After visiting the Fareham Vegan Festival, it reminded me that some of the best Vegan and Gluten Free food comes from local small businesses. Quite a few of these were on show on Saturday, proudly serving the masses of Vegans that turned up for the event. Every time I go to a Vegan Market or Festival, I find more and more amazing businesses that are wonderfully delicious!
From a small blog to a small business, here are a few of my favourites I'd like to shout about from across the country...
Vegivores:
A food stall based in and around Reading that is completely Vegan selling different box meals every week. Ranging from Pad Thai to Mac 'n' Cheeze, BBQ Pulled Jackfruit to Mexican Buddha Boxes. They always have fresh recipes each week showing up at Reading Market Place on Wednesdays and Fridays. Plus Oxford and various Vegan Markets in the south! Most of their meals are also Gluten Free, making it accessible for a lot more people too.
I have tried a couple of their dishes, one of them being the BBQ Pulled Jackfruit which was perfect for a sunny afternoon in the park. The Jackfruit was cooked beautifully and on the more spicy end of the BBQ flavour. With the Brown Rice, Spiced Corn and Pickles it was a great combination for a more exciting lunch!
I also tried the Mexican Buddha Box at the first monthly Reading Vegan Market. It was a perfect combination of Beans, Guacamole, Brown Rice, chopped Salad and Tortilla Chips. Guacamole of course is the food of the gods so anytime it's there, that meal is going to be amazing. This was no exception, it added a coolness to the heat from the Bean mix. Perfectly tasty!
They're a great stop for a quick lunch packed with flavour and for experiencing new Vegan meals, plus I love to play... Whaaaaat's in the boxxx?!
Give them some love! You can find out where they are next on their Instagram or Twitter page each week, @wearevegivores.
Got No Beef:
This is one of my finds from this weekend in Fareham. A Vegan Double Stack Burger bar with a focus on catering to all, supporting worthy causes that focus on the environment and animal welfare whilst delivering delicious food up and down the UK.
Having only seen them once, I was blown away by the deliciousness and even just how they look all stacked up. (They have beautifully vibrant Burger Buns and are insanely full!) I was even more excited when I saw that they could adapt to Gluten or Soy Intolerances. There's nothing more exciting than a Vegan Burger that can be made Gluten Free which is also a proper Burger, Bun and all! They even had choices for me too, from a normal Double Burger, a Double Cheeseburger or a Bacon Double Cheeseburger.
Of course with memories of Bacon Double Cheeseburgers from my childhood, I had to go for that. They just swap out the patties for Mushroom & Bean, the Bun to be Gluten Free and the Seitan Bacon is swapped to Rice Paper Bacon instead. With a choice of Cheddar, Pepperjack and Gouda cheese, simple old Cheddar was enough for me!
They certainly live up to their aim to be completely accessible! I had a proper burger and it was absolutely incredible! Check them out on Instagram and Facebook, @GotNoBeefUK and hopefully they'll be at a festival or market near you soon!
April's Table:
I have bumped into this little stand a couple of times now at a few different Vegan Festivals. Always with an amazing selection of cake! They focus on creating tasty Vegan cake for all types of occasions! Always Vegan & Refined Sugar Free with quite a few Gluten Free options too! You can order Birthday cakes or Cupcakes, or cake for any occasion really and all made to order.
I have experienced their Brownie from the Reading Vegan Festival last year, which according to past blog me was tasty and more cake like. This time I went for their Chocolate Ganache cake. It was everything you need from a Chocolate Cake, decadent, not too sweet and topped with brilliant icing (and for a kick of health, some berries!).
My Mum had the Berry Crumble which she absolutely adored. Out of this world delicious she said, which is high praise for a non Vegan I would say! She did ruin it with a bit of actual Ice Cream though, Vegan fail!
Keep an eye out for April's Table at a local Vegan Market, they're pretty delicious and offer so many different Cakes & Desserts. Or maybe you need a cake for your birthday, so give a local business some, well, business! Check them out on Facebook @AprilsTableSurrey & Instagram @AprilsTable.
Rubys of London:
A discovery from the land of Instagram, where pictures make you drool and most are from LA. This one is a bit closer to home, although to me it might as still be the other side of the globe. It's in Greenwich Market, London every Saturday and Sunday. A great stand with some equally great cake available.
A Vegan Cake Business with some Gluten Free options. Their Cake is the fluffiest and most Cake like Gluten Free treats I've ever had! Not only that, they also offer such a range of flavours too! I tried their Chocolate Cupcake, Red Velvet Loaf and a couple of Mini Donuts. You make the trip, you get all the cake, right?!
Both the Cupcake and the Loaf were the best cake I've had from a stand since being Gluten Free Vegan. Trust me, I've tried my fair share as well in my adventure to find good cake! I would absolutely love a birthday cake from them, a big Red Velvet one (little hint if anyone wants to surprise me).
Fancy a foodie kind of trip to London, then check them out every weekend in Greenwich. There's not much else at the market (that I found) but it's worth the extra tube station stops for a once every now and then treat, I promise! Check them out on Instagram & Facebook, @RubysofLondon or their website for orders https://rubysoflondon.com.
Hartland Fudge:
Another sweet product, what can I say, I love a bit of Sugar! These are another regular around the Artisan Markets and monthly Vegan Markets in Reading and Newbury. Selling Vegan Fudge Spreads of decadent proportions and of course, Fudge!
I met them back at the Reading Vegan Festival last year. Their stall was swarmed with people, a sign of a good stand that's for sure! When I did battle to the front I saw the most beautiful looking Vegan fudge. I decided to get the Salted Caramel Fudge, my ultimate favourite flavour of Fudge and this was melt in the mouth sugary amazing.
I also had to takeaway some of their Fudge Spread. I bought the Chocolate Hazelnut Spread because it tasted just like Ferrero Rocher and who doesn't love that on toast! So smooth and way too rich for breakfast, but who's judging!
They are a great little local business, "spreading" their love (pun intended) throughout the county at fair after fair. Sad to have missed them again at this months Reading Vegan Market, but hope to see them again next time! Check them out on Facebook & Instagram, @HartlandFudge.
These are just a handful of amazing local Vegan businesses that are popping up at the wonderfully increasing Vegan Festivals around the South. We definitely need to support these places, they often exceed anything chain restaurants or supermarkets can offer. Quite right too, they're made personally and with love for all things deliciously Vegan!