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.

I wasn't particularly hungry after my rich curry (the sauce is made from fresh young coconut) so we decided to share the plate of Selection of Sweet Treats for dessert.  Which we both expected to have a taster of the fermented blueberry cheesecake on, but alas it comprised of a rather disappointing array of small raw, heavily date based confections.  One of the bites however, did stand out from the rest and I could have eaten a ton of them. A sweet, delicate the trio of coconut nibbles. They tasted just like a Bounty Bar!  Lovely. But why give three on a platter that two people were sharing?! War could have erupted right there!  Next time I will just ask for a plate of coconut treats (all to myself!).

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.

Nama Artisan Raw Foods

1. 110 Talbot Road, London W11 1JR

   020 7313 4638

Vegan Dining Outside Of London - Hertfordshire

Last weekend, my friend and I FINALLY decided to visit Woody's Cafe in Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, this weekend.  This is going to sound daft, but though I may traverse thousands of miles using planes, buses, feet and peddle power, just to discover and taste vegan food, but the thirty minute drive from my mothers house when I visit, just seemed too far.  Yes, that is illogical!

With the record-breaking storms in the UK (where in the world isn't experiencing weird weather?!) abated (I was in Austin..happily avoiding it all!), the sight of the sun coming out and a friend's belated birthday still to celebrate made me feel like a trip out for the afternoon.

I'd heard about Woody's restaurant before but previously had felt lukewarm about the prospect of eating there.  This weekend, it was time. I called ahead to make sure they had some vegan, gluten free dishes on the menu. They reeled off several that sounded nice, so off we went.

Woody's is situated on the banks of a pretty canal, and not the sort of place you'd 'just come across'.  The setting is picturesque, with canal boats mored in the quay and a run of dog walkers.  It would be perfect on a warmer (and less skwarly) day, to sit outside and eat.

We were wise enough to reserve a table, which was just as well as the place was heaving.  The decor is cosy and inviting.  The staff attentive, knowledgeable and personable.  The food is cooked in front of you in the open kitchen.  Everything is fresh.  Generous portions.  I opted for the Beet Bourguinon and it was really tasty.  Packed with fresh mushrooms and puy lentils (I love puy lentils!).  The mash was very good but not amazing (I may just be fussy as I've had some mind-blowing mash potato recently).   But overall the dish was practically perfect.

The prices are reasonable.   £35 for 2 dinners and latte and pot of green tea.

It actually only took me just over 15mins to drive here!  I'll be eating here again for sure!

Vegan caramel latte.

Views of the canal from our table.

Aubergine, bean & pepper stew. V GF   Leek salad GF (not vegan). The stew was slightly spiced and very well flavoured.

  
Beet Bourgiunion & mustard mash.  9/10   I practically scraped the plate clean!

Chef's hard at work in the open kitchen.

Too full for dessert?  It must be a first! They had vegan ice cream and a gluten free cake.

View of the restaurant from across the water. 

19 Dickinson Quay, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP3 9WG

01442 266280

10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Healthy Snacks. Parsnip & Brussel Invite Kale To Step Into The Ring - Who Won?!

Kale is king.  It has reigned for a few years now as the supreme raw food chip.  Of course, other vegetables were going to want a slice of the action. So kale got competition!

I love brussel sprouts.  I love parsnips. I heard they were being 'chipped'. I had to sample them. 

Wonderfully Raw chips were developed by a chef named Sequoia, a graduate of the Living Light Institute who began making raw foods after healing herself of Type 11 Diabetes through diet. 

New Product Review

Generally, they were good. But, honestly, not all of the flavours rocked my world, but some defiantly generated a tremor! All of the line up contain raw coconut among their ingredients.  Coconut is not only delicious but a metabolism boosting super food. Guilt free healthy snacking.  Each pack is only approximately 120 calories and 8g of fat (but it is easily digested, healthy MCLA - medium chain fatty acids). According to Dr Oz coconut improves thyroid function, too. Vegan. Gluten free. Soy Free. Sugar Free.

Brussel Bites - Chili Pumpkin Seed Crunch 
The chipotle heat is so good mingling with the slightly bitter brussel and the toasty flavour of the coconut. Loved!

Brussel Bites - Tamarind Apple Crunch 
I could not detect the tang of the tamarind but the ginger and coconut were a divine mix. Loved!

Snip Chips    - Cheezy Herb Truffle 
I was excited about this flavour combination. However, I didn't love this one.  Too 'parsnippy' for my liking and not enough truffle and cheeze flavours.

Snip Chips    - Chipotle Lime Cilantro 
More chipotle flavour, please!  If you don't like heat then you may enjoy the subtlety of it. Otherwise, a good flavour.

Snip Chips    - Dill Pickle 
a lovely buttery taste with a gentle dill flavour. Loved!


So..the clear winner..does King Kale need to be nervous?? No. Competition is good.  I think the healthy snack market has room for them all!  I will definitely be buying these again.

Wonderfully Raw sell their Snips and Bites in many natural food markets, Whole Food and grocery store locations in North America.

Could Tempeh Eventually Replace Meat At Our Kitchen Tables? Let Me Hear Y'All Say Yee-Haw For Texas Tempeh

Beth & Becky founders of The Hearty Vegan

I arrived in Austin, promising myself I would lay low so I could complete a project I've been meaning to do for some time.  But, I guess my curiosity for vegan artisans runs too deep. I was at the natural foods store, filling up my basket with ingredients for a recipe I was creating and I could not help but notice, in the chilled foods section, a local Texan company making Tempeh.  After a brief search on the internet I find it is made by The Hearty Vegan, and run by a mom and daughter team, right here in Austin.  With numbers of people adopting a plant based diet increasing steadily year on year, and the increasing population highlighting issues of landmass, meat alternatives are becoming ever more popular (and innovative with flavours and their uses), I'm all for spreading the word. So,I wanted to meet them. I sent a message and asked if they would like to get together. Thankfully, they replied that they would.

We arranged to meet in the cafe I ended up frequenting the most whilst I stayed in Austin, Counter Culture.  It is a homey, vegan cafe. The painted bright turquoise interior is as bright as it's servers.  The owner, Sue, is a fellow world traveller who has put down her backpack and tied on her apron to share her love of food.  I was sitting watching the world go by and sipping on hot tea when Beth and Becky breezed in, armed with a box of their tempeh goodies for me to try.  They had that typical Austin warmth and easiness about them as I probed them with a million questions about their mutual tempeh obsession.

For those that don't know.  Tempeh was first made in Indonesia as a food protein, made from fermented beans.  High in fibre, low in saturated fat and zero cholesterol, Tempeh is now becoming more and more popular as people seek tasty meat alternatives.  It is incredibly versatile, 'meaty', with a firm texture that absorbs flavours well. Many prefer it over tofu for it's firmer, more substantial texture.  If you've not yet tried tempeh 'bacon' then do.  You've got a treat in store.

The Hearty Vegan 


Beth, the mom, told me how she turned vegetarian in college after choosing a topic to debate in class. She had to convince her classmates that being vegetarian was not only beneficial to health but morally responsible.  She researched this subject that she had previously known nothing about, and formed her argument so well that she ended up convincing herself and became a vegetarian.  Taking up many causes to help educate others to the vegetarian lifestyle.  It really opened her eyes and made her live far more consciously.  When Becky was born, she fed her a vegetarian, then vegan diet.  She also decided to 'un-school' her for the majority of her education.  Becky is a breath of fresh air.  Her confident, passionate nature is obvious and infectious.  My reserved British counterparts could benefit from her outlook and worldliness.  Un-schooling obviously did her no harm, or judging by her sparky exuberance, neither does her being vegan.  

Beth had been making tempeh for 25 years for herself and her family, and generously giving it to friends. Just over three years ago in 2010, she and Becky began forming a dream of selling their tempeh and their business becoming part of the local economy.  So they founded The Hearty Vegan which is steadily growing as word spreads.  They sell in many of Austin's vegetarian friendly and vegan restaurants, food trucks, natural markets, local CSA's and Whole Foods. Perhaps one day the big red heart logo of The Hearty Vegan's Texas Tempeh will be as synonymous a lighted sign as that big old M used to be.  It doesn't take too much of a paradigm shift to see this as a possibility. The Beth & Becky team obviously is working.  The girls have their own personal strengths that they bring to the company, and they clearly have a relationship that many mothers and daughters might wish they could have.

Over the years that awesome 'at home' baking and cooking has created a long list of recipes loved by many.  Beth and Becky decided it was time to share them, and so put together the Vegan Duet cookbook.  This news is fresh off the press, so I promise I will let you know when you can go buy the book for yourself.  I think you will want to, with recipes like Asian Meatballs, Spanakopita, Southern Fried Tempeh, Blackened Burgers and Beth famous and delicious Dill Tempeh ('Tuna') Salad.  They pride themselves on keeping it simple but delivering flavour with few ingredients.  Tuna salad and meatballs are Beth's particular pride and joy. I tried the salad and I'd have to concur it is pretty darned good!  

They believe in offering people more choices. Alternatives to meat. They promise that they are never putting any weird stuff in their food and keep as close to the original Indonesian methods as practically possible.  Their beans are non GMO,  gluten free and 100% organic. I wondered what made their tempeh so delicious  Becky told me, 
'We don’t pasteurise our tempeh. Instead, we sell it frozen. Freezing doesn’t kill this amazingly healthy fungus and so our tempeh is still alive. Our tempeh is white because it’s completely covered with mycelium. Beans are delicious by themselves, but the mycelium adds a a layer of rich, complex flavour that puts tempeh in a class by itself'.

Beth Taylor of The Hearty Vegan

After exhausting the girls with my barrage of questions it was time for us to part ways and for us to go back about our business.  I've said it before and I'll say it again. It is heartening to me when I see that businesses can be ethical, profitable, employment generating models, that can be a touchstone for all. I'm sure you will agree that's happy making.  The Hearty Vegan are one of several local food artisans I came across in Austin that are run by families, couples and friends.  Their food served up with the characteristic joy and pride, bordering on obsession that food artisans usually embody.

Spicy sausage, sizzling in a pan.

I used the garbanzo tempeh for my original vegan and gluten free Haggis Neeps & Tatties recipe.  

Their spicy sausage tempeh was turned into sausage crunches and topped my vegan breakfast tacos (I will share this recipe soon!)

Do I really believe that tempeh can be the high protein choice of many that can eventually overtake consumption of animal products?  After tasting the likes of tempeh 'bacon', chewing down on a BBQ 'rib' made from The Hearty Vegan Garbanzo Tempeh, and my recipes of my own of Haggis, and Breakfast Taco's with Sausage Crunchies, among others (not to mention the health benefits of plant based eating)...I'd have to shout out a whole hearted..'you bet ya'.   And, I am sure Beth & Becky will be doing their darndest to make it happen.

Holding A Candle To Vegan Dining In New York

I am in Austin, Texas, right now, attempting to catch up on posts that have been stacking up as I flit from country to country, State to State.  Right now, I am happily ticking off another New York dining experience I wanted to share with you.  I'd heard a lot about Candle Cafe, from friends and fellow bloggers, so I was eager to give it a try.   I went with a friend to celebrate his birthday.  He is an NYC native so he had visited many times.  This was great as we managed to get a table without pre-booking, and also he had overtime eaten his way around the menu so was a competent advisor.  

The menu is entirely vegan, mostly local, seasonal, organic and the cafe is proudly environmentally aware.  All elements usually precursors to a splendid dining experience.  I was well catered for as the menu had a good selection of gluten free dishes to choose from.  

The restaurant is kind of upscale but not grand.  The lighting and seating make for a relaxing, intimate atmosphere.  The staff were super attentive.  The Candle story began in the summer of 1984, when Bart Potenza purchased Sunny’s, a landmark health food store and juice bar located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. In honour of the previous owners’ nightly ritual of lighting candles to bless their establishment, Bart renamed it the Healthy Candle and made it his own.  Candle Cafe's story is an interesting one. You can read more here.

This is what we ate.

AVOCADO-QUINOA SALAD 
Black beans, jicama, cucumber, radish, pumpkin seeds, field greens, chipotle dressing 

LIVE LASAGNA 
Tomatoes, zucchini, wild mushrooms, cashew cheese, pumpkin seed pesto, balsamic-black pepper reduction 

INDIAN CURRY VEGETABLE CAKE 
Sautéed greens, caramelized onions, red pepper-coconut curry sauce, lemon-date chutney, almonds.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE CAKE 
Chocolate sauce, chipotle candied walnuts, vanilla coconut ice cream (sadly..this was my friend's dessert and I couldn't even reach over with my fork to sample as it was not gluten free).  I could tell by the look on his face just how good it was! I nearly choked on my saliva!

All I tasted was very good and lovingly plated.  The Indian dish and the artichoke appetiser were my personal favourites. My friend spent much time raving about the raw lasagne.

Candle Cafe West is one of three Candle eateries in NYC.  Candle 79 is located on 79th Street in between Lexington & 3rd.   I had visited Candle 79 the week before and I think, to be honest, my expectations were a little high.  The little place had a really nice welcoming atmosphere and was packed with diners at lunch time when I visited.  I arrived after my first walk through Central Park. I had to pinch myself that I was there..in New York (at last!) visiting the most famous and visited urban park in the USA. I headed to the park for a bit of a respite from the craziness of the city.  I had to laugh at the irony.  The sky had a helicopter zig zagging across the park and about 2 million people and 34,000 runners where in and around the park for the New York Marathon (failed to research that little fact of the day!)  It was good fun though, so I couldn't mind!

With such a wonderful variety of dishes on offer, I went with the proffered tempeh entree as suggested by my waitress.  It was nice but not outstanding.  The menu listed their 'famous' split pea soup.  I sampled it and honestly, I was not wowed.  It was because of this experience that I was so pleased to eat at Candle again and come away with fonder memories.  Of course, unless your debut dining experience at a restaurant is majorly whacked it is always good to go back another time and try something different from the menu.  Sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised.

such fun!

a finisher strolling back through the park.

No Compromise Healthy Eating In New York. Quintessence

The temperatures may have been dropping in New York, and the thought of a cold salad may not have been on the top of my list, but if my little ears get wind of a raw food restaurant I am on Google and mapping my way to it quicker than you can say 'activated nuts'!

Sometimes, a raw restaurant (nothing cooked above 118f, to retain the essential nutrients) may be living off the aged reputation of the ubiquitous dishes of raw pizza, raw lasagne and chocolate, avocado mousse.  For the uninitiated these will be eye openers, not to mention shifting your perceptions of uncooked food.  But, I'll be honest, when I have a short amount of time to run around a city discovering exciting, innovative food, if this is all they offer, I'm skipping it.  An online glance over the Quintessence menu  intrigued me. The whole menu is 100% organic, gluten free and vegan).

I called up a foodie playmate and we headed over to the East Village. I'd already made up my mind from my menu musings earlier so my friend and I decided to order two of the most interesting looking dishes and share them.  I opted for the Indian dish.

  

Indian Platter 

The India Platter was a Mali Kofta, chickpea and vegetable balls covered in a curried almond sauce, served with mango chutney and cucumber raita.  It was creamy pillows of curried heaven. 

Our second choice had to be the
Mexican Platter

Flax and corn enchiladas with 'refried' beans, 'cheese', dowsed in mole and guajillo chilli sauce.  My dining partner had long been a fan of the Mexican Platter but his allegiance shifted that night to the Indian plate.  Honestly, I'd happily choose either of them.

The food was exceptionally flavoursome and inventive with wonderfully balanced textures.  Filling too.  No room for dessert!!  The service was non-invasive but present.  It was early, 6pm so it was fairly quiet.  It is a small place so it probably fills up quickly.  It had a nice ambience but I didn't see how it had the 'spa like experience' their website spoke of?  In my opinion, it is just a nice, relaxed atmosphere to enjoy good food with good friends.

There are a few cooked items on the menu, sadly it was a one time visit on this trip so I cannot vouch for those. Their menu is extensive with original, amazing sounding appetisers and entrees (they have a dish called fofu?  I'm waiting on a reply from them to enlighten me to what that may be). They serve shakes, raw pies and puddings, too. Their website is a bit odd.  On face value it looks like they only deliver, this is obviously not the case.

quin·tes·sence  (kwn-tsns)

n.

1. The pure, highly concentrated essence of a thing.

2. The purest or most typical instance: the quintessence of evil.

3. In ancient and medieval philosophy, the fifth and highest essence after the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, thought to be the substance of the heavenly bodies and latent in all things.

Quintessence

East Village

263 E 10th Street 

(btw. Ave A & 1st Ave)

NYC

(646) 654-1823

New York never fails to be so vibrant and utterly entertaining.  I captured a great moment on the subway  This guy was the icing on the cake to a great night.  He just walked up and started showing some moves. Only in New York?!

Vegan Christmas Recipes Retrospective - Part 3

2013

Looking back, day 3.  I don't even remember writing this post.  That starter looks nice!  What will you be making?

Click for Parts 1 & 2.

2012

I wish I had £10 for every time I heard Mariah Carey sing 'All I Want For Christmas'....I'd be stockpiling a small fortune by now! Hey, ho... ho ho!

Did you check out Xmas Part 1 & 2?  Hope so..if not, there is always time.. click here for Part 1 and Part 2, right here 

To keep with the 'healthy but feasty' theme I thought a light , but flavoursome, salad would be a good choice for the Christmas Day starter. Do you agree?     I can't help feeling a little nostalgic at Christmas.  Reminiscing about some retro dish from my childhood (it's all those bloody old Christmas songs filling the airways and catapulting me back to Christmas past).  I've been recalling the days when a crouton was 'posh' food and me ma would serve everything  deep fried and breaded, to showcase her culinary mastery.  Us little'ns would see a few cubes of oily breadcrumbs on top of the Maryrose sauce and  think we'd skipped up to the Upper Classes.  Our pinkies would flick up from our cutlery in reverence, and an attempt to eat like stereotypical posh people. (cough)  I think I must have had a case of invented memory syndrome because I cannot possibly be old enough to remember when prawn cocktail was in its heyday!  So, with that in mind, and looking to what is seasonal I racked my brain for the perfect Christmas starter......and my inspired dish for Christmas day starter is to be......

 Balsamic PEAR Salad With Deep Fried Cheese Croutons With Mustard Dressing and Leaves.

Recipe   Serves 4

3 large conference pears
2 tbs balsamic glaze
1 tbs vegan butter & 1 tbs sesame oil for frying
salt & pepper

deep fried cheese
vegan hard cheese  recipe here to make your own
4 tbs breadcrumbs
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbs tapioca flour & water to make paste or  use egg replacer
salt & pepper
oil for deep frying

dressing (can be made ahead of time)
3 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs olive oil (walnut oil would be lovely too I think)
2 tsp brown rice syrup (or agave, maple or similar)


organic salad leaves to serve

Method

1.carefully peel your pears and cut into quarters lengthwise.  2. heat oil and butter in a pan and fry the pears until they are crackling and starting to caramelise.  3. season and spoon over the balsamic glaze, cook for a further 3-4 minutes.  4. whilst they are cooking away nicely grab all your dressing ingredients and mix them in a jar. Set aside  5. to make the cheese crouton like things (sorry, it's dark and cold here, not feeling very inspirational to come up with a fitting title) take an apple corer and cut out 3 cones for each person.  Roll them in the tapioca paste then roll....gently now....in the breadcrumbs.  6. fry in the oil..careful!...until golden.  Drain and them put all your elements together. Finally, get all cheffy and drizzle over the Dijon dressing.  Let the feasting fun commence! 

 I'm hoping to extend the Christmas Feasting series to Part 4 and share some additional desserts and party food....if time allows.