Restaurant Review | Temple of Camden, London.

I'm not only late to the party but am quite possibly the last guest to arrive, HOWEVER, I made it and that's the main thing really.

Temple of Seitan has been in London for over two years now and I can still remember the day I first learned about it... I was very, very excited. The problem is I don't travel to London all that often (or as often as I'd like to) and if I do venture to the capital it's normally for a specific reason and so I haven't managed to divert said plans in order to try the delicious looking food.

The fated day thankfully did come - I was visiting a friend in London (not vegan she's just lovely and indulges me!) and as we had no specific ideas on what we would do once there, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to head to the Temple of Camden and buy ALL THE FOOD.

The first thing I have to mention was that the walk was a bit of a mission if I'm honest, considering it is supposed to be in Camden it is quite a distance from Camden Market and the main centre. Not a massive issue but something to think about if you wanted to go yourself, it's in the middle of nowhere!

Once we eventually got to the restaurant I couldn't believe the amount of choice available, both I and my friend just stared at the menu for a good 5 minutes.
Now I was a huge KFC fan back when I ate meat and I haven't really had any form of "fried chicken" since which might explain why I ended up ordering enough food for four people and put a lot of pressure on this meal...

The service was super friendly and also really quick - we were there fairly early in the day and the queues did get a little bigger while we ate but it wasn't ever too much of a wait, even on a Saturday.

When selecting the food I knew I had to try one of the burgers and then we were torn between the wings and the popcorn chicken. We opted for the wings purely based on the fact that I've never liked wings because of the bones however as there is no animal in these wings there's also no bones!
You can choose the sauce in which the wings come in and I know traditionally it should be spicy but whenever I see it I just can't say no to BBQ.
In the end, our total order was the BBQ wings, Temple burger, Mac 'n Cheese, Gravy and fries.

My favourite dish was the wings, the BBQ sauce was sticky, smokey and there was a disgusting amount of it.... just the way I like it. I will say though that although the coating was crispy and did have some flavour the "meat" still had a hint of seitan (similar to soya) flavour to it so not quite a perfect match to KFC, but it was very close!






















The burger was also crispy and so delicious, the only negative again is that I was still left with the seitan essence, I also found all the ingredients a little overwhelming so next time I might go for the classic burger or a chicken burger with less in it!






















The mac 'n cheese was a little rich for me, but that might be more due to the sheer amount of food I was eating rather than the pasta itself! I would still recommend this to a mac 'n cheese fan as it is definitely a good substitute and would be a great side instead of fries rather than as well as!

The fries were amazing and I couldn't fault them at all which is why in future I would probably skip the mac 'n cheese for just the fries as the side. They also pair beautifully with the gravy which although thin was packed full of flavour!

Overall I think I would give Temple of Camden a 4/5, it is very out of the way from everything else so you need to make a special effort to get there and back to the main streets and Camden Market so not somewhere I would go ever time I'm in Camden.
The food was truly delicious and I'm sure next time I go I will choose the perfect medley of options for me and it will be even better (and I WILL be going again)!
I would like to add finally that unlike non-vegan fast food I genuinely was not left feeling bloated and gross from all the grease like I would have with the meat/dairy, now I know it's not a healthy choice by any means but I certainly felt like I was eating something a darn sight healthier than KFC!

x

Recipe | Costa Rican Rice

 Back last summer I was lucky enough to take a trip to Costa Rica and it quickly became one of my favourite places in the whole world.


Not only is it beautiful but it has a strong focus on renewable energy and protecting the local environment which is a bit of a passion of mine, so naturally I fell utterly in love!

Being a vegan and not speaking the language created a slight barrier when it came to eating, which was a shame as Costa Rica has some glorious offerings!
I ended up eating the very traditional dish of rice and beans every day... and no that is not an exaggeration. When staying in a lodge on an island I ended up having it for breakfast, lunch and dinner for two days as there were no other options to choose!
And although the rice was always flavoursome and filling I'm sure you can imagine why I didn't feel the need to eat it again once back in the UK.

However 8 months later I began to crave it and so tried my hand at re-creating what I'd eaten on my trip, in my own kitchen. It ended up going fairly well considering I threw random food together hoping to get a similar flavour. I wanted to share in case anyone else has experienced this joy and wants to relive it or if you just want to give it a go!

I recommend using leftover rice or microwave pouches to make it a super quick recipe! You could even play around with your own ideas, maybe add some extra veg like peppers or peas!

Ingredients:

2 tsps garlic
3/4 cup of onion chopped
1 tin black beans
1 veggie stock cube
1-2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (can get vegan options from thevegankind.com)
1.5-2 cups rice (pre-cooked or microwave)
0.5 cups boiling water
Salt and pepper to taste

Recipe:

1. Fry garlic and onions with a small amount of oil in a saucepan
2. Pour in black beans including water from the can, simmer for 5 mins
3. Break up and sprinkle stock cube into mixture and Worcestershire sauce then stir until the cube is dissolved
4. Add rice to the pan with extra water and simmer for 10 mins or until most of the water has evaporated/been absorbed.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve!

Yes, it's that simple - easy and delicious!

x

Recipe | Vegan Granola

Up until now I had always shop bought granola, simply because I hadn't realised just how quick and easy (not to mention cheap) it is to make at home!

After watching a couple of youtube videos and reading countless recipes I thought I'd amend them to make the perfect granola for me! 

Once I had looked at a huge number of combinations within loads of different recipes, I finally cracked exactly what I want in mine, and now I want to share it with you!

Now there were a few things I learned that I wanted from my granola before attempting the final mixture:

1. Not to add too many nuts, as well as being picky with the nuts I choose. A lot of recipes called for a huge amount of different nuts but I've never been the biggest fan of a strong nut flavour (don't judge me but I can't even handle peanut butter!) so I stuck with a lower proportion of nuts and only chose those with a subtle taste - obviously this can be mixed up to your own personal taste!

2. I need more liquid than other recipes suggested. As important as the proportions of flavours is, it turns out that the texture was equally as tough to get perfect and I like granola that's a tad chewy as well as crunchy.

3. It takes a surprising amount of time to get to the right level of crispiness when cooking. Oh, also raisins don't take as long to cook as the rest of the mix, so I add them in halfway through baking.



So without further ado here's what ya need:

Ingredients:

- 1.5 cups of nuts (I used walnuts, pecans and cashews)
- 2.5 cups oats (the bigger the flakes the better)
- 3 tbsp golden syrup
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 0.5 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 0.5 cups raisins (or other dried fruit)

Recipe:

1. Preheat oven to 170 oC
2. Mix all ingredients in a bowl except for the raisins. You will need to melt the coconut oil in the microwave first.
2. Cover tray with baking paper or a silicon mat and lay mixture out in a thin layer.
3. Bake in the oven for 20 mins
4. Remove from oven and turn over to ensure even baking. Also, add the raisins at this point.
5. Return to oven and bake for 10 more minutes or until all the mixture looks golden brown.
6. Allow to cool and enjoy!

This granola can be kept for at least a week in an airtight container. Let me know what you like to put in your granola or if you give this one a try!
x

Time for an honest chat.

It seems that every time I write on this blog I'm having to excuse the massive expanse of time that's past since the last time I posted.... but here we are again. Sorry.

I really have missed being on social media and online platforms and as predictable as it might sound life really has got in the way. There are multiple reasons for my failure to keep up with this blog and I want to address them fairly briefly in the hopes you don't get bored and wander off.

Firstly, like the vast majority of adult humans in this world I have a job and just like them, it is often the bain of my existence. I don't think that being able to earn a living wage by eating food, travelling and sharing my painfully average life with the world is too much to ask! Unfortunately, I have found that working life not only takes a toll on my free time but also my creativity but I'm really trying to turn that around and find a balance for both.

Secondly and probably the biggest hurdle for my writing has been my general health. Low iron is an issue I've had for many years and before anyone starts preaching that it's because of my diet, the issues began pre my vegan life so none of that thanks!
Whatever the reason might be, it turns out my levels are through the floor again which leaves me feeling pretty darn rubbish and only just being able to get through the work day let alone getting involved in any extracurricular activities! It also doesn't do much for my mental well being.

Clearly, I didn't want there to be something medically wrong with me but now that I might have a reason for feeling horrendous the past few months I can actually look at doing something about it! I don't want to place too much optimism into the idea that changing this one thing will immediately leave me feeling energised, happy and healthy but am sure hoping it will be a decent start. I just want to feel a little less rubbish and a little more normal after 8 years of health complaints.... please?

I want to end by making it clear that I give no promises that I'll be able to do this blog the justice it deserves but what I can promise is I'm going to give it a damn good try and so hope you'll stick around to see what's to come.

Oh, and if there is anything specific you'd like to see please do let me know in the comments.

x

Monthly Favourites | May

I've been neglecting this blog, it's true but if nothing else I want to try to always get a monthly favourites post up!
So here is Mays -

I'll start with a few beauty products because I have found, compared to food, this is a much harder area to navigate as a vegan!

Noughty hair products:

Anyone that has tried to purchase 100% vegan hair products will know it can be tricky and expensive... especially if you are looking for it to be specifically aimed at curly/dry hair! I did A LOT of research and compared many companies with price, reviews on quality and also availability without paying extortionate postage!
That's when I saw an advert on Facebook for Noughty. It was a curl creme that was 97% natural and 100% vegan.... this was certainly worth a little look. When I checked the prices I was pleasantly surprised as they average £6.99 a bottle (that's for the cremes, shampoos, conditioners and rescue remedies) which compared to other companies was much cheaper!

I ordered some as the postage also was also very reasonable - I have tried the shampoo, the curl creme and leave in conditioner .... and have since bought the normal wash out conditioner....

My hair feels soft, nourished and it has allowed me to leave my hair to dry naturally without ending up looking like Einstein! They do have products aimed at other hair types as well so it isn't limited to curly ladies!



Say Yes To Cotton micellar water:

Time for me to confess to you .... up until recently I was a person that used make up wipes...
Yes I know how terrible that is for the environment and it's awful that it has taken me so long to find an alternative BUT I now have!
I bought this from Holland and Barratt and it is 95% natural and again 100% vegan. The best part though is that it can be used with a sponge or washcloth instead of disposable tissues! I also find that it is good for sensitive skin and not harsh at all!




Alpro Caffe:

Possibly my best discovery this month is this delicious iced coffee from Alpro, it's hazelnut and coffee so tastes a little like ferrero rocher!
If you're not keen on hazelnut they also have a salted caramel option which is just as yummy! Pour it over some ice and you'll be sorted for the rest of summer minus the Costa or Starbucks price tag!!






Nakd blueberry muffin bars:

Considering there's only a small number of ingredients in these little bars they taste EXACTLY like blueberry muffins but are a hella lot healthier! Win!

Nakd have a huge number of bars that I'm sure will suit every taste so go to your local supermarket and peruse the options available!




Wagamamas Vegatsu curry:
Anyone that has spent any time with me will know my undying love for Wagamamas, who do already have an amazing number of vegan dishes.
However they have recently out done themselves! Before becoming vegan I adored the chicken katsu curry and have really missed being able to order it ... NO MORE!
There is now a vegan alternative that uses seitan but still has the same stunning, crispy, golden coating and mildly spicy curry sauce.

Even meat eaters could enjoy this one! I  think I have found my new favourite dish.

Monthly Favourites | March.

March was a crazy busy month so it's been hard to dedicate as much time to the blog as I would like, however I can still share some of the things that have been my favourite through the month!
There are, as usual, specifically vegan products - however there are also a couple more personal things on the list that although they don't quite fit into my vegan theme I still feel I want to share them!

In March I managed to finish my normal toothpaste and decided to try something different .... and 100% vegan! I was worried that as it isn't mint flavoured I'd struggle to get on with it but it's a subtle and rather tasty flavour! This is a toothpaste aimed at sensitive teeth which I have suffered with in the past, I can honestly say this is the only toothpaste I have notice actually making a difference! My teeth are noticably less sensitive, I don't find myself preparing before sipping cold water or eating ice cream now! I bought mine from Holland and Barratt.

For the first time I'm including a book in my monthly favourites because I was in quite a reading slump that has finally ended thanks to this fabulous read. Anyone that enjoys YA, magical, fantasy novels will adore Poison Study as much as I did so I urge you to pick it up.
Health warning though that this is the first in a trilogy so you might end up needing to purchase more because the writing is beautiful, the story is incredible and I JUST NEED ALL THE BOOKS NOW PLEASE.

This month also led me to getting my third tattoo, all my tattoos have been done at the same parlour and two by the same artist. When it comes to getting something permanently put on your body it's vital you do research and are comfortable with the shop you get it done in .... and then stick with it if you get more!
Let me introduce you to Alfonso. When I was in my first year of university my housemate, in a fit of boredom, doodled on my feet... yeah that's kind of uni in a nutshell. One of the doodles was a little giraffe and at the time I thought it would make a cute tattoo, fast forward almost 8 years and I got the real thing! It is now a reminder of not only my housemates but all my friends that support me, raise me up and help me to stand tall. He's also pretty cute.
If you're ever looking to get some ink and are in Bath go to Northgate Tattoo (formerly Broadstreet Studios) they are professional, friendly and so talented it makes me a little sick.

I couldn't write a favourites post without including some food! This month I discovered Smooze ice lollies from Sainsburys. They are coconut and mango flavour which means they taste like frozen mango smoothie and are perfect on a hot sunny day .... which we had one of in the UK before it got cold again....
Even if the nice weather doesn't stick around these are a worthwhile staple for the freezer when you fancy something fresh, healthy and sweet.

Vegan Eats | Bath.

If you go travelling, eating as a vegan can occasionally make life a little awkward, but once you know where to go it doesn't have to be a struggle. I want to start a sort of series on the blog where I will post about places I eat whenever I travel elsewhere.... Let me know what you think and if it would be interesting to share!

I recently spent a weekend in Bath and sampled A LOT of the vegan options there, I'm going to share them so if you ever find yourself in the beautiful city you'll have some suggestions!

The Cosy Club:

I've experienced Cosy Club many times and it has been wonderful every visit, in fact we ate twice there over the two days we stayed!
There are a few options to try on the vegan menu, I opted  for the risotto as this is rarely a dish that can be catered for vegans what with all the cream that's normally used....

This was full of veg and flavour - more tomato based than you might expect from a traditional risotto but it's delicious none the less. Pair it with the scrumptious cocktails they have to offer and your evening is sorted!

On the last morning we returned for brunch, because long weekend breaks are made for brunching. I was very tempted by the avocado toast ... yes I am the basic vegan that loves avo, however this is a common option in many restaurants so instead I tried the vegan breakfast. A full English made vegan, how could I say no?
Instead of sausages or bacon they substitute falafel, I was unsure how this would work in a breakfast as I would normally have falafel for a main meal - they worked so well! The middle eastern flavours were intense but not over powering, they were soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside.
The one thing I would change is that the toast didn't come with any butter or other topping so was a tad dry.

Franco Manca:

Next we move to the most important of the food groups. Pizza.
Most pizza places cater well for vegans now and are happy to make them without cheese, if you want rustic, back to basic, wholesome pizzas then Franco Manca is the place for you!
The vegan option is a tomato, herb and garlic pizza, you just add any of the extra toppings you want - I had mushrooms, brocolli and roast potato... and in case you were wondering, yes potato is PHENOMENAL on pizza.

Thaikhun:

The last restaurant we visited served Thai food which is one of my favourites! The restaurant itself is fantastic with incredible, cluttered decor that's super colourful and unique, we couldn't help but go in! Nearly all their vegetarian dishes are also vegan so once again there was plenty to choose from!
The dumplings were potentially my favourite dish as they were soft, filling and packed with yummy! The main I had was tofu and cashews with rice, for such a simple plate the amount of different tastes was incredible. It was pretty spicy so watch out if you're not great with heat!

Chapel Arts Cafe:

No food list is complete without somewhere to get tea and cake! Chapel Arts Cafe is a completely vegan cafe with loads of cake options and they also do lunch.
The atmosphere is super chilled and a little eccentric, the perfect place to wind down after a long day walking around the sites of the city. They stay open late and often have live music as well!
This is such a unique establishment that is
tucked out of the way - without knowing it's there you might miss it but I can't stress enough how important it is that you give this place a try!