Monthly Archives: March 2019

Leek & Asparagus Soup

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Serves 2

Ingredients

1 clove of garlic, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 small leek, sliced in to rings

125g pack of asparagus tips

1 potato, quartered

1 knob of dairy free butter or spread

2 cups of dairy free milk (I used soya)

1 tsp of vegan stock or bouillon

Pepper 

Water

Method

In a pan, steam the onion and garlic in a little water with the lid on for about 5 minutes.

Add the potato,  leek and most of the asparagus, leaving just a few tips out for garnish.

Pour in the milk and add the dairy free butter, vegan stock and pepper to taste.

The liquid should just cover the contents of the pan, if it doesn’t, top up with a little water.

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Bring to boil and then turn heat down and simmer with the lid on for about 20 minutes or until the potato is cooked.

Remove from heat and let cool before blending.

Reheat to serve with grilled asparagus garnish

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Sutton and Sons

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Before I was vegan, I have to admit that ‘fish & chips’ was probably my favourite traditional English food.

I grew up in Norfolk, right on The Broads  and not too far from the coast so fish & chip takeaways wrapped in newspaper were a pretty regular thing.

I’m vegan for the animals, not because I never liked the taste of meat so I’m always delighted when new innovative restaurants which substitute traditional dishes for vegan alternatives open up and Sutton and Sons don’t disappoint.

The traditional family run shop which has been established for almost 20 years, saw the rising demand for vegan options and added some to the menu and found them so popular that they opened up the first fully vegan fish & chip shop in London.

The banana blossom fish is delicious, marinaded in samphire and seaweed before being battered and flaky just like fish, it’s the perfect alternative and I have no idea how they make the prawns in the prawn cocktail so similar to prawns but they’re amazing, and the calamari, yum!

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The only problem with fully vegan establishments is that you literally want to try everything on the menu and there’e so much choice that it’s impossible but next time, I’m definitely going to have to try the battered sausage.

Whether you sit in and go for fish & chips, which I did, along with a  glass of fizz or take away, a visit to this restaurant is an absolute must!

I’m 100% going to become a regular visitor and as an added bonus, the branch is right near one of my favourite vintage shops.

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Where to find them

Email: vegan@suttonandsons.co.uk
Phone: 020 3643 2017
Address: Graham Road, London E8 1BP

Opening times

  • Monday to Thursday 12 to 10pm
  • Friday to Saturday 12 to 10:30pm
  • Sunday 12:00 to 10pm

 

The Birds – Leytonstone

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I went along last week to The Birds in Leytonstone and have to say I was in my element.

A Hitchcock themed pub with a vegan heavy menu that welcomes dogs, what’s not to love?

I managed to take advantage of an offer the were doing of 1/2 food on all Mondays/Tuesdays in January and February which has sadly ended now, how fast is this year going?

I went along with my GBF (who isn’t vegan although has eaten way more vegan food recently as he loves my cooking)

For those who don’t know, Leytonstone is the birth place of Sir Alfred Hitchcock and The Birds is one of his most iconic films.

I love the decor in the pub, the old tiles exposed, the quirky vintage furniture, the giant Jack Skellington and the abundance of bird cages, minus any caged birds though because that would be wrong.

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Between us we managed to order almost everything on the menu, well it would have been rude not to as it was half price.

I went for the Smoked Fishless Tacos to start, I’m a massive fan of tofish and they were delicious, the Chickenish Burger which was made from crispy seitan and we shared the White Truffle Mac and Cheese and the Dirty Fries (huge portion). 

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The food was amazing, Marko had gone for non vegan dishes from the menu but actually said he preferred my food to his and will be ordering from the vegan part next time we go!

I don’t know how we’d have managed to eat everything we ordered if it wasn’t for the help of Dolly and Lucky.

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We’ll definitely be heading back very soon to try everything else on the menu! Can’t wait to the the Chickenish Strips, the Salt ‘n’ Pepper Cauliflower and the Beefless Burger!

They also do bottomless brunches, a buffet menu and Sunday roasts as well as holding all kinds of events from yoga to themed parties and drag quizzes.

I think The Birds could potentially my new local, I drove this time so was limited to just 2 glasses of Prosecco but it’s not too far for me to go in an Uber.

I fully recommend a visit for vegan junk food at it’s best.

The Birds

692 High Road, Leytonstone, London, E11 3AA

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Check the website for what’s on.

www.thebirds.pub