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Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
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Artisan Raw Dining In Trendy Notting Hill, London W11
Ever since Nama Artisan Raw Foods opened up in classy London suburb of Notting Hill (a stones throw from the Portobello Road) I've been wanting to visit. I finally took myself, a friend, and a healthy appetite there in May. The small restaurant is decorated a la minimalist, clean lines and seven shades of white. Its large, glass front was streaming in the afternoon sunshine. It felt fresh and clean. Just the atmosphere for being with friends and enjoying a healthy raw gourmet treat. I'd gotten a bit lost (I blame it on Google maps!) getting to the restaurant so I was properly hungry and ready for a spot of weekend feasting!
My (very patient!) friend had been waiting for me to arrive so he had already perused the menu and chosen the dish he wanted. After a quick scan and a tussle between curry and a sushi platter I settled on the cauliflower based Thai Coconut Curry, and he opted for the Lasagne Verdure. We shared a small plate of sauerkraut and crackers as something to stop the gnawing hunger (and our stomachs noisily signalling it was time to eat!). We did not wait too long before our friendly server brought us our dishes. 10 out of 10 for presentation, but what about the taste test? The Coconut Curry was delicious with a lovely coconut based sauce. Full of flavour and just the correct amount of heat (for me). The rice made from kohlrabi pulsed in a blender, was the perfect light accompaniment. My friend cleared his plate and declared the lasagne a triumph.
The restaurant was not packed, as most of the diners were seated outside. I suspect evenings would be much busier and so have more of a buzzing atmosphere. Whatever time of day, I will definitely return. As would my carnivorous dining companion.
Cost for our raw organic lunch, without drinks, for both was just under £50. Not bad for such salubrious surroundings in the heart of London.
Note: An optional 12.5% tip is automatically added to the bill.
Everything on the menu is vegan, wheat and dairy free.
- 110 Talbot Road, London W11 1JR
Simply Good Vegetarian Food In London. Dished Up With The Warmest Of Welcomes
Much as I try not to be judgemental in life, (or should I call it discerning?), I do sometimes make false assumptions. Like 'Bradley Cooper always makes a good movie', and 'a classy looking vegetarian restaurant a mere hop skip and jump from the sweeping curve of the legendary Regents Street, is going to have an atmosphere spawned from a transient crowd of diners and not be a place I'd want to linger. My assumptions tripped me up once again, when I visited tibits vegetarian restaurant in London recently. Not only did I find the food tasty, imaginative and comforting, on a cool November day but also the atmosphere was more redolent of a cozy, welcoming cafe in Devon!. The staff are exceptionally helpful, and friendly. The seating, soft mood lighting, chandeleirs and layout make it for such a sweet space to relax and dine with friends.
tibits was established in London in 2003 by three vegetarian brothers – Christian, Daniel and Reto Frei, together with Rolf Hitl. Rolf Hiltl is the owner of Hiltl restaurant in Zurich, that is according to Guinness World Records, the oldest and longest running vegetarian restaurant in the world.
They are now regularly scheduling Vegan Days, when all of the hot dishes are vegan.
A self serve 'pay by weight' restaurant, bar and (for the busy City worker) take away. All the food is cooked fresh each day (and throughout the day) with a huge array of hot entrees and salad dishes. Most being created with seasonal ingredients.
Children are welcome and downstairs they have a great little area where the kids can play happily. I spotted lots of cute wooden toys and trikes for them to entertain themselves with.
Being a buffet type affair, there is a method to employ to get you to the eating stage. First, bagsey a table. Plant a hat or something from your person to say 'hey, walk on by, that's my table'. Then..
- Grab a plate from the warmer,
- check out the comprehensive product info if you have special dietary requirements.
- do a drive-by recce of what is on offer
- decide what you are going to have
- load up
- take your plate to the bar and put it on the scales. The meal will be charged by weight (bread is complementary).
- Take it to your table and eat. Simple.
There is a HUGE variety to choose from. Even for the gluten intolerant, coeliac among us. Dhal's, pumpkin lasagne, a couple of curry dishes, roasted aubergines, risottos and lots of fresh veg and quinoa salads, lentil salads, tofu based dishes, crunchy falafels, tempura (boo! currently not gf)…and soup! A good selection of sauces, chutneys and condiments to drizzle, dollop and ooze. I did try and exercise restraint and just eat what would actually just fit comfortably in my stomach!
they serve a large selection of vegetarian/vegan wine and cocktails.
I was a bit disappointed with the selection of desserts for vegans with gluten sensitivities. Although I love fresh figs and other fruits, once my eyes have spotted apple crumble, cheesecake and sticky toffee pudding, I want to be able to place genourously heaped spoons of the like into my mouth! Knowing as I do how easy it is to create gluten free vegan puds I would have thought that they would have had at least one indulgent dessert on offer. Alas no. But the silver lining was I left feeling comfortably satiated instead of filled up to the brim, as so easily can be done.
Typical entree costs £10-12
They published a cookbook on their 10th anniversary. tibits At Home, it's seasonally compartmentalised, and is full of beautiful photographs with simple recipes to try. One of the staff told me that all the photos in the book were taken in the homes of regular diners in Switzerland.
It was ironic that the recipe I wanted to try first had 'dried green beans' I am sure I have an inbuilt tuner that alerts me to unusual ingredients. A brief surf online failed to turn up with a supplier. Luckily, I had been sent the cookbook to review before I went to eat at the restaurant, so I enquired about the recipe and asked where I could buy the dried beans. 'Right here' was the reply. So I grabbed a bag and took them home to recreate one of their iconic recipes.
It was so simple to make. Yes, you could make it with fresh green beans but I so enjoyed the chewy texture of the dried beans after they'd been cooked in water and mixed with the other ingredients.
Dried Bean Salad with Walnuts
Ingredients:
100g dried string beans (1 bag from the restaurant)
½ onion, chopped8 tbsp rapeseed oil (I used 1 2tbs walnut oil)
25g vegetable bouillon (1 1/2 vegan stock cubes)
1 garlic clove, crushed
70g walnuts pieces
4 tbsp red balsamic vinegar (red?!..not seen this before..I used 'normal' balsamic)
5g Fresh coriander leaves
cook the dried beans in boiling water until soft, drain well and allow to cool.
sauté the onions and garlic in the oil and set aside.
once the beans have cooled mix all the ingredients together to complete the recipe.
spoon into a serving dish. Enjoy! (and we did!!)
There are currently five tibits' restaurants in Europe. So, for me, that's one down and four left to try! Any excuse to travel (and eat).
12-14 Heddon St, London W1B 4DA
Making History. Animal Welfare Party Set Their Sights On A Seat In EU Parliament
This is an exciting opportunity for your chance to be part of helping to get a devoted animal lover, and campaigner, Vanessa Hudson, get into the EU Parliament. Please join us in supporting the www.animalwelfareparty.org.
We need around 140,000 votes in London (our target constituency) in order for the Animal Welfare Party to win a seat. We know they can do it because estimates tell us there are around half a million members of the electorate in London following some kind of vegetarian diet – and therefore likely to be warm to our policies. That's three times enough people to vote them into that seat and make history for the animals!
Click below to find out more about the crowd funding project they have launched to get the funds they need to make this happen. Be part of making history!
Party Time! World Vegan Day Party London & Day Of The Dead Celebrations
If you don't already know, November 1st is World Vegan Day, and the start to World Vegan Month. It is a great opportunity for the already vegan and the vegan curious to gather and have some fun. The London Vegan Meetup Group are going to gather in London. Not in London? Events are happening all over, not just in the UK. A Google search will list those closest to you.
If you have a great event you want us to know about, leave a comment below or on the Facebook page.
Also Fat Gay Vegan is hosting the 2nd Annual Day Of The Dead Party
Are you going? I can't make either of them. I will be in New York (woohoo!). Have fun!
What's Better Than a Potato Crisp, Guilt Free And A Delicious Superfood?…. Kale Chips [with short video interview]
Once you've popped a crispy, crunch, chewy kale chip in your mouth..you will be hooked. A warning and a promise!
I was at the Mind Body & Spirit Festival 2013 in London in June. We interview Dominik Schnell from inSpiral Foods A mainly raw food company with a great little cafe/lounge bar in Camden Town and an online shop. Selling all their raw and vegan products. They were the first to bring kale chips to the market in the UK. A little behind our American cousins, who've been crunching on raw kale chips for years, but better late than never! More and more companies are getting in on it now. Dominik is a bit of a raw rock god, in my eyes.. I'm in awe of anyone with the gumption to seize, and create the growing vegan market.
Kale chips are certainly not cheap. But, they are the most tasty savoury, crispy, healthy snack you can buy. Inspiral have now launched their bio degradable, fully compositble snack bag (world first eco pack..see below for the science). 30g only £2.19, much more accessible cost wise. They come in savoury and sweet options. I confess I go for the savoury nibble every time.
Dominik is a fascinating visionary. I hope you enjoy the interview.
Buy the new snack bags online, and at their cafe. They are sold in most whole food stores in the UK and selected places in Europe. I nearly peed with excitement when I saw them in the Vegan Store on my recent trip to Berlin.
Loving the kale!
Vegan MoFo 2013 Day 6 - Free Festival Tickets - Friday GIVEAWAY
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