There’s also the fact that when give the choice between the pub and blogging I think the former will almost always win, so that was my Wednesday. Yeah.

As usual the potluck was full of fabu people, excellent food, and lots of silliness. The new venue, near Holborn tube, is also much more central and has the potential to hold loads more people (and food). I’m going to miss the event being held at Ms Cupcake, however, just because they’re all so lovely and I’m a bit in love with Brixton.

Drooling from the other side of the camera

Stuffed Shells - a big hit

Quiche Broccoli from Vegan Brunch

Awesome, cool, beautiful people

I don’t think people realise  I spend most of my time by myself, indoors, working (I’m self-employed and work from home), so I don’t see a great deal of social contact outside of these events. My theory (excuse?) for my excitability when I’m out is I’m just getting it all out in one go. Anyway if you’ve noticed a short blondish girl with the dress sense of a toddler stealing food from your plate and/or randomly feeding you with fingers, my apologies.

SAF Kensington

http://www.safrestaurant.co.uk/

Lunch to Share

I met with a new friend (who I met via the amazing Ms Cupcake potlucks) and due to near starvation on his part we nearly left to go in search of one of London’s many vegan buffets. Alas, my ninny failing phone and its inability to tell me anything (don’t get a smartphone; they make you a stupidperson) and lack of decision-making skills naturally meant one thing: someone else had to be in charge of everything. So we stayed- mostly, I think, because my lunch companion wanted food pronto.

We decided to order a few different things to share, always a win-win when there are lots of drool worthy menu items. From the starters we chose the Mushroom Gyoza and the Saf Cheese Trio. Both were winners but the latter absolutely rocked the meal. I make a lot of cashew cheeses at home so my expectations were fairly high, but I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. The plate came with three varieties, a herb, tomato, and olive cheese (if I remember correctly). All were equally good in my mind. I’m always doubtful of anything containing flax (I love what it does for baked goods, but if I can taste it then you can keep it all), but for some reason their raw flax crackers don’t have the same grassy flavour. Orange and yellow pepper coulis garnished the plate, along with a jam and fresh herbs. It’s pricey at £14.80, but a treat worth the splurge.

The gyoza was also tasty, but a little misleading. The menu describes it as “wrapped in bean curd,” but it was steamed in ordinary flour dumpling pastry. Our server informed us the change was due to the curd not holding up as well, which I can understand having worked with yuba myself (assuming that’s what they were using). The shiitake mushroom filling still stood out (how could anything with shiitakes not?) but I’d have loved to, purely out of curiosity, see how they made the soy based version.

I was a big fan of the Pad Thai on Manna‘s old menu, so the same stood out immediately on SAF’s menu. Plus our server  recommended it as his favourite, so that’s what we opted to try. Dressed in a creamy chipotle sauce (not very spicy unless you choose to consume the chilies alongside), the dish came stacked with courgette noodles, thinly sliced carrot, fresh coriander and tomatoes, sprouts, peanuts, and what I’m assuming was mangetout. A cool addition to the plate was a few sheets of nori; my buddy had the smart idea of making little sushi rolls, which were ace. Totally worth ordering.

Dessert

For pudding we split a slice of the berry cheesecake, a creamy cashew based treat in a coconut crust with berry coulis. Some vegan cheesecakes are naff, but thankfully this was completely the opposite. I pretty much licked the plate (surprise from classy ol’ me).

Final Thoughts

Don’t discount raw food just because it sounds, well, like raw food. I’ve been happy with every raw meal out that I’ve tried, and SAF was no exception. I can’t wait to go back to try their Pho (And eff me, the Havana Daydreaming cocktail looks… dreamy!)

Two months ago I posted a review of October Café, expressing my excitement over London having another awesome vegan business. There are plenty of vegans with small businesses out there, whether as full time caterers or part time bakers, but actually opening and running a shop is beyond their means.

Sound familiar? If you’ve got a vegan mini-business or sideline money-bringer-inner and want to expand further for practically no layout, read on! This is a fantastic opportunity for vegans looking to sell their cruelty free goodies in a fabulous location, alongside equally fabulous people. Contact Peter at info@octobercafe.co.uk if you have any questions or want more details.

Redwood Foods sponsored the event, and the awesome Ms Cupcake crew (*ahem* Jayson‘s savoury cooking skills are on par with his baking abilities) threw together two fabulous trays using the new meatballs. One included a tomato based sauce with fresh basil and the other a rich onion gravy. A great big thanks to Redwood for the donation; they went down a treat.

One of my favourite food concepts was Fat Gay Vegan‘s chipotle popcorn with brown sugar. It’s totally going to hit my movie night snack list one night soon. Other grub on offer included the pita pockets above (yum), chai tea (double yum), dessert strawberry gazpacho, mini quiches, chocolate bonbons, an ace chickpea stew (bring on the chili!), pakoras with raita, sesame seitan, and loads more.

A massive thanks to the Ms Cupcake staff for opening up their space for the potluck. I can’t wait for the next one (and if you’re in London, vegan or not, you should be excited too. Come along!)

Brighton PPK Picnic

On Saturday we celebrated veganism some more with our third Post Punk Kitchen summer vegan picnic. Despite having met plenty of great folk (and made some BFFS) from these gatherings, I still get excited about the prospect of meeting other cool potential friends. This year’s picnic wasn’t disappointing in that respect.

Even if you’re shy and anxious, I encourage you to pluck up the courage and attend events like this. It’s such an overwhelming feeling to know you can eat everything there and the people surrounding you hold the same underlying views. Even when you don’t know everyone (or anyone), there’s a lot of comfort to be found at these gatherings.

Mestizo

http://london.mestizomx.com/

Starters

Panuchos at Mestizo

Panuchos: Two corn pastries topped with refried beans and marinated onion (£6.80).

I’m sorry, but corn tortillas beat their flour-based cousin’s arse in almost every way (save the godsend comfort food that is the burrito). Stuffed and smothered with refried black beans and sauce, topped with pickled red onions, they take tostadas up about a million levels. I can’t wait to try making my own version!

Taco Nopales at Mestizo

Taco Nopales: Two corn tortillas topped with tender cactus leaf and tomato, cilantro, onion, and japaneño chiles (£4.80).

Again with the tortillas. Admittedly this was my first taste of cactus, and I’ve got to say I’m a fan. I can only imagine if I ever tried it fresh from the source I’d praise it yet higher. Not at all spicy, not a chile in sight, these colorful little wraps come with a side of basic black bean sauce. I tried my best to be as British as possible, so ate them with a knife and fork (for real, this is the only country in the world where you might see people consume even burgers with cutlery).

Main

Molcajete Mestizo with Chipotle

Vegan Molcajete: …mixed grilled vegetables, spring onions, cilantro and avocado and your choice of salsa roja, tomatillo, mole or chipotle (£19.40 for two).

The molcajete is Mexico’s answer to the pestle and mortar, a stone recepticle for grinding foods and preparing condiments. Additionally, as in Mestizo, the container can be used as cookware for stews.

At £9.80 per person for a minimum of two servings (including a stack of warm flour tortillas- they offered us more when we ran out), this bubbling pot could easily feed a third starving dining companion.

Molcajete Mestizo

We ordered the chipotle version and while it was spicy, it wasn’t over the top (in fact it was about the perfect level of spice for me). You might need a glass or ten of something cold to wash away the heat, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Inside the pot was a selection of cactus leaf, avocado, and a variety of other vegetables (including a gigantic submerged and uncuttable spring onion), topped with a stack of fresh coriander. I think I probably say this every time I enjoy a meal, with good reason because it’s true, but I’ve been craving this every day since I had it.

Final Thoughts

All American expats in London should already be on the phone booking a table, but if not then I implore you to consider Mestizo sometime soon. If you like Latin flavours you’ll love this London gem. My only complaints involve a sometimes over-eager table service, a bit too speedy on the dish takeaway without first checking if you’re finished (though this did improve with the main course). I’d also like to see jugs of water on the table as opposed to tiny water glasses (it would save staff time and effort running around to give refills all the time).

Finally I hope Mestizo will both add the vegan menu to its website and remove honey from one of its listed vegan salads (maybe they have- I didn’t enquire). It’s not a restaurant vegans are talking about and it should be, but without making the menu public the so-called London vegan Mexican menu remains to many more of a rumour than an absolute fact. If you agree then please consider contacting them to request they add the vegan menu to their website.

The food itself was absolutely flawless. I can’t wait to go back.

Jayson's Spanish "chicken," Lentil and Buckwheat cakes, Macaroni Cheese, and Chips

At any rate Paul is off work this week so we decided to head up to the city for the day, and I’m beyond glad we did. The spread was good enough to eat (and eat it I did) and it was nice to see some familiar faces (a shout out to the To Happy Vegans girls, who are adorable) and meet some new people (who it turns out aren’t always as scary I play them out in my head to be).

I know every vegan says it at every vegan event and every vegan restaurant, but there’s nothing like being able to look at a selection of food and know you can eat every single thing in front of you. Vegan Bear‘s Spanish “chicken” was one of my savoury favourites, with Peter’s (owner of October Cafe, another must in London) frangipane tart a front-runner in the desserts category. Other favourites from other contributors: the fruit and chocolate pie in a coconut crust, cinnamon doughnut muffins, home made ciabatta, space invader chocolates (by ChocoAGoGo), and a tempeh dish (a soy product I could just eat raw I love it so much). I didn’t get around to trying everything, unfortunately, as my stomach was approaching explosion by the time I rolled out the door.

Space Invader Chocolates by ChocoAGoGo

A massive thank you to Sweetbird for providing enough free smoothies for attendees to sample multiple flavours; I think I’m a little bit in love. I’ve been a fan of their coffee syrups for years and the smoothies are equally fabulous.

Browse below for more pictures!

From left to right: Jojo (veganinbrighton.blogspot.com), Me, Holley

First of all, a huge thanks to both everyone who came by and supported the cause and to the generous bakers who donated their time and efforts. It was a great day, a huge success, and we sold out completely by 4:30 in the afternoon. The total amount raised was £480, which will be split between Sea Shepherd and the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service.

A great big thank you and shout out to Wai Kika Mu Kau Cafe in Kensington Gardens for generously providing the space for this charity fundraising event. They do a mean vegan breakfast, so if you’re ever in town and in need for a good meat free brekkie then I highly recommend you to check them out!

Goods on offer

We were selling by 10am, and immediately at a good rate. Goods for sale included a variety of cupcakes, including donations by the lovely Ms Cupcake and the Operation Icing not-for-profit business- raspberry, Earl Grey, Crunchie, peanut butter chocolate, and peppermint were just some of the flavours on offer. Along with cupcakes, Operation Icing also contributed agave banana breads, courgette (zucchini) muffins, brownies and more.

My donations included giant peanut butter cookies (also popular), gingerbread biscotti, baked bean and cheezly pasties, gluten free chocolate chip cookies, and pressed Scottish shortbread. Donations from other local vegan bakers included chocolate cake, awesome cookies, a gluten free vanilla coffee cake, peanut butter chocolate banana bread, mini filo quiches, and chocolate oat balls (yes, I said balls).

Daily highlights

The day started out with a laugh when, quite early on, a charming youth paraded through the street in that pompous chav march (you know, the one that makes someone look like they’re packing blow up their bum and are walking on needles whilst trying to keep their 5-sizes-too-big tracksuit bottoms up). “I can bake better cakes than that,” she boasted as she walked by. “Why don’t you go home and do that then?” was our friend Holley’s response, to which the girl assured us she would.

I hope I have the privilege of seeing her again in a few years’ time.

Another bright spot in the day was a North Laines worker’s request for one of the “magical sticks.” In hindsight I should have just ditched the gingerbread biscotti tags and hand printed new ones.

While there were still cupcakes available, a father stopped with his two girls. The younger daughter’s eyes grew huge as she stared up at the table of goodies, looking longingly as her father asked her whether she would rather have cake or sweeties. Naturally, being a smart kid, she was set on the former. He asked again to be sure, and she continued to insist on a cupcake. Behind the table we already knew the choice she’d made: surely she wasn’t the only one who could see the best of both worlds in the sweetie cupcake, an Operation Icing  cupcake topped with sweets! Children are smarter than we give them credit for sometimes.

A lot of people slowed down as they walked past, smiling and making a motion to their stomachs as they attempted to move on. “I’m on a diet” or “I’m stuffed from lunch” were frequent comments, but as soon as we implored them to have a closer look as it’s for charity nearly all of them came back. One woman’s response was a bright and cheerful “alright! Get fat for charity!” Personally I’m down with that slogan.

Sell Out

By 4pm the customer numbers were dwindling. There were no longer parents with youngsters in hand to drag them to the table, and dinnertime was approaching so most people were moving quickly home. At that point we bagged everything up and knocked all items down to a quid, which saw a big surge in customers once more. Alas, they cleared after five minutes, which left us no choice but to verbally accost passersby to buy the remaining goods. Our sound logic and exhaustion showed through by this hour, with classic lines such as Jojo’s shouting of “everything’s a quid! Buy cakes and save animals! Spend one pound and get free cake!”

It went from there to “Charity bake sale, everything’s a pound! End of the day sale!” and finally to “we’re cold and want to go to the pub so please just spend a quid so we can sell these last nine things!”

“I like ponies!” was my contribution, at which point Jojo very encouragingly patted me on the shoulder and said I almost had the right idea.

It was a brilliant day. Thanks again to all involved.

Get Involved

If you live locally and are interested in donating some baked goods for the cause, then please get in touch. Regardless, we want to see your faces! Yours truly will be there from 10am and I love meeting my readers, so come say hello! The location is in the North Laines part of town, outside of the vegetarian restaurant WaiKikaMooKau. I’ll be the clumsy one dressed like a toddler who raided someone’s nan’s wardrobe.

Even if you aren’t able to come spend your cash on cookies and cake (c’mon, you know you want to- it is for charity after all!), you can help get the word out by slapping one of the banners below on your own web site or blog. Just pick the size banner you want and copy and paste the code in the boxes below. Additionally there’s a pdf flyer designed by Jojo which you can download and send to all your buddies.

336 x 280 Large Rectangle

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2550/5703714316_8dc19f086c_o.gif" width="336" height="280" alt="Brighton Bake Sale Ad 336 x 280">

234 x 60 Half Banner

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5225/5703714382_7d794e4372_o.gif" width="234" height="60" alt="Brighton Bake Sale Ad 234 x 60">

160 x 600 Wide Skyscraper

<img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5067/5703714450_f143b9e35a_o.gif" width="160" height="600" alt="Brighton Bake Sale Ad 160 x 600">

468 x 60 Full Banner

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2573/5703146579_055c9423d2_o.gif" width="468" height="60" alt="Brighton Bake Sale Ad 468 x 60">

180 x 150 Rectangle (Two Styles)

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/5703714684_137d2a7066_o.gif" width="180" height="150" alt="Brighton Bake Sale Ad 180 x 150" alt="Brighton Bake Sale Ad 180 x 150">

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/5703727274_7a3d411020_o.gif" width="180" height="150" alt="Brighton Bake Sale Ad 180 x 150-02">

300 x 250 Medium Rectangle

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2484/5703714596_41f2e61d8b_o.gif" alt="Brighton Bake Sale Ad 300 x 250" width="300" height="250" /><br /> <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2484/5703714596_41f2e61d8b_o.gif" alt="Brighton Bake Sale Ad 300 x 250" width="300" height="250" />

Download the Flyer

October Cafe Vegan Patisserie

http://www.octobercafe.co.uk/

After cycling from near London Bridge to Old Street, using London’s cycle hire scheme, we were all fired up for some coffee and something sweet (any excuse for caffeine and sugar, really). I decided on the crostata di frutta (from £2.50) and Paul opted for the Dublin gur cake (£2.50), both excellent choices. The latter was a firm packed fruit cake, not overly sweet, a filling treat that would be perfect for a hiking or biking snack (hint: they do take-away). The fruit tart was divine. Topped with strawberries, blueberries, and kiwi fruit, it featured a creamy (but also not too sweet) base in a crispy tart crust. I’ve had this baby on my mind ever since.

Stop, Coffee Time!

A bit of a coffee nerd myself, I was also immeasurably impressed by Peter’s interest in serving the good stuff. We discussed a couple of roasters around town, agreed on the best of the best (Monmouth, naturally), and touched on the importance of espresso to milk ratio. Served in proportionally accurate cup sizes, I’m impressed by the dude’s budding barista skills and general knowledge (all too often it seems cafes think owning a branded espresso machine means they can make good coffee). There’s a choice of rice or soy milk for your drinks, with the added bonus of Bonsoy for a little extra (for those who haven’t heard of Bonsoy, it’s the absolute best soy milk for espresso based coffee drinks).

Final Thoughts

October Cafe left a very good taste in my mouth, both literally and figuratively. The owner is knowledgable and committed, and it’s always nice to see someone follow their dreams even when it might be difficult (anyone who thinks opening and running a business is easy needs a lesson in the real world). This is the sort of place where you can leave your politics behind and enjoy what must be London’s cheapest cream tea (and it’s a vegan cream tea to boot) in a beautifully decorated and enthusiastically run new London vegan hotspot.

The Prince George Pub

I’m not a fan of all-out negative restaurant reviews; if a restaurant doesn’t impress then I’d simply rather focus my energy recommending one that does. But then I remembered something that stood out to me in Diane Jacob’s Will Write For Food: “The bottom line is your loyalty to the consumer, not the restaurant.”

I think this is something the general consumer would be interested in hearing, and should hear. I’m vegan and so are a lot of my readers. Some have gluten or dairy intolerances, others have nut allergies, and I’m sure there’s a whole realm of no-go food areas I’m missing that would send some of you into hospital. My point, of course, is you understand how big a deal it is when you’re told something is suitable when it’s quite blatantly not.

The George has switched hands a couple of times over the last year or two, or so the rumour mill has it anyway, and its reputation took a dive as a result. From popular vegetarian pub to non-vegan-friendly gastro pub, it’s now got a much more vegan friendly menu under its latest management. This place used to be one of Brighton’s best, so we wanted to give it another chance, with the genuine hope it would be restored to even half its former glory.

I can’t fault the presentation, and for pub grub it was average. I’d almost go as far as saying it was palatable.

Almost. Palatable is an adjective which hardly describes a lunch that lands one of its consumers in hospital.*

As someone who eschews animal products, I’d be incredibly upset should someone feed me one. The thing is, it wouldn’t kill me. It would be morally reprehensible, sure, but I’d get over it. Feeding nuts to someone with a nut allergy doesn’t work quite the same, however. That’s messing with someone’s life.

If this pub doesn’t place food allergies at the top of its priority list then I don’t trust much else they have to say either. For this reason I’d recommend people avoid The Prince George in Brighton. I can’t comfortably eat a meal at an establishment that can’t get something as basic as food allergies down because, on top of being flat out wrong, it makes me wonder what else they’re not telling me.

After being sick 3 times in the pub toilets, we left so my friend could go rest. An hour later they had to go to A&E. She was very ill, all over an elementary error that could have and should have been avoided.

* who gave me permission to blog about this only if I mentioned that she’s really, really pretty. I might add her dance moves are also sweet.

Ms Cupcake: The Naughitest Vegan Cakes in Town

http://www.mscupcake.co.uk/

Finally, it’s here! After many months of hard work and planning, London’s first vegan bakery has opened in Brixton. My friend Jojo, the blogger behind Vegan in Brighton, and I journeyed to the city yesterday to support Ms C’s opening day and to sample some of the wares (throwing the former in there to make it sound like the trip wasn’t really all about the latter).

We felt right at home (and not just because the shop was decked out with pretty much the same Ikea furniture in our homes). Ms C’s warm welcome and the friendly smiles of the entire staff, who are all extraordinarily marvelous by the way (I want to take them all home), will make anyone keen to settle in for some serious cake consumption.

There’s limited seating outside, shared with the cafe next door (where you can grab a coffee to enjoy with your cake), but it’s all under cover. Go sit with some strangers and make new friends. Do it.

In addition to cupcakes, there are cookies, cookie sandwiches, and cupcakes in a cup (for the serious sugar seekers). Flavours change frequently, so you’re pretty much going to have to show up every day to get a chance to sample them all. Vegan bakery stalking is a practice I highly recommend.

One of my favourite things about Ms C, aside from her confectionery prowess, is her support of other vegan bakers. Competition is stiff and she’s on top, but her friendship with, awareness, and support of her baking counterparts never ceases to give me the warm fuzzies.

There are also plans in the works to offer classes at the retail location, so be ready to get your icing mitts on and create! Kids can enjoy decorating classes, and once the shop is up and running the fun will be extended to grown-ups too.

Drool away, and be sure to remember Ms Cupcake does private orders too! If you’ve got a birthday, wedding or cake fetishist awareness party in London, then she’s the lady to talk to.

Brixton is quick 7 minutes hop one stop down the line from London Victoria on mainline rail services, also accessible by tube in 10. From London Bridge grab the Northern line South to Stockwell and change to the Victoria line for Brixton. The shop is just a few minutes’ walk from both the mainline and underground stations.

The Pho Tweet Up was publicised on the popular micro-blogging site Twitter (by the way, I’d love for you to follow me if you aren’t already), an event to celebrate Tết and give gluttons foodies like my pal Jojo and me a chance to sample some previously unknown dishes and get our networking on.

Worth noting is my complete social clumsiness- no, my bumbling klutzy nature isn’t reserved solely for the kitchen. I want to meet you in real life, really I do. I’ll be the one unwittingly flinging scraps across the table whilst attempting to piece together comprehensible speech. The one failing at these efforts.

The food

The night started with a free drink followed by some classic starters from the menu served buffet style: goi cuon (delicate fresh summer rolls), goi ngo sen (tangy crunchy lotus root salad), and cha gio chay (fried rice paper spring rolls). Cleared away, out came the main course fayre which included pho xao chay (wok-fried rice noodles with lemongrass, chili and onion served with veggies, mushrooms and tofu) and com chay cari (coconut based Vietnamese curry with tofu, veggies and mushrooms, served with jasmine rice).

There were other dishes as well, but the meat based stuff was off my radar. Incidentally the staff are amazing when it comes to serving vegetarians. More than once we were consulted regarding what we could eat, and on top of that all the food was appropriately labeled.

I don’t intend this post to be a restaurant review (look here if that’s what you’re after), but I will say this: the concept of balance in all food preparation is important but I think the margin for error is greater in much Southeast Asian cooking. Pho does a pretty good job of getting it right, balancing not just the flavours but also the idea of  traditional Vietnamese cuisine with what’s judged good by typical Western tastes.

The networking

It dawned on us the event was more than just free food, but also an opportunity to meet other faces from behind the veil of the internet. I’m all for attempts, and I’ve been making a concerted effort to accept opportunities which challenge my social ineptitude, so I had a crack at engaging with some of our dining neighbours. Did I learn anything? Mainly that socialising without a hitch is for other people.

The lovely chap to my left, the omnivore sandwiched between vegetarians at the table, I’m sure he enjoyed me telling him my friend’s cat just weed on her bed (by the way, if you’re reading this accept my apologies for that and for not saying goodbye). One other botched attempt at socialising involved drawing attention to my presence beyond the usual introduction by dispensing food onto the table rather than my plate (sorry, Pho for being the one who made the mess). At least she laughed at me tucking the spillage under the rim of the dish.

We left and went for a drink. I donned my name tag the entire time.

Need I mention my revelation this morning that I accidentally gave everyone my incorrect twitter identity? (“you’re the best at networking!” was my friend’s response).

A great big thank you to Pho Brighton for your brilliant efforts. You make a mean lemonade.

Amico Bio

http://www.amicobio.co.uk/

Starter

Carpaccio di Cavblo Rapa e Scarola

This salad of scarola leaves and parsley came well presented, served on wafer thin slices of raw kohlrabi. The dish was lightly seasoned and drizzled with rich olive oil, a light starter which initially drew me in because of my love for raw kohlrabi. Treble this sucker up, serve it as a main, and I’d be a happy Kip.

Main

Piadini Integrale di Seitan

I was immediately happy with this tortilla wrapped assemblage of in-house seitan and vegetables, but I think one of my dining mates best described its appeal; it was good because the vegetables weren’t overcooked. Fresh and well seasoned, this is what I meant when I mentioned talent in drawing out a great taste from your base ingredients rather than over-seasoning to achieve palatability. In other words good job cheffy!

Dessert

Apple Fritters with Chocolate Sauce

After a vegetable-fueled luncheon it was decided that a bit of the old deep fry was in order. Kitchens often underachieve in the batter-frying department, even at posh restaurants, so I’m always weary of ordering what’s likely to arrive as a pile of soggy mush. Alas, Pasquale proved me wrong. The fritters were perfect– still hot, crispy, and in reasonable portion. The chocolate “sauce” was more of a sorbet, a real winner in my book due to its anise-y undertone.

Final Thoughts

All in all I was very happy with my experience at Amico Bio, and I’m enamoured by any dining establishment where the chef will come to the table (really, it’s so rare here). The one suggestion I’d make would be to include a more up to date menu on the website, a tricky task when it changes frequently and is seasonally based, but even a list of what’s likely to be in store might encourage more diners to venture into this London gem.

Pho Vietnamese Restaurant

http://www.phocafe.co.uk/locations/brighton

Pho Noodle Soup

Pho Chay: tofu (beancurd) and mushrooms with veggie or chicken stock

I’ve been to Vietnam twice, and both times my dining experiences were amazing, but somehow Pho stayed off my radar both times. I’ll wager my ignorance was due to the fact that I disregarded the packed on-street eateries- my days of trying to explain fish isn’t vegetarian in SE Asia are numbered.

Much of the reason I was so desperate to try Pho when it opened it Brighton is because I love everything Southeast Asia, and I knew I’d fall immediately in love with this Vietnamese food starlet. Disappointed I was not. The broth was light and fragrant, a mildly spiced and intoxicating aroma of cinnamon and anise. Most of the fresh herbs went into my bowl, along with a light drizzle of chili oil, and I spent the next 15 minutes in heaven.

I’ve had daily cravings since.

K’nyay Restaurant

www.knyay.com

Tea!

Lemongrass Tea at K'nyay, Phnom Penh

Literally (a word I generally avoid since people don’t seem to know what it means) chopped up lemongrass in a mug of hot water, this simple tea was wonderfully refreshing.

Main

Vegan Amok at K'nyay, Phnom Penh

Huge chunks of soft tofu and vegetables in a creamy smooth, only moderately spicy coconut cream sauce, steamed in a banana leaf vessel. Adorned with fresh coriander and chili, this dinner was worth a trek through violent rain to consume. Sticky black rice is served alongside.

Dessert

Pumpkin and Coconut Parcels at K'nyay, Phnom Penh

Not too sweet, these custard like pumpkin puddings are gummy, chewy, and delicious. Pumpkin and coconut cream are steamed in banana leaf with sticky rice flour (or so I was told).

Cherry Almond Ice Cream at K'nyay, Phnom Penh

The reason I came to K’nyay in the first place was because another vegan raved about the ice cream. The recommendation was spot on, and I thoroughly enjoyed both the coconut ginger and the cherry almond scoops. The former had a prominent ginger taste that somehow remained quite mellow, with a smooth texture. The latter ice cream, the almond and cherry, contained big chunks of cherry and toasted almond slivers. Absolute heaven.

Final Thoughts

I wish I’d have had more time in Phnom Penh because I really would have liked to return to K’nyay for a second meal (I went twice for dessert)! Unfortunately one of the few days I was in PP was a public holiday, which took away from my only intention to be in the city in the first place: to eat. Next time I’ll plan a few days more in the capital so I can fit the rest of the menu in (which, by the way, you can check out online).

The Vegetarian, Phnom Penh

Starter

Crispy Bean Curd Skin at The Vegetarian, Phnom Penh

Thick, folder layers of deep fried yuba for the win! Served with a semi-sweet mild vinegar based chili sauce, the soy skins were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Quite oily but delicious and simple with a tiny bit of salt, this is one heck of a plate of protein. Arrive with an appetite if you want to order more (which I always do).

Main

Rice Noodle Soup at The Vegetarian, Phnom Penh

A lovely, light broth filled with crispy wontons, green leafy veg, mushrooms, and rice noodles, this lightly peppered soup hit the spot on the rainy day I chose to visit The Vegetarian. The dumplings were stuffed with seasoned carrot and onion pepper filling, and had an almost Italian taste. Not the combination I’d have picked for this type of soup, but it worked well!

Final Thoughts

For a dollar a menu item, this place really can’t be beat. If you’re a backpacker on a budget in what’s definitely not Southeast Asia’s cheapest city, hit this place up for a filling and satisfying meal.

Tofu Bar Restaurant

www.tofubar.net

Snacks and Soups

Mushroom Dumpling Dough at Tofu Bar in Kanchanaburi, Thailand

A mushroom lover’s dream, these little parcels were filled with diced mushroom and deep fried. A definite hit with my partner.

Tom Kha Soup at Tofu Bar in Kanchanaburi, Thailand

You won’t find a much bigger fan of tom kha than me, and this recipe didn’t disappoint. Absolutely packed with delicious ginger, I also loved the heaping portions of both tofu and mushrooms.

Plenty of Tofu and Stir Fries

Teriyaki Tofu at Tofu Bar in Kanchanaburi, Thailand

I saw this recommended elsewhere and that recommendation is to be passed on here: if you go to Tofu Bar, try the teriyaki tofu. The tofu is perfectly cooked, the texture wonderful, and the sauce is pretty yumtastic (how’s that for descriptive).

King of Tofu at Tofu Bar in Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Sweet and tangy with a black pepper undertone, not completely unlike a good sweet and sour sauce, the king of tofu is a dish I’d happily order again and again.

Sweet Chili Fried Mushroom at Tofu Bar in Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Not at all spicy, the chili fried mushroom is another great choice for a mushroom lover.

Vegetarian Festival Buffet

Buffet Food at Tofu Bar in Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Comprising, at least when we dined there, of eight dishes, two or three curries, plus rice and noodles, the buffet was Tofu Bar’s contribution to Thailand’s vegetarian festival. Street food is a way of life for Thais, so it was nice to see this set out front of the restaurant for passersby to grab for a meal or snack. Dishes included (among other things) chewy and slightly spicy shiitake mushrooms, spicy sausages, spicy fried tofu in sweet sauce with basil, a filet of some sort with seaweed, and Chinese noodles.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’ve been relaxing with a peaceful afternoon’s exploration along the River Kwai,* or have just enjoyed a full day out along the death railway, Tofu Bar is a welcome stop once back in town. Next time I’m in Kanchanaburi, I’ll be sitting down once more to enjoy that gigantic pot of tea and some seriously swell tofu.

*Incidentally the river’s name doesn’t sound like a pouty toddler pronoucing the word “cry,” a pronunciation which translates in Thai to “buffalo river.” The movie perpetuates the myth of the river’s name.

Taste for Heaven, Chiang Mai

www.taste4heaven.com

Starters

Mushroom in Screwpine Leaf at Taste from Heaven, Chiang Mai

Thai style deep fried shiitake mushroom mix with soy sauce and white sesame, wrapped with screw pine, served with sweet chili sauce.

Fried Cashew Nuts at Taste from Heaven, Chiang Mai

Fried cashew nuts mixed with salt, chopped spring onion, and chopped chili.

'Tofu' at Taste from Heaven, Chiang Mai

Deep fried tofu with sweet chili sauce topped with ground peanuts.

Mains

Choo Chee Curry at Taste from Heaven, Chiang Mai

Slightly sweet red curry sauce, garnished with sliced kaffir lime leaves, coconut milk, sliced fresh chili, capsicum, and textured soy protein.

Mushroom Larb at Taste from Heaven, Chiang Mai

Chopped mushroom with special sauce, mint, onion, chili, chop tofu, roasted rice, dry chili, and lime juice.

Cashew Nut Stir Fry at Taste from Heaven, Chiang Mai

Stir fried with deep fried tofu, roasted dried chili, onion, capsicum, and spring onion.

Desserts

Bananas in Coconut Milk at Taste from Heaven, Chiang Mai

Deep Fried Banana at Taste from Heaven, Chiang Mai

Vegan Cinnamon and Caramel Cake at Taste from Heaven, Chiang Mai

Final Thoughts

With something for everyone (a seriously massive menu), Taste from Heaven is a must in anyone’s food stop list for Chiang Mai. They also offer cooking classes, where the group gets a choice in what menu items they prepare.

Pun Pun Vegetarian Restaurant

http://www.punpunthailand.org/

A hidden gem

…and I do mean hidden. We spent a good hour looking for it (not such a bad thing as we’d just had a buffet lunch at Khun Churn not 3 hours prior- hey, it was my birthday and all I wanted to do was eat), but it seemed obvious once we worked it out. Don’t make the mistake of trying to follow a map to find the restaurant, and don’t get confused by the non vegetarian Pun Pun van outside the temple. Instead just get yourself to Wat Suan Dok and find the monk chat building on the grounds. A pathway leads up the side and along that path is the restaurant.

When we found the restaurant, a lovely man took our orders and brought our meals. As our last dishes were brought out, he smiled and said they would be closing but we were welcome to stay and finish our meal. We paid him and the staff left, leaving us alone in a lovely, quiet, peaceful spot to enjoy one of my best birthday meals ever.

Hed Sa-Tay

Hed Sa-Tay at Pun Pun Vegetarian, Chiang Mai

Deep fried shiitake mushrooms served with peanut, tamarind, and coconut sauce (40 baht).

I’m a firm believer that batter frying is a serious skill, and if you manage to fry something that’s still crispy 20 minutes after it left the oil and has got cold, then you’ve got the knack. Fabulous.

Pad Khing Dtow Hoo

Pad Khing Dtow Hoo at Pun Pun, Chiang Mai

Stir fried ginger, tofu, mushrooms, and greens (40 baht).

Paul’s choice off the menu, ginger based stir fries are always a winner. Fresh veggies and pungent ginger with cashew nuts can’t really fail.

Dtow Hoo Steak

Dtow Hoo Steak at Pun Pun, Chiang Mai

Tofu steak topped with coconut milk and black pepper sauce (50 baht).

Tofu for the win! This protein-rich dish would have been enough for my whole meal were I less of a pig. Perfectly creamy smooth fresh coconut sauce and the best textured tofu you’ll ever find, this was the star of the whole meal.

Dessert

Dtow Hoo Namman Ngah at Pun Pun, Chiang Mai

Deep fried home-made sesame tofu and vegetable cooked in onion and sesame oil dressing (40 baht).

Clearly the fact that I’d eaten not long before this meal didn’t get through my thick skull the fact that tofu isn’t exactly a light foodstuff, so I went ahead and ordered another tofu dish. One day soon I’ll be attempting to make this on my own, because it too was deeeeeelicious.

Final Thoughts

If you find yourself in Chiang Mai and are looking for an inexpensive, nutritious, and sustainable dining choice, then look no further than Pun Pun vegetarian restaurant. Open from 9am – 6pm all days but Wednesday, I’m pretty sure you won’t be disappointed. Plus you might learn a thing or two!

Chamkar Vegetarian Restaurant

Dishes

Wedding Day Dip at Chamkar

Creamy coconut and mushroom dip with toasted peanuts served with Cambodian baguette.

I ordered this as a starter for lunch one day, and it was big enough for a whole meal. It’s served with an entire baguette, sliced chilies, and chunky coconut mushroom dip.

Soya Pearl Salad at Chamkar

Discover the sweetness of an original soy bean dressing mixed with green salad and Khmer crudités and topped with roasted cashew nuts and silken tofu.

Mango and papaya slivers adorn the plate alongside a bed of fresh greens and sesame dotted silken tofu rounds. The name of the dish is what caught my eye on the menu, and as I’m a lover of salads this went down a treat after a long day on a bus.

Cambodian Curry Secrets at Chamkar

Sweet potato and cherry tomato red curry with coconut milk and the unique taste of Khmer cardamom.

I was in the region for a total of about 3.5 weeks and out of everything this dish ranks in my top five. The flavours are delicate, perfectly balanced, with Khmer pepper playing a starring role.

Final Thoughts

I also enjoyed a cassava fritter dish with yellow curry paste as well as a banana and coconut milk pudding with toasted yellow beans, both of which were amazing. Cambodia is, without a doubt, one of my favourite countries in the world, and when I return Chamkar will be one of my first stops. After all I need to try everything else on the menu.

Starters

Miang Ta Krai Bai Cha Plu at Khun Churn, Chiang Mai

A tangy bite of heaven wrapped in wild beetle leaves, these Thai treats made the dinner worthwhile on their own. They’re packed with citrusy lemongrass, aromatic mint and an array of other saporous ingredients that will leave you craving them long after you’ve packed up and gone home.

Kaow Tang at Khun Churn, Chiang Mai

These crispy (and absolutely adorable) little rice patties are served with a coconut milk and peanut sauce. I’m certainly a fan and would love to try making rice based mini dip receptacles one day at home.

Mains

Hed Kra Ta (Sizzling Plate) at Khun Churn, Chiang Mai

An assortment of some of the most delicious mushrooms you’ll ever try, the creaminess of this dish came not from the sauce but from the mushrooms themselves. At a guess I’d wager the major players were shiitake, wood ear, straw, and oyster mushrooms, alongside a delectable (do people still use this adjective?) mix of ginger and herbs. Sometimes I can’t believe I didn’t used to like mushrooms, and for those who still say that I bet this dish would change your minds.

Pad Prik Khing Krob at Khun Churn, Chiang Mai

Crispy stir fried TVP chunks, a simple but generally atypical method of preparation, are the way forward. I’m convinced. These babies were done in a delightfully spicy red curry paste with kaffir lime leaves and long beans, but it’s the texture I loved above all else. A bit of the chewy, a bit of the crispy, a lot of the fried. What’s not to love?

Lunchtime Buffet

At the time of writing, the buffet cost 98 baht, or £2, and it’s not a shabby place either. I mean I’d don a dress and bring a first date here (alternatively, slip into some manky khakis and convince my partner we would die of deaththings if we didn’t go). Not everything is vegan, so you might have to ask about a few things (mainly egg based) if you don’t consume any animal products, but it’s still a definite goldmine for vegans, omnivores, and vegetarians alike.

The buffet space accomodates many tens of dishes, from simple condiments, salads, and soups to hearty curries, noodles, rices, and fried creations. Desserts and drinks are included, a super plus, and the selection contains a good lineup of foods to suit all tastes in terms of chili tolerability.

Jackfruit Soup from the Khun Churn Buffet

Sp-sp-spicy! Good stuff, nevertheless. Must try this at some sometime!

Noodles, red chili and tofu, coconut rice, and salad at the Khun Churn Buffet

Khun Churn Buffet

Khun Churn Buffet

Tapioca and Taro Topped with Salty Coconut Milk at Khun Churn, Chiang Mai

If you’re a fan of rice pudding, tapioca, and other such slimy milky puddings then this coconut milk based dessert, despite it’s resemblence to frogspawn, would knock your socks off. I ate two huge bowls full and had to practically be rolled out the door.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in Chiang Mai, you’re a fool to skip this place. Just be prepared to want to return again and again, and to extend your stay in the city so you can try as many menu items as possible. I covet nearly everything I tried on a pretty much constant basis.

Pogo Café

http://www.pogocafe.co.uk/

A great big vegan fry up

Sunday Brunch at Pogo

I’ve been to Pogo a few times now, one of the most recent visits on an invitation by a friend to try the Sunday Brunch. Given the choice between the healthy option and a huge (and I mean absolutely stacked) plate of fried breakfastness, well, it was an obviously choice. ‘Sides, It took me more than two hours to get there! I earned it! The plate included vegan sausages and facon, mushrooms, tofu scramble (one of the best I’ve had), fried potatoes as well as a hash brown, beans, and tomato.

All in all, it was a trip well worth my time. I just wish we had somewhere in Crawley where I could roll out of bed and pop to a local café for a fry up.

Dessert

Knickerbocker Glory Sundae at Pogo Café

From another visit to Pogo, but worth a mention anyway, this Sundae is a heavenly (and dairy free) interpretation of the British classic. Swedish Glace ice cream packed into a tall ice cream glass, layered with fruits sauces and nuts, this alone makes Pogo worth a visit.

Final Thoughts

Okay, so Hackey may be a pain in a typical Londoner’s arse (those not in the East of the city, at least) to get to, but make the effort. The café has all sorts of evening events too, so keep an eye out for something that interests you and enjoy an evening at one of East London’s best vegan eateries.

Terre a Terre (Great Growers Menu)

http://www.terreaterre.co.uk/

Starter

Pulborough’s Asparagus Army at Terre a Terre

I was excited for this because after trying samphire for the first time ever this year, I was looking forward to some more. Unfortunately my plate came with only a mere sprinkling of this marshy vegetable, but my friend had plenty so graciously shared. I should have complained, really, but I was so taken aback by the soup that I sort of forgot about the rest of the dish. Creamy, perfectly salted, and delicious, this soup makes broad beans even more heavenly than they already are.

Broad bean lemon thyme espresso with samphire, linseed flowery leaf relish and fried asparagus soldiers.

Main

Lettuce and Lovage at Terre a Terre

This was so good I licked the plate. Well, almost, but my lunch buddy did say something along the lines of “I wondered how long it’d be before you did something ridiculous.” Okay, so table etiquette may not be my forté, but I know a good meal when I have one, and this was sublime.

British pea and parsley pikelets with St Germain sauce, a warm salad of seared lettuce, shallots and baby potatoes, finished with lovage salt and mint oil.

Dessert

Raspberry Rumble at Terre a Terre

I’d heard good reviews of this pudding, and they were certainly accurate at the very least. This. Dessert. Was. Outstanding. I don’t care who you are and where you live, get your arse on a plane/in a car/on a train/in the hold of a boat, and come eat this. Now.

Raspberry frangipane tartine served with raspberry sorbet.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve never had a meal at Terre a Terre, for whatever reason, set aside a few quid from your next pay day and treat yourself. It remains one of my favourite restaurants for a number of reasons. While their vegan options may be limited, the menu changes often enough and there’s always something to entice my appetite.

Manna Vegetarian

http://www.mannav.com/

Starters

Crispy marinated tofu (top right) and Manna mezze platter, including, from left to right: spring rolls, smoky tofu & potato roulade, and living pad thai.

For starters we ordered the Manna Mezze platter, which offered a choice of 3 appetisers on one plate. The Living Pad Thai was one of my favourites, and not just because it was everyone else’s least favourite (hence I pretty much got to eat it all). It’s a tangy raw salad with mild chili undertone with a great balance of flavours. I’d order it again.

raw carrots, courgettes, red cabbage, chinese leaves, mung bean sprouts, basil, mint and cashews in a white almond chilli sauce.

A good complement to the pad thai, the similar ingredients are well suited to these Vietnamese style spring rolls. Plus I got all the sweet chili sauce all to myself. Bring it on!

rice paper wrap, julienned carrots, red pepper, mange tout, shitake mushrooms, chinese leaves, thai basil & mint with a peanut sesame dip & chilli sauce.

I think it’s safe to say the smoky tofu & potato roulade was everyone’s favourite. Smooth, smoky, and delicious, if you’ve got to chose only one starter then this should be it.

a light potato roll with an oyster mushroom & herbed tofu filling.

“It smells like deep fry!” was one friend’s comment as soon as the crispy tofu hit the table. Naturally that’s probably in the top 5 of her compliment repetoire, so I’m pretty sure it was a hit. I tried a small piece and what can I say? You can’t knock the effects of hot oil.

Mains

Organic Spaghetti & Meatfree Balls at Manna

Two friends ordered the Organic Spaghetti & Meatfree Balls, a dish which Manna’s evidently fairly well known for in the veg community. I stole a taste of the sauce when no one was looking (okay she was looking, but I think she was finished) and it was pretty tasty. No complaints from their end, anyway!

Basil & Cashew Pesto Tortiglioni from Manna

A plate of the organic pasta of the day also landed on our table, and as it was next to me the sampling was less tricky. When I go out to eat, I generally avoid pasta dishes as I want to order something that wouldn’t be so easy to make at home. That doesn’t mean I don’t drool over them because, let’s face it, pasta is pretty much one of the most gnarly (goal of the night: use gnarly more often) things ever, and the pesto sauce here was pretty damned good.

green bean, cherry tomato, courgette tortiglioni with a basil & cashew pesto.

Pea & potato smokey bean curd chimichanga at Manna

And my main, the chef’s special, which just happened to tickle my fancy (I’d just picked up a load of  goodies from the Taqueria, so Latin American food was on the brain). The avocado was a bit less than ripe, but it’s also ridiculously hard to find a good one in this country. Otherwise the dish was delicious, and the black bean and mango salsa was perfect. I’m also always happy when I eat out and the rice I’m served is minimal (far too often restaurants go the cheap route and serve more rice than anything, presumably as a filler). The chimichanga filling was thick and smooth, a creamy smokey portion of vegetables and tofu that would fill anyone’s belly substantially. If you like Latin food but no spice, this is perfect.

pea potato smokey bean curd chimichanga with lime basmati rice, red pepper chipotle sauce, mango black bean salsa, and guacamole.

Desserts

manna fruit crumble

Manna banoffe trifle

Clearly we went all out with the puddings, and the petit fours were a “trweat,” a complimentary extra from following Manna on Twitter. The banofee trifle and the chocolate mousse were the winners of the day in my opinion, so when you’re next there and staring that desert menu down, here’s a tip: just go ahead and order them both. The mousse is the best I’ve had; vegan chocolate mousse is both easy to make and make taste good, but this was simply divine. And the trifle, it was massive, and amazing, and gone before I could reach my spoon back into my friend’s quickly empty dish.

chocolate & green tea mousse

chocolate brownie and ice cream

manna petits fours

The other puddings were good as well (though I wasn’t expecting biscuits when the petit fours were announced). So sweetly, the kitchen added a happy birthday message to the plate of my friend’s crumble, a really nice touch. One thing I do wish, however, is that vegan restaurants would consider something more than Swedish Glace for ice cream. I know the commercial options are limited, but there must be an ice cream shop or gelateria out there who’d be up for the job?

Final Thoughts

Manna is a lovely restaurant in a choice location, complete with good food and more than amiable staff (something with which more British establishments could do). It’s not cheap, but then again I don’t think food should be. I’m of the opinion that a meal out should be a treat, and that’s precisely what you’ll get when (not if) you visit Manna. We’ll definitely be returning.

Darbster

http://darbster.com

So we, the “we” being the dude I married and I, just returned from a holiday to Florida. “Florida?!” you say? Yes, Florida. Not my ideal destination as my idea of fun isn’t spending $80 to wait in epic queues with pushy folk and their greedy offspring, but here’s the thing: Florida has some cool stuff. Science stuff. Space stuff.

I got to go to India for my 30th and this was Paul’s birthday trip. See, he got to see the first moon landings on telly; this made it just a little bit of a big deal to actually visit Kennedy. Plus we got to see a shuttle launch, to boot!

But all that’s just me gushing and being all “woo science” and all. What you want is to hear about a cool vegan restaurant, yes? Allow me to introduce Darbster.

Starter

Trees Wings

There’s no denying these are nothing more than Gardein buffalo wings, but I’m thankful we ordered them because it introduced us to yet another gorgeous Gardein product.

Buffalo style wings with ranch and celery.

Mains

Darbster Enchiladas

Paul’s dinner choice, the enchilada dish rated high in his books. Not spicy and with an authentic Southwest flavour, this is the sort of food Britain is missing from its menus. Served with rice and beans, this was an excellent and wholly acceptable meal!

Authentic cheez & onion with beans and rice.

Chille Relleno at Darbster

While I enjoyed my choice of entrée, despite it being served on the cool side, I must admit it wasn’t at all what I was expecting. Before ordering I’d been advised it wasn’t very spicy, but the correct answer would have been “not at all,” since it was in fact a bell pepper rather than the traditional poblano. This didn’t stop me from stuffing the whole thing into my face though, and boy would I like Darbster’s batter recipe. I ordered the chille releno with a side of mac and cheese and coleslaw, both of which were very nice.

Fried, stuffed with veggies and cheeze served with sauce.

Final Thoughts

By the time we found Darbster we hadn’t really consumed a proper meal in a few days, so believe me when I say this restaurant put the greatest smile on this vegan’s face. Should I find myself in the area ever again, I will most certainly return. The mac and cheese side absolutely made my day.

222 Veggie Vegan

http://www.222veggievegan.com

This restaurant works extremely well with its allocated space, a small dining area and kitchen, but don’t be surprised with some repeats on the menu as a result. My partner once had a mushroom soup which was gorgeous, but was effectively the same sauce that came with his main (the stroganoff). Luckily, lover of mushrooms that he is, this wasn’t a problem.

Anyhow there are greater issues at stake, bigger soyfish to fry, like the fact that their avocado pomodoro starter is to die for and if you don’t try it immediately you will likely die.

Starter

Avocado Pomodoro at 222 Veggie Vegan

If for nothing else, this appetiser makes the trip worth it. Baked avocado is a real treat, and this creamy lovefest of joy on my plate definitely got my droolers going.

Sliced avocado with tomato sauce and vegan cream, straight from the oven. An ideal way to sharpen your taste buds before the main course.

Main

Broccolini Di Parma at 222 Veggie Vegan

Nothing extraordinary, but still highly palatable and definitely delicious, I’ve ordered this twice. It’s cute, fun, and very filling, and I’d definitely recommend anyone try it.

Fresh pancakes stuffed with tofu cottage cheese, broccoli, and pimento sauce, re-baked drawing out the fine flavour. Served with sautéed baby potatoes.

Dessert

222 Pancake at 222 Veggie Vegan

Remember what I said about the avocado starter? Scratch that because this is where it’s really at. The sauces are like a creamy pudding both in flavour and texture, something I’ve missed for years as a veggie. Go and get it. Now.

Vanilla ice cream wrapped in a wholemeal pancake, topped with warm vanilla and chocolate sauce.

Final Thoughts

I’d definitely return to 222 and would recommend anyone try it. While it’s not my favourite vegan restaurant, nor the best at which I’ve eaten, it’s a lovely spot with nice staff and good food.

Averaging about $15 for a main, $9-10 for a starter, and $6-7 for a dessert, the cost to me is not astronomical (even without converting it back to pounds). I’m quite happy to pay for skill and quality in both ingredients and kitchen hand.

And the food? Very, very good.

Grilled Vegetable Terrine

Truffled Polenta

Bacon Cheddar Burger

At any rate, my mother paid for dinner. Thanks, Mom!

Anyone who knows me will know I’m a huge fan of Starbucks (yeah, yeah, I know). Their coffee is 98% of the time completely reliable across the globe. The problem I have with a lot of coffee places is that their standards change constantly. I’m sure when you’ve got the quality of an espresso machine as afforded by Starbucks then it is perhaps more difficult to draw a bad shot of espresso, but most places I’ve been would be well advised to ship their baristas off for a bit of training. When I go somewhere for a cup of coffee, I expect the barista to be able to replicate the same flavour as the last time I was in that same shop. I cringe when I see a shot of espresso drawn in just 10 seconds, or a shot that was drawn ten minutes ago being used in the next latte order. I’m no barista myself, but I do have some standards (which is why I’ve always stuck with the seemingly, but not really, reliable Starbucks).

A few months ago a friend tried to take me Monmouth Coffee on Monmouth Street in London, only it was closed. I’d forgotten about it for awhile, despite the great things I’d heard about this coffee. A few weeks later I was with some different friends in London and it became necessary that we ingest some caffeine. Remembering Monmouth, we found our way to the Monmouth Street branch once again and embarked upon a coffee experience I could only describe as perfection. I have since had the coffee at the Borough branch (equally as great) and decided to purchase some ground espresso to try out at home in my Baby Gaggia.

A member of staff recommended the Monmouth Espresso Blend, which I happily purchased (and which made my bag smell delightfully of coffee for the rest of the day). Monmouth describes this blend as follows on their website:

MONMOUTH ESPRESSO BLEND
Smooth and nutty with balanced fruit and acidity
We constantly taste and re-taste our espresso blend, making slight adjustments to the blend components and ratio, always looking to improve the balance and complexity. We are currently using Fazenda Rodomunho (Brasil) as the base of the blend, adding Cooperativa Quebradon (Colombia) for high notes and complexity, Finca San Francisco (Guatemala) for caramel notes, and Bibi Plantation (India) for dark-sugar sweetness.

Surprisingly, at home I was able to come close to what was served up in shop (only a little less strong). Perhaps this is in part due to the quality of the coffee? I can make a fair espresso, but I’m certainly no trained barista. At any rate, I’ll certainly be returning to Monmouth for future beans and future brews (this stuff is on par with Iceland’s espresso abilities, and that’s saying a lot coming from someone who’s still determined that Icelandic people are naturally gifted with the barista touch)!