London eats - Bites by Bekah

Tag: London eats

30 July 2019

Smashing Kitchen Review

My Review of Smashing Kitchen – a vegan café and restaurant in the heart of Hackney serving up healthy plant-based dishes that are all vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and made with love. Where: 1a Bayford Street, E8 3SE Lond Website: http://www.smashingkitchen.co.uk/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/smashingkitchen/ CHECKED OFF MY LIST: …

London Vegan Bucket List

by Bekah

2 Comments

14 December 2018

Genesis Review

My Review of Genesis – a plant-based restaurant serving organic vegan food in a fast-casual fashion, with a diverse menu and pink retro vibes. Where: 144 Commercial Street, Spitalfields Website: http://eatgenesis.com/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/eatgenesis/ Menu: http://eatgenesis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Paper-Menu.pdf CHECKED OFF MY LIST: 11th November, 2018 BACKGROUND: Genesis, …

London Vegan Bucket List

by Bekah

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6 December 2018

OXO Tower Restaurant’s Vegan Afternoon Tea

My review of OXO Tower Restaurant’s Vegan Afternoon Tea – enjoy a completely vegan Afternoon Tea while overlooking beautiful views of London, all for £35 (available from the 1^st January, 2019).

Where: 29 York Road, Waterloo, London SE1 7NJ

Website: http://www.harveynichols.com/restaurant/the-oxo-tower/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/oxo_tower/

CHECKED OFF MY LIST: 30^th November, 2018

ATMOSPHERE AND EXPERIENCE

Walking into OXO Tower Restaurant, the views are absolutely stunning. Overlooking the River Thames, with St. Paul’s visible in the distance, the sweeping windows of the restaurant offer an incredible view of London, that you can enjoy from lush seating inside. The whole dining experience certainly feels like a luxury. For a very reasonable price of £35 per person, you can sit down to afternoon tea and enjoy a full vegan spread of delicious savoury and sweet treats.

Last week my friend @welltravelledvegan and I got a sneak peak of OXO Tower Restaurant’s Vegan Afternoon Tea menu, which will be available on the 1^st January, 2019 in celebration of Veganuary. Check out my Instagram story highlights for some behind-the-scenes of our visit, and here is everything we got to sample:

VEGAN AFTERNOON TEA MENU

Finger Sandwiches:

‘Cheese’, pickle, on onion bread
- To me, this vegan cheese had quite a lovely flavour and realistic texture.
Golden beetroot, aged balsamic, rosemary, on Russian rye bread
- The beetroot added quite a sweet flavour to this sandwich – it wasn’t my favourite but I really enjoyed the texture of the rye bread.
Cucumber pickle, dill, yellow mustard seeds, on beetroot bread
- My favourite part of this sandwich was probably the bright pink colour of the bread!
Lemon tofu, roasted garlic, oregano, sage and onion stuffing, on cranberry bread
- This was the absolute favourite of both myself and Anjuli – I only recently have started adding tofu in sandwiches, and I love the combination. The flavours from the garlic and stuffing added so much to the overall taste of the sandwich as well.
Wild mushrooms on toast
- You really can’t go wrong with mushrooms on fried toast.

Savouries:

Berbere lentils
- This dip tasted earthy and delicious, and the crisp-like thin bread for dipping was nice and crunchy.
Avocado shot
- I personally didn’t love this dish – because of the way it was presented, my taste buds expected a sweet green smoothie, but instead it was like sipping savoury guacamole.
Chestnut and mushroom ‘sausage’ roll
- These rolls were really yummy, the outside pastry was flaky and the inside was well filled with deliciously cooked mushrooms.
Parsnip and shallot bhaji
- I also was a fan of these bhaji – so unique and I love the addition of parsnips.

Condiments:

Orchard chutney
- I’m not big into condiments personally, but I have to say that this chutney was delicious!
OXO picadilli
Mint yoghurt

Sweets:

Lemon meringue pie
- This meringue pie was so impressive! The meringue, made from aquafaba, was light and sweet and looked picture perfect. The lemon underneath was tart and sugary, making for such a delicious treat.
Apple mousse
- The mousse was quite sweet, but I loved the apple topping.
Coconut and pineapple cake
- This cake was lovely, moist, and filled with lovely tropical flavours.
Penny’s homemade scones, strawberry jam, clotted ‘cream’
- Out of all the sweets, these scones were my favourite. Despite being super full, I ate my share of two scones because they were just too delicious not to finish! The scones were light and buttery, the clotted ‘cream’ was so rich, and the jam added the perfect sweetness to round out the combination. I don’t think I’ve had scones with cream and jam since going vegan almost three years ago, but these were even better than what I remember from the past!

This would be such a lovely treat to bring someone for a luxurious afternoon tea experience, but for a reasonable price. I definitely recommend checking out the OXO Tower Restaurant this coming Veganuary!

Have you ever experienced a fully Vegan Afternoon Tea?

London Vegan Bucket List

by Bekah

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29 November 2018

LLS Café Waterloo Review

My Review of LLS Café Waterloo – a healthy take-away food spot just around the corner from Waterloo Station, with lots of tasty vegan and gluten-free options. Where: 29 York Road, Waterloo, London SE1 7NJ Website: http://www.llscafe.com/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/llscafe/ Menu: http://www.llscafe.com/waterloo-1/ CHECKED OFF MY …

London Vegan Bucket List

by Bekah

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15 November 2018

Buffalo Vegan Diner Review

My Review of Buffalo Vegan Diner, a new vegan spot in East London with an epic weekend brunch menu, providing fantastic value and delicious breakfast classics – all veganised. Where: 171 Mare Street, London E8 3RH Website: http://buffalodiner.co.uk/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/buffalovegandiner/ Menu: http://buffalodiner.co.uk/menu CHECKED OFF …

London Vegan Bucket List

by Bekah

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8 November 2018

Eat Chay Review

My Review of Eat Chay, a Vegan spot in East London serving up vibrant and delicious Vietnamese and Korean food, including banh mi, steamed bao buns, noodle salads, and rice bowls.

Where: Boxpark Shoreditch, Unit 48, First Floor, 2-10 Bethnal Green Rd, London, E1 6GY

Website: http://www.eatchay.com/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/eatchayclub/

Menu: http://www.eatchay.com/menu/

CHECKED OFF MY LIST: 21^th October, 2017; 27-28^th Oct, 2018

OVERVIEW:

Eat Chay’s catchy and clever name (Chay means Vegan in Vietnamese) is just the start of things to love about this eating spot.

Vegfest 2017

I first experienced Eat Chay when I attended Vegfest London 2017 – my first ever vegan food festival! After sampling my way through loads of vegan deliciousness all day, I had room for one last meal. I saw a sign advertising ‘Plant-Based Vietnamese Food’, featuring a ‘Korean BBQ Bánh Mì Baguette’ and I knew I had found what I wanted.

As a half Korean (my mum immigrated to the US from Seoul, Korea), bulgogi and rice were major staples of my diet growing up. However, since going vegan I had yet to come across any vegan Korean food. Needless to say, I could not wait to try that Korean BBQ sandwich. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

Vegfest 2018

Coming back to Vegfest London 2018 just last month, I again found myself at the Eat Chay stand. In fact, I managed to eat my way through the entire Eat Chay Vegfest menu over the two-day festival. Yes, it was that good! Big shout-out to my amazing friend working at the Eat Chay stand, who kindly gave me these delicious meals to try. No review was expected/required of me, but how could I not share this epic food with you all?!

Excitingly, Eat Chay is now open in Boxpark Shoreditch, so if you’re in London definitely go check them out. There’s so much more on their menu that I need to go and try!

MY SHORTLIST:

Kimchi Bao Bun – ‘BBQ seitan, kimchi, sriracha mayo, crispy onions, topped with sesame seeds.’
- I am a recent converted kimchi lover (much to my mum’s delight!), and this bao bun highlighted the kimchi beautifully. There was just the right amount of spice and heat and the bao bun was fluffy, light, and delicious.
Hoisin Bao Bun – ‘Five spice jackfruit, pickled cucumber, spring onions, topped with sesame seeds.’
- This was my favourite bao bun, which actually surprised me as I thought the Kimchi Bao Bun would win out for me. I mean, they’re both incredible so you really cannot go wrong. But I am IN LOVE with Eat Chay’s jackfruit. Paired with the sharpness of the pickled cucumber, all in that fluffy bao bun (which really were delightfully light), this Hoisin Bao Bun sure was tasty.
Korean BBQ Bánh Mì – ‘Crispy smokey seitan, kimchi and sriracha mayo, served in a freshly baked baguette with fresh coriander, cucumber, sriracha and crispy onions.’
- This Bánh Mì sandwich was bursting with flavour and textures! Loads of ingredients were packed inside a gloriously crispy baguette – the whole thing was so satisfying to eat.
Vietnamese Noodle Salad – ‘Jackfruit (normally BBQ seitan), pickled carrots, cucumber, coriander, vegan fish sauce, peanuts, crispy onions and sesame seeds.’
- This noodle salad was my dish of the weekend. It was light, yet still filling and satisfying. I asked to replace the BBQ seitan with jackfruit (as I said, I’m in love), and while it might not seem like the most substantial meal, there’s so much going on in this bowl. The herbs and fresh salad gave the meal a fresh feel, the peanuts and crispy onions added a lovely crunch, and the many contrasting flavours all came together beautifully. This was the perfect meal to finish off my Vegfest weekend!

Have you had Vegan Vietnamese or Korean food before?

London Vegan Bucket List

by Bekah

1 Comment

25 October 2018

The Canvas Cafe

My Review of the Canvas Cafe, a not-for-profit creative space with a fully vegan café, serving up veganised classic dishes, cakes, and freakshakes. Where: 42 Hanbury St. E1 5JL Website: http://www.thecanvascafe.org/cafe Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thecanvascafee1/ Menu: http://www.thecanvascafe.org/sites/default/files/2018-05/CanvasMenu2018.pdf CHECKED OFF MY LIST: 23rd September, 2018 OVERVIEW: The …

London Vegan Bucket List

by Bekah

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18 October 2018

Purezza Review

My Review of Purezza, the UK’s first vegan pizzeria serving up classic Italian cuisine using plant-based, vegan ingredients. Where: Camden – 43 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PN Brighton – 12 St James’s Street, Brighton, BN2 1RE Website: http://purezza.co.uk/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/purezzauk Menu: http://purezza.co.uk/london-menu/ CHECKED OFF MY …

London Vegan Bucket List

by Bekah

2 Comments

11 October 2018

All Bar One Review

My Review of All Bar One and their Nutritious Power-Foods Menu, featuring plant-based dishes that are full of nutrients and flavour.

Where: Various Locations throughout the UK

Website: http://www.allbarone.co.uk/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/allbarone/

Menu: http://www.allbarone.co.uk/foodmenu

CHECKED OFF MY LIST: 16^th August, 2018

OVERVIEW:

All Bar One is a restaurant/bar chain with over 50 locations across the UK. In the past they have celebrated Veganuary (Vegan January) with special vegan dishes, and have a number of vegan options on their normal menu as well. This past summer they added their exciting Nutritious Power-Foods, additional vegan dishes created with their registered nutritionist, Sarah Jackson! It’s refreshing to know there are some solid vegan options on the menu of such a large chain, and tasty options at that.

ATMOSPHERE AND WHEN TO GO:

The environment at All Bar One is very sleek and cool – perfect for going out to dinner or meeting up with friends after work. I visited the location in Leicester Square, which felt quite high-end, with ambient lighting and beautifully plated dishes. I was fortunate enough to attend an event where we got to sample a number of items from the Nutritious Power-Foods Menu. It was all delicious!

MY SHORTLIST:

Appetisers:

Padron Peppers – I had been nervous to try these, as I am a wimp when it comes to spice. But I’m so glad I did. Not only were these mild, they’re actually a bit sweet, smoky, salty, and just super yum!
Tortilla Chips – These chips are addictive. They’re flaky and light, and I could not stop eating them all evening.

From the Nutritious Power-Foods Menu:

Supergreen Noodle Laksa – Vermicelli noodles, spiced coconut sauce, pak choi, spinach, and beansprouts; 2 of your 5 a day and rich in Vitamin C and folate.
- This was a stand-out dish for me. The flavour of the coconut sauce was spot on – salty, sweet, and not too spicy. The noodles were cooked just the right amount and the whole dish came together flawlessly.
The Power of Five – Pan fried medley of greens, butternut squash, aubergine, mushroom, and peppers with a toasted sesame and miso sauce, topped with a rice noodle cracker; 5 of your 5 a day and 300 calories or less.
- You really cannot go wrong with this combination of plant foods! It’s essentially several of my favourite vegetables thrown in a gorgeous sauce.
Avocado and Black Rice Salad – Avocado with onion seeds, quinoa, soya beans, baby kale & chilli topped with coconut dressing and tortilla crisp; 2 of your 5 a day, rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin B6.
- This salad was a fantastic combination of textures and flavours. The creaminess of the avocado was complemented well by the greens, the quinoa and soya beans added great plant protein, and as I said before, the tortilla chips are just gold.
Moroccan Squash Salad – Roasted butternut squash, spiced quinoa, chickpeas, sugar snap peas, pomegranate with a coconut & turmeric dressing; 2 of your 5 a day, rich in Vitamin C and 450 calories or less.
- You can never go wrong with butternut squash in my book, especially when it’s roasted. I also was a big fan of the dressing, which was rich and creamy and made the perfect base for the rest of the salad.

From the Regular Menu:

The Vegan Burger – Aubergine & harissa patty, beetroot houmous, fire roasted peppers served in an ancient grain bun instead of brioche.
- This was quite possibly my favourite dish of the night. The burger patty was soft in the middle with a crispy outside, the beetroot houmous added a lovely flavour, and was incredibly filling as well!
Chilli non Carne Tacos – With crushed avocado and chilli non carne topped with nacho crumb and served with a turtle bean & pineapple salsa.
- These were another favourite, with so many flavourful ingredients packed into soft tortilla taco wraps.
All Bar One has other vegan dishes on their menu, and a couple of desserts (the Raspberry & Coconut Sorbets and the Rich Chocolate & Avocado Pot) which all sound incredible. I’m hoping to have the chance to try these in the future!

Have you been to All Bar One and tried any of their Vegan Options?

London Vegan Bucket List

by Bekah

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4 October 2018

The Birds Leytonstone Review

My Review of The Birds Leytonstone – A pub in East London with a large vegan menu, cool vibes, and lots of events from quiz nights to film nights to party nights. Where: 692 HIGH ROAD, LEYTONSTONE, LONDON, E11 3AA Website: http://www.thebirds.pub/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/thebirdsleytonstone Menu: http://www.thebirds.pub/main-menu/ …

London Vegan Bucket List

by Bekah

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