Tops picks of the month - May 2025
It’s May for munching, definitely. Sun’s out (possibly) and there are a host of vegan fairs every weekend, wherever you are in the country. So, what are our Top 3 to try this month? Well, something unusual in first place …
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1. It's that perennial conundrum. Can vegans date meat-eaters? Or is there always an after-taste and a wondering what's been in that mouth! Well, if you're at the purist end of the spectrum then this latest venture could be for you: vegetarian and vegan speed dating? And if the candidates on offer aren't to your liking, at least the drinks might be. And they’re so confident you’ll meet someone you want to see again, that they offer a free return visit if you don’t …
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2. Yes, it's May and you won't be able to avoid a vegan food festival. They're all over the country. Pudsey on 3rd May, Plymouth on 10th May, Edinburgh on 17th May, Newbury on 18th May, Newport on 25th May and Swansea on 31st May. Or how about a big vegan music festival at Northumbria university on 17th May.
Which one will you get to? |
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3. Or maybe you just need to switch off for a few days. The weather’s improving and the festivals are starting, and you want something plant-friendly. The Big Retreat promises 4 days of wellbeing and switching off, with activities ranging from wild swimming, yoga, hot tubs and massage to cookery demos and gin tasting.
And it’s the boutique of the boutique when it comes to size, with a cap of 3000 fellow relaxation-seekers. |
Top picks of the month - April 2025
Wow, it really is Spring. Sunshine. You’re ready to pull yourself out of Winter hibernation, just like our top pick. What plant-based treats are on offer?
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1. First place in April is a heart-warming story of resuscitation. One of London’s favourite plant-based burger joints that went into permanent hibernation in December 2024 has decided to re-awaken for Spring after some re-negotiation with the landlord. Unity Diner is back for the sunshine in its Spitalfields location with a refreshed menu and a promised vegan carvery every Sunday.
Definitely something to check out when you want that burger taste, with its famous Bacon Smash burger. Or how about it's award-winning Tofish and Chips? |
2. Manchester’s biggest vegan festival is this April too. £5 entry and over 100 stalls to choose from with many promising free samples and tasters.
If you can’t make it to Manchester, how about Bristol on 12 April. £6 in advance and it promises to be a day not just of food stalls and nibbles but comedy, music and panel talks.
If you can’t make it to Manchester, how about Bristol on 12 April. £6 in advance and it promises to be a day not just of food stalls and nibbles but comedy, music and panel talks.
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3. How about vegan cosmetics from BYOMA, all of whose products are animal and cruelty-free.
And if you want to get in on the latest “glass skin” beauty craze, BYOMA have a range of plant based mucin from Japanese root plants for that perfect summer glow. |
Top picks of the month - March 2025
It’s March and yes, your eyes aren’t deceiving you: that was a ray of sunshine. Spring is on its way. But don’t be fooled. It’s still colder than a Finnish plunge pool. So, what vegan treats do we have to recommend as you longingly gaze at your summer wardrobe and imagine when you’ll be able to wear shorts …
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1. Well, number one is definitely one of the best cakes we’ve tasted recently. And you make it yourself at home, which is good as it’s still too cold to be outside. It’s delicious, not overly sweet and most importantly it doesn’t suffer from two common vegan pudding problems: it’s not stodgy and it’s not heavy. What is it? It’s Supergood bakery’s banana bread cake mix. Just add banana. It’s fluffy, light and it doesn’t have that all-too-familiar vegan leadweight.
Yes, you have to make it home, but it was very, very easy. Full marks from us. |
2. The South-West really does have a burgeoning plant-based community. And big up @veganfairs who have not one but three vegan markets in March, in Hereford, Melksham and Cirencester. Check out www.veganfairs.co.uk
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3. Have Boursin done it? The holy grail. Vegan cheese. Well, judging by the fact that it’s out-of-stock in most major retailers, the answer might just be yes. Or at least, they’ve done enough. What’s the secret. Well, first it’s abandoning the usual options: cashew nut and yeast. Second, it’s abandoning their own 2020 recipe and starting again. Now they’re really trying to replicate Boursin. Even in the packaging. This comes in the familiar foil, rather than a plastic tub. The real switch though is … potato starch. As manufacturers all try and perfect vegan cheese, is potato starch the missing magic. And yes, it might be ultra-processed, but you deserve cheese. And no, it’s not quite the Boursin you remembered before you switched, but yikes it’s very close. With a real garlic punch
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Happy Almost-Spring!
Top picks of the month - February 2025
Well, you’ve made it through a cold and wet January. What’s gonna cheer you up in February, and what vegan treats are on offer for Valentine’s Day?
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1. Want to splash out for Valentine’s Day? Mallow (www.sevenrooms.com/experiences/mallowcanarywharf/valentines-l-incotro-di-roma-e-venezia-6058528513474560) is offering a delicious 6-course tasting menu for £60 including wild mushroom ravioli, a luscious tiramisu coffee cup and a stunning rhubarb panacotta. Mallow is a favourite plant-based restaurant in London and this is the perfect Valentine’s treat.
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2. Based outside London and want to go browsing? Stockport vegan food festival takes place (https://www.veganeventsuk.co.uk/product/stockport-vegan-festival-2025/) in February.
There are over 50 stalls with a huge selection of pies and cakes, beauty and skincare products, and sweet treats and yes … free samples. |
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3. And coming at No.3 is old favourite, The Gate (www.thegaterestaurants.com/menu) with a new menu for 2025. They haven’t disappeared, just re-focussed on their original Hammersmith home. Now a trimmed-down chain of one (The Islington and Seymour Place branches have closed), their focus is on the site they’ve been at for over 35 years. One big change to commend is that their main menu is now 100% plant-based, and only weekend brunch has vegetarian options. Recommended main course on the new menu is the Chestnut Wellington and for pudding a stunning cranberry cheesecake.
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Top picks of the month - January 2025
Well, it’s the New Year, new goals and … new waistline. Time to work off that muffin top (plant-based, of course) and trim down with some help in going plant-based from Extraveganza. What’s coming up for 2025? Let’s hope for lots of positive animal-friendly news to offset the sadness at Plants restaurant in London closing, just as the demand for plant-based eating out is increasing.
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1. What’s top for January? Not much doubt that it’s Veganuary (www.veganuary.com) , now in its 11th year, taking us all on the journey to being fully plant-based. Recently released stats for Veganuary show quite how effective it has been: 80% of participants who fulfil the pledge, cut meat and dairy consumption by at least 50% in the following months and aim to keep that change long-term. The research (veganuary.com/veganuary-can-transform-attitudes/) also confirms what we know: one of the main challenges is eating out. So we’ll keep posting top tips for plant-based food.
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2. We love Mexican food, and but it’s hard to find a good Mexican restaurant that avoids cheese in its cooking. Huge applause then for high street favourite Wahaca, who already have a 50% plant-based menu, who are updating their menu for 2025 to include beetroot tartare with avocado cream and organic squash (https://www.wahaca.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/0202_WAH_Vegan_Menu_CALORIE_WEB.pdf) Now, it’s even easier to eat out.
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3. And yes, at No.3, it’s one of our favourite discounter stores, leading the way in trying to make plant-based eating mass market. In May, we announced LIDL’s plan to make plant-based protein 25% of all protein sales by 2030 and now drum roll for ALDI who have launched their biggest ever plant-based product range for January 2025 (https://www.aldipresscentre.co.uk/product-news/aldi-unveils-its-biggest-vegan-range-yet-for-veganuary-with-prices-starting-from-just-1-49/) with kimchi kofta, vegetable frickles and plant tempura all under £2 as well as bringing back customer favourites, vegan croissants
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It's looking like a good 2025. Watch out for that waistline!
Top picks of the month - December 2024
How has Christmas come by so quickly? In three weeks, it will be the usual family fare: you have to defend your eating choices, tell your mildly deaf great aunt that you’re not a humanoid species from Star Trek and that yes, you do have energy for ordinary activities, and it’s just that you’re trying to change your diet. So, what are our top Christmas picks to keep you chirpy over the festive season?
1. Aren’t you bored of Christmas trees with tinsel and reflective glass baubles, or candles that risk lighting the needles and setting your home ablaze? We are too. And we love these novel Christmas baubles. Mini-cakes free from animal products from master cake-makers, Sponge.co.uk. So there’s genuine happiness, rather than slight apprehension, as you see what surprises lurk on the Christmas tree.
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2. So, you’re full. But you still want something sweet. Maybe something alcoholic to send you off into a sweet post-Christmas food coma? Then you can sleep through Scrabble or Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
But vegan Baileys has been discontinued. Fear not. Amarula have perfected a vegan cream liqueur with a coconut base rather than cream. |
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3. And what to wear? You’ve told grandma you’d rather not have another Christmas sweater, which you’ve been able to justify on grounds other than good taste, but you still want something Christmasy. If you’re looking for something a bit tongue-in-cheek, then how about Vegan Outfitters’ cotton Christmas sweater: “Vegans – Ruining Family Gatherings”. It’s perfect for you.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Top picks of the month - November 2024
So, another month has ticked by, the clocks have gone back and it’s night-time at 3pm. How do we cope, now that delightful pop-up Madame Mildred has also closed her doors? Maybe with some plant-based treats as Autumn dwindles. Here are our Top 3 for November.
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No.1 Well, as the daylight fades, it’s got to be chocolate, hasn’t it? But so many plant-based chocolates lack the creaminess of dairy chocolate or have a bitter aftertaste. Hang on! The plant-based chocolate experts, Buttermilk, might just have cracked it with their latest chocolate wafer offering, similar to a giant Kit-Kat, only vegan. |
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No. 2 Give it up for plant-based cream. As we’ve been hit by a cost-of-living crisis, sales of plant-based products in the UK have sadly dipped. But not vegan cream. Sales are up 10% year-on-year with many cream alternatives now cheaper than the hormone-packed, animal-produced equivalent. Our favourite so far: Elmlea Double. Delicious, creamy and staggering to think it has a lentil protein base.
No.3. Coming in third, it's Plant-Based Expo now here in the UK, taking place at London’s Excel from 13 to 14 November. It would be number 1, but at the moment it’s trade-only, so see how you can wangle a trade pass and have a good nose around. Plant-based food producers from all over the world will be showcasing their latest products. One thing we’re excited about tasting: a new vegan ricotta made from almonds and cashews by Italian start-up Dream Farm that has just launched in Italy and will be promoted to an international audience in November. Nailing vegan cheese is one of the final hurdles to wider acceptance of veganism so we’re crossing fingers.
Top picks of the month - October 2024
Here’s something different this month. Top 3 for those who are starting their journey. Get on the train!
Top 3 Fun and Simple Ways to Begin Your Plant-Based Journey This Month 🌱🥑
Top 3 Fun and Simple Ways to Begin Your Plant-Based Journey This Month 🌱🥑
Switching to a plant-based lifestyle might seem daunting, but it's easier (and more fun) than you think! Whether you're motivated by health benefits, environmental concerns, or ethical worries, going plant-based can be a rewarding experience. You don't need to make drastic changes overnight, either.
Let's explore three simple and fun ways to start your vegan journey this month in the UK.
1. Try Vegan Versions of Your Favourite Comfort Foods 🍔🍕🍦
Who says going vegan means giving up your favourite meals? With veganism growing in the UK, you'll find plant-based versions of nearly everything you love—burgers, pizzas, and desserts!
Pro Tip: Check out vegan-friendly spots like Wagamama with a 50% plant-based menu or The Vurger Co now in Brighton, Manchester and East London, or make your vegan comfort foods at home. You can recreate those comforting flavours with added health benefits from a plant-based diet using readily available substitutes like vegan cheese (Cathedral City vegan cheddar is a must) and meat alternatives (obvious choices being Beyond Meat and This Isn’t).
Let's explore three simple and fun ways to start your vegan journey this month in the UK.
1. Try Vegan Versions of Your Favourite Comfort Foods 🍔🍕🍦
Who says going vegan means giving up your favourite meals? With veganism growing in the UK, you'll find plant-based versions of nearly everything you love—burgers, pizzas, and desserts!
Pro Tip: Check out vegan-friendly spots like Wagamama with a 50% plant-based menu or The Vurger Co now in Brighton, Manchester and East London, or make your vegan comfort foods at home. You can recreate those comforting flavours with added health benefits from a plant-based diet using readily available substitutes like vegan cheese (Cathedral City vegan cheddar is a must) and meat alternatives (obvious choices being Beyond Meat and This Isn’t).
2. Explore Vegan Protein Sources 💪🌾🥗
Where do vegans get their protein? There's no shortage of plant-based protein options. Vegan nutrition offers a wide range of protein-rich foods, from lentils and chickpeas to tofu and quinoa.
Fun Idea: Create a "vegan protein plate" every week using three different sources, such as quinoa, lentils, or a tofu stir-fry. This will diversify your meals and ensure you're meeting your nutritional needs. You'll soon discover that eating vegan can be both nutritious and delicious!
3. Join Local Vegan Communities 🛍️🌿
Going vegan doesn't have to be a solo journey. The UK has a thriving vegan community, with regular events, markets, and festivals. Getting involved is a great way to meet like-minded people, discover new products, and learn more about veganism.
What's On: Visit a local vegan market or attend events like the Vegan Camp Out festival or check out Vegan Events who run markets around the country throughout the year: their next one is in Glasgow on 12th October and after that in Essex in November. These events are fun and inspiring ways to explore veganism while supporting ethical businesses. Plus, you may pick up some valuable tips and delicious recipes to make your transition even smoother.
Conclusion: Make Veganism Fun, One Step at a Time 🌍
Transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle doesn't have to be complicated. By trying vegan comfort foods, exploring plant-based protein sources, and engaging with local vegan communities, you'll find veganism is simple and fun. And who knows? You might inspire others to make the switch!
Ready to begin? Try one of these steps this month and see how enjoyable and rewarding a vegan lifestyle can be. Let's make veganism a fun and delicious adventure together!
Transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle doesn't have to be complicated. By trying vegan comfort foods, exploring plant-based protein sources, and engaging with local vegan communities, you'll find veganism is simple and fun. And who knows? You might inspire others to make the switch!
Ready to begin? Try one of these steps this month and see how enjoyable and rewarding a vegan lifestyle can be. Let's make veganism a fun and delicious adventure together!
Top picks of the month - September 2024
Yes, high winds mean that Reading and Leeds festival-goers have to stay inside. The rains have stopped play repeatedly. It can only mean that it’s the tail-end of the British summer. What are our top 3 then, to cope with the rain and the coming Autumn?
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No.1 Before the mornings get too dark and cold, keep that summer feeling going with vegan brunch. Wagamama, which has become a favourite since opting for a 50% plant-based menu, is testing out a vegan brunch at a limited number of its UK restaurants up to 11.30am. In London, you can head to Bankside, Battersea, Camden, Covent Garden or the Festival Hall. Further afield, check out Sheffield Meadowhall, Clifton in Bristol, St Albans and others in this link. Firm favourites for us: bang bang hash browns and vegan sausage bao. For those who can’t wait for the katsu curry at lunch they’re doing the tofu katsu too. Of course they are. Our only issue: are we getting out of the house before 11.30am on a Sunday?
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No.2 New kid on the block Beanstalk Foods www.beanstalkfoods.com which is aiming for the double whammy of processed food which is vegan and healthy, with foods that are high in proteins, fibre, vitamins and anti-oxidants. They want to put the fun and decadence into vegan snacking and seem to be on the Extraveganza mission. Products include pastrami, chorizo and meatballs. At the time of writing, products aren’t yet in the shops so this is one to look out for.
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No. 3 DIP. Again, you cry. Please stop already with the cleaning products. Anyone would think we’re trying to tell you that you have a hygiene problem. But we really are blown away by this laundry detergent. It’s more animal-friendly than traditional washing capsules and liquids, and it keeps winning us over on sustainability grounds. Tear off one strip for a light wash or two for the post-Glastonbury heavy soiling. And it’s cheaper. So, it’s more sustainable, better for the environment, less harmful to animal life and it saves you pennies. It wins on every count. It makes you wonder why Procter & Gamble or Unilever didn’t do something similar earlier.
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Top picks of the month - August 2024
Schools out. The long summer is ahead. What’s going to keep you entertained?
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No. 1 Planet G, joint winners of the Scottish Street Food Awards, who have been trading since October last year. Their star offering is their haggis burger with their version of neeps and tatties and whisky mayo, homemade chilli jam and pickled onions. They wander around Scotland. They'll be at Fringe by the Sea from 2nd to 11th August, and if you’re up at the Edinburgh Festival then check them out at the end of August at Tag Rugby. Or find out where they’ll be wandering too next on their IG account @planetgfood
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No.2 BakeOff 2018 finalist Ruby Bhogal has launched her cookbook, One Bake, Two Ways, where each of her recipes comes with instructions to make a plant-based version. We love this innovation, although it won’t be one for the purists where recipes will be side-by-side with non-vegan versions, but as means of encouraging non-vegans to try out vegan food simply, this seems to us a brilliant innovation. We wish that more cookbooks gave simple plant-based switches. So congratulations, Ruby. Let’s hope it’s a big success.
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3. How about the new cereal craze that’s kicking off, Surreal www.eatsurreal.co.uk Fully plant-based cereal that’s lower carb, lower calorie and high in fibre and protein. A little steep in price at £6 per 240g box but if that means weaning you and your charming offspring off the morning candy crack, that can only be a good thing. And code BH10 will you get an extra discount if you’re quick. Of course, the big players have been slow to reduce the sugar content that keeps us locked in, and that might be another reason for all of us to make the switch. Was it just us in the past that could be found early morning, with the hand in the Frosties box, bypassing the cereal bowl? Current Surreal flavours include Cocoa, Cinnamon, Peanut, Cookies and Cream and Strawberry Milkshake
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Top picks of the month - July 2024
Summer really is here. Finally. With temperatures hotter than Spain. And a surprise election. With an unsurprising result. And scheduled football. With a predictable result ... Almost! What are our top 3 then, with all this Mayhem or should that be Julyhem:
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1 DIP. Yes, really. Dishwasher and laundry detergent, but this is so brilliant that it gets right to the top. It’s more animal-friendly than traditional detergent, and it wins us over on sustainability grounds. What’s more, it’s cheaper. So, it’s more sustainable, better for the environment, less harmful to animal life and it saves you pennies. It wins on every count.
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2. Strawberry Millefeuille at Plants restaurant. We’ve had so many poor plant-based desserts in our time. Vegan substitutes struggle to match the crunch and creaminess of a buttery, biscuit base. The vegan creams just don’t quite replicate the thickness of a good, clotted cream. Well, this dessert for us did it all. The pastry feuille were buttery and crunchy. The strawberry and coconut cream was a better filling than we’ve tasted in a plant-based pudding for quite some time.
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3 Vegandale festival is coming to London, expanding across the pond from its traditional North American route The festival on Saturday 13 July in Clapham Common, London promises to be a lively event from 11am to 8pm. Go from teatime until close and entry is only £12. There’ll be 75 traders from around the world, free samples, an all-day DJ and interactive artwork for those plant-based selfies. London is one of two UK stops (the other is Manchester later in the year) aiming to show that the vegan world has all the fun of our current world, just without using animals. Now, just cross your fingers for the weather.
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Top picks of the month - June 2024
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1. Was that a ray of sunshine we saw? Could summer finally be approaching. It's time to open the fridge, and pour yourself a glass of crisp, white wine. But where can you get a good wine free of animal products? What, isn't it just grape juice? Nope. So many people don’t know that most wine is not vegan because egg white, gelatine and isinglass (from fish bladder) are used in the clarification/filtration process. Number 1 this month are Vegan Online Wines who we’ve been meaning to feature for some time, for their commitment to stocking only vegan wines. They have been going for 12 years and were at the forefront of promoting animal-friendly wines in the UK. Our favourite this month: a tempranillo from the De Haan Altes estate, El Convertido. Ok, it's red not white, but have you seen the forecast!
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2. Seeing as we’re on the booze, we’re giving our No.2 to Kirin Ichiban beer. Just as most wines are still mainly vegan unfriendly, a very large number of brewers continue to use isinglass and gelatin in the clarification process. Ichiban is proudly vegan, made simply from malt, hops and water.
3. So many great plant-based restaurants are popping up over London and the UK that it’s becoming hard to keep up. Lately, we stumbled upon Veg Box café, run by husband and wife team Ruslan and Bozena, an extension of their successful Canterbury business and now in London for just over 8 months. And customers don’t just support them by buying their delicious food. They even have customers as investors. Current favourites are the smoked tofu ragu lasagne and the pancakes. Oh, and a brilliant lunch deal for £10.95 on weekends.
Top picks of the month - May 2024
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1. Well, number 1 this month, though they been favourites since the days in Brighton when the Extra and the Vegan were desperately hunting for a place they could happily eat together, are Purezza, now with branches in Camden Town, London, on Parkway and in Manchester. Though they’re primarily a pizza restaurant, they have a small plates deal in Camden including mac n’ cheese, meatballs and pasta for a tasty £18 every day until 5pm. We love these guys because we love their ethos, about creating an inclusive menu for everyone, and their acknowledgement that for some the journey to plant-based living is about health and sustainability.
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2. It’s surprise, surprise, LIDL, who have committed to publishing annually how much plant protein they sell versus animal protein, and in Germany they’ve done such a good job, through price matching, that vegan sales have soared 30% in the past six months alone. Now let's see them do the same for the UK.
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3. Well, we want to celebrate V-dog, championing plant-based dog food, . A study in the US suggested that 16% of livestock farming was effectively for pet food production and that percentage was increasing. In the UK, just under one in three households has a dog, and almost all dog food is animal protein. At the moment, V-dog is only available online from third party online retailers but they have to plans sell online from their website this year. Woof Woof!
Top picks of the month - April 2024
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1. Top of the list this month has to be Gauthier spin-off, Studio Gauthier, next to the BFI in St Stephen’s Street, London W1. We finally got to visit. It’s nestled in that 70s idea of the future, with round concrete booths with velour, pumpkin seating, polished metal, and the feel of the lobby at the Barbican towers. This restaurant is what we are all about: plant-based, but fun, chic, welcoming and unfussy. Not a macrame hanging basket or open-toed sandal in sight. And the prices?
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Well, set against the astronomical cost of Central London dining, this place is a bargain. We splashed out on the printed faux meat steak and the kohlrabi, both of which were delicious. And the pudding. Come for this alone. Dark chocolate praline and genuinely crisp and gooey macaroons.
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2. Number two is the delicious re-branded sharing box from NOMO (No Missing Out) who were pioneers of the free-from movement, building a dedicated nut-free factory 25 years ago. This plant-based, gluten-free chocolate is delicious for everyone. None of that disappointing carob bar aftertaste that has your non-vegan friends rushing for the Dairy Milk. And now stocked in selected Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda. What’s not to love?
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3. Well, summer’s coming so how about a ready-to-drink, plant-based cocktail. Famous drinks brand, De Kuyper, are now offering ready-to-pour Pina Colada. Available at all large Sainsbury’s . You can sort the drink. Now all you need to pray for is that famous British sunshine!
Top picks of the month - March 2024
So, here are our plant-based favourites this month ...
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1. Well, Spring is coming. What better way to celebrate the end of drizzle and the hope of sunshine than with a soft-serve ice cream. And, we have to admit that Oatly soft-serve comes out on top. Better than anything you ever got from a Mister Meltee jingling down your street as a child. The only problem: it’s not stocked in supermarkets so you’ll have to beg your local café to start stocking it, or use the Oatly store finder https://oatfinder.oatly.com to find somewhere to head on that bright, Spring day which is just around the corner. Promise!
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2. Number two on our list is @thelittlelondonvegan who we’ve been following for a while. She gives great tips for plant-based restaurants in and around the capital, and also has an occasional series where she heads further afield to discover the UK’s best vegan food.
3. And coming in bronze place this month is Mallow Borough Market www.mallowlondon.com from the team behind firm favourite Mildreds (which as we’ve said seems only to have improved as it’s turned into an expanding chain). We’re sure this will become a firm favourite for plant-based Londoners. Check out the sweet potato laksa with rice noodles and five spice tofu for £17. Now, when are they expanding outside London?
Top picks of the month - February 2024
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
We love plant-based chocolate,
And you should too!
Non-APF folk are always most concerned about cheese and chocolate substitutes; we'll leave the cheese to another time, but since it's February and Valentine's Day (and we all need a pick me up this early on in the year...) here are some of our favourite chocolates made with almond or soya butter and milk instead of the cow alternative!
Violets are blue,
We love plant-based chocolate,
And you should too!
Non-APF folk are always most concerned about cheese and chocolate substitutes; we'll leave the cheese to another time, but since it's February and Valentine's Day (and we all need a pick me up this early on in the year...) here are some of our favourite chocolates made with almond or soya butter and milk instead of the cow alternative!
1) If you are buying:
If you need the sugar hit without the hit to the weekly budget and you want to be able to buy chocolate in a 'normal' (we hate that word) supermarket and not have to grow the cocoa beans yourself, we have to direct you to Sainsbury's and their Freefrom range. Even the smallest cupboard of a shop has a Freefrom section in it and we love their standard Chocolate Bar made with rice milk. It does the job and coming at 79p makes it all the more tasty!
In most shops these days you can find lots of 'chocolate cheats', some of our favourites are:
Nak'd bars and the Cocoa Crunch or Cocoa Orange hit the right spot. (Buy direct from the Nak'd website and get regular discounts and sprinklings of freebies...) We confess that LIDL have started stocking bars that look remarkably similar and are just as tasty.
And if you are really desperate just hit the plain dark chocolate selections and start hunting for one that contains no milk. The term 'may contain traces of milk' is a sticky point as this means that the factory (and therefore factory machinery) also produces products containing milk so there's a chance of contamination...)
If you need the sugar hit without the hit to the weekly budget and you want to be able to buy chocolate in a 'normal' (we hate that word) supermarket and not have to grow the cocoa beans yourself, we have to direct you to Sainsbury's and their Freefrom range. Even the smallest cupboard of a shop has a Freefrom section in it and we love their standard Chocolate Bar made with rice milk. It does the job and coming at 79p makes it all the more tasty!
In most shops these days you can find lots of 'chocolate cheats', some of our favourites are:
Nak'd bars and the Cocoa Crunch or Cocoa Orange hit the right spot. (Buy direct from the Nak'd website and get regular discounts and sprinklings of freebies...) We confess that LIDL have started stocking bars that look remarkably similar and are just as tasty.
And if you are really desperate just hit the plain dark chocolate selections and start hunting for one that contains no milk. The term 'may contain traces of milk' is a sticky point as this means that the factory (and therefore factory machinery) also produces products containing milk so there's a chance of contamination...)
2) If they are buying:
Small, luxurious and high quality dairy-free chocolate for when you're feeling a little bit posh (and they are paying)...
Booja Booja are the current kings of dairy free confectionery and found in most large shops. Their truffles are so good you won't be able to just 'have one and save the rest for later'...
Paul A. Young does a smooth, velvety APF chocolate with sea salt in it - you really get that little salty kick. Best savoured in small doses with a glass of red.
And lastly, direct your plus one to this handy little page from Hotel Chocolat - listing all of their 'Chocolate for Vegans' including teas, hot chocolates, and slabs!
Small, luxurious and high quality dairy-free chocolate for when you're feeling a little bit posh (and they are paying)...
Booja Booja are the current kings of dairy free confectionery and found in most large shops. Their truffles are so good you won't be able to just 'have one and save the rest for later'...
Paul A. Young does a smooth, velvety APF chocolate with sea salt in it - you really get that little salty kick. Best savoured in small doses with a glass of red.
And lastly, direct your plus one to this handy little page from Hotel Chocolat - listing all of their 'Chocolate for Vegans' including teas, hot chocolates, and slabs!
3) If the date is going badly:
When you've talked about all you have in common...and there are more awkward silences than you'd care to count...and when you are using those silences to look at the very attractive, exciting, happy passers by instead of gazing into one another's eyes, then chocolate is most definitely needed.
If and when you are in London, head straight for Gelupo for gorgeously creamy gelatos. Traditionally gelato has egg in it but thankfully in this little parlour you can choose between at least eight flavours - don't pass on the Coconut, Blood Orange and Bitter Chocolate. It is amazing and you'll want a bucket full.
When you've talked about all you have in common...and there are more awkward silences than you'd care to count...and when you are using those silences to look at the very attractive, exciting, happy passers by instead of gazing into one another's eyes, then chocolate is most definitely needed.
If and when you are in London, head straight for Gelupo for gorgeously creamy gelatos. Traditionally gelato has egg in it but thankfully in this little parlour you can choose between at least eight flavours - don't pass on the Coconut, Blood Orange and Bitter Chocolate. It is amazing and you'll want a bucket full.
Top picks of the month - January 2024
So another year begins and with it some of our new favourite things!
This month, we wanted to share three businesses that make our lives just that little bit faster and fun - and frankly, in January, who doesn't need a little something extra to make it all a little bit easier!
We love that living life free from animal products is slowly making tiny paw-prints in mainstream culture, and these UK businesses show just how much…
This month, we wanted to share three businesses that make our lives just that little bit faster and fun - and frankly, in January, who doesn't need a little something extra to make it all a little bit easier!
We love that living life free from animal products is slowly making tiny paw-prints in mainstream culture, and these UK businesses show just how much…
1. The Vegan Kind
It’s wonderful to see the Vegan Kind have gone from strength-to-strength over the past 10 years. We first met the lovely Glasgow-based founder of The Vegan Kind, when she was selling the UK’s first monthly lifestyle subscription box. Now the website has expanded to offer a full range of vegan products to make everything as simple for you as it can be. They even got vegan party food and a delicious range of ready meals.
Our current favourite. Mac and cheese for under £3
It’s wonderful to see the Vegan Kind have gone from strength-to-strength over the past 10 years. We first met the lovely Glasgow-based founder of The Vegan Kind, when she was selling the UK’s first monthly lifestyle subscription box. Now the website has expanded to offer a full range of vegan products to make everything as simple for you as it can be. They even got vegan party food and a delicious range of ready meals.
Our current favourite. Mac and cheese for under £3
2. Fifth Dimension Tattoo & Piercing
The UK’s first vegan tattoo and piercing boutique.
Run by vegans, for everybody.
Of course being animal product free extends way beyond just what we put in our mouths, and animal products are in many tattoo inks, after-care lotions and cleaning products.
So head straight to the Fifth Dimension in Shoreditch for kick-ass-and-conscious inking!
Top picks of the month - December
In case the millions of fairy lights, Christmas carols and kilometres of tinsel didn’t give it away - it’s December and we could not be more excited! Not only does this mean that it is only a month away from Veganuary (you know you can get more friends to take up this one) but it also means that we get to discover all of our favourite christmas treats that don’t harm any animals but still make our hearts happy this Festive Season. Here are our Top Picks for December;
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2. Christmas Pud Nakd Bar
There was a time that we thought that this was a cruel joke, created to make us crave a treat that we thought we would never get! But, we managed to get our hands on one and our taste buds will never be the same! To the creator of this Christmas heaven, can we marry you? Here is the link for online Christmas Pud Nakd Bar shopping - we suggest checking every ten minutes until they are in stock - alternatively, camp out at your nearest supermarket until they stock it again! |
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3. Aunt Bessie's Sage & Onion Stuffing Balls We all understand the need for a good roast on Christmas Day. Try out these stuffing balls, available at all of the main supermarkets and perfect with a nut roast and loads of gravy! But caution. They may only be good for the extra half of you and not the fully vegan. They are only certified for vegetarians, and we haven't got to the bottom of why that may be. |
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Top picks of the month - November
Yes, it’s less than two months until Christmas. You’ll be stocking up on presents and praying that more people switch to veganism to save a few more turkeys from the chop. And the whole month is World Vegan Month. There are now roughly 200,000 vegans in the United Kingdom (and rising) so more businesses are starting to take notice. We’ve got our Top 3 favourite treats for you, and although we usually like to show the best of what’s on offer from vegan-friendly businesses around the United Kingdom, the first pick is one of our own. And we’re super-proud, because it’s everything that we’re about: easy, fun and so creamily delicious, that your non-vegan friends will be bowled over and knocking down your door for more.
1. Coconut cookies
We know you’re too busy to cook, and your city kitchen is probably the size of a small broom cupboard. However, this little recipe, courtesy of our good friends at Kath Leonard Cakes, is perfect for even the most hopeless, time-strapped, space-constrained chef. You have been clamouring for recipes on Extraveganza.com and so we’re gonna give you some. Recipes that will wow your non-vegan friends and take about as much time as it takes to read this article. These coconut cookies can be made with gluten-free flour and are melt-in-the-mouth scrumptious. Click here for the recipe
We know you’re too busy to cook, and your city kitchen is probably the size of a small broom cupboard. However, this little recipe, courtesy of our good friends at Kath Leonard Cakes, is perfect for even the most hopeless, time-strapped, space-constrained chef. You have been clamouring for recipes on Extraveganza.com and so we’re gonna give you some. Recipes that will wow your non-vegan friends and take about as much time as it takes to read this article. These coconut cookies can be made with gluten-free flour and are melt-in-the-mouth scrumptious. Click here for the recipe
2. Alpro Soy Custard
If the geniuses at Alpro are reading this - we definitely want to buy shares!
Especially if they are going to continue releasing products like this brand new custard! It's just as good as the dairy custard you remember from your childhood - great hot or cold straight from the packet. Largely available in most main supermarkets and at 95p you shouldn't really need any more persuading!
If the geniuses at Alpro are reading this - we definitely want to buy shares!
Especially if they are going to continue releasing products like this brand new custard! It's just as good as the dairy custard you remember from your childhood - great hot or cold straight from the packet. Largely available in most main supermarkets and at 95p you shouldn't really need any more persuading!
Top picks of the month - October
With the cold weather, the hot drinks begin...and so do the cravings for biscuits. These are some of our favourite dunking accessories of the month.
1. Lazy Day Shortbread
We love the products coming out of Scotland from the Lazy day Food Company. The company was started by a food scientist pair who have food intolerances themselves. Instead of suffering and starving, they set out to satisfy us all! Yay!
We are busy making our way through their product range...who doesn't love a chocolate chip now and then? These are shortbread biscuits, and so less crumbly than the usual chocolate chip offerings out there, but they are dairy, gluten, wheat and hydrogenated fat-free, and are readily available in lots of shops. What's not to love?
Oh, and if you haven't tried their Millionaire's Shortbread, you are missing out!
We love the products coming out of Scotland from the Lazy day Food Company. The company was started by a food scientist pair who have food intolerances themselves. Instead of suffering and starving, they set out to satisfy us all! Yay!
We are busy making our way through their product range...who doesn't love a chocolate chip now and then? These are shortbread biscuits, and so less crumbly than the usual chocolate chip offerings out there, but they are dairy, gluten, wheat and hydrogenated fat-free, and are readily available in lots of shops. What's not to love?
Oh, and if you haven't tried their Millionaire's Shortbread, you are missing out!
2. Nairns Biscuit Breaks
We love all forms of Nairn's oatcakes so we had to try these new gluten free Apple and Cinnamon Biscuit Breaks and we weren't disappointed. They are a delicious pick me up for any time of the day in handy packs of four.
The oats and fruit are surprisingly sweet and even though the biscuits are gluten free, you don't get that sadly-all-too-familiar sensation of eating a cardboard breakfast bar.
3. Bourbon Creams
Oh, and just in case, like us, you need a quick biscuit fix and all you have for miles around is a small supermarket then just head for the Bourbon Creams, Jammie Dodgers or Hob Nobs - all APF (animal product free)!
We love all forms of Nairn's oatcakes so we had to try these new gluten free Apple and Cinnamon Biscuit Breaks and we weren't disappointed. They are a delicious pick me up for any time of the day in handy packs of four.
The oats and fruit are surprisingly sweet and even though the biscuits are gluten free, you don't get that sadly-all-too-familiar sensation of eating a cardboard breakfast bar.
3. Bourbon Creams
Oh, and just in case, like us, you need a quick biscuit fix and all you have for miles around is a small supermarket then just head for the Bourbon Creams, Jammie Dodgers or Hob Nobs - all APF (animal product free)!
Top picks of the month - September
1. Dr. Organic Rose Otto Eye Serum
You will enjoy dabbing on this eye cream every morning and night for a few reasons:
It smells good enough to eat.
It doesn't do that scary tingly thing that some eye creams do - this is pumped full of organic oils and extracts and no nasty bits. How lovely that when you read the ingredients you know every single one of them, you aren't just reading numbers and chemicals.
It is labelled, in bold print, 'Suitable for Vegans'. Music to our ears.
It really feels refreshing and hydrating for the little lines and wrinkles under your hard-working eyes.
It's readily available (Holland and Barrett, online) and coming in at £9.99 when other eye creams can and do cost double that, what's not to love!? Now, who said we had mature skin?
You will enjoy dabbing on this eye cream every morning and night for a few reasons:
It smells good enough to eat.
It doesn't do that scary tingly thing that some eye creams do - this is pumped full of organic oils and extracts and no nasty bits. How lovely that when you read the ingredients you know every single one of them, you aren't just reading numbers and chemicals.
It is labelled, in bold print, 'Suitable for Vegans'. Music to our ears.
It really feels refreshing and hydrating for the little lines and wrinkles under your hard-working eyes.
It's readily available (Holland and Barrett, online) and coming in at £9.99 when other eye creams can and do cost double that, what's not to love!? Now, who said we had mature skin?
2. Coconut water
Yes, coconut water is still a top tip. We can't help noticing the proliferation of competitor coconut drinks to brand leader, VitaCoco. Coconut water is awesome because it doesn't contain any additives, has more potassium than a banana, and is fat-free. Oh, and it transports us to past beach holidays. And we have drunk so many smoothies in our time we really welcome this alternative!
We personally prefer the CHI brand because it has a more creamy taste and funky branding.
Yes, coconut water is still a top tip. We can't help noticing the proliferation of competitor coconut drinks to brand leader, VitaCoco. Coconut water is awesome because it doesn't contain any additives, has more potassium than a banana, and is fat-free. Oh, and it transports us to past beach holidays. And we have drunk so many smoothies in our time we really welcome this alternative!
We personally prefer the CHI brand because it has a more creamy taste and funky branding.
Top picks of the month - August
This month we have the best vegan hot chocolate we have tasted to-date, a favourite pre-seasoned tofu, and an indulgent body wash that will keep you smelling of summer berries all day long.
1. We reckon your kitchen cupboard looks just like ours: an array of half-sampled powders all promising to be ‘extra chocolatey’, ‘rich’ and ‘indulgent’, while still being free from milk powder. When these promises are tested however, the absence of milk, tends to result in a watery sludge separation, leaving you frustrated and missing your chocolate fix.
Enter Sweet Freedom’s Choc Shot. It took a while for us to bite, but now their prices have come down to under £4 a squeezy bottle, we finally buckled when a particularly strong hot chocolate craving struck and the half-sampled cupboard powders could be faced no longer. And wow, are we glad we caved. This stuff is so good it only lasted a week. We drank it hot, we drank it cold, and when you weren’t looking, we squeezed it from the bottle and ate it with a spoon. Did we say spoon? Or did we just squeeze it into our faces? Choc Shot contains only natural ingredients and its taste really is as rich and chocolatey as promised. And it has the most important thing for all APF chocolate drinkers: it mixes perfectly with whatever milk or water you have available and doesn’t separate!
Enter Sweet Freedom’s Choc Shot. It took a while for us to bite, but now their prices have come down to under £4 a squeezy bottle, we finally buckled when a particularly strong hot chocolate craving struck and the half-sampled cupboard powders could be faced no longer. And wow, are we glad we caved. This stuff is so good it only lasted a week. We drank it hot, we drank it cold, and when you weren’t looking, we squeezed it from the bottle and ate it with a spoon. Did we say spoon? Or did we just squeeze it into our faces? Choc Shot contains only natural ingredients and its taste really is as rich and chocolatey as promised. And it has the most important thing for all APF chocolate drinkers: it mixes perfectly with whatever milk or water you have available and doesn’t separate!
2. We’ve been known to eat Smoked Tofu from the German company Taifun while still on the journey home. Like kids with candy bars. It is delicious, ‘steaky’ with a great seasoning. It’s like eating a really satisfying, filling burger, and you don’t even miss the bread! The company website also gives loads of free recipe ideas.
Now we just have to get Taifun to work their marketing charm so their products are stocked in more stores. We’ll eventually work our way through the entire product range...we just keep getting stuck on this one - if you do find it in stores - buy away. Currently stocked in Waitrose which has a blossoming vegan product range.
Now we just have to get Taifun to work their marketing charm so their products are stocked in more stores. We’ll eventually work our way through the entire product range...we just keep getting stuck on this one - if you do find it in stores - buy away. Currently stocked in Waitrose which has a blossoming vegan product range.
3. You know those days when you want to sit, in silence, on your sofa, in very warm, very snuggly sleepwear, and eat a tub of ice cream? Yeah? Well, we’ve found a great alternative to that, when we need a bit of a pick-me-up: get into a gorgeously hot shower, exhale and lather up in Original Source Lemongrass and Orange Body Wash. Then take a moment. You smell and feel like a giant delicious ice cream! It’s fun, fragrant and the clever packaging people stuck the handy ‘Plant-based’ label bang smack on the front of the bottle to save us time hunting through their ingredients list! And they've done what we've advocated for a while: bring the non-vegans on-board which a change of label. You’ll be smelling of oranges all day, and at some stage will definitely want to lick yourself.
