vegan UK

Some of the best vegan food in London

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It has been a long time since I last said hello to them but my visit to the Just Fab double decker food bus on Hackney Road yesterday reminded me why this unique Italian restaurant is serving up some of the best vegan food in the UK.

Laura, Jonas, Josh and I all piled into the bus for some long overdue eating and we didn’t show any restraint. We got one of everything that we damn well wanted and our table was rammed solid with delicious comfort cuisine.

Laura and Jonas were visiting from LA and they couldn’t talk highly enough of the Just Fab menu. That is saying huge things when you consider all the vegan treats they have back home.

Follow Just Fab on Instagram and click here to see their exact location thanks to Google Maps.

Now, the food photos!

Stunning #vegan cheeseburger at @just_fab_vegitalian

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Next level polenta dish at @just_fab_vegitalian on Hackney Road. #vegan

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The panelle at @just_fab_vegitalian are SO TASTY. #vegan

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The lasagne at @just_fab_vegitalian is NEXT LEVEL. #vegan

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Beer list LVBF 2017

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I can hardly believe this incredible list of beers that have been pulled together for the 5th annual London Vegan Beer Fest this Saturday (July 15, 2017), so I’ll forgive you if it makes you a bit overexcited.

Sink your teeth into this 60 beer strong list. It is simply incredible.

We have kegs. We have casks. We have cans. And we have a hell of a lot of beer.

With three exclusive areas for you to explore, including a sit down restaurant with wine bar and beer tap takeover, London Vegan Beer Fest is a party that cannot be missed.

Online tickets bought in advance are just £5 plus tiny booking fee. If we have any tickets remaining on the day, they are £9 at the gate. Book your cheap tickets online now.

Now, check out this mammoth list.

INDOOR BEER HALL (run by Brass Castle Brewery, Malton, Yorkshire)

ALPHABET BREWING – A to the K – Oatmeal Pale – 5.6% ABV (keg) – fresh hops and tropical fruit
BAD SEED – Hustler – Pale Ale – 4.4% ABV (cask) – massive citrus hit with grapefruit, mango & pine
BRASS CASTLE – Bad Kitty – Vanilla Porter – 5.5% ABV (keg) – a chewy chocolate-vanilla dream of a porter
BRASS CASTLE – Bad Kitty – Vanilla Porter – 5.5% ABV (can) – gluten free version of the above
BRASS CASTLE – Brass Lager – 5.3% ABV (keg) – malt-forward Vienna lager with a brass hue
BRASS CASTLE – Enzed Red – Amber Ale – 6.4% ABV (cask) – balanced red ale w/ NZ Rakau & Waimea hops
BRASS CASTLE – Frambunctious – Raspberry Ale – 4.0% ABV (cask) – classic flavour with a raspberry hit
BRASS CASTLE – Helles Lager – 4.4% ABV (cans) – gluten free Munich-style Helles lager
BRASS CASTLE – Helles Lager Orange Blossom edition – 4.4% ABV (keg) – new take on a classic
BRASS CASTLE – Hoptical Illusion – Pale Ale – 4.3% ABV (keg&can) – gluten free hop forward pale ale
BRASS CASTLE – Misfit – Pale Ale – 4.3% ABV (cask) – bursting with juicy citrus and ripe peach
BRASS CASTLE – Sunshine IPA – 5.7% ABV (cans) – SIBA 2013 ‘Champion Beer for the North East of England’
BRASS CASTLE/WILDE CHILD – Vociferous Agreement – Triple IPA – 10% ABV (keg) – a Leeds collaboration
BREW YORK – Maris the Otter – Bitter – 3.9% ABV (cask) – modern take on a classic British bitter
MAGIC ROCK – Inhaler – IPA – 4.5% ABV (keg) – pale ale with low bitterness and lots of juiciness
MAGIC ROCK – Common Grounds – Coffee Porter – 5.4% ABV (keg) – decadent coffee beer with toffee notes
MARBLE BREWERY – Brett the Hitman Tart – 5.0% ABV – 100% brett-fermented, lightly tart/dry finish
TINY REBEL – Clwb Tropicana – Pale Ale – 5.5% ABV (keg) – super juicy American hops amplified topical fruit flavours
WILD BEER CO – Fresh – Pale Ale – 5.5% ABV (keg) – a fragrant pale ale with hops from two hemispheres
WILD BEER CO – Bibble – Pale Ale – 4.2% ABV (cask) – moreish bitterness with tropical tastiness

OUTDOOR BEER MARKET

BEERBLEFISH: all vegan craft brewery from Edmonton, North London exploring modern hops.

DELTAFISH – APA – 5.2% ABV (cask) – delicious delta hops with a hint of cascade
ESB – 4.8% ABV (keg) – A rich dark special ale, full of British hops and finished with NZ Dr. Rudi
Black Beerble – Stout – 5.0% ABV (keg) – chocolate & crystal, finished with a handful of Bramling Cross

BUMBLEBEE CIDER: made from British apples, paying homage to the bees doing all the hard work!

Hard Cider (original) – 4.5% ABV (500ml bottle) – medium-dry, lightly sparkling. Robust and complex tannic structure, rolling from sweet to dry with a sun-baked West Country aroma
Regatta Strawberry & Mint Cider – 4.0% ABV (500ml bottle) – medium Somerset cider twisted with strawberries and a hint of garden mint. Unmistakably cider – with a summer twist. Enjoy chilled and for a real treat, add some ice and chopped fruit (available)
BumbleBee Gribble – 1 pint/2 pint cartons – 4.8% ABV – Medium-dry easy drinking still hazy somerset cider. Inspired by long, hot lazy days in the Westcountry

CLARKSHAWS: microbrewery in Brixton, London doing modern takes on classic British beers.

New World American Pale Ale – 4.3% ABV (cask) – hoppy American pale ale, with tropical fruits and mango flavour
Cloudy Ginger Beer – 0% ABV (cask) – alcohol free, traditional, homemade & fiery ginger beer
Hellhound British IPA – 5.5% ABV (keg) – spicy with hints of citrus orange and caramel
Coldharbour Hell Yeah! Lager – 5.3% ABV (keg) – winner of the SIBA SE Region Premium Lager & Pilsner Bronze Medal 2016, this is a flavourful craft lager with a sweet honeysuckle and elderflower taste
A Darker Hell Dark Lager – 4.5% ABV (keg) – crisp but with hints of chocolate
Strange Brew Pale Ale – 4.0% ABV (bottle) – our award- winning pale ale with a hoppy floral flavour from UK cascade hop
Gorgons Alive – 4.0% ABV (bottle) – golden bitter, summery, spicy and refreshing

MONCADA: Ingredients are sourced within 100 miles from London for this Notting Hill brewery.

Notting Hill Blonde – 4.2% ABV (keg) – continental-style yellow beer with fruity hoppiness
Saison – 4.8% ABV (keg) – a mouthful of earthy, spicy and floral flavours
Notting Hill Ruby Rye – 5.2% ABV (keg) – robust ale with a fruity hop aroma
Imperial Custard Stout – 9.5% ABV (keg) – chocolate creaminess with decadent, velvety tones

MOOR BEER: Bristol-based brewery focussing on vegan modern real ales.

So’Hop – 4.1% ABV (keg) – pale ale brewed with Australian hops
Claudia – 4.5% ABV (keg) – hoppy wheat beer
Stout – 5% ABV (keg) – classic stout
Return of the Empire – 5.7% ABV (keg) – New World style hops with high levels of alpha acids
Guardian of Peace – 7% ABV (keg) – IPA celebrating the light side of the force
Agent of Evil – 7% ABV (keg) – black IPA celebrating the dark side of the force

THREE HILLS: Small batch nano brewery based in Northamptonshire.

Thai-PA – 5.4% ABV (keg) – a lemongrass, kaffir lime and ginger infused pale ale
New World IPA 3 – 6.7% ABV (keg) – a New England style IPA with Mosaic and Galaxy hops
South Pacific Hefeweizen – 5.2% ABV (keg) – wheat beer with hops from Australia & New Zealand
Raspberry Hefeweizen – 5.6% ABV (keg) – wheat beer infused with raspberries
Uisce Beatha – 7.7% ABV (keg) – Irish coffee for breakfast stout
Veda: Sorachi Ace – 6.2% ABV (keg) – single hop west coast IPA
Herb Ale: Celini’s Gold – 5.8% ABV (keg) – unhopped gruit w/ lemon balm, lemon thyme and lemon verbena
Herb Ale: Dark Destroyer – 6.2% ABV (keg) – unhopped dark gruit w/ vanilla, cardamom & mother wort
Herb Ale: Ooo Mary – 5.8% ABV (keg) – unhoped sour gruit with rosemary, yarrow and lemon thyme

TWISTED BARREL ALES: Coventry-based brewery mixing modern and classic styles and methods.

Detroit Sour City – 4.5% ABV (keg) – a thirst quenching, fruity sour beer. Kettle soured for a deliciously tart acidity, then dry hopped with Rakau and Equinox hops for a tropical citrus flavour
Kachirho – 5.0% ABV (keg) – a modern day pale, brewed with Mosaic, Simcoe and Equinox hops for an explosive mango & grapefruit flavour, with a full body thanks to the liberal use of oats & wheat in the mash
Saison From Another Place – 5.5% ABV (keg) – a Belgian farmhouse ale, brewed with dried elderflower & peppercorns for a floral, spicy flavour that blends with the characteristics of the funky Belgian yeast
Oblivion – 6.0% ABV (keg) – a heavily hopped porter, with a distinct coffee flavour from the use of roasted malts, which is paired with a grapefruit hop finish from the Cascade, Chinook and Columbus hops
Sine Qua Non – 4.5% ABV (keg) – session IPA – a dry, refreshing IPA with a tropical citrus flavour
Tymor Rhiwbob – 5.3% ABV (keg) – rhubarb, Beetroot and Orange Saison – the perfect summery beverage, tart rhubarb, orange on the nose and a dry, refreshing finish
Jack The DIPA – 8.0% ABV (keg) – fruit Oat Double IPA – a beast of an IPA, brewed with guava puree and orange zest for a full on tropical fruit flavour

AUTUMN YARD TAP TAKEOVER

40FT brewery: Local brewery operating out of a shipping container in Dalston.

Larger – 4.8% ABV (keg) – a hoppy version of the German style Kölsch, but unfiltered. Similar to a lager but larger in flavour. Brewed with a new hop from the States called Lemon Drop
Disco Pils – 4.8% ABV (keg) – a very fresh and crisp pale ale inspired by a German pils. Brewed with whole Hüll Melon only to give it a fruity, hoppy aroma
Päle – 4.1% ABV (keg) – a hoppy American style Pale Ale with the flavour of Summer with UK & US hops
Street Weiss – 5.2% ABV (keg) – a hefeweizen with banana and melon notes

If this impressive beer list tickles your fancy, you also be delighted to know we have seven superstar vegan street food vendors. Read about the food line up here. So much food!

London Vegan Beer Fest takes place at Hackney Downs Studios between 11am and 8pm on Saturday July 15, 2017. You can RSVP and invite friends over on the Facebook event page.

Extra notes:

Take part in Charioke (charity + karaoke) at London Vegan Beer Fest. If you enjoy singing or have a good time watching those that sing, please toss a few coins into our collection bucket. All money raised is being donated directly to Isla Urbana, a charity building clean water collection infrastructure in Mexico.

LVBF Hangover Special gives you 10% discount at 7 leading vegan businesses around London on Sunday July 16, 2017 if you are still wearing your London Vegan Beer Fest wristband. See the full list of participating businesses.

Vegan menu one day only

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If you need another convincing reason to come along to London Vegan Beer Fest this Saturday (July 15, 2017), the fact that we have a gorgeous restaurant on site serving ONLY those attending the event should do the trick. No outsiders!

Autumn Yard is the permanent on site restaurant for Hackney Downs Studios and they have agreed to turn 100% vegan for the day of the beer fest as they become one of our three exclusive spaces for the day.

And it’s not just food they will be offering up. They will be hosting an exclusive beer tap takeover by locals 40FT  Brewery, a vegan wine bar, and of course their regular café serving coffee and tea. All vegan and all just for London Vegan Beer Fest attendees!

Let’s break down the info a little into smaller chunks as we explore what is happening inside Autumn Yard this Saturday.

The food menu

  • Chilli Burger, with Slaw & Sweet Potato fries and a beer of your choice 13.95
  • Cheese Burger, with Slaw & Sweet Potato fries and a beer of your choice 13.95
  • Chargrill Butternut Squash, Promegrante, Turmeric & beetroot Hummus. 8.95
  • Baked flat bread bowl with a Tomato, Black Lentil Tabbouleh. 7.95
  • Mixed Colour Quinoa Grain Bowl, with Tender Stem Broccoli, Sweet Potato, Tahini & Soy Dressing 6.95
  • Brownie & Ice Cream 4.95
  • Chocolate Pot 2.95

The Wine Bar

White

  • Il Meridione Grillo, IGT Terre Siciliane Italy 2016
  • False Bay Wild Yeast Chenin Blanc, Coastal Region South Africa 2016
  • Les Mains Noires, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Vallée de l’Agly France 2015
  • Etnico Sauvignon Blanc [organic] Chile 2016
  • K-Naia Verdejo Spain 2015
  • Sepp Grüner Veltliner [organic] Austria 2016

Red

  • Ca’ di Ponti Nero d’Avola, IGT Terre Siciliane Italy 2015
  • Pedrera Monastrell Spain 2015
  • Conviviale Primitivo, IGT Salento Italy 2015
  • Adobe Reserva Malbec, Rapel Valley (organic) Chile 2016
  • Savoir-Faire d’Autrefois Mourvèdre, Pays d’Oc France 2013
  • Amauta Absoluto Tannat Argentina 2016

Rosé

  • Ancora Rosato, Monferrato Chiaretto Italy 2016
  • Circumstance Cape Coral Mourvèdre Rosé (biodynamic) South Africa 2016

Sparkling

  • Durello Spumante Brut ‘Palladiano’ Italy
  • Le Dolci Colline Prosecco Spumante Brut Italy
  • Emiliana Organic Sparkling Wine Chile

The Beer Tap Takeover

  • Larger 4.8% ABV: A hoppy version of the German style Kölsch, but unfiltered. Similar to a lager but larger in flavour. Brewed with a new hop from the States called Lemon Drop.
  • Päle 4.1% ABV: A hoppy American style Pale Ale with the flavour of Summer with a mix of UK and US hops.
  • Street Weiss 5.2% ABV: A hefeweizen with banana and melon notes.
  • Disco Pils 4.8% ABV: Crisp Pale Ale inspired by a German Pils. Brewed with Hüll Melon only, to give it a fruity hoppy aroma.

Wow! All of this goodness is available exclusively for London Vegan Beer Fest so do not show up at Autumn Yard without a ticket this Saturday.

In addition to this glorious sit down restaurant space with wine, beer and cocktails, we also have a giant indoor beer hall powered by Brass Castle Brewery and an outdoor market featuring seven breweries from around the country (including cider!) and multiple vegan street food vendors. You can see the full list of breweries and food vendors here.

You can take time out from all this drinking and eating in our exclusive karaoke parlour.

Access all of this for just £5 plus tiny booking fee if you buy your ticket in advance online.

Click here to book.

If we don’t sell out in advance, tickets are £9 on the door.

You can RSVP to the London Vegan Beer Fest Facebook event page.

Extra special note: on the day after London Vegan Beer Fest, anyone still wearing their event wristband can enjoy 15% off their food bill at Autumn Yard. Perfect recovery value! Don’t take off your wristband and save on hangover lunch.

Visit Autumn Yard online.


Get discount at vegan places

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How about saving 10% off your bill at a handful of vegan places around London on Sunday July 16, 2017?

This is a simple little special offer that will have you grinning.

As you know (because I harass you daily about it) London Vegan Beer Fest is taking place this week on Saturday. It’s set to be a beer, cider, wine and street food extravaganza that you will adore.

Read about the brewery and food line up here.

But what about the discount of which I spoke?

A handful of vegan businesses around London are taking part in LVBF Hangover Special the day after London Vegan Beer Fest.

How does it work? On Sunday July 16, 2017 anyone still wearing their London Vegan Beer Fest entry wristband will receive a 10% discount off their bill at the following businesses:

  • Ms Cupcake – the absolutely legendary Brixton bakery is the place to get sweet treats such as cupcakes and tray bakes as you try to get back on track for the week ahead. Follow Ms Cupcake on Instagram.
  • What the Pitta! – is their a better hangover food than a vegan doner kebab? This Shoreditch eatery will be your best friend after a day of drinking. Follow What the Pitta! on Instagram.
  • GreenBay Supermarket – this fabulous vegan grocery store in west London has everything you need to make your own hangover meal including bacon, chocolate and ice cream! Follow GreenBay on Instagram.
  • Picky Wops – just a few minutes walking from GreenBay, this gourmet pizza outlet could possibly be the place that saves you after too much partying. Follow Picky Wops on Instagram.
  • Vx – this old school legendary King’s Cross vegan grocery store, hot food outlet, and boutique has EVERYTHING you need to recover from London Vegan Beer Fest. Get a hot sandwich from the deli, supplies to make your own meal, and a cool t-shirt so you look good as you get refreshed. Follow Vx on Instagram.
  • Black Cat Café – this is one of the finest places to et vegan food in London and just happens to be walking distance from the London Vegan Beer Fest venue. Follow Black Cat on Instagram.
  • Temple of Hackney – the instantly legendary vegan fried chicken shop in Hackney Central is joining the LVBF Hangover Special. Is there anything more perfect for your recovery? Follow Temple of Seitan on Instagram.

Show up, order a bunch of stuff, and shake your wristband at your server for a 10% discount. This is a great way to save a little bit of money while supporting independent vegan businesses. Everyone wins as you recover from your London Vegan Beer Fest hangover.

Yay for vegan savings!

To get a wristband to use on Sunday for discounts, you of course first need come to London Vegan Beer Fest this Saturday.

Click here to buy your tickets now and RSVP to the Facebook event page.

FED by Water still amazing

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I visited vegan Italian restaurant FED by Water for the first time today in over six months and I’m delighted to report back that the food is still as incredible as ever.

Josh and I were blown away the pizza and bread basket. The portions are mammoth and we really struggled to fit it all in… but we did, of course!

It was also a lovely surprise to see the pizza named after me still on the menu.

Follow FED by Water on Instagram and then check out photos from my experience earlier today.

Sitting outside at @fedbywater waiting on some #vegan Italian food! #London

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TFW you see a pizza named after you in a #vegan restaurant. Get into @fedbywater for a taste of Fat Gay Vegan.

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Ridiculously tasty pizza and salad combination at @fedbywater in London. #vegan

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Beer and food line up

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Huge announcement for attendees of London Vegan Beer Fest on July 15, 2017.

Say hello to you brewery line up. It is mammoth.

Moor Beer Co – Bristol’s finest crash landing at our event!

Brass Castle Brewery – the one and only superstar brewery coming out of Yorkshire

Clarkshaws Brewing – get a taste of south London

Three Hills Brewing – small batch brewing out of Northamptonshire

40FT Brewery – getting local with these brewers from Dalston doing a tap takeover in the restaurant

Beerblefish Brewing – north London beer producers with taste big enough for the entire city

Twisted Barrel Ale – handcrafted in the heart of Coventry

Moncada Brewery – west London producers who are seasoned LVBF participants

BumbleBee Cider – vegans without cider is not right so this South Oxfordshire producer is coming on board

Full drinks list to be published in the coming days.

Also, we are not just about beer and cider. We pay as much attention to what you are eating. Look at this fabulous vegan food selection.

Lazy Boy Kitchen – Mac n cheese with bacon bits | chilli cheese fries | mac n cheese spring rolls

Club Mexicana – BBQ pulled jackfruit burritos (GF option) | tofish tacos (GF option) | deep fried cheeze fries

Arancini Brothers – One Tasty Vegan burger | risotto balls (GF)

Young Vegans – Seitan & ale pie | Sweet potato pie (GF) | Curry pie | All day breakfast pie | Peanut butter mud pie brownie (GF)

Battered – Vegan fish | Battered Pie | Battered sausage | Mushy peas | Pickled onion | Pickled gherkins | Tartare sauce

Peanut Butter Bakery – Fried donuts

Vegan Delice – Tray bakes | Cupcakes

Autumn Yard – Sit down restaurant service | Wine bar | Cocktails

This is seriously the vegan party of the year with the drink and food menus to match.

London Vegan Beer Fest has three massive spaces to explore:

  1. Indoor beer hall run by superstar vegan brewery Brass Castle of Yorkshire plus a karaoke parlour ALL DAY!
  2. Outdoor beer market with vegan street food
  3. Indoor sit down restaurant with wine and cocktail bar… plus more beer options

Every single item served on the day is vegan. OF COURSE.

You can buy a cheap early bird ticket now. We have already sold a whole bunch but if you are quick, you can get yours for just £5 plus a small booking fee. Once these are gone, second release tickets are £7 plus fee. If we have any tickets remaining on the day, they will be £9 on the gate.

Book your tickets now!

Don’t hate me if you leave it to the last minute and the event sells out. We do have a capacity and we will likely reach it.

If you use Facebook, take the time to RSVP to the event page and use the invite button to alert your friends and enemies. A cheeky little share on your timeline would also be greatly appreciated.

You can follow Vegan Beer Fest UK accounts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay updated.

See you at London Vegan Beer Fest!

Extra note: tickets are also selling strongly for the first ever Sheffield Vegan Beer Fest on July 29, 2017. RSVP here and book tickets.

Vegan fried chicken

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Even though I first reported the opening of vegan fried chicken shop Temple of Hackney back at the beginning of the year, I only got to eat with the business for the first time a few days ago.

This isn’t so much a review as it is a love letter.

Temple of Hackney is the food business of my dreams. What they are doing is the definition of groundbreaking and there is nobody on the planet doing what they do to this level.

The menu is outstanding and irresistible.

Crispy chips. Juicy seitan with crunchy coating. Gravy pots. Vegan chicken poppers. Burgers.

Every single item is world class and Temple of Hackney is one of the finest vegan food outlets on the planet. No debate.

Follow them on Instagram and eat with them as soon and as often as you can.

Want to be happy? Get the mac n cheese from @templeofseitan in Hackney. #vegan

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Get a fried #vegan chicken burger from @templeofseitan and your life will improve.

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Vegan recipe box hits UK

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Have you often felt as though the only thing missing in your life was a vegan recipe and ingredients box?

Well, you can sleep well tonight because you can now buy one. Like, today!

From today (3rd July, 2017) UK residents can order PlantCurious, the UK’s first exclusively plant-based recipe boxes, directly to their homes.

The boxes, which have been designed to make it easy for people to make delicious wholesome plant-based meals, have been curated by the innovative new plant-based business PlantCurious.

PlantCurious boxes are available to order throughout the UK and first 100 boxes are available at an introductory price of £35.

The first box includes ingredients and recipes to make a Sumurai Miso Ramen, Ruby Vurry and Loaded Sweet Pots.

PlantCurious Co-Founder Angela Gawor adds: “We kept trying recipe boxes and none of them got the the concept of plant-based. We became fed up of receiving recipe cards telling us to just leave out ingredients.”

“One supplier even sent us cheese and yogurt wrapped in sheep’s skin. Plant-based food isn’t about leaving stuff out it’s about embracing all the amazing vegetables out there and making them the centrepiece not the side dish.”

To start with, availability is limited, with 100 boxes available to order from 3rd July online (that’s today!).

South London café turns vegan

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With chef’s hailing from Brazil, Portugal & the Caribbean, the team at Café Van Gogh are on a mission to bring original, authentic, home-cooked, 100% vegan dishes to customers. Their Sunday roast has already been featured in Metro’s best places for vegan Sunday roasts while profits from the café are reinvested into employability training, work experience programmes and food workshops for marginalised members of the local community. Café Van Gogh’s unpretentious, welcoming atmosphere paired with good value, hearty cuisine is attracting foodies from far and wide.

Café Van Gogh’s founder Steve Clarke is keen to democratise access to healthier options for all. After leaving a career in in social care, Clarke intentionally set up shop in an ethnically diverse and densely populated low-income area of south London, making fresh, affordable, plant-based meals accessible to surrounding locals as well as hardcore vegan converts.

Consumer demand for healthier vegan options is undeniable; but so is the demand for great taste. Café Van Gogh’s new summer menu wins on both counts featuring:

  • Sticky seitan ribs, with potato and pickled onion salad, grilled corn, “bacon” butter.
  • Sri-Lankan jackfruit and aubergine stuffed chapatti, served with dhal, pineapple chutney & a selection of salads.
  • Jerk plantain served with smoky beans, brown rice, mango salsa.

Steve said:

We can’t wait to share our new dishes with food lovers in London & beyond. Going 100% vegan is close to my heart and a lifestyle choice I believe in wholeheartedly, but this this isn’t just a personal decision; more and more customers have been asking for it. It’s just plain common sense to serve this demand. For me, the best bit is being proud of a menu that’s so full of real flavour. It seems to hook everyone, regardless of your diet choice.

The sentiment is shared by the café’s loyal customers across social media:

“I’m coming to my sticky seitan ribs today! So thrilled to have such a wonderful, tasty, vibey vegan place on my doorstep. – Jasmine Pender, local resident & customer

As a social enterprise, Café Van Gogh invests the profits made from café sales into dedicated food workshops, training and employability opportunities for marginalised members of the local community in Brixton.

To date social impact activities have included:

  • Providing chef and kitchen staff apprenticeships to NEETs
  • Welcoming field trips from the local primary schools, hosting experiential workshops where the kids taste and explore how raw nutritious ingredients transform into the deliciously diverse menu.
  • Offering a work experience programme to teenagers with learning difficulties from Highshore School putting them on the front line of food prep & customer service.

Café Van Gogh is supported by Big Issue Invest which supports a number of social enterprise organisations tackling poverty and disadvantage.

Café Van Gogh wants to say thank you to the loyal customers that have supported the café over the last year.

To celebrate going 100% vegan and the new summer menu, Café Van Gogh will be rewarding weekly surprise gifts to customers that post about the restaurant or snap their favourite dishes from the menu across Facebook, Twitter & Instagram using the hashtag #CafeVanGoghLDN from 1st – 31st July. More info can be found here.

You can visit Van Gogh Café online. Follow the café on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The closest Underground station is Oval. You can see the exact location of the café here thanks to Google Maps.

New vegan burger bar for London

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London. You are on a roll.

A brand new vegan burger business is set to open on July 1, 2017 (this Saturday!) in Camden Market and the food sounds and looks lovely.

VBurger is the brainchild of north Londoners Reuven Cohen and Amir Wayman, who have teamed up with chef Yossi Edri to open their first vegan burger bar in Camden Market.

The pair state that this is only the first of several VBurger outlets they plan to open, so it definitely feels as though London has some special to look forward to.

The menu being launched in Camden includes a beetroot burger, a falafel burger and a seitan cutlet burger. You can dress your burger up with vegan cheese or avocado and make a complete meal with skin-on fries, sweet potato wedges, coleslaw and decadent brownies.

Even better news involves the menu expanding some time after opening to include another five burgers.

This is fabulous news for vegan Londoners. We get a fast food burger joint from this Saturday and it looks like it is going to be a big deal. Get along 7 days a week between 10am and 7pm.

Follow VBurger on Facebook and Instagram.