UK

Top nine Instagram posts of 2019

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It’s the end of 2019 so I thought I would jump on the bandwagon and highlight the most liked posts from my Instagram post from across the year.

Here is an overview of the nine most liked of the year.

Let’s break it down into individual posts.

Here are the top nine posts from my Instagram account for 2019, with the most popular at the bottom.

Enjoy… and please follow me on Instagram if you don’t already.

The ninth most popular post was a photo of me accompanied by a plea for people to not buy or breed dogs. It resonated with a lot of people and is a message for the ages!

There was a HUGE response for this photo of my Follow Your Heart pin. I never expected this to be on the end of year list, let alone come in at number eight.

This is the first of two photos of London vegan cheese shop La Fauxmagerie to make my top nine Instagram list for 2019. Having two entries is proof of how excited vegans were about this shop opening.

Vegan food in airports can be a bit uninspired so this photo of my breakfast at Wagamama at Heathrow got a lot of likes. It was a tasty treat to enjoy before a long haul flight.

I shared this message from Chapter One coffee shop in Edinburgh and it was popular enough to land at number five on my top nine list for the year. People loved reading news of this popular café switching to become a totally vegan business.

I am surprised this post took off like it did because it is kinda an ugly photo! The Wicked range in Tesco is one of the most successful product launches I have ever seen and this photo being in my top nine is evidence that people can’t get enough.

This post is not a happy read and contains a few upsetting memories of bad times from throughout my life. People who follow me on Instagram were kind and supportive, making this the third most popular post of mine for 2019.

Warning: it is a very upsetting read so do proceed with caution.

LOTS of people responded positively to this photo I took in Heathrow airport. It is exciting to see so many mainstream business be so open about their vegan options.

La Fauxmagerie took the number one slot on my Instagram account for 2019. News of this vegan cheese shop opening in London broke the Internet and more than 4,500 people liked this photo.

Much love to everyone who has helped make my blog and social media accounts viable for another year.

All of this is done to help promote veganism and independent vegan businesses. I want people to go vegan and stay vegan to help improve outcomes for animals.

New vegan white chocolate raspberry truffles

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Have you almost gotten a handle on gift buying for Christmas?

Good. I’m here to tell you about your next vegan gift giving opportunity.

Valentine’s Day!

Moo Free are one of my favourite sweet treats companies on the planet and I’m thrilled to hear about this new product they are launching in 2020.

Inspired by their Hazelnut Truffles that hit the shelves recently, Moo Free has now created the perfect self-indulgent treat or thoughtful gift.

The heart-shaped truffles are filled with a soft raspberry centre which uses a unique raspberry concentrate mixture to achieve its mouthwateringly wonderful flavour.

Made from a white chocolate alternative recipe, these tasty new truffles are created using UTZ certified cocoa in association with the Rainforest Alliance, which helps support sustainable farming and provides better opportunities for farmers, their families, and our planet.

Produced in Devon, these new Moo Free truffles are certified vegan and are gluten and soya free.

Moo Free‘s White Raspberry Truffles will be available to buy from their online factory store (you can pre order now) and in a select number of Waitrose stores at the RRP of £4.99.

Follow Moo Free on Instagram.

Christmas themed vegan syrups

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I love Sweet Freedom.

The company has been around for a number of years now and I adore how they keep expanding their range, sometimes even releasing limited edition vegan sweeteners and syrups.

Speaking of limited edition releases, the brand has just a few days ago released four Christmas products which are available in Aldi stores around the UK.

So, what have we got in the range?

  • Gingerbread Syrup
  • Cinnamon Syrup
  • Choc Shot Winter Spice
  • Choc Shot Mint

All of the Sweet Freedom products are perfect for adding to coffee, frappes, cocktails or drizzling over pancakes and porridge.

Follow Sweet Freedom on Instagram and get your Christmas supplies from Aldi stores.

Vegan Ethiopian food in South London

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Do you all remember that Ethiopian restaurant located at Art Works shipping container village at Elephant and Castle?

It used to have a lot of vegan options and the owner was super passionate about the food.

Well, guess what? It isn’t there anymore.

But also guess what?!

Beza has moved to another location in Elephant and Castle and has turned 100% vegan. Yay!

Both the food and interior of the restaurant look sensational.

Beza describes the restaurant as an “Ethiopian restaurant in London that specialises in traditional Ethiopian vegan food.”

Their menu is alive with truly delicious and nutritious seasonal food, all served in a beautiful setting. Everything on the menu is 100% vegan. The restaurant is proud to serve the local community with inspiring exotic dishes.

Eat with them ASAP and then often.

You can follow Beza on Instagram and Facebook.

See the exact location of the restaurant thanks to Google Maps.

Vegan snack bars for the UK

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Eat Natural are those snack bars that vegans always get harassed by in supermarkets.

You know when you are looking for something quick and easy to grab when you are at the checkout or running out the door quickly? Eat Natural bars are ALWAYS there, in every store.

If you are anything like me, your brain gets excited for a millisecond before you remember that they contain honey.

It’s not the worst thing to happen to humanity, but it is a little bit annoying.

Eat Natural must have gotten tired of vegans like me complaining (nagging works!) because they have now released three products suitable for vegans and one of them is even called Simply Vegan.

The new products include:

  • Simply Vegan – a gorgeously coconut-ty bar with a lovely swoosh of proper dark chocolate underneath, packed with nuts and dried fruit
  • Maple syrup, pecan and peanut bar – part of their ‘bars with benefits’ range. It carries extra protein thanks to all the nuts and seeds
  • Low Sugar Granola – a stunning granola made with coconut blossom nectar

I would recommend a store in which to look for these however I do believe they are sold almost everywhere in the UK.

Vegan Christmas pizza in London

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Vegan pizza is everywhere.

I’m in no way saying that is a bad thing, I’m just commenting on how it seems to be popping up everywhere in London.

One of the most-loved vegan pizza joints in the UK capital is Good Belly which is located inside The Railway Tavern just a few steps from Dalston Kingsland Overground station.

The pizzas at Good Belly get rave reviews from those in the know, so I can only imagine how delicious these two Christmas-themed specials will taste.

The first seasonal special I want to tell you about is their Christmas Day Pizza. It is constructed from a cranberry & merlot tomato base, mushrooms, red onion, stuffing crumbs, bacon bits, parsnip puree, and shredded sprouts.

That is one dreamy Christmas pizza!

Another special they have is their flaky (and delicious) Santa’s Sausage Roll. Good Belly assure me it is one of the best sausage rolls on the planet.

Check it out.

Both of these specials from Good Belly will be on their menu until December 22, 2019 so hop along rapidly if you want some seasonal treats.

You can see the full regular menu from Good Belly online here, follow the restaurant on Instagram, and check out the exact location of The Railway Tavern thanks to Google Maps.

Fat Gay Vegan won an award

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This is a super quick blog post to let you in on some good news.

Viva! Campaigns is of course a tremendously successful and loved animal protection and lobbying group that has been busy promoting veganism for many years.

How many years? The group just celebrated its 25th anniversary!

As part of their quarter of a century celebrations, Viva! has handed out a bunch of awards for people, groups, and businesses that they believe have done a great job in improving outcomes for animals.

And I was awarded one!

After almost a decade of running this blog and all the associated social media accounts, it is a real thrill to be appreciated in this way by a group that I respect so deeply.

Massive love and thanks goes to the entire Viva! team for everything they do to make the world a better place.

And thank you from the bottom of my chubby gay heart for this recognition. It is a wonderful feeling.

You can see all of the Viva! award winners online here.

Delicious vegan food in Shrewsbury

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Shrewsbury. Are you ready to eat ALL the vegan food?

Okra is a vegan café located on the High Street and the food looks beyond tempting.

The café was previously known as güd and traded in Altrincham Market, however they have enjoyed such wonderful success they have now expanded and relocated to Shrewsbury with the new name.

Okra is all about fresh, flavourful 100% vegan food. It’s kinda like gourmet street food.

They make almost everything in-house from scratch, including all their sauces and vegan burger patties. All their flat breads are made by hand to order, every time!

The menu is small and changes often, but there are always classics like the Mexican black bean burger and tarka dal.

Okra also throw in weekly specials, too. The ‘chippy T’ being a recent favourite featuring crispy tofu fillet, salt and vinegar hash brown, and katsu ‘chippy’ curry sauce on a toasted bun!

Okra is open for breakfast and lunch and should be doing evenings soon.

Follow Okra on Instagram and see their exact location thanks to Google Maps.

New fresh vegan milk trader for London

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London. It is time to get milky.

Nut Milks is a new company bringing fresh dairy alternative milks to your doorstep.

The company is committed to supplying a low carbon footprint alternative to cow milk, therefore they only deliver within the London area. I absolutely LOVE this approach to their business.

The vegan milks are made in London and sold in London!

The milks are made freshly and locally. They contain no additives therefore last only five days. These products are old school!

Nut Milks flavours include:

  • Pistachio Milk
  • Chocolate Hazelnut
  • Hazelnut Milk
  • Almond Milk
  • Cashew Milk

Nut Milks currently have a stall at Borough Market but they are mostly an online business.

You can visit their webshop to browse all milk products and place an order for London-only delivery.

You can also follow Nut Milks on Instagram.

Fundraiser dinner with Animal Equality in London

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Hey London!

You can join Animal Equality at their Festive Fundraiser on Tuesday December 3, 2019 for an evening that promises to be packed full of merriment.

Entertainment at the Central London event (near Farringdon) will feature the always inspiring Christopher Sebastian and the hilarious Carl Donnelly. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to see them in action, then you definitely don’t want to miss this event.

You’ll also hear about the incredible work that Animal Equality has been able to carry out this year thanks to the generosity of their wonderful supporters, as well as enjoy a delicious plant-based, three-course meal and help the charity raise funds through a raffle.

The ticket price also includes a welcome drink and wine with the meal.

Entertainment

Speaker – Christopher Sebastian

Christopher Sebastian is the director of social media for Peace Advocacy Network, he sits on the Advisory Council for Encompass, he is senior editor at Vine Sanctuary Press, he is co-founder of VGN, and he lectures at Columbia University in the Department of Social Work for the graduate course POP: Power, Oppression, and Privilege. He primarily focuses on animal violence and how it influences anti-black racism, queer antagonism and class discrimination throughout the global west.

Comedy – Carl Donnelly

Carl has been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award twice and has appeared on various TV shows including Mock the Week and Russell Howard’s Good News. He is a regular on the international comedy circuit, performing at pretty much every comedy festival there is!

Animal Equality look forward to seeing you next week. Click here to book tickets.

Extra note: The event space is accessible and Signing can be arranged on request.