Vegan London, part 1

[derwenna]

Thanks for the suggestions. It looks like the Pizza Express is just round the corner from where we're playing so we'll have that as a backup option. Unfortunately Green Note doesn't open until 7 which is too late for us, but I'll bear that in mind for any future visits. Shame though because the band they've got on tomorrow looks interesting!

If anyone fancies any dancing, or just listening: http://www.barndance.org/ (it's not actually barn dance!).

[mariana]

Does anyone know of any health food stores in the Spitalfields area, or alternatively, near LSE? One near Spitalfields would be more convenient, since that's the area where I live, but since I'll be spending a lot of time on the LSE campus, one in that area would be fine as well. I heard there used to be one just around the corner from my hall, but it closed awhile ago. So far I found a small Holland & Barrett's in Soho near LSE. They seemed to have a decent range of stuff, but not a huge selection. I also went to the Fresh & Wild in Soho, which was really big.

Also, does anyone know a good place to get good quality fresh fruit & veg in the Spitalfields area? I have been really disappointed with the quality I've seen in stores around here. There is a nice organic fruit shop around the corner, but it's really pricey. There's a Tesco Metro nearby, but their vegetables are frequently rotten. I've also been to a bigger Sainsbury's about a mile away, and their vegetables were better than Tesco but still not great. I've heard about an organic fruit and veg stall in Spitalfields market, but I've never seen it--it sounds like a myth to me! I went to the Marylebone farmer's market last weekend and it was nice (albeit small compared to what I'm used to in the States)--they had good quality vegetables there. It's not exactly conveniently located to me, but I took the tube there (Liverpool Street station is very close to me) so it wasn't that long of a journey. It was also nice because I enjoyed looking around Marylebone...and spending as much money on Rococo chocolates as I just had on vegetables! It would just be nicer to find something close by so I could pick up some carrots when I realize I don't have any and need them for dinner.

[robb]

There is a Health Food store in Spitalfields, but it has moved recently. It used to be on the west side of Commercial Street between Brushfield Street and Lamb Street. I think it's now on the east side of Commercial Street and a little further south - but if you go to where it was, there's a note in the window saying where they've moved to.

[mariana]

Thanks, robb! I will take a look. Do you mean more towards Fashion St/Whites Row, or after the V where Commercial splits from Toynbee? I went to where it used to be and there was construction there and I didn't see a sign...unless I missed it or went to the wrong place. Do you know the name of the shop? Thanks again...it would be really nice to find one around here, especially since Commercial's very close to me.

[robb]

I'm not sure. But having had a quick Google, it looks like it might be called "Spitalfields Organic" and be next to "St John Bread & Wine", a map of which is here: http://www.stjohnbreadandwine.com/contact_us/

That might actually make it a little further north rather than a little further south...

But it's somewhere around there.

[mariana]

Hmm, well I will look around Commercial St and hopefully find it! If I do find it, I'll let you know where it is.

[robb]

I'll be down that way Friday morning too. So if I find it first, I'll let you know.

[Gorilla]

sounds very expensive, but i'd like to try the tiramisu cake

[Marrers]

It was tiramisu cake mariana, maybe that is why you missed it (it was on the bottom shelf of the cake cabinet when I was in, there was no sign saying what it was but when it comes to cake I always say "what's that? and what is that one?" It would be dreadful not to be fully informed of the options before making my choice!)

[mariana]

It was tiramisu cake mariana, maybe that is why you missed it (it was on the bottom shelf of the cake cabinet when I was in, there was no sign saying what it was but when it comes to cake I always say "what's that? and what is that one?" It would be dreadful not to be fully informed of the options before making my choice!)

Lol, good point. I spotted the chocolate cake right away and immediately decided on it because I've been craving chocolate cake for the last week! But I think next time I need to fully appraise the cake situation before I make my choice. Or just sample everything.

[Marrers]

And you can always take some away! (When we had the VF meeting there I got a brownie and a cheesecake cos I couldn't decide - I know I could rely on the others to help hoover them up! And then I got another cake, a cookie and some balls to take away!)

[bryzee86]

And then I got some balls to take away

Oh my...

[Marrers]

Well bryzee as you know I do have my own - but it's always as well to have a few spare . . .

[mariana]

And you can always take some away! (When we had the VF meeting there I got a brownie and a cheesecake cos I couldn't decide - I know I could rely on the others to help hoover them up! And then I got another cake, a cookie and some balls to take away!)

Wow! Which was your favorite? I got cake and brownie for takeaway and wanted to try some other things, but it was so expensive as it was... I also had a nice smoothie. I think I can justify the expense though because my small studio flat doesn't have a real oven--it has a combination microwave/convection oven that has no temperature control--so I can't make cakes or cookies! And I certainly can't live a cake-free existence.

Oh my...

Lol...reminds me of the time I was at a Chinese restaurant with a friend and she got a bunch of balls (sesame balls, red bean balls, something else) and was making so many references to balls! 'I just love balls' 'I've had so many balls tonight...but I just can't seem to stop' etc

[mariana]

I went to Rootmaster yesterday. As I think someone mentioned on the thread before, the options are reduced on Sundays--only 5 choices. They also didn't have dessert listed on the board, but when I asked they said they had 3 desserts available. I had pumpkin and spinach pasta (which came with a delicious cheezy sauce and tomatoes) and chocolate cake. I *really* liked the pasta, which is saying a lot because I usually don't care for vegan cheese. The cake was really moist, although I thought it could use more icing. It was still good, though. I will definitely be going back, because it's only a 5-10 minute walk from my place and because the pasta was so good. I'd warn people against getting take-away, though. When they first brought it out to me it was basically just in a paper bowl, and when I said I'd ordered take-away so that I could...take it away (imagine that!)...they gave me a strange look and put another bowl on top of the bowl and wrapped it in a piece of cling film. Unfortunately the bit of cling film did not hold very well and some of the sauce oozed out into my bag as I carried it home.

I also found a chocolate shop at the edge of Spitalfields (an actual shop, not a stall, on the Brushfield Street end) that sells vegan chocolates. It's called Montezuma. They're clearly marked, for the most part, and they even have a vegan assortment box. I got the chocolate orange truffles and they're really good.

[bryzee86]

montezumas is bloomin awesome.

Must remember to try rootmaster when I have more money.

[mariana]

Maybe you can get a "free" meal like I did at Pogo...oops!

[Gwydion]

^ Haha.

Glad you enjoyed it mariana. I still think we should organise some sort of meet-up there, rent out the top deck for a couple of hours or something

[Marrers]

Nice to have a review of Rootmaster at last!

[mariana]

^ Haha.

Glad you enjoyed it mariana. I still think we should organise some sort of meet-up there, rent out the top deck for a couple of hours or something

That would be awesome. I'd really like to eat on the bus itself since I just did take-away (and who doesn't want to eat in a bustaurant?).

[BlackCats]

I went to Rootmaster yesterday. As I think someone mentioned on the thread before, the options are reduced on Sundays--only 5 choices. They also didn't have dessert listed on the board, but when I asked they said they had 3 desserts available.

Maybe they started doing cakes on a Sunday after my bitchiness towards them when they didn't have any cake available. Yay, we should have a meet-up there!

I have never tried Montezumas, I think I should.

[Marrers]

Sorry BC I forgot you'd review Rootmaster too. I must have blanked it out because no cake was involved!

[Stu]

Maybe you can get a "free" meal like I did at Pogo...oops!

Did you 'forget' to pay at Pogo???

[mariana]

Did you 'forget' to pay at Pogo???

I really did forget, I swear! Next time I'm going to leave the largest tip ever....

[bradders]

whilst exonerating us all from this crime I hope lol.

[mariana]

Err...maybe I'll just leave it as a huge tip and not say anything and they'll think I'm extra generous.

Went with the LSE Vegetarian Society to the Veg Phelpuri House near Angel tube station today. It's buffet-style Indian, 4 pounds for the buffet. I think it might vary by night, but tonight almost everything was vegan (I think only 1 dish wasn't). They also do soya lassis. It was really tasty, too!

[bradders]

now that sounds good

[bryzee86]

i'm in for the next one, mariana - just pretend I study anthropology or something.

[mariana]

Yeah, and only 4 quid for unlimited vegan Indian food...I was in heaven!

[mariana]

i'm in for the next one, mariana - just pretend I study anthropology or something.

lol! though i'm pretty sure anyone's welcome...i think someone brought a friend from another uni.

[bradders]

I'll have my LSE library card if that counts lol

[mariana]

Lol....maybe just don't mention Goldsmiths.

[bradders]

ha ha, just big up Anthony Giddens and I'll fit in

[Stu]

lol! though i'm pretty sure anyone's welcome...i think someone brought a friend from another uni.

Can I pretend to be a beardy lecturer? I'm happy to buy a jacket with elbow pads if it helps.

[bradders]

ha ha suit you

[bryzee86]

They have some well good corduroy jackets in Kensington and Chelsea's charity shops

[bradders]

and add some black plastic elbow pads and you're set!

[mariana]

Lol!

[flying plum]

i just left UCL...does LSE hate UCL? i also went to KCL, but since LSE students destroyed our English corridor a few years ago i'm guessing i wouldn't be allowed

[harpy]

There was a quite enthusiastic (omnivore-written) review of Vanilla Black at the weekend:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...c4-969481.html

A veggie friend went too and liked it.

I just found Marrers' report and it doesn't sound brilliant for vegans but I suppose it might be worth a try esp. if one does the advance-warning thing. Anyone else been?

[mariana]

i just left UCL...does LSE hate UCL? i also went to KCL, but since LSE students destroyed our English corridor a few years ago i'm guessing i wouldn't be allowed

As far as I know, they don't hate UCL...I heard about the KCL thing (kind of awful, really). I've never met anyone who actually hates KCL; I think it's an athletic rivalry or something. But I guess you prob wouldn't be allowed. j/k!

[mariana]

Yesterday I went to Sunday Upmarket on Brick Lane and found a nice vegetarian Ethiopian stall in the food section. I can't remember what it's called (or even if they have a name)--there seemed to be 2 vegetarian Ethiopian stalls. The one I went to had everything really clearly labelled--even listed all the ingredients for each dish. Everything was vegan except for possibly the sauces you can put on yourself (I didn't ask because I didn't want any anyway). It was really delicious, too! It was £3.75 for 3 types of veg curry wrapped in injeera, with a side of cabbage/cilantro salad (the salad part was a bit bland, though).

[bryzee86]

bargain!

[mariana]

i know! I love that market!!

[Elahiya]

was it probably "rainforest creations"?

[mariana]

nope, different place (though i remember you talking about them)--i still haven't had a chance to try rainforest creations but i want to try it soon!!

[BlackCats]

I think I know the one you mean Mariana, they were at another London market I went to. The food from Rainforest Creations is lovely also.

(Thanks to Elahiya for telling me the name of Rainforest Creations, I never knew what it was called, I just knew it was yummy.)

[flying plum]

mariana - it's ok, i was only joking the real historic rivalry between the London colleges is actually between KCL and UCL. UCL was established as the first secular, female accepting college (prior to that had only been Cambridge and Oxford). there was a famous letter written in to the Evening Standard demanding someone do something about the 'Godless institution in Gower Street'. and so someone did. The Duke of Wellington, in fact, had a duel over it, and KCL was estalished as a result, as a respectable religious insitution in London. ahem. actually, to this day, the Dean of the college must be an Anglican reverend, and the college does have a beautiful Chapel in it.

and anyone you talk to at KCL or UCL knows well that KCL students stole Jeremy Bentham's head (his body is stuffed and on display in the lobby...) and played football with it in the Quad. in return, UCL students stole Reggie the Lion, a lion sculpture, and castrated him.

aaaaaaah, silly people

now, yes, the main rivalries are mainly sports related. and by and large, in my experience, good humoured.

amanda

[mariana]

mariana - it's ok, i was only joking the real historic rivalry between the London colleges is actually between KCL and UCL. UCL was established as the first secular, female accepting college (prior to that had only been Cambridge and Oxford). there was a famous letter written in to the Evening Standard demanding someone do something about the 'Godless institution in Gower Street'. and so someone did. The Duke of Wellington, in fact, had a duel over it, and KCL was estalished as a result, as a respectable religious insitution in London. ahem. actually, to this day, the Dean of the college must be an Anglican reverend, and the college does have a beautiful Chapel in it.

and anyone you talk to at KCL or UCL knows well that KCL students stole Jeremy Bentham's head (his body is stuffed and on display in the lobby...) and played football with it in the Quad. in return, UCL students stole Reggie the Lion, a lion sculpture, and castrated him.

aaaaaaah, silly people

now, yes, the main rivalries are mainly sports related. and by and large, in my experience, good humoured.

amanda

i figured you were joking. thanks for the explanation of the rivalries and histories! that's really interesting. i always feel out of it because i know so little about the London colleges. my uni in the US is in the middle of nowhere and thus it's kind of impossible to have rivalries with other unis! i mean, we talk about competing with a couple of unis, but they're so far away we can do anything fun like steal jeremy bentham's head!

[flying plum]

if you go into UCL, you will notice that that lovely mr bentham is not headless. but, it's a fake head...the real, pickled-and-preserved artifact is now in a vault in the bank of england to prevent further improptu games of footie

this did all happen about 100 years ago by the way. now, we're much better behaved, of course

amanda