Category Archives: healthy

#Digmas: Christmas Fair with Vegan stores and Veggie/Vegan food. Saturday 26th November.

Posted in Christmas, City Centre, Custard Factory, Digbeth, Events, Food Festivals, healthy, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Street Food, Veggie by

Merry #Digmas:

Brum’s favourite independent Christmas fair and family day out returns to the Custard Factory!

Kick off the festive season in style at #Digmas, Birmingham’s favourite independent Christmas fair and family day out. The fun-filled event will return to the Custard Factory at the heart of Birmingham’s Creative Quarter on Saturday 26 November from 11am to 6pm. 

Entry is free. There’ll be something for everyone in the family; from street food, gin, craft beer and market stalls for the adults to Santa’s grotto, face painting and craft activities for the kids.

Tara Newman, Head of Events at the Custard Factory, said “#Digmas is a Digbeth tradition for foodies, friends and families looking for an alternative to the usual pre-Christmas crush on the high street. It’s the perfect opportunity to pick up some unique stocking fillers, enjoy a day out and get into the festive spirit”.

At the heart of the Custard Factory there’ll be a lively indoor market with high quality art and crafts from the Paperdolls Handmade Markets plus locally-made cakes, chocolates and other goodies. 

There’ll be Vegan stalls filled with gifts, and fashionistas can peruse the rails of clothing from a selection of leading brands.

Shoppers will enjoy browsing the Custard Factory’s resident shops who will all be open during the day’s festivities. They can enjoy a cup of mulled wine or hot chocolate whilst revelling in live music by the lakeside from Bostin Brass, The Glamophones and a cheerful carol singing quartet.

Foodies will tantalise their taste buds with some of the best street food in the city and dishes include macaroni cheese,  warming soups, spicy curries and irresistible churros and chocolate. Plus cakes by Mrs Mills. The covered food court will have a great atmosphere with a DJ playing festive favourites, perfect for meeting up with friends to enjoy a glass of gin or craft beer from the pop-up bars.

The kids will have a great time too with a visit to Santa’s grotto and a packed programme of festive storytelling performances, craft activities, cupcake decorating and face painting.

 #Digmas is free to enter and all ages are welcome to enjoy the fun, food and festivities. Advanced booking for some activities is recommended. 

http://www.custardfactory.co.uk/digmas2016 for more information.

Alongside all of the fantastic entertainment, food and activities already revealed, they have been working with local organic and Vegan friendly drinks company U-Juice to curate a friendly selection of vegan stalls at #DIGMAS! Food & drink, clothing, jewellery, beauty products and lots, lots more – all produced ethically and organically.


Other Vegan and Veggie friendly traders also thete will be Aah Lovely, (handmade gifts including ceramics, bags and cards), Dr Ice ( Men’s grooming products), Viva la Vegan (organically made clothing and best fashion brand award winners), Hugletts Wood Farm Animal Sanctuary, (handmade gifts) Badger’s Dairy Free, (side dishes), Purely Vegan (Vegan Grocers) The May Bakery (Vegan cakes, cupcakes and cookies) Honest Skincare, and Custard Factory resident Clink craft beer have a Vegan range too. 

The May Bakery.

Street Food from Littlesixtythree ( soups and stews) locally produced served with fresh crusty bread and Quarter Horse Coffee and Hot chocolate. 


Yumlaut: traditional German Sausage with Vegan-friendly and deliciously named ‘Veggie Brat’.

Churros Susanna: Churros and chocolate. Plus dairy free. Sugary happiness. 


Veggie Foodie favourites The Indian Rasoi: Indian Street Food and curry to warm you up. 


Holy Moly Macaroni: Macaroni cheese who are launching on The Birmingham  street food scene at #Digmas, plus offering a Vegan option that replaces cheese with butternut squash. Comfort food with a difference. 


Holy Moli Macaroni.

Plus drinks from Gin Box and Clink Craft Beer who will have vegan/veggie choices. 

Read more about the Vegan stalls on offer on Sat 26th here: 

#DIGMAS 2016 – First Vegan & Ethical Market at the Custard Factory

Looks a lovely way to kick off the Christmas period, and celebrate Birmingham’s independent and creative scene. 

The Custard Factory and sister venue Fazeley Studios are based in Digbeth a short walk from Birmingham New Street and The Bullring shopping centre in the heart of Birmingham. The area has long been established as one of the countries leading creative and digital business destinations, with a thriving business community residing alongside Birmingham’s independent retailers. 

Home

http://www.fazeleystudios.com/

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

The Glamophones who will be singing at #Digmas.

All images and photos courtesy of The Custard Factory. 

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Yoga and a view with Yoga Sweat launched at Rofuto, Birmingham.

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Birmingham, City Centre, Events, Health drinks, healthy, Hotels, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  
Yoga with a view.

  

  
I’ve eaten at Rofuto and drunk some amazing Japanese whiskey in their bar. This though is something different. Rofuto Sweat begins on Sunday September 11th from 10.30-11.30.

A new weekly yoga workout with a view. It will include DJ’s and different brands as it progresses. 

Food and health and well been are so intrinsically linked that you can say you are what you eat and drink. 

As a vegetarian health issues have always been important to me and yoga is a beautiful way to become more fit and supple. In time though the gentle harmony of yoga practice can link ones fitness with their approach to life and how they see the world. An inner peace, the essence of yoga, evolving.

  
So now you can escape the city and join Yoga Sweat every Sunday at Rofuto Bar for weekly rooftop yoga at 141ft in the sky, with breathtaking 360 degree views of Birmingham.

Rofuto the newly opened modern Japanese restaurant and bar has collaborated with Yoga Sweat to offer ‘Yoga with a View’ classes every Sunday at 10.30am for £15 per person. The classes will be held in the bar area, an oasis of calm with panoramic views of the city. 

The hour long classes include a freshly squeezed Rofuto Super Juice and will be led by Yoga Sweat’s founder Andrea Hassett. The yoga sessions will work up to a flow, challenge yogis of all abilities and allow guests to work at their own pace, build strength, flexibility and leave you feeling refreshed and re-energized. The visual aspect of rooftop yoga ensures people feel more uplifted, and encourages a positive, open yoga practice.

 Rofuto offers an izakaya-style restaurant, serving a high quality modern Japanese menu of world class dishes and sits alongside the stunning cocktail lounge and sake bar in its unique rooftop position at the new Park Regis Hotel.

Founded by Andrea Hassett in 2014, Yoga Sweat’s mission is to bring a new, unique yoga offering to the people of Birmingham. Andrea has practiced yoga for over 14 years and instructed for seven. She honed her craft travelling the world gathering insights and techniques from some of the finest teachers working across the USA and Europe.

Access to the classes is via an Express Lift at the Rofuto entrance on Five Ways

All Sessions cost £10 for non members and £5 for Yoga Sweat members for a one hour session from 10.30-11.30am.

Bookings must be made in advance via Yoga Sweat on 0121 643 7772

Address: Rofuto Bar

Park Regis Hotel

160 Broad Street

Birmingham, B15 1DT                    

 Website: http://rofuto.co.uk/

Facebook: rofutobham

#Rofutosweat 

Twitter: @RofutoTweets #yogawithaview          

Instagram: rofuto  

Thanks for reading, 

Andy😊

Information and images courtesy of Rofuto and Neil Reading PR.

For my review of Rofuto’s food see the link below.

https://t.co/6UA9milYc8


 

 

The Vegan Grindhouse Diner: Crowdfunding campaign launched. 

Posted in Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, healthy, Independent, Kings Heath, Street Food, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie Burgers, Veggie foodie, Warwick by

   

 Veggie Foodie favourites The Vegan Grindhouse have launched a crowdfunding campaign at Indiegogo to raise funds to open the first all vegan diner in The West Midlands. See below: 

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-vegan-grindhouse-diner

After the success of their weekly Pop up at The Mockingbird in Birmingham for Meat free Monday’s showed the demand in the city for unique vegan food that captures the street food vibe inside, a retro diner to showcase their popular Americana food is a great logical step. Helping to offer more food, more often and spread the Vegan message further through quality and locally sourced and ethical healthy food. 

They currently run a Plant-Based Vegan food truck and can be seen around Birmingham and the Midlands at street food events such as Brum Yum Yum, Digbeth Diner and the monthly MAC food market. They’ve been trading for two years via the truck and are hugely popular with Vegan’s Vegetarian’s and meat eaters. 

They also want to help a local animal sanctuary – Rogue’s Place in Aldridge, West Midlands which was given notice at the end of January 2016 that they have to close down and relocate all of the animals as they don’t own the land. They have done some amazing work rescuing and housing injured, abandoned and rescued animals and The Vegan Grindhouse have been proud supporters of them over the last 12 months. They hope that a donation from the funds raised can help them to find new premises or homes for their residents during this time of crisis for them.

There is a selection of great rewards for contributing to the campaign and other goals if they do not reach their target of £25.000 to open their diner, including a vegan take away shop and new street food van and trailer. 

They plan to open 6 months after the Crowdfunding closes and when premises are identified. 

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-vegan-grindhouse-diner/contributions/new

So pledge to help them, Rogue’s Place and Birmingham/West Midlands in getting its first all vegan restaurant.

Please click this link to go to their campaign and share this with everyone you know via social media.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-vegan-grindhouse-diner

It’s a good cause and helps support a local family business that is a leader in driving the Vegan and meat free message forward in the Midlands. 

The crowdfunder runs until the 27th February. 

http://www.thevegangrindhouse.co.uk

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

   
 Photos from The Vegan Grindhouse. 

Vegetarian and Vegan ChangeKitchen now serving at refurbished Stirchley Baths, Stirchley, Birmingham. 

Posted in Birmingham, Breakfasts, Brunch, Cafés and Restaurants, Cake, Coffee, healthy, Independent, Stirchley, Tea Shops, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   
 

ChangeKitchen CIC cafe at Stirchley Baths is open Tuesday Wednesday Thursday AND Friday 10-3. 

Serving hot drinks & cake, full lunches or snacks . The food is ethical, locally sourced and organic. It is fully vegetarian and vegan (with gluten free options available) 

They do cappuccino & latte (made with organic fairtrade coffee grown by women’s cooperatives) , lots of herbal infusions – and proper tea. 

Their food is home made and fresh, and includes Homity pie, (potato pie with caramelised onions and cheese), mushroom and spinach lasagne, and includes Vegan versions. 

  Photo taken by myself at Vegan Beer Festival last year. 

Run by Birgit Kehrer and her team ChangeKitchen is an award winning event caterer and thriving social enterprise. 

They’ve catered for corporate events, weddings, community gatherings and have run hugely popular pop up cafes since 2010. They have participated at The Vegan Beer festival last year at Two Towers Brewery and at Vegan fairs. As well as the Kings Heath Food Assembly. 

ChangeKitchen Offer innovative vegetarian and vegan menus, all carefully put together using the finest local, organic and seasonal ingredients. 
The ChangeKitchen food philosophy is a simple one. They create and serve delicious, nutritious and ethical dishes that can be shared and enjoyed by all. ”

At Stirchley Baths there is free In-house WIFI too. 

The building at Stirchley Baths has recently been renovated, and is lovely to browse around and look at the beauty the new/old Stirchley Baths is/has become. 

It has taken many months to convert the old baths into the new community centre. They’ve managed to pair modern facilities with the heritage of the building to preserve memories but in a space that enables them and you to also create new ones. 

These baths are a grade ii listed building. Open initially in 1911 (Edwardian) the site has been derelict for three decades and cost £4 million to restore. 

  

   
 There are regular clubs, activities and rooms to hire (see website for details) with plans to develop a community cinema over the next few months. 

On the 20th February Stirchley Baths will be the site for the first Stirchley Vegan Fair. 

And ChangeKitchen will be selling its tasty ware in the cafe and the hall alongside tasty other vegan food. 

  
http://www.changekitchen.co.uk/

https://m.facebook.com/ChangeKitchen/

http://stirchleybaths.org/

https://twitter.com/stirchleybaths?lang=en-gb

http://stirchleybaths.org/heritage-culture-and-arts/heritage-2/the-project/

You can find Stirchley Baths at 

2-4 Bournville Lane, Birmingham B30 2JT. 

0121-464 9072.

  
   
 

Photos courtesy of ChangeKitchen and Stirchley Baths. 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

New Vegan and Vegetarian coffee lounge to open in Birmingham City Centre. 

Posted in Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, healthy, Independent, Lunch, vegan, vegetarian, Vegetarian takeaways, Veggie foodie by

Exciting news has reached me that a new Vegan and Vegetarian coffee shop is set to open in Birmingham City Centre.

Called 3 Three’s Coffee Lounge it’s based in a unit in Martineau Place just off Corporation Street (the street by WH Smiths and Sainsbury’s). 

It’s not open yet, but according to their Facebook page, not long. 

Note: Due to own on the 6th April. 

https://m.facebook.com/3threescoffee/

Looking at their website they will sell a mixture of sandwiches, wraps, paninis, soups, salads and cakes, plus coffee and soft drinks. 

http://www.3threescoffee.com/

Most of the menu it seems is suitable for Vegans and offers meat style options (sandwiches, wraps) as well non meat style options such as hummus, avocados and roasted peppers. 

I’m looking forward to hopefully finding some interesting salads and warming soups as well as good quality coffee and cakes. 

Hopefully the food will be a leader for interesting vegetarian and vegan lunch time options and be a firm favourite with Brummies and visitors alike. 

   

  
 

  
Of course the proof will be in the quality of the food and coffee. Hopefully items will be made in house or from local suppliers.

The joy of course will be in the trying out. 

Any venture of this kind deserves support and is a positive start in creating a more defined informal vegetarian and vegan lunch stop in central Birmingham. 

The coffee shop is now open keep an eye on their Facebook page and website for updates. 

  
http://www.3threescoffee.com/

3 Three’s Coffee Lounge, Unit 8, 17-19 Martineau Place, Birmingham 

Photos courtesy of their facebook page. 

Review: Leon, Natural Fast Food in New Street Station, Birmingham. 

Posted in Birmingham, Breakfasts, Brunch, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Coffee, Coffee Time, healthy, Lunch, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie Burgers, Veggie foodie by

  

Now just imagine this..healthy fast food..now that’s a discovery..imagine all fast food was healthy. How many Marmite crisps would you eat? Now that’s probably just me, I think I’m the only sane person in the world that likes them, hey what do you mean, insane? No seriously healthy fast food, that’s the domain of Leon, yes even their chips which are baked. 

I love much of vegetarian style fast food, a veggie pie, a good veggie burger, a slice of pizza, sweet potato fries, and eating chips on Aldeburgh beach in Suffolk, yum..no surprise to anyone who follows my blog. Yet, healthy fast food, is a new one on me. In fact it’s a new one for Birmingham to, if the rise of Five Guys burger chain is anything to go by..big anti vegetarian Yuk! (Oh dear sorry) (must remember to not get so cross!) 

Leon has recently opened its first store in Birmingham temptingly close to the main atrium of the New Street Station / Grand Central complex. With branches famously in London for 11 years and an expansion plan in place, Leon will become more familiar outside of the capital in due course. Serving food from breakfast until evening. The menu includes burgers, wraps and superfood salads as well as breakfast baps, breakfast muffins, smoothies, and coffee. Fast Naturally Food with an excellent vegetarian and vegan choice. 

Wow, The Leon menu covers every moment. 

As its in New Street Station just below the shiny new Grand Central it will naturally be a top choice for the commuter and those on the move. It’s also a very good choice for families with lots of choice for children, with the smaller pots ideal for the younger foodie. (See children’s menu at foot of my review) 

Though quite small inside the turnover of tables appears quite quick which is helpful. The decor is industrial feeling, but is light and feels bigger with tables not on top of each other. Plenty of space for cases, bags and buggies. It has a friendly feel and staff are happy to advise on dietary needs and ingredients in the dishes. Service is also prompt and the restaurant tables are kept tidy and clean. 

All food and drink on the menu is made fresh daily. Their coffee is fair trade and organic, as are their eggs, milk and porridge oats. Leon are also a founding member of the Sustainable restaurant association. 

   
   
Leon was founded in 2004 and only employ people who are “full of sun”, (not full of chips). The award-winning, London-based company is as I’ve said the healthy side of fast food with a notable leaning towards Vegetarian and Vegan dishes. 

Take the Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Chinichurri: In my case onion, courgettes, pomegranate, roasted with turmeric and cumin with alioli and baked fries. (Side extra). £5.10 plus £2.50 for the fries. 

Packaged in a nice box, the inner cauliflower Salad packed plenty of flavour, cauliflower has always been a personal favourite and though I asked for a recommendation I knew I wanted to try this dish. The dish full of fresh flavours, crunchy textures with a good turmeric and cumin finish, was delicious. It felt healthy and nutritious,  it felt warming and filling and good value for the price. 

The Baked fries on this occasion I hasten to add were not so good, though packing plenty of potato flavour they were not to hot and felt disappointing in the end. I like the sprinkled seasoning and the curly look though and would order them again, as i’m sure they could be done better. Nice alioli though. 

With my food I ordered a Flat White. Though their were delicious juices and smoothies and coconut water on the menu an opportunity to try a coffee never escapes me, and it was a very good flat white, great for a take away. 

(My Recommendation was the Halloumi wrap by the way,which I’m looking forward to trying along with the supper food salads.)

  
   
  Baked Fries 

 
  
  
Roasted Cauliflower salad 

Leon is a chain, and though I’m not usually a massive fan of chains I’m a big fan of what I’ve seen and experienced thus far. It’s because they do care about Vegetarians and Vegans, about the food we eat and about the ethics of it all. Yes, Birmingham has another chain, and yes I wish somebody independent could offer this kind of food, this kind of experience, but until that happens Leon will be a place I’ll call back to any time of day. It’s ethos should be applauded and the food on offer with its high nutritious leaning eaten. Food should taste good, and if it can do you good as well even better and for this Leon is a vegetarian friend. 

  

  

Leon cookbooks available at all good booksellers.   

  

Click to access 16.PAPER_MENU_2015_AUTUMN.pdf

http://leonrestaurants.co.uk/restaurants/birmingham/

http://leonrestaurants.co.uk/menu/children/

http://leonrestaurants.co.uk/vision/sourcingsustainability/

You can find Leon in Birmingham at Unit 25, New Street Station B2 4QA. 

0121-643-5925. 

Open from 6.30am-10pm every day apart from Sunday which is 8am-10pm. 

I paid for my meal in full at Leon. My views are my own, honest as always. 

Thanks for reading, 

Andy 😊

#TastyMorsel: Now open Natural Healthy Foods, Birmingham. 

Posted in Birmingham, City Centre, Food, healthy, Independent, Independent Birmingham, shops, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  
  

What was once the 100% Vegan shop has now become Natural Health Food. Still based in Allison Street, Digbeth in the same building as Veggie/Vegan The Warehouse Cafe, it’s expanded its stock and had a complete refurbishment and hence  double quick relaunch. 

Lovers of Vegan, raw, Gluten Free, Organic, dairy free and Vegetarian and healthy plant based food will love it’s packed shelves in Birmingham City Centre. It’s genuinely a one stop source for health and nutrition based goods that are very tempting. 

I visited last week and was impressed with the stock on offer in the shop, which was very varied and catered for Vegans, Gluten Free and Raw food diets as well as vegetarian. 

The staff are friendly, enthusiastic, passionate and had a good knowledge of the products. I spoke with the owners Simon and Susan who were genuinely interested in the products they sold and especially the health benefits of reducing or cutting out sugar from your diet. 

Natural Health Food are in the process of setting up their website which when completed will allow the customer to purchase the products in the shop and more online to be delivered to the home. They are open to suggestions as to what stick they sell and what the customer would find useful and would like to see displayed. 

I found the shop beautiful presented, with real wooden shelves and cases to display the products which I was told was handmade for them locally to the shop, and gave the products an organic feel and look. They looked as if they belonged in the room and were presented in a very clear and ordered fashion. It was very easy to browse and find what you would need. 

What Natural Health Food are attempting to do is encourage a more plant based diet, and fashionably reduce the amount of sugar we eat in our diets by promoting those products as an alternative. 

The products I tried had zero sugar and you couldn’t tell, as the natural sugars gave the kick to the bars that compensated for this. In fact the moisture of the juices came through. 

This was especially true of the Raw Health bars. 

The face of health and vegan stores is changing as more products come to market. I’ve noticed the packaging is brighter, more inviting, more professional. The products are superior and you can feel the benefits and differences when you try them. What the Natural Health Food Shop are doing is embracing that change. This is good news for Bimingham and anyone who cares for what they eat and drink. 

There are plans to introduce make up and more beauty products too. Obviously cruelty free, vegan and organic. They already stock a fine selection of toiletries such as shampoos, shower fells and deodorants etc.

I’m looking forward to returning soon and buying some more and seeing how things are progressing. 

 
   
   
   
    
 
  
    
   
   
    
 

Products sold from, health bars, drinks, chocolate, snacks, gluten free products from pasta, gnocchi, flour, bread. Plus tofu, Ready meals, Fresh soups, toiletries, dairy free products, coconut water, teas and coffee. Plus many more. 

Natural Health Foods is a one stop shop for health and nutrition and being independent is a business well worth supporting and enjoying. 

Allison Street, Birmingham B5 5TH. 

Open: 10-7pm Monday-Saturday 

11-5- Sunday. 

   
 

  

Everyone needs good neighbours: 

Next door to The Warehouse Cafe. Birmingham’s original Vegetarian Restaurant. Pop in for lunch and dinner. In fact combine the two. 

  
Goodies kindly given to me by Natural Healthy Foods to sample. 

In particular the Raw Hemp and Protein Balls made by Raw Health  were delicious: organic fruits bursting with dates and the subtle hint of orange. Using raw organic ingredients, Raw Health soak and sprout the ingredients to bring their natural vitality to life. Using low temperatures to make them in order to keep the health giving nutrients and enzymes alive and well. Very enjoyable. 

   
 
 
The dark chocolate snack bar from Organica, Hazlenut nougat.

I also enjoyed the Coconut Water from Go Coco, which had a lovely sweet tasting and natural flavour. It tasted very refreshing and isn’t from concentrate. Includes 5 essential electrolytes. Won a GreatTaste award in 2012. 

  
 Fresh soup. 

  

   
 
http://www.naturalhealthyfoods.co.uk

@NHfoodsUK

Facebook: Natural healthy foods. 

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊

Disclaimer: I was invited to Natural Health Foods to take some photos after mentioning to them that I was going to put a post on my blog on their opening. They gave me the products to try and pass on my honest feedback on what I thought. All opinions are my own and honest as always. 

Thanks to Simon and Susan for their time and showing me around their shop.

Meat Free Monday’s: The Vegan Grindhouse at The Mockingbird in Digbeth Birmingham. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Birmingham, Breakfasts, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Craft beer, Digbeth, Events, healthy, Independent, Independent Birmingham, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie Burgers, Veggie foodie, Veggie foodie brunch breakfasts by

       
 

Monday’s will never be the same if you are a Vegan or Veggie in Birmingham. 

The news is that esteemed and popular Vegan Street food traders The Vegan Grindhouse are taking over The Mockingbird at The Custard Factories kitchen all day on a Monday from August 10th for the rest of this year for a Meat-Free Monday’s special.

  

BIRMINGHAM INDEPENDENT VENUE AND POPULAR VEGAN STREET FOOD COMPANY TEAM UP FOR MEAT FREE MONDAYS STARTING MONDAY 10TH AUGUST.

The teams behind the successful Mockingbird Theatre, Bistro & Bar and Midlands based vegan street-food company The Vegan Grindhouse have collaborated to host a new destination event every Monday in Digbeth, Birmingham.

The event, The Vegan Grindhouse presents Meat Free Monday’s at The Mockingbird which is taking place every Monday from 10th August at Mockinbird Theatre Bistro and Bar, Custard Factory, Gibb Street, B9 4AA. 

The Vegan Grindhouse chefs will be serving up an all-vegan Americana style brunch menu from 11am-2pm, featuring waffles, scrambled tofu, granola, BLT and bagels. 

Then every Monday evening from 5-9pm there will be a new menu featuring food from different regions of the USA, such as burritos, Philly cheesesteaks, meatball marinara subs, mac’n’cheese and all American sides and desserts. There will be gluten free options available on each menu also. 

In addition to the food, Meat Free Mondays will also feature free film screenings in the theatre, music and a range of vegan beers, soft drinks and plant-based milks for coffees and teas.

Lisa Burbidge-Brown, Co-owner of The Vegan Grindhouse said “We are so excited to take on this weekly residency at The Mockingbird. To give people a fully vegan restaurant menu every Monday is a great way to promote the Meat Free Monday message of reducing or eliminating their meat and dairy intake due to health, environmental or ethical reasons and this is a great opportunity for people to try exciting new vegan food and see why going meat free is a viable alternative diet and lifestyle.”

The Vegan Grindhouse by Vegan Vox travels around the wider Midlands area to markets, festivals and street-food events to bring their high-end Americana handmade organic vegan food to a wide range of customers. 

They have traded across the UK including Birmingham, Warwickshire, Blackpool, Manchester, Wales and London since starting the business in April 2014 and have many more events booked throughout this year working with some of the big names in Street Food events.

The Vegan Grindhouse is a small independent all-vegan mobile catering company from the West Midlands, who produce organic, fair trade, cruelty-free tasty vegan Americana street-food and treats.

The Dinner menu will change each week and will be announced prior to the Monday. 

Contact the venue for reservations or just turn up on the day/night. 
So introduce non vegans and veggies to a meat free meal with new dishes not served up by The Vegan Grindhouse on their truck. 

http://www.thevegangrindhouse.co.uk/2015/08/exciting-announcement-meat-free-mondays.html?m=1

The Mockingbird, Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, B9 YAA. 

   
 

  
Dinner menu for The Vegan Grindhouse Meat Free Mondays. 

Purely Vegan Store: Kings Heath, Birmingham opens. 

Posted in Birmingham, Food, healthy, Independent, Kings Heath, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

   
 
Kings Heath in South Birmingham is becoming the place for Vegans and Vegerarians to live. 

Hot on the heals of the Brum Yum Yum and Vegan Grindhouse does veggie/vegan streetfood event on the 19th July  news of a fantastic new opening reached me this week via Facebook. 

This week The Purely Vegan Store opened its doors at 271 Alcester Road South, Kings Heath. 

Though I’m not a vegan, I can appreciate that this is big news as the information reaching me suggests that this store will be the largest purely vegan store independently owned in Birmingham, and a thoroughly cool place for vegans to shop and hang out. 

Information on the stock is vague at the moment, so the best move is to go down and check it out. I think they are open to requests on what stock to have in the store, but I’m sure it wi sell the standard vegan food stuffs and goodies. From the photos on Facebook it looks as if it has a big fridge which helps. 

   
    
 
I’m looking to pop down myself shortly ,  so I can update the pictures and news of products and services on offer. Their is a website that is under construction. So the best place to find them is on Facebook and Twitter at the moment. 

Facebook: Vegan Store

Twitter: @theveganstore

http://www.theveganstore.co.uk/

As I mentioned earlier Kings Heath is becoming a cool place for Vegans and Veggies to visit or live. 

The regular monthly Brum Yum Yum has a good selection of veggie/vegan streetfood from all or some of The Vegan Grindhouse, Bare Bones Pizza, with its vegan and veggie pizza, vegetarian Bombay Tapas, Pietanic, and Vegan Mexican Mex it Up. Plus good options at Other traders. 

Also recommended are resident Vegetarian cafe/restaurant Veg Out Cafe, plus The Kitchen Garden Cafe, The Loco Lounge with its vegan menu and Cherry Reds which does good veggie and vegan options including a highly regarded Vegan breakfast. 

Find the  Purely Vegan Store at

271 Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 6EB. 

0121-443-3211

Thanks for reading. 

Andy 😊 

 

Photos from Vegan Store Facebook page. 

New Meat free Monday’s at The Church and Peel and Stone Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham. 

Posted in Bars and Pubs, Birmingham, Cafés and Restaurants, City Centre, Food, healthy, Independent, Independent Birmingham, Jewellery Quarter, Real ale, vegan, vegetarian, Veggie foodie by

  

From Monday 1st June Soul Food Kitchen have launched their very own Meat Free Monday. 

 Across both Soul Food Project sites The Church in the Jewellery Quarter and Peel and Stone there will be special offers on a selection of our Vegetarian and Vegan food offerings!

At The Church they’re offering 50% off all vegetarian and vegan main meals (excluding the Shia NoBeouf)

At Peel and Stone bakery you will get a free selected cake with any selected vegetarian or vegan sandwich. 

The bakery will also put emphasis on using less meat on a Monday in general too.

Showcasing how great food is without relying on the meat!

For details keep an eye on both Twitter and facebook accounts and websites. 

I’m sure to making a journey down to them soon to check them out. 

  
Blueberry & Goats Cheese Salad available at The Church.

Photography by Jack Adams.

http://www.churchjq.co.uk/

http://www.peelandstone.co.uk/

https://mobile.twitter.com/churchjq

https://mobile.twitter.com/peelandstone

For details on Meat Free Monday see below: 

https://mobile.twitter.com/meatfreemonday

http://www.meatfreemondays.com/recipes/

The Church, 22 Great Hampton Street, JQ, Birmingham, B18 6AQ. 

Peel and Stone, 33 Water Street, Birmingham B3 1HL.