Tea and Sympatico

I was back in the Midlands again this weekend, this time in Nottingham. I got to sample locally brewed beers in the oldest pub in England! Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is an amazing warren of rooms built into caves in the side of Nottingham Castle! It's reportedly haunted . In addition above one of the bars is a cobweb encrusted galleon in a case. Apparently, the last three people to attempt to clean it have died in unexpected and mysterious circumstances within 12 months of doing so! Last weekend I had the vegan breakfast at Odder in Manchester which recently won a spot on the Top 10 vegan breakfasts list. In Nottingham I was able to check out another from the list with a visit to Alley Cafe . It was excellent and was the best scrambled tofu I've had outside of my own kitchen. I often find cafe versions quite bland but this had onions in it and a slightly smokey flavour. So, wonder which one on the List I'll get to next! It would be great to get to t...

Guess which city I went on a day trip to this weekend. Here's a clue! The streets are indeed paved with gold. Well, the public artwork is at least! This new building still under construction is the new library. I love the lace like exterior. We went to see a major craft exhibition Made in the Middle at Mac. It's great, if you're interested in craft and can get there, go. I was with 2 friends from Manchester Psychogeography group - The Loiterers Resistance Movement so we had to check out the Hamish Fulton exhibition at Ikon Gallery too. We also loved the exhibition on there by Irish artist Sarah Browne . Check out these traditional Icelandic sweaters with hidden words which were a response to what people said were the best and worst things about living there. Lunch was at the fab Warehouse Cafe which caters really well for vegans. After much deliberation we all went for the BBQ burger with wedges. Great service and lovely food which w...

Hurrah, I have a bag of Vital Wheat Gluten Flour from the fabulous VX . But what to make with it? Last time I went to New York I brought back a small box of it and used it all up making the same thing which was the excellent Chickpea Cutlets from Veganomicon . I am determined to branch out and try something else but maybe not just a block of seitan. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I'm sure I've seen it in sausage recipes and things?

I think 1847 bistro in Manchester opened around a year ago but it was only this week I finally got round to going. All the food is vegetarian or vegan and it's more of special occasion than every day kind of place. For this sort of meal I would usually have to venture out to Yorkshire on the train to the wonderful Dandelion and Burdock so it's a welcome addition to the city centre. I forgot to take a photo of the starter but it was deep fried cubes of salt and pepper tofu with wasabi and satay and soy sauces to dip it into. Very nice consistency to the tofu and not covered in chillis like salt and pepper stuff often is which was good news as chillis don't like me very much so it was nice not to have to spend ages picking them off! The food was really nicely presented and the photos from my rubbish camera really don't  do the presentation justice. Here's our mains - above is Chestnut and Shallot Pie, celeriac puree, roasted beetroot wedges and scalloped p...

Yesterday was a really long day which involved getting up at 6am to get 2 trains to Leicester to go to a Crafts Conference and then not getting home until after 9pm. It was a really interesting day but by the time I'd travelled home on a noisy train packed with lots of people getting drunk ready for a night out in Manchester I was ready for some peace and quiet on my sofa with a DVD and some comfort food. The plan was to grab a takeaway from Barburrito or Rice which are right next to where I get my bus home in Piccadilly. When I got off the train though I was not in the mood for either. Then I went in the Co-Op and found my new go-to almost instant tea! Italian potato gnocchi, lovely little dumplings which unlike those sold elsewhere are egg free and labelled as suitable for vegans, thank you Co-Op! Served simply with some onion and mushrooms fried in a little Vitalite tossed in some Suma sundried tomato pesto . It was the first time I've tried this ready made pest...

Two years ago I was not having a good time in life. My personal life and work life were both in difficult places that did not get better for quite a long time.  I decided to try to do something with a positive focus for myself and took up blogging and two years today this little blog was born! In that time I've really enjoyed blogging, making new blog friends, taking part in Vegan MoFo and getting involved with setting up Cake Liberation Front and Vegan Drinks Manchester . I don't know where this picture originally came from to credit it but let me know if you do! It made me laugh and is actually so not me. I once brought so many pinatas back from Mexico it's a wonder that I didn't get stopped for suspected smuggling, there's nothing like a good old bash with that pointy stick! Edit: Looks like pic might be Cyanide and Happiness

I've just had a weeks holiday from work. I was really looking forward to it. I had loads of plans to get things done on my flat. Mainly the last few bits of DIY that need doing and some painting in the bathroom from where I had to repaper from a leak from the flat above. I've been ill the whole week though and spent most of it in bed :( This last weekend has perked me up though with some nice things and lovely people. Yesterday I got a surprise delivery of Ms Cupcake cakes!  Yum, yum. They really are the best! Ferrero Rocher, Black Forest Gateau, Vanilla and Rhubarb and Custard. I was good, I shared them with family and friends. Even the 16 month old twins had some - start em young on the quality vegan cakes! Today I had a leisurely brunch with my friends Helen and Debbie. We got the bus just up the road to Withington to Fuel a veggie/vegan cafe that I've not been to for a while. They've revamped the menu and I must say I was very impressed! ...