BREAKING NEWS Temple of Seitan

Oh my gosh.

I’m thrilled to announce that Temple of Seitan has opened a cafe on site at Hackney Downs Studios, the home of Hackney Downs Vegan Market.

Say hello to Temple Goods.

Temple Goods crash landing at Hackney Downs Studios makes this the most significant vegan site in London. We now have the best vegan food provider in London trading six days a week with a glorious new cafe AND the first and best vegan market in London right outside every Saturday.

Bec from Temple wanted me to share the following with you:

We are very excited to announce that we have taken over the cafe at Hackney Downs Studios for (at least) the summer. We will be building it into something pretty special over the coming months, so please follow our new cafe on Instagram for updates! To begin with, we will be serving our full range of cakes and pastries, as well as Dark Arts Coffees, and a rotating menu of breakfast and lunch dishes. We will also be stocking *vegan treatz* and are working with some other independent vegan businesses to build a stock of hard to get goods to take home.

London, this is the real deal. You now have a vegan cafe and provisions store right in the heart of Hackney Downs Vegan Market.

Bec continued to tell me:

Given the success of Hackney Downs Vegan Market we think this is the perfect location for us to set up shop. The Hackney Downs Vegan Market was where we experienced some of our first real successes and without the support of Hackney Downs Studios and FGV we certainly wouldn’t be where we are today. We are looking forward to serving up some weekend specials to complement the market!

Saturday is now a very special day. You can shop and dine with our market traders AND kick back inside the giant cafe space with these true vegan food pioneers.

And of course you don’t even have to wait until Saturday as Temple Goods is open from today (Monday May 21, 2018). Monday’s specials will be toasties, smashed avo on toast and a chick’n Caesar salad!

Opening hours are Monday through Friday 8am until 5pm and Saturday 10am until 5pm. Sunday openings will be from June 3.

Follow Temple Goods on Instagram now and get down there to celebrate the further expansion of the Temple empire.

BREAKING NEWS EXTRA

July 14, 2018 marks the 6th annual London Vegan Beer Fest and I’m thrilled to say that Temple Goods cafe will be joining in the celebrations.

The cafe will be one of four exclusive spaces available only for beer fest ticket holders.

Temple Goods will be set up as an indoor beer hall with exclusive food and beer offerings. On the day, the cafe will only be open to beer fest ticket holders. This is in addition to our outdoor beer market, the huge indoor Brass Castle beer hall located inside Hackney Showroom, and the karaoke performance space.

More than 25% of tickets for London Vegan Beer Fest have been snapped up so please book now online if you want to be part of this enormous party.

Amazing vegan food pop up in London

Itis London is one of our regular traders at Hackney Downs Vegan Market and believe me when I say their food is outstanding.

The comfort food specialists are stepping away from the market life for a minute to bring you an indulgent evening in south London packed with hearty food inspired by Africa, the Caribbean and the USA. This is a rare chance to enjoy soul food classics done vegan.

Itis have warned that you should arrive to the June 1 event with your takeaway containers as you’ll struggle to finish the feast!

They’ll be serving each of you up a mixed platter containing:

  • Mac n Cheese
  • Collard Greens
  • Mushroom Ribs
  • Fried Chickn
  • Potato Salad
  • Corn Bread
  • BBQ Baked Beans
  • Corn on the Cob
  • If you’ve got room left after all of that, there will be an irresistible dessert to follow

All Itis food is always 100% vegan.

THE DRINKS:

Bring your own booze, or enjoy a glass of their homemade ginger beer.

TIMING:

Doors open at 7pm and food will be served promptly at 7:15pm.

SEATING:

If you are attending in a group and want to ensure you sit together, please contact Itis ahead of time after booking your ticket so they can ensure they reserve you enough seats together.

BOOK ONLINE NOW. The last time they did this event, it sold out. Don’t miss out.

Follow Itis on Instagram.

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.