As the next London Vegan Potluck comes hurtling toward us, I have the pleasure of announcing the sponsor of next week’s event.
vegetarian
I went to the water’s edge
Summer is almost upon the UK. I think if I keep repeating this statement like a mantra, it will eventually come true. When it does, I am heading back to the Town Wharf for a vegan beverage.
There are many places to consume alcohol around London. Online sources swing wildly in their estimates, with the average number being somewhere in the region of 7000.
I don’t think I will ever drink in more than a few per cent of these establishments and the chances of me spreading the FGV love around is even slimmer with the discovery of the Town Wharf pub in Isleworth.
This Samuel Smith pub is situated in a visually-stunning location in the west of London. Gorgeous views of the River Thames and passing wildlife make this a must-see for visitors and locals alike.
T.O.F.U. is good for you
One of the most amazing things about being vegan for this FGV is the wealth of knowledge, expertise and inspiration I draw from like-minded individuals. If someone wants to give me some advice, I’m all chubby ears.
In what is to become a regular feature of this blog, I recently connected with T.O.F.U. magazine editor Ryan Patey to see if he would share with FGV readers some of his insights into independent publishing, transitioning to veganism and how people can get hold of his amazing magazine.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the first of what I hope will be many FGV interviews designed to highlight the wealth of knowledge within the vegan community.
Also, if you have a favourite vegan writer, blogger or personality you would like to hear from, please leave a comment and I will do my best to track them down.
‘Til I’m fit to burst
What will you travel long distances for?
Some people will sit on a train for hours just to take in the wonders of an art gallery at the other end. Individuals will fly half way around the globe to spend time with loved ones. What does a FGV make the effort for? Music and food, of course.
It was these two top hobbies of eating and listening that resulted in me traveling to Brighton last week. Gene, one of my favourite bands of all time, disbanded many years ago and their former lead singer is only now returning to organised solo performing. Martin Rossiter was booked to appear at the Brighton Unitarian Church and I just had to be there. Josh and I packed up the car and made haste to the iconic seaside town.
We arrived to our destination with several hours to spare, so of course we hunted down the nearest food outlet serving vegan dishes. The Brighton Loving Hut supplied us with a feast consisting of a fry up, burger, chips and vegan candy.
Boutique in my backyard
How do you judge the appeal of a city? When and how does a location ‘arrive’ as an internationally-recognised destination?
Some people will hold a city up against an arts and culture criteria. It becomes relevant when it can be seen as a cultural hub. Natural attractions are a draw for many others. There is nothing like a stunning mountain range or miles of golden beaches nearby to pull the punters in. History is often used as a measuring device when considering the worth of a city. A long list of ancient curiosities will usually drive the worth of a city sky high.
But I have my own way to determine how world-class a city is… does it have a vegan boutique? Well, you can add London to the list of ‘made it’ cities based on the existence of the wholly-vegan store known as Vx.
If I could melt your heart
Summer is desperately trying to break through the clouds here in the UK. The stuttering arrival of the warmest season brings with it handy excuses to eat copious amounts of frozen treats. Frozen treats rarely get tastier than the daiquiri sorbet I recently discovered. Oh yes, you read correctly.
These tubs of ice cold delight will make you smile. It’s that simple.
Fry’s in a pickle
As many supermarkets and grocery store chains across the globe expand the choice of vegan products they offer, one leading UK health food retailer is seemingly going in the wrong direction.
A recent tweet from a FGV reader alerted me to the fact that UK High Street retailer Holland & Barrett will no longer be selling the Fry’s Vegetarian range of frozen food. This news is a huge shock for the UK vegan community. Fry’s produce the finest range of frozen vegan goods in the world. Holland & Barrett has over 500 stores in the UK, reaching millions of consumers up and down the country. Consumers who are now without easy access to a quality brand of cruelty-free foods.
Not a difficult choice
Life is full of choices.
I chose last year to relocate (once again) to Europe instead of choosing to remain in Australia. I choose not to buy or consume dairy products due of the mistreatment of animals exploited within the industry. Furthermore, I often choose to overeat sweet food because I’m a greedy fat, gay vegan.
These three choices of European living, dairy-free food and sugar over-consumption have recently merged into some sort of holy trinity of choice with the discovery of a delicious chocolate caramel product called Choices. See what I did there?
250 strokes to beat it, I just can’t wait to eat it
Following weeks of planning (mostly me harassing people via Twitter), the London Vegan Potluck took place last night. It was a fabulous success.
Held at the Ms. Cupcake store in Brixton, the potluck brought together vegans and non-vegans from all over London in a celebration of vegan food, vegan beer and fantastic people. Approximately 25 people gathered to try out dishes and drink beer kindly supplied by the good folk at Freedom Brewery.
The evening was a true community event. Old friends caught up and new friendships were cemented.
The selection of food on offer was wonderfully-diverse. Sweet cakes sat beside pasta specialties. Exotic salads jostled for attention with hearty stews. The choices were mind-boggling.
Brunch with a bang
Here is a quick post to get you over the midweek blues and get you ready for the weekend.
Regular readers will be all too familiar with my love affair with 222 Veggie Vegan, a superb vegan eatery located on North End Road in West Kensington. You will have read about my first visit here and probably also saw my detailing of a subsequent visit here. Now let us return once again to discover what my favourite London restaurant has on offer for weekend brunch.