Turning vegan and eating a plant based diet that is free from meat, milk and eggs doesn’t mean missing out on tasty food, as many restaurants and cafes now cater to people with more specialised eating habits.
If you are thinking about living a life without consuming animals, here are some of the vegan-friendly places to visit in east London…
The Hornbeam Café, in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, is named after the renowned hornbeam tree and is a non-profit organisation aimed at engaging people in Waltham Forest to live a more environmentally friendly and sustainable life.
The café food is mostly vegetarian and uses local, organic produce, as well as providing a space for local groups to meet and find out more about a healthier lifestyle.
The menu changes daily and is usually displayed on their menu board outside. Some of the most popular dishes include mushroom, chestnut and lentil soup with fresh bread (£3.50), focaccia with stuffed baked tomatoes and courgettes, with thyme, almonds, garlic and chilli (£3.80), and chilled roast aubergine and tahini soup with crusty bread and roast pepper salsa (£3.50).
A vegan burger pop-up shop will come to the Northcote Pub in Grove Green Road, Leyton, every Tuesday and Wednesday in November. But don't panic if you can't get there - she also has a permanent evening at New River Studios in Manor House every Friday. Yum!
The Feel Good Café, in The Village Arcade, North Chingford, has a very simple mantra. Everything that is cooked and served is made with natural, whole food ingredients that are without preservatives.
The café offers vegetarian breakfasts, lunches and light dinners, some of which may also be vegan or can be adapted to vegan preferences. There are sandwiches, porridge, granola, salads, soups, cold pressed juices, vegan raw cakes and an array of vegan milk. It also has a small deli filled with jams, chutneys, olive oils, nuts, dried fruits and an organic bakery.
People who enjoy a sweet treat will appreciate the Vegan Sweet Tooth, in Chatsworth Road, just outside Stratford, as it serves a mix of special cakes, pastries, biscuits, cookies, muffins and even savoury snacks that are healthy and can be eaten without the guilt from over-indulgence.
Fed By Water, in Kingsland High Street, next to Dalston Kingsland Station, offers traditional Italian cuisine but also aims to highlight the nutritional importance of water in every meal.
Since May 2016, the restaurant has served all-vegan food and promotes an alkaline Mediterranean plant based diet that encourages a healthy lifestyle.
Diners can expect an authentic Italian gourmet experience, with starters including a bread experience (16.95), which consists of a home-made basket of garlic bread and focaccia bread served with green and red pesto, hummus, black olive and sunflower seeds pâté.
There is also a raw mix option (£8.95), filled with crackers infused with tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, carrots, peppers, basil, garlic, linseed and sunflower seeds, with a herbs sauce, dehydrated apple and courgette chips.
For those looking for the staple food of Italy, pasta, there’s a wide choice of spaghetti options and even a gluten free pasta (2.50), which is made up of quinoa and corn spaghetti or pennette.
For dessert, there is a choice of raw carrot cake (£5.90), chocolate mousse or even a chocolate pizza, for those who cannot get enough of the Italian theme.
Buhler & Co, in Chingford Road, Walthamstow, is a vegetarian café that is also vegan friendly and specialises in serving an all day brunch.
The cuisine is inspired by delicacies from all over the world and includes, quinoa cakes with avocado (£8.50) and a vegetable fry up (£9.50) consisting of a fried upma, cooked as a thick porridge from dry roasted semolina or coarse rice flour, as well as chard, ksundi, which is a fiery Indian condiment and a paratha flatbread most commonly found in India. A variety of events are also hosted at Buhler & Co and the next is a pop up dinner on October 29, at 7.30pm, hosted by Mostly Green.
Where are your favourite vegan places to eat? Let us know on rachel.russell@london.newsquest.co.uk
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