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Meet the Glowgetter – Kathryn Bricker, Doughlicious

When Miami-born Kathryn Bricken, 52, moved to London in 2008 and was asked on repeat for her gluten-free American-style cookie recipe she decided to turn the demand into a business.

And so Doughlicious was born in 2017 – a wide range of gluten-free cookie dough balls that can be baked at home including a vegan and organic range, Lite Bites.

We did a socially distanced interview with Kathryn to find out the highs and lows of running a cookie business in a global pandemic.

When did you launch and why did you launch?

I’ve always been passionate about creating fabulous food. Before starting Doughlicious, I worked in product development in the United States and Canada. When I moved to London in 2008, I would bake chocolate chip cookies for my friends whenever they came round for a coffee and a catch up.

They loved the fact that my recipe tasted utterly delicious AND was healthier than shop-bought alternatives.

I soon received requests to make extra dough so that they could bake it at home themselves (everybody loves a warm cookie straight from the oven!).

That was the moment I realised there was a gap in the market for delicious, top quality, American-style cookie dough (added preservatives-free) which could be baked in the comfort of your own kitchen to create a gooey or crispy cookie.

What is your USP?

We make the most delicious cookie dough using the finest gluten-free ingredients. Our individually portioned, ready-to-bake dough balls help to encourage healthy portion control and minimise food waste. We truly believe that anyone should be able to bake and create memories with food – regardless of age, culinary capability or dietary requirements. Think minimum fuss, maximum flavour…for everyone!

Why gluten-free and why vegan?

I want to share Doughlicious with as many people as possible. All too often, gluten-free alternatives are dry, bland or flavourless. That shouldn’t be the case. That is why we have spent hours researching, testing (and eating!) different cookies to create something that tastes even better than your average cookie.

We continue to expand our vegan flavours to ensure we are inclusive as possible. Our most recent range – our brand new ready-to-eat Lite Bites – are 100% vegan, gluten-free and organic.

I am health conscious but not obsessed and believe that all foods fit as part of a balanced diet. I am acutely aware of the need to protect our planet for future generations. As a producer of artisan cookie dough, we constantly look into ways to minimise food waste. We encourage conscious Cookie Monsters who only need to bake what they need (thanks to our individual dough balls) and have lots of delicious recipes on our blog for using up any extras – if you have any! Plus, our Lite Bites are packaged in recyclable, resealable pouches.

How have you pivoted in the pandemic?

We have been incredibly busy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We are conscious that many people are struggling during these times and try to do our bit to help. We have donated to various NHS trusts to help boost the morale of key workers – as well as numerous food banks and community organisations to help those in need.

We also decided to increase the number of giveaways on our social media pages to maintain a positive outlook – and also ensure that our blog is continuously updated with delicious recipes with our dough.

In addition, we launched our ‘Lite Bites’ which was incredibly exciting. We also saw 2 new flavours enter into 500 M&S stores across the UK. The feedback was phenomenal…

it was brilliant to see Doughlicious bring moments of happiness during such a stressful and uncertain time.

What advice would you give to anyone pivoting their career now?

Go for it! It is never too late to be happy and do something that you are passionate about.

What is the best advice you were given?

Grow organically and stick to your principles. Quality is of utmost importance – if you never compromise on it, people will trust your brand and the rest will follow.

Tell us about your amazing sounding factory?

We are very proud of our factory – it is the ‘hub’ of everything we do. We have an incredible team who are all passionate about Doughlicious and LOVE cookies. We bake one cookie from every single batch (for quality control) and everything is devoured at the end of the day – there is not a crumb in sight! It says something when the team all enjoy what they have created day after day after day…

Talk us through the ingredients?

We only use the finest natural, locally sourced ingredients in all our recipes. Our secret to making delicious gluten-free cookies also lies in our unique blend of gluten-free flours (a combination of oat, tapioca and rice).

We are a 100% clean label brand and will never use an ingredient if it has any E numbers or is not naturally processed.

In the past we have halted NPD on flavours due to issues with accessing clean label ingredients – that is how seriously we take our ingredients. We also only work with suppliers who share our commitment to animal welfare and quality.

Can we get them delivered in lockdown?

Of course! Various flavours are stocked in CostCo, Planet Organic, Selfridges, Wholefoods, M&S and many local shops. Cookie Monsters can also head to our online shop to have them delivered to their door – or order a box to send to a friend for their birthday, Christmas or just to cheer them up!

To receive 20% off cookie deliveries from the Doughlicious online shop, enter the code GLOWCATION20 (minimum spend £25) at the checkout.

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Willow Urban Retreat

Willow Urban Retreat is a wholefoods cafe and wellness spa located in the heart of Melbourne, Australia.

It raises the bar high when it comes to cafés in Melbourne.

The setting

They don’t just call it a retreat for nothing. Willow Urban Retreat is a tranquil urban oasis, where all of your worries are left at the door. From decor, to design, menu, food plating and staff, this place is everything you would wish for in a Melbourne retreat.

Willow Urban Retreat cafe is part of the Willow Urban Retreat wellness spa. The spa offers holistic wellness services, from naturopathy, to massage, osteopathy, wellness coaching and even has an infrared sauna too.

As the spa and cafe are located next door to each other there is a relaxed vibe across the whole Glowcation.

The decor and interiors are state of the art. This café is often used by photographers, brands and influencers for their stunning fit out and design.

Sadly the spa is temporarily closed and the café is not currently open for table service due to the Victoria lockdown regulations, but the good news is, they are still open for takeaway daily.

Whether it’s the jade onyx wall, the ceramic crockery or their iconic arched hallways, it’ll make you stop and stare at every corner.

They even have rose quartz built into the structure of the building too!

The little things

The staff are always upbeat, friendly and caring. There’s always service with a smile.

What I ate

It’s hard to choose when the whole menu is packed with wholefood goodness. I had to try their Wholefoods Bowl as it is a new addition to their menu….

And now I know why it’s their showstopper dish. It’s packed with colour, texture and flavour, and is almost too pretty to eat!

I tried their slow roasted pumpkin, sauteed greens, warm chickpea & quinoa tabbouleh, minted baba ganoush, house sauerkraut, portobello mushrooms, pomegranate dressing and almond dukkah.

I also had to try their Salted Caramel & Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl. It’s rich, indulgent and definitely photo worthy. It has the perfect blend of sweet and salt, plus loads of crunch on top to make it the best texture too.

If you’re looking for something a little lighter, you can’t go wrong with their Superfood Salad or Willow Greens.

All of their dishes are available for takeaway during the Melbourne lockdown. They pick-up or delivery services available. I’ve been enjoying these dishes more recently as I work from home and want to add some extra nutrients to my meals to fuel those long WFH days.

When you don’t feel like cooking elaborate or healthy meals during isolation, Willow comes to the rescue. Although I miss dining in at their beautiful space, I do love that I can have a little piece of Willow at home with me during this time.

What I drank

As it’s winter here in Melbourne, a hot chocolate was definitely in order. Their speciality hot chocolate from Mork is so rich and chocolatey, it’s literally like a hug in a mug!

I also tried their new immunity shots which made me feel superhuman.

It’s a blend of freshly squeezed orange juice, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, turmeric, ginger root, apple cider vinegar and honey. It definitely packs a punch but it’s so worth the burn.

These are also perfect to grab on-the-go. I often grab them as I’m on a walk during lockdown to brighten up my day.

What else

They support local Australian businesses, put sustainability at the forefront of their business and always have your health and wellness in mind.

They are taking cafes in Melbourne to the next level, adding an elegant twist with a healthy edge.

All of their ingredients are sourced locally, using only the finest premium products.

They are breaking the boundaries when it comes to food presentation and flavour combinations.

The bill

Wholefoods Bowl: $21.50
Salted Caramel and Peanut Butter Smoothie Bowl: $18.50
Hot Chocolate: $5
Immunity Shot: $4.50

What made me glow

The café is filled with neutral colours and tons of natural light, which makes it the perfect place to capture stunning food shots.

They also have a courtyard out the back which is the best place to sit on a summer’s day.

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Meet the Glowgetter – St Iris

When beauty Queens Trinny Woodhall and Lisa Eldridge take notice of your product and it sells out then you know you have created something special. Saint Iris is a whole-body skincare brand created by Sanela Lazic and powered by pure Adriatic apothecary formulas.

It’s designed for people who crave skin wellness rituals and post-lockdown that’s many of us.

Inspired by the abundant plants, remedies and sea spas of the sun-drenched Adriatic, Saint Iris range is multi-tasking conscious skincare for face and body, made in small batches in the UK. Here she talks about how and why she launched Saint Iris.

What was your lightbulb moment for setting up the company?

I worked as a creative force behind many well-known brands and retailers and dedicated all my time to clients, and travelling relentlessly with my work. Worn out by it, I decided to take the reins and go back to my roots. The Balkan term “fjaka” is unique to the Adriatic coast and describes a blissful state of feeling relaxed, yet energised and powerfully alive.

I knew I wanted to create a brand focused on modern lifestyle stressors. I reflected on the importance of mind and body balance, the years spent researching what brings people joy, confidence and empowerment.

But also and how my own skin is a ‘mirror’ of my wellness prognosis. So in September 2018 I launched SAINT IRIS- smart whole-body skincare for people who crave pure skin wellness.

What is your company USP?

Saint Iris is about ‘empowering beauty with a sunshine soul’, and this permeates everything we do. It all connects back to Fjaka, as once we take care of ourselves (by using products that focus on body as our powerhouse and our skin wellness), then we’re ready to give back to the world and take care of others too.

What was your journey to this moment?

Saint Iris is a calling – and its journey has been enriched with the help of many smart people I’ve met along the way. These include our suppliers in the Adriatic region and here in the UK but also our engaged social community.

What the Saint Iris journey has taught me is to be brave and just start! Not one person has all the answers, and by being passionate about what you do, you can find the way. If it were easy, there would be little innovation in this world. I have to remember this myself, as I can be tough on myself and compare where my brand is versus where I’d like it to be. Considering I am personally shaping this business with my own investment, and I am doing this to bring a positive change to people’s lives – it’s a time well invested.

How has Covid affected your business?

C-19 has been a period of complete contradictions. It’s forced us to rethink everything we planned for 2020. After the initial shock of our stockists closing their stores, we experienced a huge online interest in our brand and products as people stayed at home and devoted their free time to pampering.

We’ve had challenges too, not being able to import ingredients and components from Italy, but also knowing how badly they’d been affected. We had to delay some new product plans. And as luck would have it – our Serenity Salve was selected by Vogue as one of their Natural Skincare Phenomenon products and Lisa Eldridge showcased it too during lockdown. We quickly found ourselves completely out of stock!

The pandemic also meant that I had to be even more hands on, it’s been full time – from preparing and sending out customers orders to chatting to our community on social media and offering more personalised advice – it’s been hugely rewarding.

The pandemic also brought a meaningful sense of human compassion and openness, and I hope that remains as we emerge out.

Has self-care, beauty and wellbeing seen a boost with the pandemic and why?

Simple answer is yes, but I think it’s been more about quality, and thankfully less about novelty. Products that work, add value to our health and wellbeing, and also feel good have been great companions during pandemic.

People are mindful of the environment and where this pandemic started, and that inevitably poses questions around sustainability and transparency.

Chasing trends and exotic or scarce ingredients, or constantly churning out products is becoming passé – the pandemic has sharpened customers’ minds and wallets.

What are your three beauty rituals during lockdown?

As we’ve shifted more indoors, I found a real need to prioritise my wellbeing. I switched to cycling more (whilst running errands and delivering our orders!) and spending more time by the Thames (flowing water is crucial for positive mindfulness). My indoor rituals are quite targeted as my time is short, but I have consciously been taking longer to apply my beauty products, massage deeper into skin and stimulate lymphs on body and face.

I’ve also focused more on hands to soothe over-sanitised and stressed skin. Our Purity Paste mask is super fast, it takes three minutes to achieve immediate results. It’s a sensorial feast and so creamy on skin, so I’ve been using our masking brush to apply on my sore hands – and the ritual of painting oneself and massaging product into skin is incredibly calming and indulgent.

What was the best bit of advice you were ever given for setting up your own business?

Two stick in mind, and they are really simple but key to new entrepreneurs – and particularly for someone like me: an impatient perfectionist. Firstly ‘don’t wait to have it all figured out or certain, just start and be true to your values’. Second, ’if you’re looking to grow a brand, remember it’s not a sprint, you’re in it for the long distance so keep your eye on the horizon’. In business it’s easy to lose the True North, and I try to remember to pause and reassess, learn and move forward.

What are the highs and lows of running a clean beauty business?

Highs: it’s the most dynamic area of beauty that is also where a high concentration of innovation is happening – and that is a great place to be. The green technology development is picking up speed, and we are able to bring even more sophisticated products to the market, whilst not compromising on our green credentials. It’s not often I stop to take in the highs.

Like many business owners I’m constantly striving forward, and yet there have been so many high moments for my young brand that it puts a smile on my face.

From winning numerous awards including the Best New Product of the Year 2019 (with wake-up droplets serum) to running numerous events where we pampered our guests.

Lows: it can be a lonely road, as many clean beauty brands are run by independent entrepreneurs. Also our growth trajectory is not as fast or steep as other beauty brands, our process tends to be longer as we rely on other smaller businesses (from suppliers to collaborators) and there is a higher level of compliance. Many say that green beauty is unregulated but most green beauty brands will invest much of their time and funds in ensuring the supply chain, sustainability and traceability of what we make and do meets our high ethical and quality standards.

What does the term ‘clean beauty’ mean to you and how is the beauty industry changing?

I don’t subscribe to that term, and I can see why there has been much backlash against the misuse of ‘clean’ – particularly what it means in the context of wider beauty industry.

Initially the term was used in a positive way, however as the movement gained momentum, and many capitalised on ‘clean’ in their marketing, naturally the questions are being asked.

Instead Saint Iris is part of the green beauty, as that reflects the natural formulations, cruelty free, traceable and sustainable sourcing and production that we practice.

On a positive, green beauty has had a massive impact on beauty and it’s changing the industry – for example unethical practices are being phased out, the beauty industry is looking to smarter and greener ingredients, the sustainability innovation in packaging and operational running of these large corporations is improving exponentially – but also global circumstances are impacting on the beauty industry.

The pandemic has put clean (in the antibacterial context) under the spotlight so it is my view is that we are headed to more of a lab-based green beauty which is actually where Saint Iris sits.

Our actives are extracted from natural ingredients and then improved in laboratories to increase consistency (from batch to batch) and formula efficacy – without putting a strain on our precious nature reserves.

Where are your 3 favourite organic or vegan places to eat?

I often pop into Ethos near Oxford Circus, I enjoy their seasonal menu and the space is gorgeous too.

At weekends, I like to stop by the Borough Market, the fresh produce and food-to-go is always outstanding, plus I love talking to traders – their passion is so inspiring.

For lunch meetings I drag everyone to Detox Kitchen, or Lantana – their Avocado Poke Bowl is divine.

I can’t wait until they all fully reopen.

What are your top 4 clean beauty items for travelling?

Since I started Saint Iris, it’s my range that I use. Our Vitality Spritz is such a bliss to use whist in transit, it hydrates and adds a pop of radiance, as well as leaves a natural scent that refreshes and gives an instant pick-me-up.

Also Wake-Up Droplets serum is packed with Vitamin C and Adriatic mountain daisy to naturally brighten and reduce hyperpigmentation. We now sell both in handy 30ml size bottles.

For lipcare, I really love Albus & Flora SPF 30 balms, particularly their Nude Flora – it’s a gamechanger.

There is a saying in Croatia that you don’t leave home without sunglasses and SPF, so I tend to have both with me throughout the year – yes even in London! Finding a natural SPF is a hard one and I am yet to discover a natural CC cream with SPF that works with my skin. I plan to have a consultation with Sjaniel Turrell, a natural make up artist who is a fountain of natural beauty knowledge, she is an Eco-Age contributor and runs her own wellness consultancy – to my delight she’s recently started 1-1 make up bag overhauls which I am going to do as soon as we’re allowed. Currently I am using IT Cosmetics CC matte cream SPF 40, which seems to leave my skin calm and provides me with natural looking coverage, and I also pack 14e creamy blushers – they have the perfect pigmentation plus they can be also be applied on lips.

What are your top 5 things that make you glow?

Podcasts:
I tend to tune into podcasts when recharging batteries or just before I doze off, Women with Balls is really inspiring as is Elizabeth Day. My secret pleasure are Jane and Fi, their Fortunately podcast on BBC Radio has been a gem discovery during lockdown.

IGTV:
For uplifting beauty glow, I can’t get enough of Trinny Woodall and Liz Earle IGTV, I learn from them all the time and they always champion female founders.

Candles:
I don’t light them too often, they’re more of a treat however when I’m looking for that extra pick me up, or a relaxing retreat, I turn to natural scents. My partner introduced the Haeckels seaweed candle to our home, it’s made with seaweed collected on the shores of Margate where they are based – and anything with a scent of sea is my kind of glow!

Yoga and Flow:
There is nothing like movement to induce a gorgeous glow. It’s amazing to see how many great teachers have switched to online during lockdown, it’s not the same as sharing the group energy in a studio environment, however I’m glad there is now no limit to when we are able to tune in and flow. I rate highly Louisa Drake for toning, and Gaia for a variety of tutorials.

Ashwagandha:
I’ve been using ashwagandha supplement ever since I had a consultation with an Ayurveda practitioner, and I have noticed improvement in managing my stress levels – which can skyrocket when running a business. It seems to improve my mind clarity but also reduce inflammations – particularly in winter. A balanced mind and healthy body is a wonderful recipe for a holistic glow. I prefer to use ashwagandha tincture as it has an immediate effect, and I pick up mine in health food stores, such as As Nature Intended.

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Meet the Glowgetters- Holos Kombucha

Holos is a gutsy boutique kombucha company created out of the five founders’ passion for health and wellbeing plus the dream of ending modern-day slavery. It’s made in their kombucha distillery on a beautiful estate in rolling Sussex countryside.

But how have they been affected by the pandemic? And what are their lockdown life lessons?

How have they pivoted their business during this new normal? We Zoomed with two of the founders, Tom Partridge and Christine Gilland Robinson to find out.

Why HOLOS? What does the word mean?

CGR: HOLOS means ‘whole’ and ‘complete’, and we really felt like that spoke to the holistic purpose of the business – to create products that would benefit the body, but also that would do good in our world.

How does kombucha work on the gut?

TP: As a fermented tea-based product, kombucha is packed full of naturally-occurring good bacteria, organic acids, antioxidants and enzymes, making it a refreshing, low-sugar alternative to soft drinks and alcohol.

Although few in depth scientific studies have been undertaken, authentically made Kombucha tea is believed to have a detoxifying effect on the body, helping to boost the immune system and protect against infective disorders.

Kombucha is everywhere now- what makes yours different?

CGR: We focus upon small-batch brewing techniques and not adding in artificial flavours or additional sweeteners.

We also don’t pasteurise, which helps to retain as many of the benefits of kombucha as possible.

But our biggest point of difference is our social purpose – we have a social mission of supporting survivors of human trafficking through training and employment opportunities, and this makes us the only socially purposeful kombucha company in the UK.

You work as a collaboration of 5 founders which is exciting and unique. How does this work?

TP: My background is off shore wind energy and business and project management. Working as a collaboration has many benefits, allowing the team to adjust to the needs of the business and vice versa. I work in the business full time while the other founders working part time. We come together for major projects and events.

CGR: I was in marketing for non-profits and Tom’s wife Naomi were friends in church. We were talking about women who were being trafficked and we formed a group and a business to resolve this. Tom went part-time to explore what Holos might be and what it might look like.

Eventually we realised it couldn’t be an equal share split so Tom has a majority share holding because he quit his job. We wrote out at the start our vision and who would do what. It’s been nice as a team work and problem solve together. 5 views, backgrounds and mindsets have helped us tackle issues more creatively.

How has business been affected by the pandemic?

CGR: We have been affected, like so many businesses in the hospitality supply chain, by the closure of restaurants, cafes and pubs all around the country. A large number of our stockists have been closed over the last few months.

However, some of our biggest customers are in the online space and they have been incredibly busy during this period, so that’s definitely off-set some of the loss of income we’ve sustained.

The other big change for us during the pandemic was that it gave us the time and incentive to pivot to online deliveries ourselves, and so we launched our kombucha subscription boxes. These have proven really popular with our customers, and really helped us to weather the storm.

Tell us about the anti-trafficking side of the business.

CGR: HOLOS started with three women – Naomi, Megan and myself – who all worked or volunteered within the anti-trafficking sector in the UK. Early on we identified in our work with survivors the need for meaningful employment, which helps build confidence and self-worth, as well as economic independence; all of these are key factors in helping break the cycle of re-trafficking.

We started dreaming about building a business that aligned both profit and purpose. Tom and Joseph helped us build and refine the vision, and the five of us launched HOLOS in 2018 with social purpose at our core.

Our social mission is to create training and employment opportunities for survivors of trafficking. We have begun this process by launching seasonal work placements during the summer (sadly our placements this summer have been deferred due to COVID). The vision is that these placements would not only help build confidence and employability skills for survivors, but that they would also help us recruit survivors as longer-term employees during the business, as we grow.

We have also set aside a portion of our shares as founders (25% at the outset), to support anti-trafficking programmes and purposes. We’ll be establishing a charitable foundation to facilitate the distribution of these funds.

Do you live a kombucha lifestyle? Are you healthy? How do you both unwind?

TP: Apart from drinking copious amounts of kombucha Naomi (my wife) and I mainly eat a plant based diet. Having recently moved from London to West Sussex we are really enjoying the countryside and unwind by going on long walks. I am very practical and enjoy DIY projects.

CGR: My husband and I both try hard to stay healthy, although at the moment I’m not drinking too much kombucha because I’m heavily pregnant (it’s an unpasteurised product, so I drink cautiously)!

We cook a lot at home, and try to make most of our meals each week either plant-based or fish-based.

I also am a big advocate of acupuncture, which really helps me to unwind and has done wonders for my stress levels! I’ve really missed my acupuncture sessions during lockdown!

What are both your top three lockdown life lessons?

CGR: I’d say:

1) Some of my most precious memories from this year so far have been going on long walks with my husband, or reading books together in the garden. Spending those quiet moments together was worth more than lots of fun date nights out (although we’re looking forward to those again too!). I think I’m becoming a quality time person!!

2) Focus on doing one thing at a time, and doing it well.

3) The old adage of ‘when one door closes, another opens’ is actually really true! There’s always a way to pivot, be creative, and try new solutions – even when things look bleak.

TP:  I have become a dad during lockdown so that has been a major lesson in itself, it is way more fun than I expected!

Lockdown has taught me to remain open and flexible when planning both in terms of the business and in my personal life.

The importance of family, health and mental wellbeing and being thankful each day for what we have.

Where do you dream of travelling?

CGR: I’m currently dreaming of heading back to my home country, Australia, to see family and friends! I’ve missed them so much, and still not sure when I’m going to be able to get back to see them. Closer to home, I am obsessed with Italy and would holiday there again in a heartbeat – we were in Sicily in January this year, and had the best time.

What makes you glow? Please name your favourite books, apps, things to do and name check brands so we can affiliate link.

CGR:  I love the Bonberi website, which is full of gorgeous plant-based recipes, interviews and advice. Founder Nicole Beri’s Instagram is really inspirational, as well. I’d love to visit the Bonberi Mart in NYC one day!!

I listen to the Power Hour podcast – it’s a podcast all about pursuing your passions and achieving success. Adrienne Herbert is so inspiring, and a great interviewer. I’m also a massive fan of Brene Brown’s podcast, Unlocking Us.

My faith is super-important to me, and I’ve found the Lectio365 app to be a really grounding and helpful way to start the morning.

Glowcation is all about making living the vegan and plant-based life quick and easy. Which are your favourite places to eat when lockdown lifts?

CGR:  Amrutha Lounge in Earlsfield makes amazing plant-based food and the atmosphere is so friendly and welcoming (and we’re not the only ones to think so; they’ve previously been voted London’s No.1 vegan restaurant on Trip Advisor!).

• Closer to our West Sussex brewery, our friends at The Roundhill Pub in Brighton make gorgeous vegan food and their pub has lovely, cosy vibes.

•  Up north, Prashad is one of my absolute favourite restaurants for the most gorgeous plant-based Indian food. They also have two wonderful cookbooks, for those who can’t get up to Bradford easily!

• For cooking at home, we’re trying to move toward more of a zero-waste lifestyle: the Useless website and Eco Thrifty Living have great directors of zero-waste stores where you can pick up all your cooking and household essentials.

What is your top tip for starting a plant-based or vegan business during a pandemic?

TP: During this challenging time if I were starting a new business I would focus on a product selling direct to consumers online.

This would help protect the business from the ups and down of lockdown.

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Mildreds

Need a vegan or vegetarian place to eat near Camden Market?Mildreds is a vegetarian restaurant in the heart of Camden, with a wide range of delicious vegan options.

It’s buzzing from brunch to after-work drinks at the cocktail bar. The diverse menu includes plant-based beetroot burgers, sweet potato curries and gingerbread sticky toffee pudding!

The location

Mildreds is located a few minutes’ walk away from Camden Town station- just a stone’s throw from the Regent’s canal. It’s also close to the funky Camden Lock Market, which attracts 100,000 tourists every weekend!

This vibrant area is dotted with trendy chain restaurants yet retains a bohemian feel with all the retro vintage stores in The Stables Market.

The space

Expect to find a floor- to-ceiling panelled glass wall, allowing the natural light to flood into the restaurant. Inside you’ll find wacky wallpaper decorated with horses, shelves stacked with the Mildreds cookbooks and ample plant pots. The gold tiled panel behind the bar brings a sense of sophistication along with an impressive display of wine bottles.

We sat on a wooden table by the window to give us the perfect people-watching experience.

The staff are all extremely friendly and were very helpful in terms of allergies. There is wifi but the restaurant is usually quite busy so probably not ideal for working from your laptop.

The crowd

The crowd is generally young, hip and takes an interest in the thriving plant-based scene judging by their interest in the menu. There’s sometimes a short queue to be seated  which is worth every minute of the wait. The large number of tables means the wait isn’t too long and you can grab a drink at the bar while awaiting your table.

What we ate

We ordered the avocado toast on sourdough with a poached egg and hazelnut dukkah – which definitely lived up to the hype. We also shared the Middle Eastern Mezze with scrambled tofu, hummus, olives and mixed greens; a delicious combination of flavourful and filling foods.

The menu has a very international influence, from Sri Lankan coconut curry to Mexican dips with corn chips.

The beetroot-carrot-cucumber-ginger juice tasted refreshing and was made on site. They offer a wide range of other juices and smoothies, as well as hot drinks with lots of plant-based milk alternatives.

The little things

The warmth and helpful attitude of the staff really stood out, and the selection of vegan desserts made us desperate to come back for more soon!

The bill

Oat cappuccino £3
juice (beetroot carrot cucumber ginger) £5
Smashed avo toast £7.50 
poached egg + £1.50
Middle Eastern mezze £11

 

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Your Valentine’s Day Vegan Edit

AVEDA ROSEMARY MINT VEGAN SOY WAX CANDLE

Great vegan candles are hard to find so we had to let you know about this one just in time for Valentine’s Day. It’s packed with certified organic rosemary and peppermint and other pure flower and plant essences and is made from 100% naturally derived soy wax with a burn time of 40 hours. 

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KJAER WEIS THE BEAUTY CLUTCH KIRSTEN’S ESSENTIALS

This is top of our Valentine’s Day wish list. One of our favourite clean brands Kjaer Weis has created The Beauty Clutch packed with Founder Kirsten’s Essentials. It includes five of Kirsten’s every day essential brushes, including a new Powder Bronzer Brush exclusive to this set.

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BYBI TRAVEL BARREL

We are huge fans of the clean skincare range Bybi. The Travel Barrel is the perfect Valentine’s gift for the natural skincare fan, or even as a treat for yourself. It contains Mega Mist and Swipe Clean, two key Bybi products perfect for travelling.

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ISLA APOTHECARY LEMONGRASS AND ROSEMARY FOOTSCRUB

Soothe your partner’s feet on Valentine’s Day with this heady blend of Lemongrass and Rosemary infused with Baobab and Sweet Almond oils rich in essential fatty acids. The ground pumice and epsom salt in Isla Apothecary’s Foot Scrub exfoliates.

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BYBI LIP KIT

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Meet the Glowgetter – Susie Willis from Romilly Wilde

Susie Willis is the founder of 100 per cent natural skincare line, Romilly Wilde. Before entering the world of beauty, her background was very much focused on food. Susie launched her first business, Plum Babyfood (the UK’s first organic baby food brand) back when wellbeing was still a very niche market.

What was your lightbulb moment for setting up Romilly Wilde?

On one trip to a beauty store, after assessing the labels on a variety of items, I couldn’t believe the ingredients that were being used heavily in some of the most popular brands and products.

I knew then that there was a clear space for a beauty line that could marry luxury, effective products that are a joy to use, with my knowledge and passion for natural and safe ingredients. I’ve always believed that what you put on your skin and body, is just as important as what you are consuming nutritionally.

They tried to be as innovative and unique in the ingredients they used, favouring what were then unheard off superfoods like quinoa and spirulina. Susie soon turned her attention to the world of beauty.

What was your journey to this moment and how much of an advantage was it to have already run one successful business?

I started Romilly Wilde having already been at the helm of a successful business however I knew that entering a new market, and an incredibly competitive market, would be a huge learning curve. Logistically it did make things easier as I already knew the lay of the land of what running a business entailed however, as with everything there have been lots of challenges along the way.

What was the best bit of advice you were ever given for setting up your own business?

Know your customer and know the market. If what you are bringing to the market isn’t different or unique in some way to what already exists, you will not be able to cut through the noise.

Do your research, have confidence that you have a compelling offering and trial it out small scale before you invest in marketing and production.

These are the areas where significant financial investment is needed.

What is the best bit of advice you can give to someone thinking of starting a wellness business?

‘Wellness’ is now big business, there are so many offerings which now sit in the space so there is a need for future sighting ie. look forward to the next great trend. Again it is a point of difference that is the most crucial element for a successful business. Also stay true to your personal passions and creativity, there is no point in creating something that has no personal connection to you and that you don’t feel strongly about.

Why clean beauty? Where did the name come from?

Clean beauty is creating a real stir at the moment. When I first created Romilly Wilde, the first principle was that it was going to be as clean (non-toxic) as possible. Avoiding synthetics, and only using nutritional ingredients that are there to benefit the skin, not preserve or give a bleached white, synthetic cream. Similar to creating highly nutritious baby food, our formulations are 100% created to perform, they haven’t been stripped or bulked out.

This for me is what clean should mean when it comes to beauty. It bothers me when brands decide to call themselves clean, but only avoid only a handful of the more common sinister ingredients.

We are not ‘cleanish’ but 100% clean and are therefore #CleanBeautyDefined. We’re setting the bar high which is what consumers are rightly starting to demand of the brands they use.

What are the highs and lows of running a clean beauty business?

Highs are the knowledge that we are truly ahead of the curve, lows are that there is a lot of patience and education needed. Highs are the knowledge that we set out with this standard, and lows are that we know that so many other brands take advantage of this claim and therefore give it a bad name and create this controversy.

What does the term ‘clean beauty’ mean to you and how is the beauty industry changing?

For us ‘clean beauty’ is not doing anything by half measure, we avoid all toxic chemicals and synthetic ingredients. Consumers are starting to educate themselves on the ingredients in the products they are using, and as they start to learn more about bulk agents, parabens and other synthetic ingredients they are starting to shy away from the products which use these. We’re excited for what this means for the market, something which was once niche is now turning into a huge movement.

What are your favourite active clean ingredients for skincare? What ingredients should our community look for in skincare?

I’ve personally developed the formulations we use in Romilly Wilde so of course, all my favourite clean ingredients are on our INCI list. Some of the best are the actives from flower stems, buds and roots, for example Desert Rose Leaf which we use for its hydration qualities and Gardenia Cell that works to prevent collagen loss. These are bio farmed and truly where science meets nature at its most advanced and ethically sourced.`

Where are your 3 favourite organic places to eat?

I’m a big foodie, as you would expect for someone with a background in nutrition! I’m also on the hunt for my next favourite, at the moment you can find me in Wild Food Café in Islington where they have an excellent line-up of desserts including my favourite Chocolate Tart, Andina in Shoreditch for group dining and The Petersham at Petersham Nurseries in Covent Garden for seasonal goodness.

What are your top 4 clean beauty items for travelling?

Hydration is the key to surviving any journey, for this reason Romilly Wilde’s Power Pair are my go-to. One pump of the serum combined with one pump of the oil and then applied to my skin gives me the boost I always need after a long flight.

We use a lot of essential oils in our formulas too which are incredibly grounding when you’ve been up in the air for many hours.

Not necessarily a ‘clean beauty’ item but definitely the key to a glowing complexion is water, water, water. I usually take a flask on board with me and ask the cabin crew to keep topped up to ensure I’m drinking enough throughout the journey.

Finally, and maybe this is cheating again, is an eye mask (we have a great one!), everybody can attest that a good night’s sleep can cure all which is trickly when travelling but blocking out the light and any distractions (ie. never ending movies!) does help you to get at least a little bit.

What are your top 5 things that make you glow? (eg reading, travelling etc.

My animals; dogs, Gump, Duggie and Bertie, pig, Butternut and ponies, Freckles and Shadow.

Reading at bedtime, my favourite book is Shantaram

I love a yoga session at Heartcore in Notting Hill.

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Planta South Beach

Want to beat the Miami heat? Escape to Planta South Beach where we have never been more thankful for their air con to escape from the 95 degrees south Florida sunshine.

It’s a Glowcation that is 100% plant-based with no animal products served.

Planta South Beach aims to combine delicious food with environmental sustainability. Under Chef David Lee, Planta wants to fill a void in the market of upscale, full service, plant-based dining

It’s a restaurant more than a café oozing class and green charm.

The Toronto based chain’s vision is to celebrate innovative cooking in a beautiful environment without the use of any animal products.

Three reasons to go there:

• The super stylish interior is one of the chicest we have seen on our travels.
• The roof top garden where they grow some of their herbs in the heart of Miami.
• The gorgeous copper cutlery and standout china. It’s all in the detail.

The Location

We found Planta South Beach quickly and easily on a side street in Miami’s South Beach. The parking lot was full so we had to circle a while in our hire car but Uber’s are also an easy option if you don’t have a car.

It had a calm and cool walkway and we followed a businessman in who told us he ate in Planta all the time and how much he loved it.

The restaurant was quiet when we went at lunchtime during the week which we appreciated after the party atmosphere of South beach and the service was with a smile as we entered.

The crowd

It was quiet and corporate when we visited. And when we say corporate we mean Miami corporate so hip business people having a healthy lunch.

The Space

It’s as interior designed as you would expect for South Beach. A wall of windows surrounds the space with huge outdoor plants creating an almost jungle like feel with Miami light pouring in between the leaves. Copper coloured wire chairs line the bar while a trio of basket woven lights hang above it.

There are cosy zig zag textured chairs cleverly hugging the tables and booths lining the far side of the restaurant.

Pools of light pouring in from the ceiling windows onto the graphic floor design make it a hot contender for Glowcation interior of the year.

Its simply one of the most beautiful Glowcations we have visited.

What we ordered:

The regular at the table next to us recommended the Watermelon Poké- a clever combination of raw vegetables beautifully presented and totally refreshing on such a scorcher of a day.

We drank the Cure, a cold-pressed juice which was a delicious blend of spinach, coconut water and pineapple. And we chose a Buffalo cauliflower pizza- a fresh and light cauliflower, cashew mozzarella, scallions, ranch dressing pizza.

The portion was large so we took some home and they were delighted to box it up for us.

And finally we had a Kelp Caesar, a mix of kelp noodles, cashew Caesar dressing, Brussels sprouts, romaine, almond Parmesan, pickled onions, capers and garlic ciabatta croutons. This was slightly too salty for us but tasty all the same.

The bill

Watermelon poke $14.25
The Cure -a delicious blend of spinach, coconut water and pineapple $9.00
Buffalo cauliflower pizza $21.50
cauliflower, cashew mozzarella, scallions, ranch dressing
Kelp Caesar $18.00
kelp noodles, cashew Caesar dressing, Brussels sprouts, romaine, almond Parmesan, pickled onions, capers and garlic ciabatta croutons. This was slightly too salty for us but tasty all the same.

The little things that make a difference

Don’t forget the 18% service charge that is standard in Miami.

Copper coloured cutlery.

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Citizens of

Looking for the latest Aussie plant-based Glowcation in New York with vegan options? Citizens is an Australian Café which first opened in Chelsea, New York back in 2016 but are growing fast.

They recently opened a second location in Gramercy quickly followed by a third on Bleecker Street in the West Village.

They serve Australian based cuisine, so expect fresh, healthy eats and drinks. And they also serve up some of the best coffee in town.

Three reasons to go there:

Australian based food based in the main areas of Manhattan.

Their avocado toast.

They welcome all kinds of dietary restrictions swith wide open arms and mention this on the menu.

The location

Citizins of… has three locations – Chelsea, Gramercy and Bleecker St. We went to the location on Bleecker street in the heart of West Village. It’s also home to By Chloe and you can read our review here of that Glowcation here. To get there you can get the subway to stop W. 4ST or Broadway/Lafayette and then walk for a couple of minutes.

It’s a buzzy, fun area to visit if you are in town for work or travel.

The space

The Restaurant is painted dark grey, almost black. It has some huge windows so the restaurant is flooded with light inside. It’s a busy street so expect plenty of New York hustle and bustle rather than a quiet chill out place. The ceiling is very high so it feels fairly imposing at first. In the back there are multiple tables with some round brown couches. In the middle of the restaurant there is one big long communal table. There are long bars on either side where you can sit on some bar chairs next to each others and people watch.

We sat down at the end of the long middle table bathed in natural day light.

You can sit down there and work on your computer. It’s a nice ambience and a great spot to get a good coffee.

The crowd

There’s a very diverse crowd reflecting the West Village, There are a plenty of tourists around, but also students working there on their laptop. It can get crowded, but it was a nice buzz when we visited.

What we ate

Citizens of… is an Australian restaurant with vegetarian, vegan and Gluten/Dairy free options but they also serve meat and fish dishes. On the menu card you can find the dishes with added letters after them, so you know what dishes are plant-based. We ordered the Smashing avocado toast, Belgian Waffle and the Curry braised Lentils.

The Smashing avocado normally comes blended with feta cheese in on top a thick slice of Multigrain bread.

We missed it being toasted and all the garnishes, but we got a big portion of sliced avocado, beetroot hummus and pumpkin seeds instead as we asked for no feta. It normally comes with citrus cilantro, candy cane beets and pickled onions.

We also switched around our Belgian waffle to make it dairy free. The staff were super helpful at making this possible. The Waffle is gluten-free and comes usually with banana, granola, peanut butter, fall fruits and sage-brown butter maple syrup. So we switched the butter to the Caramel, which they add on the banana bread. The waffle was perfect crispy and light. It could have done with a bit more of the caramel since the drizzle was tiny, but still very delicious.

And trying the curry braised lentils was definitely a very good decision. The green lentils came in a coconut curry sauce with some grated coconut.

They topped it off with some avocado, watercress and red sorrel. The avocado was a perfect topping, because it made the curry super creamy and portion wise it was exactly the right amount.

They make their own daily juices every day by themselves.

The bill

Smashing Avocado 14$
Belgian waffle 13$
Curry braised lentils 14$

The little things that make the difference

Citizen o…f is working on their take away home delivery menu and they also offer events.

We also like the wait list service they offer online making it easy to get a table.

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The Gate St John’s Wood

The Gate’s mission is to showcase the creative potential of plant-based food. They serve up a wide variety of vegetarian dishes and plenty of vegan options.

The Gate puts a unique twist on international dishes from all over the world from Mexican-inspired Tortillas to Green Thai Curry to Moroccan Tagine.

As soon as you step through the door, the décor creates a welcoming atmosphere, with warm, white brick walls and soft suede sofas.

The location

The Gate is conveniently located on a side street just off St John’s Wood High Street. It’s less than a five minute walk from St. John’s Wood tube station which is on the Jubilee Line.

This residential area in North West London is just one tube stop away from the bustling Baker Street. You’ll find high end fashion stores, chic restaurants and trendy coffee shops.

The Gate also has branches in Marylebone, Islington and Hammersmith.

The space

The restaurant is spacious with plenty of wooden tables and plants dotted around. Noteworthy interior touches include the art deco chairs and the fern green suede couch which reflects the vibe of the restaurant – earthy, warm and cosy.

While there is good wifi, it may not be an ideal quiet spot for laptop working as there are often families with children coming in and out.

The crowd

The crowd ranges from all ages and is mostly locals, with lots of parents with young children. It’s generally easy to get a table as it is such a large space. It does get busier in the evenings so perhaps it’s worth making a reservation just in case!

What we ate

We ordered the Root Vegetable Hash with portobello mushrooms and poached eggs, as well as the chunky avocado on gluten-free bread with sumac, zaatar and two runny poached eggs.

Their freshly squeezed juices all sounded delicious and we went for the carrot, ginger, beetroot and celery juice, plus an oat milk matcha latte for a little caffeine pick-me-up.

The desserts looked incredibly indulgent, with a gluten-free lavender and pistachio crème brûlée and a vegan peanut butter brownie with coconut-based vanilla ice-cream.

The bill

Root Vegetable Hash – £12
Eggs on toast – £8
Carrot, ginger, beetroot & celery juice – £4
Matcha latte – £4.50

The little things

The staff were all extremely friendly and there’s a fun selection of cocktails to try too!

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The Shady Shack, Bali

Heading for Bali and need a plant-based checklist? Then add The Shady Shack to it now.

This Glowcation ticks every box for café design, plant-based food and ambiance. It’s the place you will want to spend all day at… every single day!

The setting

The Shady Shack is set in the heart of Canggu, a popular spot for tourists and expats in Bali. It’s also amongst all the fun clothing shops in Badung, so turn your day into an eating and shopping adventure!

The setting is everything you could imagine a stunning tropical shack to be…. but just ten times better.

Wooden panels, white high beam ceilings, pale blue shutters, huge open windows and greenery all around!

The little things

This Glowcation is all about sustainability and living an eco-friendly lifestyle. You will find metal straws, stainless steel water bottles, natural skincare products and coconut bowls for sale.

What I ate

I went for their protein bowl. The bowl was made up of a huge pile of colourful veggies…. talk about eating the rainbow! Charred corn on the cob, spinach, asparagus, broccoli, sweet potato wedges and a homemade tzatziki dressing to finish it all off. I also added in tempeh for an extra boost of protein too.

I couldn’t visit The Shady Shack and not try one of their famous raw vegan desserts.

These cakes are made fresh every single day. They’re free from dairy, gluten and refined sugar. I went for the chocolate almond caramel tart, which had a delicious nutty base, a sweet gooey centre and a rich chocolate topping…total bliss!

What else

If you’re looking for a sociable spot in Canggu to meet up with some friends, or perhaps even make some new friends, this is the perfect place.

It’s got such a warm, friendly and inviting atmosphere, you could easily end up spending all day there!

The bill

Bowl: 80k Rupiah
Chocolate Tart: 45k Rupiah

What made me glow

That chocolate caramel tart!

I had to go back the next day for another slice it was that good!

For more Glowcation reviews in Bali click here

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Milu By Nook, Bali

Exploring vegan and plant-based food on Bali?

Milu by Nook is a Canggu hotspot that has got everyone talking.

The setting

Set in the Indonesian rice fields, with plants and nature surrounding you, it’ll take your breath away. Each corner you turn gets prettier than the last. It’s safe to say, design and decor is a 10/10.

When a secret garden meets cafe, you’ve got yourself Milu By Nook. This spot is arguably one of the most stunning Glowcations in all of Bali.

The little things

They have thought about every single inch of the cafe, from floor to ceiling. With long wooden tables overlooking the rice fields, plug sockets outside for those laptop days and backdrops to suit every photo need!

They even have a shop at the front of their store, selling all their iconic featured products, form lamp shades to trinkets and woven baskets… just so you can recreate this look at home!

The green juice test

I switched the green juice for their ‘Nook Tropical Green’ smoothie which was a delicious blend of spinach, pineapple, mango, banana and coconut. It wasn’t overly sweet and was the perfect fresh drink to enjoy on a classic hot Bali day!

What I ate

I started off with their Ocean Reef Blue Spirulina smoothie bowl. This bowl was presented so beautifully, it was almost a shame to dive in. Blue spirulina may not sound particularly delicious, but they blended it with banana and yoghurt, to give it an amazing creamy texture and sweetness! The toppings were every superfood imaginable, giving it the perfect texture and crunch.

I then tried their Orange Brioche french toast which absolutely did not disappoint!

Think juicy berries, fresh orange slices, maple syrup, doughy brioche bread and a thick dollop of lemon curd on top… YUM!

What else

The staff were incredibly kind and friendly, all serving with such a big smile!

 

The bill

Nook’s Tropical Green Smoothie: 40k Rupiah
Ocean Reef Smoothie Bowl: 60k Rupiah
Orange Brioche French Toast: 50k Rupiah

What made me Glow

The shabby chic design, turning rustic white paint, old wooden tables and bamboo shoots into a tropical cafe oasis!

For more Glowcation reviews in Bali click here

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Leafwild Café

Searching for some new vegan inspiration in Notting Hill?

Leafwild  is a healthy food concept created after owner Anna became a mother. After experiencing post-natal depression she turned vegan as she tried to discover a holistic way to get better.

Anna opened Leafwild with her husband in ‘super stylish’ and ‘wonderful to wander’ round Notting Hill.

Having opened in May 2018  they have already been awarded best coffee in Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove by The Times.

Glowcation Leafwild Cafe Ladbroke Grove

When I visited during the week there were quite a few people working on their laptop but during the weekends I suspect it might be too busy to sit all day.

Three reasons to go there:

Healthy food and very good coffee  Some of the best in Ladbroke Grove and Nothing Hill.
The standout dish and food vibe. Their smashed avocado toast! But their Matcha latte is one of their best selling drinks.
One other reason. They are trying to be a 100% zero waste cafe.

The location

Leafwild is next to Ladbroke Grove tube.

The area is a family neighbourhood made infamous by Richard Curtis’s film Notting Hill. It’s home to several other Glowcations including the Dayroom Café and the Good Life Eatery and Portobello Road market packed with fruit, vegetable and vegan options is a 10 minutes walk.

The space

Outside of Leafwild they have a few tiny tables where you can eat out. It’s painted light green and above the big windows hangs their Leafwild sign. The street is busy with people and traffic.

When you walk in you immediately see fresh baked pastries, cakes and healthy treats on the very big counter.

On the opposite side a fridge is stocked with take away pots, salads, juices and smoothies. The decor is basic- marble tables and wooden chairs and benches. But there’s nothing wrong with basic, because the interior looks beautiful! There are photo’s on the rough brick wall and some big green plants.

The crowd

Leafwild is run by lovely Anna,  an interior designer and her architect husband. They did the design themselves as their dream second business. They wanted to create a space where they could eat healthy food.

The crowd is diverse and includes  mothers, students and locals coming in from the gym.

When we came a lot of people came in and out for take aways or were working on their laptop. Through the weekend it can get a little more crowded.

Glowcation Leafwild Ladbroke Grove muffin

Glowcation Leafwild Ladbroke Grove

What we ate

Leafwild has an almost 100% plant based food menu, and tries to be as gluten-free as possible. I say “almost” 100%, because they do coffees with normal milk as well. One of their goals in the future is to become a fully plant based restaurant. So enjoy your dairy coffee here now you still can!

Through the week you can choose food from their counter, which they make fresh, or take-out pre-packed in the fridge.

On the weekend they have a special brunch menu which includes waffles, sandwiches and smoothie bowls. We picked the mango coconut yoghurt, a kale salad, avocado toast, banana bread, a muffin, the purple cold pressed juice and the shroom mama latte which was definitely very special!

The mango coconut yoghurt was a cute tiny pot with some gluten-free granola chunks on top. They finished off the pot with some fresh pomegranate seeds, figs, coconut chips and edible flowers. It was such a beautiful presentation and the pot was very tasty as well.

The kale salad came on black rice, beetroot hummus, sautéed kale, grilled aubergine, super-seed falafel and some a peanut butter satay dressing which was definitely a perfect finish in touch. The falafel seems very dry at the first blink but was perfection.

They’re super moist from the inside and bursting with flavour.

The Avocado toast is the only menu item you can order throughout the week. They make their gluten-free buckwheat soda bread themselves. It arrived perfectly toasted with a rich layer of smashed avocado on it with a hint of lime, Himalayan sea salt, chili flakes, pumpkin seeds and some vegan pesto! This is definitely their best seller and the star of the menu!

The banana bread was crisp from the outside and moist inside. It was spicy too.

The muffins change daily. We tried out the forest berries muffin, which was gluten-free and not too sweet.

Next to all this food goodness we ordered the shroom maca latte. It tasted like normal coffee so definitely a good hit if you don’t want to drink any caffeine, but you like the coffee taste.

They make their own juices daily. We had the purple juice which contained beetroot, carrot, lime, ginger, apple and orange. The juice had a lot of ginger in it, which I loved because normally they don’t add that much ginger in a juice, so this one was very good. The apple and orange was a perfect balance.

The bill

Shroom maca latte £3.90
Acai pot £3.90
Cold pressed juice £4.30
Kale salad £6.50
Avocado toast £5.50
Banana bread £3.50
Muffin £3.50

The little things that make the difference

The owners are so passionate about their cafe and are always super happy to serve you and answer any questions! 

Glowcation Leafwild Ladbroke Grove

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Meet the Glowgetter – Stephanie Capuano, Queen of teen boys’ vegan skincare

What was your lightbulb moment for setting up the company?

When my boys started to need grooming products, I couldn’t find anything not packed full of chemicals. What I wanted was products made from clean, high quality ingredients. My sons wanted was for them to really work, and to be cool, of course.

What was your journey to this moment?

I think it is important, when boys are young and impressionable to give them the foundation of a healthy daily grooming regimen. I’ve tried to teach my boys that washing their face and bodies properly is just as important as brushing their teeth. If you’re going to shower you might as well use healthy products.

Concerned mothers now shop at the farmers’ market for fresh kale, knowing it’s the healthier choice for their kids. I thought, “Why should choosing products for their bodies be any different?”

Stuck between fake natural products that smelled awful and lacked efficacy, and stereotypical male aftershave type products laden with chemicals, there seemed to be no option for boys like my sons, or me, buying them..

What was the best bit of advice you were ever given for setting up your own business?

Probably patience.

We are a true start-up, which means we get to do things the way we want, but we are also trying to get the word out about our products without a big marketing budget.

It’s been so great to see the support we’ve seen from mums who fall in love with the products, and watch the growth as they tell their friends. It’s a slow but steady movement. We’re trying to grow organically, but that requires patience.

Why teen boys?

There was nothing on the market for them that was more natural that smelled amazing, worked and was stylish. There were cleaner products for babies, girls, girls+boys and adults.

But we hear from our customers that girls are stealing it from their boyfriends and brothers, especially the award-winning Overnight Clearing Pads(winners of a Pure Global Beauty Award, and Beauty Shortlist award.)

Why clean and vegan?

Not enough parents look at what lurks inside their teen’s personal care products. The glittery, brightly coloured make-up products sold on the high street or the aerosol cans of unnaturally scented cologne can contain some of the most hazardous cosmetic ingredients.

We took out that long list of chemicals you see on leading grooming brands made by the big companies and anything that strips, irritates, bothers and otherwise annoys sensitive skin is off-limits.

Teen skin needs calm and natural ingredients, not aggravating chemicals, which can inflame sensitive skin or make acne worse, not to mention the harmful effects they have on their growing bodies.

Crucially, we’re against chemical shortcuts. The active ingredients in our products are inspired by nature and are vegan, but also have a real reason for being there. They balance, fight bacteria or soothe sensitive skin or acne. Nature is as skilled as any laboratory for their grooming maintenance and just all-round smelling good.

Guys don’t need to put unnecessary chemicals on their skin to look good so we only use authentic ingredients in our skincare that really work for what guys want and need.

What are the highs and lows of running a clean beauty business?

The highs are hearing feedback from our customers, both guys and their mums. It’s also cool being one of the first clean beauty brands that are helping Gen Z guys. I’ve had the opportunity to speak at conferences and to the media about this demographic which has been fun.

We’ve also seen our retailers increase this year and are excited about having Free People in the US and Liberty here in the UK stock our products, with more retailers coming this year. Being included in the American Express “Thriving in the Era of Sustainability” Innovation Village was also a high.

As far as the “lows”- it goes back to our marketing. Our challenge is that our end purchaser is most often the mother of a teen guy (although with our big retailers such as ASOS, we see guys in there 20’s and 30’s buying our products regularly) It’s a constant battle to strike the right balance of marketing to the teen guy and the mum at the same time.

What does the term ‘clean beauty’ mean to you and how is the beauty industry changing?

It’s about eliminating the really toxic stuff, but not at the expense of getting really get results for issues such as acne and body odour. Thankfully, these can be found in nature.

At 31st State we believe that safety, exceptional ingredients and great design can co-exist.

Clean, green and natural beauty options are growing like gangbusters right now across all demographics but interestingly until the last year there really was nothing on the market for young men 14-24, members of Gen Z. Bigger beauty brands are taking note and trying to figure out how to innovate to keep up with the indie beauty brands.

It’s not a trend — it’s never going to go away. Just like the healthier food movement, once you know about healthier ingredients, you can’t un-know it. Once people find something that’s healthier and works for them, very few go back. It’s not just a trend – it’s a powerful new movement.

Where are your 3 favourite Glowcations?

• Good Life I like their Chelsea and Belgravia Glowcations.
• Juice Baby  for their best acai bowls.
• Granger

What are your top 4 clean beauty items for travelling?

-31st State Overnight Clearing Pads for long haul (of course!)
–Tata Harper Restorative Eye Cream
– Mavis Whitening Mint Toothpaste
– Organic Pharmacy Rose Facial Spritz Toner

The 31st State Overnight Clearing Pads are a favourite of everyone in my house – not just the boys and are great for travelling.

We call them the “boyfriend jeans” of our product line because everyone loves them! I use them every night. It’s the quickest way to clean your face, and is the perfect product for on-the-go.

How would you explain how you use clean ingredients to deal with teen hormones?

Hormone disrupting chemicals are the main concern with products marketed to teens and they are rampant in conventional products and have links to hormonal disruption, which can have lasting health effects for teens.

Research shows that commonly used endocrine disruptors, like phthalates, BPA, and pesticides, can cause irregular cycles of puberty in children and teens, causing early onset puberty in girls, delayed puberty in boys, future reproductive issues in boys such as infertility and testicular cancer. There is also a connection between weight gain and obesity with regular exposure to these chemicals.

What are your top 5 things that make you glow?

1. TRAVEL: Traveling, especially to Africa. When I am not talking about clean grooming for Gen Z, I am a cofounder of &Three, a boutique safari business. The trips that I get to take throughout Africa in order to plan off the charts safaris for my clients are off the charts!

2. SLEEP: With two businesses, three kids and a husband, sleep definitely makes me glow. I am fanatical about getting in my 8 hours.

3. TENNIS: I love it – it’s social and an amazing workout.

4. YOGA: Key to managing stress and keeping supple I swear by yoga, especially classes with Vicky Fox at TriYoga. She is an angel. Literally.

5. FUN: I like a good time! I love long meals with family and friends. Nothing better than great food and lots of laughs.

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Meet the Glowgetter – Anna Brightman, turning coffee into skincare at UpCircle Beauty

What was your lightbulb moment for setting up the company?

It all started about three years ago now. My brother and co-founder William used to make his own coffee each morning using a cafetière.

Living in central London he didn’t have a garden and so didn’t have enough plants he could use the coffee grounds on, so instead he was simply throwing them away.

He asked his local coffee shop what they did with their waste coffee and was shocked to hear that they were producing so much that they had to pay the council to have it removed and disposed of on landfill sites.

He decided it was a great starting point for a business idea, but wasn’t sure what that idea was. That’s where I came in. Throughout my teenage years I wanted to be a makeup artist so always had a keen interest in beauty and skincare. I knew that coffee had loads of great skincare benefits, so… lightbulb moment! Why not repurpose the coffee into sustainable circular skincare products?

What was your journey to this moment?

Setting up a company usually falls into one of two categories either do something nobody else is doing or do something that is already being done, but do it better. We fall into the first category. We are genuinely doing something different. Waste-free circular economy vegan natural sustainable skincare – who else is doing that? Nobody. It is genuinely innovative and exciting and bringing something totally unique to the market. We wouldn’t have taken the giant leap into starting our own business unless it was a truly differentiated concept.

My brother and I spent many months still in our previous jobs whilst we got the ball rolling on our new idea.

We made simple products which we took to the London Coffee Festival as a way of testing whether people liked what we were doing. We made hundreds and hundreds of scrubs for the five day show, thinking it would see us through, but we sold out before the end of the first day. This was enough to persuade us that people liked the products and were open-minded to the recycled element of the idea.

We both quit our jobs the next day. We’ve never looked back!

What was the best bit of advice you were ever given for setting up your own business?

It is a quote from Richard Branson and it never ceases to inspire me, especially when things are tough and you wonder why you decided to do something so unique and walk an untrodden path. ‘The brands that will thrive in the coming years are those that have a motivation beyond profit’.

Consumers care, we care. The market is changing. We went to leave the world a better place than it was before.

Why sustainable? Why vegan?

Sustainability is so important. We are at a critical time and we need to be conscious of how our actions are impacting the planet and future generations. It is cliché – but there really is no Planet B. Vegan products are important because animal ingredients are not vital to skincare for efficacy nor is it the least harmful route. We want to tread lightly on our earth. Consumers are demanding more from businesses and rightly so. This is what our consumers want.

What are the highs and lows of running a clean beauty business?

Every day has highs and lows. It is a genuine rollercoaster of emotions. The important thing is to occasionally stop and take stock of what you have achieved. Owning your own business you are constantly looking forwards and trying to grow the business and solve issues as they arise. There is rarely time to look back. But it’s important to practice gratitude and acknowledge what’s been achieved.

What does the term ‘clean beauty’ mean to you and how is the beauty industry changing?

Clean beauty means containing nothing that will do harm to you or to the planet. Zero toxicity. I like to say that our products are edible because technically they are. That is when you know beauty is ‘clean’. When you recognise all the ingredients and would happily put it in your mouth! Clean is the new norm. You need to take it one step further – be sustainable, be zero waste, be plastic free. We all need to up our game – toxic products just won’t cut it anymore.

Where are your 3 favourite organic places to eat?

Wild Food Cafe is a gem – they have just opened up a new location in Islington which is amazing. Their raw deserts and cocktails are crazy good.

For delicious farm to table cuisine that really focuses on seasonality and local produce I love Nutbourne in Battersea.

To splurge it would have to be The River Cafe. They do fresh seasonal Italian cooking like nobody else!

How would you explain how you upcycle ingredients?

We intercept ingredients before the point of them being thrown away and avoid this by giving them new life as UpCircle products. For example, we upcycle by-products from another industry – like brewed coffee grounds and chai tea spices from the food and drink industry.

We’re all about taking ingredients with more to give and prolonging their life timeline by transforming them into skincare products. It’s a very imaginative and collaborative process.

What are your top 4 clean beauty items for travelling?

Our soaps for everyday cleansing. My fave is the Fennel + Cardamom bar, it’s ace for preventing breakouts and smells super fresh. Plus it’s lightweight (can use on face and body) and solid – perfect for travelling!

Our serum for moisture. The serum’s versatility makes it the perfect travel companion. It can be used morning and night and doubles up as a hair oil too! Can’t go wrong.

Our new face cream – I can’t give too much away on this one, but it’s jumped straight to the number one spot for my go-to product. Just you wait, it’s unreal. It’s set to launch in 6 weeks.

For everything else a giant tub of coconut oil! Simple, effective, inexpensive.

What are your top 5 things that make you glow?

Fresh water – swimming in freshwater lakes or the ocean! The magnesium and minerals from the sea make me feel so alive and grounded.

Time spent with friends. Stress can cause breakouts and for me, there’s nothing better for relieving stress than having a great time with your pals. They can diminish any problem!

Poetry by Rupi Kaur – Her work is so beautiful it almost brings me to tears.

Going for a run – get a good playlist going and sweat out any toxins!

Deep breathing nothing gets you glowing like oxygen. Don’t waste your money on an oxygen facial sit outside in nature and do some deep breathing!

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Pura Vida, South Beach, Miami

Pura Vida was created by a husband and wife team as a place for friends and family to meet and eat delicious food. They’ve created an enticing all day menu and we visited this peaceful South Beach spot at lunch time.

The setting

This South Beach café is set in the quiet South of 5th neighbourhood on Washington. It’s a few blocks from South Pointe Beach and Park.

The space

Tables for two, with sun umbrellas, line the quiet, tree-lined pavement.

There’s also a covered area with more tables in the shade of the building – all screened off with lush greenery.

What else?

Pura Vida have several branches in Miami in South Beach, Coral Gables and Edgewater. You can order online. Plus, there a small shop inside where you can buy Pura Vida accessories including tote bags, T shirts and re-usable cups.

The fresh juice test

There’s a choice of eight superfood smoothies (including the Welcome to Miami of passion fruit, mango, banana and honey), four freshly made juices, four wellness shots, two house made lemonades and various kombuchas.

We decided to review the flu shot which was a bracing mix of ginger, honey, lemon and cayenne pepper.

As it was a humid day on our visit, we also chose the signature house made lemonade, their refreshingly zingy Lala Lemonade and a blood orange, carrot and ginger Heath Ade kombucha. Both hit the spot perfectly.

What we ate

Pura Vida has an all day breakfast selection of açai bowls, smashed avo and fruit salads.

The menu is vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian.

We chose a Kale Caesar which was a generous mix of multi-grain croutons, local kale and parmesan. The dressing was rich and creamy and the texture was excellent. We added feta to the Green Market Salad, which was an equally generous portion. It was packed with rocket, mixed greens, cucumber, cherry tomato, carrot, pickled cabbage, radish, sprouts, scallions, chick peas, micro-coriander and sunflower seeds and all topped off with a delicious green tahini and honey lemon dressing. The salad was fresh and filling, but sadly the dressing came in a separate plastic pot which seemed unnecessary.

What we’d go back for…

The açai bowls and smashed avo looked very tempting.

The bill

Lala lemonade  $4.95
Flu shot  $5
Kombucha  $6
Kale Caesar salad  $10.95
Green market salad  $12.95
+feta  $1.50

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Lele’s, Hackney, London

“We believe in good food, and kindness” is Lele’s motto Valentina, the founder, grew up in an Italian culture and wanted to bring this simple, honest approach to food to London.

The setting

Lele’s café is on Hackney’s busy Lower Clapton Rd, only 10 minutes walk from Hackney Central Overground station. There’s also a Lele’s in Dalston which also offers a dinner menu.

The space

Lele’s has a modest exterior and the interior has a welcoming, calming aura. House plants are everywhere – filling the shelves and countertops and mini cacti dot the windowsill-table. Mosaic floor tiles complement the mis-matched, up-cycled tables and stools.  Overall, the ground-floor is bright and airy thanks to large glass windows and a spiral grey staircase leads to a downstairs area with more seating.

What else?

Lele’s has been fully vegan since December 2017.

They also cater at big events and markets like Vegan Nights.. The café is dog-friendly with a jar of free doggy biscuits and water too.

The fresh juice test

Lele’s have a nutritious juice and superfood drinks menu and make all their juices to order. Their green juice was refreshing and light with a great balance between sweet and vegetable-savoury. It was a cooling blend of apple, spinach, lemon and celery.  The Root juice was equally as refreshing, if not a little fiery thanks to the fresh ginger. It was blended with apple, carrot and beetroot and packed with zest and zing.

What we ate

The menu at Lele’s is fully plant-based with options for gluten-free eaters.

As well as the seasonal menu, there’s a selection of fresh patisserie and cakes, sandwiches, bagels and vegan “sausage” rolls and a salad station. We decided to review the giant couscous stuffed roasted red pepper with a side of creamy raw slaw – a blend of walnuts and roasted root vegetables and potatoes.

The set menu offers the best value for sweet and savoury breakfast, brunch and lunch options. From sweet French toast and coconut, banana and chocolate drenched pancakes to porridge bowls, nourish bowls and Lele’s vegan full English. We chose the Marmite Avocado Toast. It was made with thick and chewy sourdough and topped with lashings of Marmite and creamy smashed avocado. It was generously drizzled with tahini, toasted pumpkin seeds, smoked paprika and a side of rocket. It was packed with flavour and texture and was a delight to eat.

With the sweet selection, we were spoilt for choice. Eventually, we chose their peanut butter cookie and a peanut butter cookie sandwich. A crumbly, chewy oaty cookie studded with big chocolate chips with a more-ish peanut butter flavour and texture. They were huge. The cookie sandwich used the same rich peanut butter bake smeared with thick Biscoff cookie spread for an indulgent treat.

We also tried their Oreo brownie on a staff recommendation. It was deliciously light and moist, quite spongey and topped with crunchy Oreo cookies. Finally, we couldn’t resist the signature chocolate croissant. It was a flaky, “buttery” rich pastry filled with a chocolate spread that melted in the mouth.

It was perhaps the best vegan croissant I’ve tasted – you couldn’t even tell the difference between it and a non-vegan pastry.

 

What we’d go back for…

All the food, cakes and drinks at Lele’s were  so impressive, I would go back in a heartbeat. They also offer monthly afternoon tea events which showcase their beautiful patisserie delights as well as savoury sandwiches with scones, jam and vegan cream.

The bill

Green juice  £4.20
Root juice  £4.20
Salad  £6.50
Marmite avocado toast  £7.50
Peanut butter cookie  £2.00
Peanut butter cookie sandwich  £4.00
Oreo brownie £3.50
Chocolate croissant  £2.00

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Fresh On Front, Toronto

Fresh is a pioneer in vegan eating in Toronto with 20 years of plant-based expertise. Fresh on Front opened in 2018 and offers a signature line of raw, organic cold pressed juices and in-house made vegan dishes.

The setting

Fresh on Front is on Front St East in Old Toronto. It’s a short walk from Union Station and is close to St. Lawrence Market, the stunning Sony Centre for Performing Arts and the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The space

The café has a window filled Victorian facade and inside the space is large, elegant and upmarket.

It’s a must visit when you are in Toronto.

You can eat at the long white counter in the black and white tiled entrance hall, or in the large, plush back room with pale central tables and green velvet banquettes lining the wall.  The staff are super helpful and the vibe is smart casual.

What else?

You can take out or order in via Uber eats, Foodora and Doordash. Fresh has four more branches across the city on Bloor, Crawford, Eglington, and Spadina.

The fresh juice test

There’s a choice of 16 colourful, super-blended juices.

The juices come in a large recycled glass bottle and contain a mega 10 servings of fresh produce!

We decided to review the pretty pink Rosy Glow. It claims to be “fruity and filling, nourishing and hydrating” . It was a blend of rose water, silica, coconut, strawberry and apple. It tasted exotically Moroccan and was quite simply one of our all time favourite juices.

If you fancy a more substantial drink, Fresh also have six power shakes and five smoothies on offer.

What we ate

There’s a large menu and a gluten-free menu. You can chose from toasts, salads, tacos, burgers, wraps and bowls. All have an extensive choice of add ons, dips and sauces. Plus, the portions, like the juices, are all large.

We had the creamy hummus and toast for starters. It was “Jerusalem style” and rich in tahini with a grilled seeded flatbread . Next, the charred greens and feta flatbread.

It was packed with baby pak choy, swiss chard, kale, vegan feta, lemon garlic oil, agrodolce and sea salt with glazed seeds and almond topping.

The dish was crispy and delicately spiced and the vegan feta was excellent.

 

The Cobb salad was a combo of tempeh bacon, crispy chick’n, avocado, marinated farro, vegan feta, tomato, red onion and mixed lettuce. It was large and filling. Finally, with the smashed avo toast, we chose the option to swap the toast for grilled sweet potato.

The smoky potato was a delicious touch of genius perfectly complementing the avocado, vegan feta, seeds, baby arugula, lemon garlic oil and tomato.

What we’d go back for

The juices and the avo toast. Pretty much everything really…

The bill

Rosy glow juice  $12
Hummus $13
Charred greens and feta flatbread  $14
Smashed avo $13.50
Cobb salad  $17

 

 

 

 

 

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By CHLOE., Oxford Circus, Marylebone

By CHLOE., NYC’s vegan fast food sensation, is making serious in roads into the London plant-based scene with their third location in London, just steps from Oxford Circus. By CHLOE. are now truly spreading the love in the UK with their plant-based burgers, pastries and delicious air fried fries (with beetroot ketchup!). As I am a huge fan of By CHLOE. NY,  I was keen to review the central London branch.

The setting

By CHLOE.  Oxford Circus is based next to busy Oxford Street, so certainly super central! A few streets away in Fitzrovia, you can find Glow Bar and Kin.

The space

Outside they have the signature monochrome look of the By CHLOE.s  in the US.

The inside has a canteen kind of vibe, the space is large, black and white striped, with stripped brick walls.

There are lots of chairs and tables of different sizes, plus striped couches and tiny tables where it’s easy to sit on your own.

It’s not the best space to work on your laptop, being much more of a space to get lunch or dinner to go or to quickly eat in – especially with the many office workers nearby. You order your food at the counter and they give you a buzzer, so, when your food is ready, it buzzes to let you know.

I’m going to be very honest here, since I have visited multiple locations in New York and now in London, maybe it’s the ultra busy location, but this branch has more of a fast food vibe (and less of a relaxed vibe) than others. In New York, By CHLOE.  is very much a relaxed brunch spot too.

The crowd

Being so central, expect a different crowd to their other branches.: shopping teenagers, and lots of business men and women from nearby offices.

What we ate

In the UK By CHLOE. has created some “British specials” like toffee pudding and fish and chips, but sadly, due to the busy location, they had run out of those and other options on the menu, so we couldn’t try them out.

I usually have the Caesar salad, which is super tasty! So decided to mix it up with the Thai salad. When the salad came it was sprinkled with crispy wontons, a few pieces of apricot-siracha glazed tempeh and a very few edamame beans. I suspect they were running out of ingredients here too. However,  peanut dressing was super tasty and gave a really lovely Asian twist to the dish.

Next, we had the breakfast platter of scrambled tofu, spinach, a maple sausage, market greens, walnuts and 7 grain toast. Sadly, the tofu was wet and the sausage was burned. However, the toast was well toasted and crunchy with slightly brown edges, just how I like it.

So, after the negativity, good news: the legendary By CHLOE. desserts!

Their sweets are all amazing and you literally will have no idea you’re eating a vegan pastry!

I’ve had their muffins before, and do really recommend them, but the banana bread is definitely my favourite of all. It’s a super thick slice fully loaded with pieces of chocolate and walnuts. The crust has a little crunch and is perfectly baked and not too moist. Also, I had my first pecan cookie and that was a real winner. The cookie was moist on the inside and crunchy on the outside and contained chocolate chips and pecan pieces.

I’m still a big fan of By CHLOE. and I really hope they will get their kitchen better organised at this busy branch, because Tower Bridge and Covent Garden are doing really well.  The guy at the counter was super sweet and really tried to compensate for the lack of menu items and make everyone happy who was eating in.

The bill

Sweet potato fries  £4
Spicy thai salad  £9,95
Early bird platter  £9
Banana bread  £3.60
Cookie, classic pecan  £2.40

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Raw Juce, Miami

Need a Miami juice bar? Raw Juce has established itself as the go to take away juice spot in Miami with a choice of twenty delicious organic juices,. The local juicer from Boca Raton, up the coast, offers cold-pressed fruit and vegetables juices, smoothies, organic snacks and raw vegan desserts.

The setting

Raw Juce has branches in Aventura, Brickell, Coral Gables and Weston. The Brickell branch is in the shopping mall at Mary Brickell Village., There’s also a branch of Dirt nearby.

The space

It’s more of a grab and go with a few seats and tables. The vibe is metal industrial chairs with super friendly staff.

The fresh juice test

We were quite overwhelmed with the choice of 20 innovative and tempting flavours of juices. not to mention the 11 Smooth-e-lixirs with names such as Dragon Bomb and Hercules.

We decided to review the Turmeric Soul and the Square Root juices.

The first was a blend of orange, turmeric, ginger and reishi and delicious. Refreshing with a zingy twist. The Square Root took a common blend of beet, Gala apple and ginger to a new level with the addition of aloe water and lemon.

What we ate

It’s not all about the juice. Raw Juce also do organic grab n go snacks like raw oatmeal parfaits, kale and quinoa based salads, açaí bowls, and a selection of raw desserts such as the yummy cashew butter cups (like Reese’s but guilt free). We went for açai and chose the Power Bowl. It was a generous mix of banana, mango, açai, almond mylk, protein and almond butter. The topping was equally generous. It was loaded with blueberries and bananas, flax seed, granola, hemp seeds and almonds and drizzled with honey. We loved it.

Next we had the Blue Majik Cheesecake. Magic hit the nail on the head .

It was a creamy, dreamy mix of almond, coconut, agave, cacao, cashew, lemon sea salt, spirulina, blueberry, pistachios and raspberries. It tasted as good as it looked.

The bill

Turmeric Soul $11.50
Square Root $11
Power bowl $13.50
Blue majik cheesecake $7

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Drake Devonshire, Wellington

The popularity of foodie destination Prince Edward County is often put down to one factor – the opening of the Drake Devonshire Hotel. The country outpost of Toronto’s iconic Drake put laid back Wellington firmly on the map. Today, the picturesque town is packed with cool eateries and shops and the hotel’s café still offers one of the best weekend brunches in town.

The setting

The Drake Devonshire is tucked away down a quiet side street and set directly on the shore of Lake Ontario. It’s handy for the beach and shops.  Nearby local hotspots include the Enid Grace Bakery and La Condesa for authentic Mexican food with lots of plant based options.

The space

The café is set at the back of the hotel with a large outdoor terrace directly overlooking the lake and hotel beach.

The view is stunning and there’s also a large inside dining area. The café gets pretty busy and when we went the service was quite slow due to this.

What else?

The hotel serves non-guests for breakfast, brunch (at the weekends), lunch and dinner. Kids are welcome and there’s free WiFi.

The fresh juice test

The Drake offers two juice blends: a red and a green. We decided to review the red which was a zingy mix of beet, apple and ginger. The green is a combo of cucumber, rocket, spinach apple, ginger and wheat grass.

They also do simple fresh juices like orange, grapefruit and apple.

What we ate

There’s a large choice for vegans and vegetarians. We went for two salads and a side of hummus.

We chose the Tomato and Strawberry salad with pickled beets and rocket drizzled with a delicate lavender and pistachio vinaigrette

(no doubt inspired by the local lavender fields). Next, we had the Baby Gem Caesar. This was a crispy, fresh salad with pickled corn, avocado, croutons and radish, but it didn’t really taste like a caesar salad to us. The hummus was house made and had a lovely taste and texture and the sour dough was perfectly toasted.

What we’d go back for…

The location and the view

The bill

Orange juice  $7
Red juice  $8
Tomato and strawberry salad  $16
Baby gem Caesar  $17
Drake + bake sourdough  $4
+  hummus  $6

 

 

 

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Hibiscus Café, Toronto

Hibiscus Café is a family-run vegetarian café where the buckwheat crêpes are fresh and delicious, the soups and salads are rich and filling and everything is organic and gluten-free.

Bang in the heart of hip Kensington Market, it also serves some of the best vegan ice cream in town.

The setting

Hibiscus Café is on Augusta Ave, one of the main streets in hipster Kensington Market. The area is packed with casual street food cafés, thrift shops and quirky boutiques. Chinatown and the trendy shopping drag of Queen St West are a few blocks away.

The space

There’s a small wooden fenced-in and umbrella covered patio outside. Inside is relatively compact, but home to several wooden tables with Bentwood chairs.

One wall is dark shelving displaying foodie ornaments, the back wall is cool green and the final wall has pretty lit alcoves housing natural objects and prints.

The staff are friendly and very helpful.

What else?

There’s another branch of Hibiscus Café in the Assembly Chef’s Hall opposite the iconic Nathan Phillip’s Square. The portions are large, especially the ice-cream ones and the staff let you try flavours before you buy. The café is committed to sustainable packaging.

The fresh juice test

Hibiscus doesn’t sell juice, but there’s a range of smoothies and kombuchas which come served with a metal straw.

We had the blend of banana, blueberry, canteloupe, kiwi, mango, pear, raspberry and strawberry which was delicious.

What we ate?

The Hibiscus Café sells an array of sweet and savoury buckwheat crepes. You can pair with a soup or salad, but do save room for their innovative dairy-free ice cream.

There’s also a good choice of sweet crêpes, including: home-made chocolate-hazelnut and spread with banana; cinnamon and lemon icing; apple and cinnamon; banana and walnut and home-made vegan dulce de leche and kiwi. Hibisicus also have a selection of mouth-watering gluten-free, vegan cookies, squares and brownies. However, much as we were tempted, we went for the vegan ice-cream, as we couldn’t resist the flavours on offer.

The vegan ice-cream is made in small batches and comes in a cup or GF cone. The ices are made with either coconut, almond or home-made mung bean milk.

We had a double scoop of sea buckthorn and a strawberry and basil. Both were stunningly creamy and delicately favoured.

The bill

Kombucha $5.20
Smoothie $8.00
Savoury Crepe $16.50
Ice cream, double scoop $8.00

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Dirt, Miami

Dirt’s Chef Nicole Votano says “At a lot of healthy places the health comes first and the taste comes after, we’re the opposite.”

The setting

Dirt is in South Beach’s waterfront enclave of Sunset Harbour. The casual café is surrounded by gourmet restaurants, chic shops, high-rise condos and fitness centres.  It’s also just a few blocks from the retail therapy mecca of Lincoln Mall.

The space

The modern grey tiled exterior is pretty much unmissable.

Inside, is a large, light space with a warehouse vibe- polished concrete, industrial touches and metal stools. There’s a selection of shared counters and tables, plus sofa banquettes with cushions lining the walls and windows. Dirt has free WiFi and lots of laptops were out during our visit.

 

What else?

Dirt are keen on inclusivity and do include meat on the menu. You can order a steak sandwich, but it will be grass fed.  Dirt also has branches in Brickell and Arlington.

The fresh juice test

We were totally spoilt for choice.

There’s the local Counter Culture kombucha on tap, the local brand of Radiate Kombucha in cans, Rebirth Elixirs and house-made lemonades including a matcha lavender.

If that’s not enough, they offer tempting vegan ice-cream mylkshakes, honey cardamon lattes and a large selection of Dirt’s own juices and shots.

Despite the various temptations,  we decided to review the Dirt Root juice. It was a cold-pressed blend of beet, apple, carrot ginger and lemon. It was refreshing with a subtle kick. We also had a delicious Radiate Flower Power kombucha favoured with hibiscus flower, lemongrass and lemon juice.

What we ate

Theres quite an extensive menu and an all day breakfast featuring bowls, pancakes and toasts. Plus, soups, sandwiches, tostadas, salads and seasonal plates.

We couldn’t resist the intriguing Grilled Watermelon and Balsamic Toast.

It was a surprisingly delicious combination of watermelon, lemon-zested Greek yogurt (there are vegan alternatives), blueberries, balsamic reduction, honey, toasted sunflower seeds, Maldon sea salt, Harpke Family Farm Farm sprouts and Zak the Baker bread.

Next we had the So-Cal Burrito. This was a filling portion of  scrambled cage-free eggs, pepper jack cheese, sautéed onions, organic quinoa and “Dirty” de gallo all rolled in a spinach tortilla wrap and served with pickled onions and house-made salsa verde (there’s also a chipotle option). Although the portion was large, it was quite bland, so maybe we should have ordered the chipotle sauce with it.  Finally, we had the Vegan Creamed Spinach. The spinach was cooked with house-made garlic cashew cream, almond “Parmesan” and grape tomatoes. The cashew cream was delicious.

The little things

Dirt has four menus: vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and Paleo.

Plus, they break down the nutritional components of each dish on their menu  into calories, protein, fat and carbs.

What we’d go back for…

The vegan ice-cream mylkshakes…

The bill

Root juice  $8
Kombucha [canned]  $6
Grilled watermelon + balsamic toast  $12
So-cal burrito  $12.5
Vegan creamed spinach  $6

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The Vic Café, Picton, Ontario

Prince Edward County is fast becoming the must visit weekend destination for Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.  This small island on Lake Ontario is packed with fresh farm stalls, wineries and antique shops.

The main town of Picton is a foodie destination and home to The Vic Café – a modern diner that prides itself on catering for all diets in a fun atmosphere with individual vegetarian, vegan and GF menus.

The setting

The Vic Café is on Main St, Picton surrounded by antique shops, vintage clothes stores, book shops and retro record stores.

The space

The café, with its neon sprayed walls, is unmissable from the historic street. Outside, there’s a large wooden, covered terrace with a lot of tables and pot plants.

Inside is white, shiny and modern with neon lighting and pastel retro stools, banquettes and cushions.

It’s child friendly and exudes fun.

What else?

The café caters for meat eaters and kids and doesn’t do take-away. Make sure you check out the pink kitsch toilets!

The fresh juice test

You can order straight OJ, kombucha, matcha and turmeric latte or go for one of their signature smoothies.

We decided to review the Queen of Green,  a blend of kale, pineapple, banana, OJ and mint. Despite the banana, it wasn’t overly heavy or sweet and the mint added a refreshing kick.

What we ate

There’s lots of vegan and veggie options. In the end we ordered an avocado toast. It came with a side of fruit and consisted of a slice of sourdough, two poached eggs, avo mash, with pumpkin seeds, pesto vinaigrette and pickled onion.

Next, we had the Sunrise Skillet, a version of shakshuka with two poached eggs, a slow burn tomato and pepper sauce and onions on sourdough.

All garnished with a leafy salad. It was beautifully presented in a skillet with a home knitted handle protector.

The bill

Smoothie  $8.50
Avo on toast  $16.25
Sunrise skillet  $15.00

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Calii Love, Toronto

Every city needs a dose of Californian Summer from time to time, right? Well, Toronto has struck lucky with Calii Love bringing super smoothies and Summer sunshine across the city no matter the weather.

The cafés aim to spread good vibes inspired by Californian sun and Hawaiian breezes. They also make a mean smoothie bowl.

The setting

The branch we visited is on King St West near the TIFF Bell Lightbox and a short stroll from the CN Tower and the Harbour Front. There are other branches of Calii Love in Yorkville, Union Station and First Canada Place.

The space

The exterior is vivid turquoise with large welcoming windows. Inside is light and spacious.

Most of the café is on a large mezzanine level with long communal tables and a serving bar where you place your order.

There’s a more chilled area with softer seating as you enter, plus a few stools along the window side counter. The decor is modern, with cool wallpaper and slogans on the walls and stairs. The vibe is very relaxed.

The fresh juice test

Calii love has an extensive drinks menu. The lattes include Golden Milk, Collagen, Blue Majik, Beet and Activated Charcoal and there’s a choice of a five superfood smoothies. Each smoothie (and dish) is named after a feeling, we decided to review the Charming.

The smoothie was a vegan blend of strawberries, mango, banana, chia seeds, beet, rose water, coconut, medjool dates, Himalayan salt and house nut milk.

The addition of the rose water and salt gave it an exotic twist and we loved it.

What we ate

There’s a good selection of smoothie bowls, poké bowls and build your own bowls – where you choose variations of a base, proteins, toppings and sauces.

We decided to review a Signature Salad Bowl and chose the “Excited”.

The large bowl contained chopped kale, roasted beets, green apple, watermelon radish and vegan feta and was topped with apple beet vinaigrette, seaweed strips and espresso walnuts. The combination of flavours and textures was pretty much perfect.

For desert, we ordered the “Dreamy”. The aptly named smoothie bowl was also perfectly favoured and textured. It was a delicious blend of blue majik spirulina, mango, banana, coconut mylk and pineapple. All topped off with bee pollen, shredded (and beautifully crunchy) coconut, raspberries, kiwi and mango.

What else?

The recipes are all created by a nutritionist and Calii Love sources ingredients as sustainably as possibly. All their packaging is recyclable and their website includes a macro nutrient breakdown of each dish and an allergy grid. They also run wellness workshops including meditation and yoga.

What we’d go back for…

The servers list the names of your dishes when they take the order.

I was feeling “charming, excited and dreamy”.

I’m hoping to feel “grateful, limitless and legendary” next time, but I just might have to re-order the Dreamy…

The bill

Charming smoothie  $7.95
Excited salad  $10.95
Dreamy smoothie bowl  $10.95

 

 

 

 

 

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Enid Grace Café, Wellington, Ontario

Every morning at 7.30am a queue forms outside a bakery in the small town of Wellington, Prince Edward County. The reason for the daily ritual? The range of fresh baked breads and goodies prepared by local woman, Enid Grace.

The hotspot in question is the Enid Grace Café, whose founder began selling from a food truck and then progressed to this pretty café and bakery. Her baked goods are famous across the county and a sell out sensation…  and she also makes the best French toast we’ve ever tasted.

The setting

The Enid Grace Café is on the quiet Main St in Wellington, a short walk from Lake Ontario with its clear water and rocky beaches.

The area is surrounded by wineries, farm shops and lavender fields.

The space

There’s a small eating area inside – think pale woods, grey walls and vintage lamps. Outside, is a seasonal terrace set back from the quiet road with umbrellas and pot plants. You order at the bar and there’s free WiFi. Plus, there’s a small shop at the back of the café selling cookery items, local honey, coffee and Enid Grace aprons and tote bags.

What else?

Everything is based on the Italian café model of first come first served.

The food is intended to sell out daily eliminating food waste and ensuring freshness.

The impressive range of continental breads includes GF options. The café caters for vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters and sells out most days.

The fresh juice test

The Enid Grace Café is best known for coffees, however they also offer a creamy turmeric latte and local bottled juices. We tried the apple cider (non-alcoholic) which was sweet with a hint of tartness.

What we ate

Given the iconic status of the bread, we by-passed the selection of fruit plates and granola and ordered two dishes both made with Pain De Mie. A French Toast and a Croque Madame which are both available in a GF form.

The French Toast was soaked in custard and came with a choice of lemon curd or maple syrup. It was topped off with a cascade of fresh berries with had a jug of maple syrup on the side. It was quite simply the fluffiest, tastiest French bread we’ve ever had.

The Croque Madame was equally impressive.

We ordered the vegetarian version without country ham.  It was soaked in bechamel sauce, coated in melted gruyere and then topped with two eggs. On the side came a leafy side salad with a lovely dressing. It was very filling, but not too heavy.

What we’d go back for…

Everything!

The bill

Apple juice $3.50
French toast  $11
Croque Madame  $12

 

 

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Love Life, Miami

Miami’s district of Wynwood has rapidly changed from industrial hub to must visit art’s district in just a few years. It’s now home to city’s best galleries, restaurants, cafés and the famous vegan hotspot Love Life.

Love Life’s delicious plant-based food has been known to satisfy even the most ardent carnivore. It was voted home to the “best veggie burger in America” at the Seed Food and Wine Festival’s epic burger battle.

The setting

Based in hip Wynwood, Love Life is a few blocks from the iconic Wynwood Walls, and surrounded by the hottest galleries and trendiest shops in the city.

The space

The space is light and open with warehouse vibes and vivid blue striped walls.

There’s long communal tables of recycled wood and a more relaxed sofa and small shop area as you enter. You order at the bar and the staff bring your food to the table. There’s free WiFi and a relaxed atmosphere.

What else?

Partners Veronica Menin and Diego Tosoni are co-owners the café and have both qualified in nutrition and health.

 

The fresh juice test

Love Life has a very tempting menu of six smoothies. We decided to review the Sunshine Spice.

It was loaded with all the goods: orange juice, pineapple, cold pressed turmeric, cold pressed ginger, lemon juice and Bee Free Honee.

The turmeric and ginger were quite dominating, so it wasn’t too sweet, which we liked. We also had a refreshing Counter Culture Kombucha that came in a pretty recycled jar.

What we ate

There’s a large menu of soups, salads, bowls, burgers, arepas, pizza, burritos and tacos. Despite being tempted by the award winning burger, as it was mid afternoon, we concentrated on cooling snacks.

We ordered a Dragon Bowl, the vegan Vanilla Affogato (as we’ve never had a vegan version) and the highly recommended Guava Rose Cheesecake.  The Dragon bowl was a large ice-cold portion of blended pitaya topped with chia seeds, hemp seeds, goji berries and banana.

The affogato’s vanilla ice-cream was perfect -creamy and indistinguishable from a diary based ice, topped off with decaf coffee and nuts.

We nearly ordered a second one, but we had to leave room for the cheesecake. It was made of guava – subtly infused with rose water – and celestial chunk cookie crust, cashews, coconut milk, house-made vanilla syrup, lemon and pink salt. It was also quite filling.

What we’d go back for…

To try the famous veggie burger.

The bill

Sunshine spice smoothie  $10
Kombucha $7
Red dragon bowl  $12
Guava rose cheesecake  $8
Affogato $5

 

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Simple Healthy Food, Miami

Miami is packed with high profile, glitzy cafés, but if you want simple healthy food, we suggest this local’s favourite on 6th.

Simple Healthy Food is led by two sisters, Shakti and Anto, and is packed with locals. Using mainly organic, local ingredients, they serve superfood bowls, organic açai bowls, smoothies, fresh juices, salads, paninis and more.

The setting

Simple Healthy Food is on 6th near Washington and just a few blocks from Lummus Park and the beach.

The space

The café is compact and colourful.

The walls are covered in artwork and a large botanical themed sign, Eat Simple, dominates the space.

You can eat at the bar or at the counter overlooking the street. There’s free WiFi and the staff are very helpful. Fruit infused water is free and the menu is very good value for South Beach. The vibe is friendly and casual.

The fresh juice test

The café has a choice of six freshly squeezed juices, six smoothies and shakes and six superfood smoothies.

We had the Morning in the Tropics Juice which was a refreshing mix of orange, beet, carrot and ginger in a pretty recycled jar.

What we ate

There’s a large breakfast menu of toasts and bowls, plus salads, Buddha bowls and wraps for lunch. We decided to review the Dragon fruit bowl. It came in a large ceramic bowl and was a combination of raw organic dragon fruit blended with banana and strawberries topped with granola, chia seeds, coconut, banana, raspberry and blueberries. It was delicious and a great sized portion.

We also chose the Organic Avocado Toast which was two slices of toast with organic avocado paste , fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and basil.

It tasted really fresh and the mozzarella was delicious.

What we’d go back for..

The juice, the fresh food and the casual, local vibe.

The bill

Juice  $6.60
Dragon fruit bowl  $10.50
Avocado toast  $8.90

 

 

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Fresh on Spadina, Toronto

It’s easy to eat a plant-based diet in Canada’s capital of cool, Toronto, but the Fresh chain takes vegan eating to the next level.

Fresh has five innovative vegan cafés across the city, each offering a massive selection of plant-powered dishes: from mouth-watering burritos and burgers; to innovative salads and tacos.

Fresh began twenty years ago, with a mission to prove that a plant-powered diet could be undeniably satisfying, energising and delicious.

From our experience at the Spadina branch, it still takes its mission statement seriously.

The setting

Set on one of Toronto’s main arteries, Spadina, the café is close to the junction of Queen Street West with its cool shops. It’s across the street from instagram magnet Graffiti Alley and hip Kensington Market is a 10 minute walk away.

The space

Fresh has a fenced off outdoor seating terrace with plants which is good for people watching. Inside, there’s a large, light dining area with oversized lamps and hip wallpaper complementing the pale wooden tables and floor. You can also sit on stools at the long, black and white tiled bar. It has an elegant, relaxed vibe.

What else?

There are four more branches on Bloor, Eglington, Front and Crawford.

Fresh also do take-aways and have a regular and GF menu and free WiFi. The staff are amazingly helpful.

 

The fresh juice test

As you enter Fresh, you can’t miss the juice selection. The fridge is stacked with rainbow coloured options in large, recyclable glass bottles. Each one contains 3 lbs or 10 servings of fruit and veg. Plus there’s power shakes, smoothies and kombucha cocktails.

We decided to review the Vitamin C elixir – a beta carotene boost balanced by spicy sweet citrus carrot, orange, lemon, apple and cayenne.

It was one of the best juices we’ve ever had – fresh, not too sweet and with a welcome kick of spice. Next, we tried the Passionfruit Schizandra. It was a mix of cold pressed organic lemon, sparkling mineral water and craft ginger kombucha. It was refreshing and tasty. Schizandra is an adaptogenic berry which boasts anti-inflammatory properties.

What we ate

The menu at Fresh is extensive. We decided to review the salads and weren’t disappointed. We ordered the Farro and Feta. The salad was a combo of marinated farro (an ancient grain), baby arugula, seeds, vegan feta, chick peas, tomatoes, red onions, cucumber and red pepper with a bold lemon dressing. The texture was perfect and it was very filling.

Next, the Supergreen Caesar which was packed with greens, mixed lettuce, tempeh bacon, edamame, scallions, cucumber, sun-dried tomato and sunflower nori gomashio .

It was topped off with a tahini caesar dressing which was a stroke of genius taste-wise.

We added  some perfectly crispy tofu cubes from the large selection of add ons. The portions are large and the staff offer doggy bags if you can’t finish. For desert, we got a take-away Strawberry Swirl smoothie. It was a layered, icy  combo of strawberries, coconut milk and banana.

What we’ll be back for…

Fresh also has an enticing brunch menu of pancakes, platters and waffles. We need to try them all.

The bill

Vitamin C elixir  $11
Passionfruit schizandra  $9
Farro and feta  $17
Supergreen caesar $16
crispy tofu + $4
Strawberry swirl  $9

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Looking for cleaner air in your home? with Dyson

 

Looking for clean, cool air this summer? Dyson has the answer with the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool™ and Dyson Pure Cool Me™

With temperatures hitting record levels this summer do you ever dream of your very own personal cooling and purification system while you cook a plant- based meal, work at your laptop or try to sleep after kicking off your duvet in the urban heat? One of our hero summer products is the Dyson Pure Cool Me™ personal purifier fan (RRP £299.99).

Outdoor and indoor air pollution can be worse during the warmer summer months especially in built up areas when nitrogen dioxide, largely caused by industrial and road traffic pollution, reacts with hydrocarbons in the sunlight to form ozone, which can then be mixed with particles. But this new to the market purifier cleverly projects cooling, filtered air for just where you need it.

If you run a large household and need something bigger, then the Dyson Pure Hot + Cool™ (RRP£549) is a 3 in 1 purifier, fan and heater designed to clean air in a whole room*. It too purifies the air, but, as well as cooling, also heats up a room fast- handy in the middle of winter.  It captures pollutants with a 360° sealed HEPA and the activated carbon filter hat captures 99.95% of microscopic allergens and pollutants. And while it cleans out the bad guys, the Air Multiplier ™ technology delivers over 290 litres per second of smooth, yet powerful good guys- circulating purified air throughout the whole room.

 

Dyson
Dyson

Pollution has reached record levels in London. To help improve air quality, an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) now operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week within the same area of central London as the Congestion Charge. Most vehicles, including cars and vans, need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards or their drivers must pay a daily charge to drive within the zone and this September 22nd sees the launch by Mayor Sadiq Khan of the capital’s biggest car-free day to date where 12.3 miles (20km) of roads in the centre will be shut.

At this point, I have to come clean and confess that I’m a tried and tested customer. After moving close to a busy London main road I’ve been running two Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Purifiers in my home for over a year. And I think they are nothing short of genius. As a consumer journalist, I did my homework before buying one especially as they are an investment purchase. Every single review I read was glowing.  I noticed when reading through reviews that pollen and dust sufferers were particularly helped by using a Dyson purifier to clean the air in a room to relieve symptoms. I’m also a self-confessed gadget-lover, so the easy to install app that links directly to my Pure Hot + Cool purifier became pure joy as I tracked indoor pollution levels which improved daily. I had the option of using the app to control the tower or I could use the remote control which magnetically attaches or voice activation. Dyson encourages 24/7 use and the machine runs with a low hum day and night which I happily sleep through. I loved it so much I soon purchased a second one for another bedroom.

And now I’m so impressed by the ease of use and improvement in indoor air pollution that I’m saving away for one in every room in the house including the latest Dyson Pure Cool Me™ personal purifier so I can work with clean and cool air at my laptop in my home office especially as temperatures rise this summer.

*The standard purification and heating performance tests are AHAM AC1-2015 and IEC 60675 respectively. Dyson goes beyond these, by testing filtration efficiency (EN1822), air projection (DTM801), purification coverage in a 81m3 room with multiple sensors (TM-003711) and heating performance in a 35m3 room with multiple sensors (DTM 961).

Click here to purchase your:

Dyson Pure Hot + Cool™ £549

A premium whole room* purification product, heating and cooling for multiple users.

Click here to purchase your:

Dyson Pure Cool Me™ £299.99

For individuals that want to project cool air, precisely where they need it.

 

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The Avocado factory, Canggu

The Avocado Factory is famous Bali-wide for its innovative avocado-inspired menu: the 21st century’s trendiest way to get your 5-a-day.

This top vegan friendly café  offers some revolutionary dishes from green matcha pancakes to decadent chocolate-avo mousse. All made from fresh locally sourced produce.

Created by the distinguished international chef Emilio Bean, this unique café concept is the first of its kind in Asia.

The setting

The Avocado Factory is in the heart of Bali’s hip beach town Canggu, which has a relaxed Australian surfer vibe. The district brims with swimwear and surfboard stores as well as vegan cafés and smoothie bars.

The space

The outside is clad in foliage with the signature avocado-shaped sign. There are several tables to choose from. It offers fast and friendly service as well as a good WiFi connection. Grab a seat on the bar directly overlooking the rice paddies, or sit outside and soak up the Indonesian sunshine. Decor-wise, there are crates of pineapples and other tropical fruit on display and an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs create and decorate each tantalising dish.
The crowd has a distinctly young demographic, which enhances the laid back ambiance, with many tourists from Australia, America and the UK.

The fresh juice test

To drink, we got the green juice – a refreshing blend of apple, kale, celery, cucumber, lemon and ginger.

Next, we had to review the thick chocolate smoothie made from cacao, banana, chia seeds, vegan protein, coconut water and, you guessed it, avocado!

They also offer health shots made from ingredients such as apple cider vinegar, turmeric and spirulina.

What we ate

The Avocado Factory serves meat and fish, but also caters for vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free diets.

We chose the avocado-hummus open sandwich, which included crunchy roasted chickpeas, green peas, radish and a beautifully crafted avocado rose, served on seeded sourdough toast.

We also ordered the spicy smashed avocado with chilli, grilled mushrooms and a runny poached egg on black rye sourdough.

What we’d go back for…

The restaurant is 98% plastic free and uses straws made out of cassava. Plus, all the food and drink packaging is eco-friendly.

The bill

Avo hummus  64,000 IDR
Spicy mash with egg 58,000 IDR
Soy capuccino  45,000 IDR
Detox juice 35,000 IDR
Cacao elixir  49,000 IDR
Still water 25,00 IDR

 

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Marta’s Veggie Fusion, Split

If you’re looking for a vegan café in Split, you could well walk straight past Marta’s Veggie Fusion and not give it a second glance. Bang in the heart of the Diocletian’s Palace,  it competes with the many sights of the old city. But we highly recommend their delicious raw cakes and some of the best falafel we’ve tasted outside the Middle-East.

The setting

The location couldn’t be more picturesque.

You don’t get to sip on a protein smoothie in the heart of a UNESCO listed palace everyday.

Marta’s Veggie Fusion is adjacent to the colannaded Roman courtyard, the Peristil, which forms a perfect location for a take-away. Plus, it’s next to the Cathedral of Saint Domnius. For Game Of Throne’s fans, Daenerys kept her dragons in the basement beneath the street.

The space

Marta’s is compact.  High stool tables line one wall and there’s counter seating at the bar where you can overlook the chefs cooking dishes fresh to order.  Industrial lights and fans hang from the ceiling and a large display of raw cakes features in a cabinet overlooking the street.

What else?

The staff are really helpful and hardworking. Marta’s does take away too, and if it’s not too hot, there are plenty of amazing locations to picnic nearby from the Riva to the Peristil to Park Josipa Jurja Strossmayera.

The fresh juice test

Marta’s Veggie Fusion has a choice of smoothies, juices, ginger and cinnamon shots and home made iced tea and lemonades.

 

 

 

We chose the Fresh Re-Fresh juice, a zingy mix of apple, lemon and mint, and a home made iced-tea.

What we ate

Marta’s has an international range of dishes on the menu from burritos and burgers to curries and stir fries. We decided to review the Falafel Bowl and the Hummus Plate. The falafel were perfect, slightly spiced, moist centered and crispy. They came with tahini drizzle and quinoa, slaw, hummus and rocket. The Hummus Plate came with deliciously nutty, seeded bread, olives, sweetcorn and the home made slaw.

We finished off with a raw lime and coconut cake to take away. It was creamy and light and the tart lime perfectly cut through the sweetness of the coconut.

What we’d go back for…

The location, the falafel and to try the raw chocolate cake.

The bill

Falafel Plate  63 HRK
Hummus Plate  49 HRK
Juice  35 HRK
Iced-tea  19 HRK

For more Split inspiration click here. 

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Maison Nomade, Paris

Need a vegetarian café in Paris where you can eat well and relax close to the Eurostar? The motto of Maison Nomade is meditate, eat and treat.  It’s open for breakfast, brunch and lunch, promotes zero waste and offers yoga classes on site!

The setting

Maison Nomade is in the 10th arrondissement close to Gare de l’Est with the Gare Du Nord also nearby. The café is extremely handy for commuters and Eurostar passengers. But the area is also known for pickpockets, so do take care of your belongings.

The space

The café feels more like Bali than Paris and you instantly relax when you walk in.

You will find the décor is soothing whites and pale wood.  Outside is a terrace bordered by plants and there are heating lamps for the cooler months.

The furniture inside is quite boho with sofas, chairs, pillows and hanging plants. There’s a lot of of tables inside, some shared,  so there’s plenty of  space to eat, and work. The WiFi is good.  At the bar they display freshly baked cakes and pastries. I couldn’t take my eyes off them!

The fresh juice test

The café offers a range of healthy juices and teas. We decided to review the Vitaminasana juice.

 

It was a bright blend of carrots, orange, lemon and ginger.

It is one of my favourite combinations, as it contains vegetables, but you don’t notice because of the sweetness of the orange.

What we ate

Maison Nomade serves vegetarian food with a lot of vegan and gluten free options (clearly marked on the menu).  At the weekend there’s a special brunch menu; and for lunch  and breakfast during the week they have a  fixed menu, which is typically French.

We ordered a Full Nomade menu fixé which comes with a choice of a bowl, a drink and dessert.  The choice was the Nomade bowl, curry or the Mexican bowl. We went for the Nomade bowl which was a mix of roasted butternut squash, sweet potato fries, quinoa, kimchi made off red cabbage, avocado and sukkah (we skipped the labneh). It was warm and delicious and very filling with a generous portion of quinoa.

For desert, we picked the carrot cake. It was vegan and gluten free, moist on the inside due to the grated carrots, walnuts and raisins. It was topped with some very sugary icing, but the cake wasn’t too sweet. We chose a home-made lemonade for the final part of our menu. It contained lemon, ginger and a little hint of agave. It was not sweet.

As well as the fixed menu, we also had an açaï bowl, a plat du jour and the Vitaminasana bowl. The açai bowl was delicious.  It contained cherries, dragon fruit and açai.

It was pretty sweet, but had an intense berry flavour which we really liked.

The bowl was topped off with fresh bananas, blueberries, homemade granola, coconut chips and puffed crisps.

The plat du jour was pretty special.  The base was coconut curried rice with raisins. Next was a layer of eggplant and zucchini tempura. It was not oily, but  perfectly crispy – with some super spicy warm grilled tomatoes. Finally, a layer of sprouts added the perfect finish in touch making the dish complete for me.

The little things that make the difference

You can book yoga classes at Maison Nomade. Check the website for the schedules.

The bill

Full Nomade  19EU
Açaï bowl  9EU
Plat du jour  12EU
Vitaminasana  6EU

 

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Cuppa Café de Salon, Paris

Visiting Paris and need a vegan café? They are not always easy to find so we’ve saved you time by tracking down a hidden gem- Cuppa Café de Salon tucked away on the Left Bank of the Seine. They are known across Paris for their coffee, but their vegan food is equally amazing.

The location

Cuppa Café de Salon is in the 7th arrondissement, behind the Musée d’Orsay. It’s near the Solférino metro stop or you can take bus 84 and 94 to Solférino. The iconic Café de Flore is near by, but there are no healthy hotspots in the area. So Cuppa Café is a clear winner if you need a healthy meal in Paris.

The space

Cuppa is very compact. Outside, there are two tables on either side of the door next to the windows. Inside, there are three tables, plus a couch.  All the furniture is made of stylish dark wood. The bar is dominated by their coffee machine and a delicious pastry display.

They make all the food behind the bar fresh. The service is very quick and the music is chilled. As there’s little space, it’s not the best place to take out your laptop.

The fresh juice test

The café sells teas and coffees, plus coconut water, single freshly squeezed juices and a juice of the day.

We decided to review the juice of the day, which was a blend of grapefruit, pomegranate, blueberries and strawberries.

I loved the bitterness of the grapefruit coming together with the sweetness of the strawberries.

What we ate

Cuppa Café de Salon is almost fully 100% plant based. All the food is vegan except the pain au chocolat – because why would a French person change that? Their signature dish is avocado on toast which comes with their homemade bread, and two different kinds of hummus.

We ordered the Tartine Fromage and, wow, the plant based cream cheese topping was totally delicious!

We also ordered a bowl of yoghurt and a bundt cake. The tartine came on delicious, home made, gluten-free bread.  It had a thick layer of their homemade cashew and almond cream cheese with a little agave. On top of the cheese were thinly sliced green apples, raspberries, blueberries, edible flowers and some chopped pecans, almonds and pistachios. The flavours were all there. It was a perfect balance between sweet and savoury.

The yoghurt was just as pretty. Like the bread, they made their yoghurt in-house. It’s mix of soy and coconut and the hint of coconut gave it a flavour explosion which perfectly combined with their homemade gluten-free pistachio cardamon granola. They told us they sourced the pistachios from Italy, because they have more flavour . On top of the granola was a beautiful selection of thinly sliced nectarines, strawberries, apples, blueberries, coconut chips, edible flowers and some yuzu zest. I travel a lot and have tasted many cuisines and healthy dishes all over the world, but their combination of flavours was absolutely amazing!

The Bundt cake was a mix of a normal cake with chocolate running through it.  On top was a drizzled chocolate glaze, edible flowers and chopped nuts. The cake was the perfect dessert for our lunch.

What we’d go back for…

Although they take so much care of the presentation of the food, It’s the flavours that make it a real winner.

The bill

Granola maison pistache 9,50EU
Tartine fromage 12,50EU
Bundt cake marbré 5EU
Jus du jour 7EU

 

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Meet the Glowgetter- Laura Rudoe, Evolve Beauty

Laura Rudoe graduated from Harvard Business School and followed her passion for ethical businesses that make a difference by becoming the founding employee of clean beauty pioneers NUDE  in 2006.

Today she runs the award-winning organic and vegan beauty brand Evolve Organic Beauty which is rapidly becoming a clean beauty favourite.

What was your lightbulb moment for setting up the company?

Evolve is all about helping people to make small changes in their lives to be healthier and greener. I have integrated sustainable and natural living into my lifestyle over the past 15-20 years.

I wanted to make natural beauty desirable and accessible for as many people as possible.

What was your journey to this moment?

When I was younger I suffered with bad skin and so I have always been interested in skincare and learning about the best ingredients and natural solutions for skin problems. At NUDE I loved being a part of the clean beauty revolution and once NUDE was launched I decided to take the plunge and create my own natural beauty company, Evolve Organic Beauty.

What was the best bit of advice you were ever given for setting up your own business?

When we graduated from business school, they told us to do something you love. Make your passion your business.

My passion is helping people with their skin to make a difference in the world.

Why organic? Why vegan?

I am a passionate consumer of organic products. Research is showing that organic plant based materials are better for our bodies, particularly our gut biome.

I am not a vegan although I have a mostly plant based diet. I want to offer options for people who are vegan to support them in their lifestyle choice.

What are the hjghs and lows of running a clean beauty business?
There are certainly more highs than lows now, which I’m very thankful for.

One of my favourite parts of running a clean beauty business is hearing feedback from customers about how our products have improved their skin and how happy that has made them.

In the early years, it was very challenging to initially grow the business and we boot strapped everything as the business is completely self funded which was tough, but I am very grateful now that we did it that way as it means we are completely independent and I have also done most of the roles in the business myself.

What does the term ‘clean beauty’ mean to you and how is the beauty industry changing?

To me, ‘clean beauty’ means being mindful and conscious about the beauty products we choose to buy. Every product has an impact on our planet throughout its supply chain. We need to be considering, where the ingredients are sourced from (issues include ingredient miles, water usage and bio piracy)? What about the packaging – could it release harmful chemicals either during production or during use which contaminate the product? Who manufactured it (modern slavery)? What will happen to it during use (micro beads and water pollution)?. What about the packaging at the end of its use (is it recyclable or refillable? When it breaks down does it release any chemicals?). There are so many aspects to think about when you consume any product.

Just a few years ago, clean beauty was incredibly niche, but I’m pleased that it is becoming more widely known and appreciated.

People are becoming more aware about the ingredients they put on their skin and the impact that their products may have on the environment.

 

Where are your 3 favourite organic places to eat?

I try to eat as organically as I can, and I love purchasing from veggie boxes like Abel and Cole to make sure I eat as wide a variety of organic plant based foods as possible.

My favourite organic places to eat are: Whole Foods Market salad bar if I am ever in London, Mildreds in Soho and Farmacy in Notting Hill.

What are your top 4 clean beauty items for travelling?
When travelling, I always keep a Hyaluronic Serum 200 to hand, to ensure my skin remains hydrated. When travelling, my skin can need a little tlc, which is where Hyaluronic Serum 200 comes in, as it works deep inside the skin to hydrate and plump from within!

I also cannot travel without our travel sized Daily Defence Moisture Mist, as it protects from pollution and is great for a quick refreshing treat when I’m on the go. Our nourishing Lip Treat and our protective Climate Veil Tinted SPF are also two of my travel must-haves!

How would you explain parabens, SLS and other surprises that we traditionally have used in our beauty products?
I call these question mark ingredients. Although they are generally regarded as safe and are legal to use, there are some questions about their long term safety. Some of them have been shown to be irritating and some may be disruptive to the way the body works. Although the evidence is still patchy, we and our customers prefer to avoid them and instead opt for skin-loving ingredients to protect and nourish!

What are your top 5 things that make you glow? 

Spending time with my 3 lovely children
Reading
Singing! I sing in an acapella choir, which I love.
Blending new products in our eco studio
Yoga

To buy Evolve products click here

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Maka Maka. Split

Heading to Split and looking for a plant-based café in Split? We discovered Maka Maka for a unique healthy brunch experience. There are two plant-based locations in Split. We visited their Old Town branch and also tried out their take away stall nearby.

The setting

The main café is on the corner of a pretty tree lined square in the Old Town, one street away from the Diolcletian’s Palace.

The UNESCO listed area is Instaworthy and peaceful.

Maka Maka is also near local falafel hotspot, Daddy Cool, with its iconic floral syrup drinks.

The space

So what can you expect when you arrive? A massive window opens onto the street. Outside, there are more tables in the tree shaded square and a few stool height tables for two against the wall. We loved the bright coloured cushions on the floor.

 

What else?

Maka Maka also has a take away stall on the Riva. It’s a  perfect plant-based pitstop for an evening stroll along the waterfront. It serves a range of plant-based smoothies, açai bowls, juices and kombuchas. The café also does take-aways and they are happy to pack any leftovers up for you.

The staff, especially at the stand on the Riva, are very helpful.

The fresh juice test

Need a kombucha when you are in Split? There’s a good range of smoothies and juices – seven of each, plus kombucha and shots.

We decided to review the Detox – a crisp and thirst quenching mix of cucumber, carrot, ginger apple and lemon.

What we ate

The café keep it simple and stick to doing two things very well- poké bowls and açai bowls. There’s a large choice of vegan and vegetarian bowls on offer.  We went for the for the açai.

We chose the Nalu – a blend of açai, banana, mango and coconut milk. The freezing cold mix was topped off with granola, cashews, blueberries, pineapple, coconut shavings and bee pollen.

It came in a pretty ceramic bowl.

Later in the day we visited the stand on the harbour front. We had the pink Dragon Bowl. Refreshingly cold, it contained pitaya, bananas and coconut milk. It was topped with granola, pineapple, bee pollen and berries and was perfect pre-dinner treat. We also tried a bottle of lime and ginger kombucha.

The bill

Detox juice  32HRK
Nala bowl  55HRK
Dragon bowl  55HRK
Kombucha  30HRK

For more Split inspiration click here. 

 

 

 

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Our Edit New York

Need some daily New York influence in your life? We love this classic J Crew sweatshirt.  It’s made from soft cotton, and is a relaxed fit with raglan sleeves and ribbed trims, cuffs and hem for a neat silhouette.

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We love Nick Cranston’s Luggage Labels! New York is perfect for the travel lover. It’s ideal for reminiscing about your excursions and is a lovely gift for fans of vintage. Pair with a wooden frame to add to the vintage look, or opt for black to make the charming digital print stand out. The choice is yours!

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Beat the NY heat with the Bellabeat Spring.

Spring will provide you with drinking reminders, as well as being able to work out just how much water you need, based on your lifestyle.

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Walk the NY Highline listening to the Calm app wearing these 2019 AirPods.

The 2019 Apple AirPods provide you with even more talk time, voice-activated Siri access, as well as wireless charging, thanks to the new Qi-compatible, wireless charging case. Just take the AirPods out of the case to activate them – music will start playing the moment you put the AirPods in your ears and will handily pause when you remove them.

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Shop the LA Edit

Paying a visit to Café Gratitude? What could be cooler than walking through Melrose wearing these first audio sunglasses from Bose.

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Want to be LA sun-kissed? Vegans look no further than this luxurious, lightweight moisturising body lotion that melts into the skin for a natural golden glow.

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LA is all about bulletproof coffees. This superior MCT comprises two critical medium chain fats, C8 and C10, known for creating instant energy providing ketones that support fat burn and enchanced cognitive and physical performance. True MCT is extracted using a pure steamed distillation and hydrolysis process without the use of any solvents or chemicals.

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Want a little bit of LA plant-based goodness in your own kitchen? This blend is derived from a comprehensive blend of raw whole foods, including alkalising land and sea vegetables, micro-algaes, enzymes and bacterial cultures. Carefully selected ingredients that have been balanced and prepared to ensure maximum absorption and utilization in the body at a cellular level.

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Shop the Amsterdam Edit

Carry this round the Van Gogh museum and fit right in. Swell’s Teakwood design is part of the Wood Collection, featuring a smooth matte finish and a design that resembles mixed distressed woods.

It’s vacuum sealed and keeps drinks cold for 24 hours, or hot for 12 hours. The mouth is wide enough for ice cubes and drip-free sipping.

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Create your own Dutch vegan cheese at home with this Mad Millie Vegan Cheese kit. The kit makes it easy to create delicious (guilt free!) vegan cheeses like mozzarella, halloumi, cream cheese, mascarpone, ricotta and feta at home. Good for the tummy, great for health and gentle on the earth!

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If you want to avoid the well-known tourist spots and discover the locals’ favourite addresses tuck this into your suitcase. Written by born and bred Amsterdammers, the book includes lists such as the five best vintage markets, the five best small museums and the five best concert venues, with a total 500 locations and facts that few people know.

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Inspired by the cycling culture in Amsterdam we love these static cycling bikes for your home!

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Bali edit

You may get real bamboo straws in Bali, but at home you can add some tropical fun to your drinks with these guilt-free paper straws by Talking Tables.

Each box contains 30 paper straws in bamboo design, which are 100% biodegradable.

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This soft organic body butter is perfect for pampering in the Indonesian tropics. It contains nourishing organic shea butter and natural coconut Monoi macerated in exotic blossoms of Gardenia. Leaves skin smooth, soft and fragranced with exotic natural hibiscus.

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Dreaming of Bali? Eat sustainably in style with this set of 6 palm leaf plates which are perfect for a summer soiree, and are 100% biodegradable.

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This salad bowl is reminds us of Ubud. It’s crafted from beautiful bamboo in a contemporary design by Robin Levien. Designer Levien believes in Functionality, Affordability and Beauty.

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Copenhagen edit

Broste Copenhagen sums up Scandi chic with their simple, clean lines and colour palette. What flowers would you put in yours?

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Since 1955 Broste Copenhagen has been introducing Nordic tradition into homes. Transform any plant-based meal with this stylish rose gold cutlery by Broste Copenhagen

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We love a wooden chopping board for serving up a plant-based feast the Scandi way.

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We love this suitably named new Copenhagen suitcase from John Lewis. It’s built from an ultra-lite, ultra-strong compound keeping everything safe on your travels. The lining is made from recycled, recyclable yarn.

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Avo Brothers, Milan

Looking for a plant-based or vegan café in Milan? Avo Brothers is a new experience totally dedicated to avocados. As well as celebrating all things avocado, they offer an American brunch style menu serving meat and fish alongside a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Avo Brothers is also responsible for an Italian first – they sell the revolutionary Beyond Meat burger.

The setting

Avo Brothers is in Porto Vittoria. Take tram 9 or 19 or bus 12 or 27 to Piaza Cinque Giornate, a five minute walk away.  The café is next to the beautiful church Santa Maria Del Suffragio and Muzzi, the healthy breakfast and salad bar.

The space

Avo Brothers is painted a vibrant green so you can’t miss it.  There are two large tables outside and inside there are padded emerald banquettes and velvet sofas galore.

The walls are decorated with mirrors and avocado themed paintings and the large, bright space has small marble tables and a massive sharing table.

If you go at lunchtime you will find it gets quite crowded, There is WiFi, but you should avoid working at busy times.

 

The fresh juice test

Avo Brothers have energy shots and juices, but they are known for their signature rainbow lattes. We had to try one, or two.

We ordered the raspberry chai latte and a butterfly blue latte with oat milk, both in great sized cups.

The lattes were very sweet, maybe a little bit too sweet for my taste. The raspberry one tasted like the Dutch sweets I used to eat when I was little. The staff suggested  we get the oat milk as it froths the best, but there’s also coconut, almond and soy mylk on offer.

What we ate

Avo Brothers serves plant based guilt free food and also caters for meat eaters.  The menu stretches from pancakes to smoothie bowls; from salad bowls with a side of sweet potato fries to meat- free burgers.

We decided to review the classic avocado toast on sweet potato, the açai bowl, the botanical bowl, some sweet potato fries, plus the guilt free brownie

The avocado toast came on three sweet potato slices. It had half an avocado on top sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds.  We also added scrambled eggs, which were made with almond mylk instead of regular. The sweet potatoes were nice and soft and the avocado was was perfectly ripe. We loved the idea of substituting the toast with sweet potato.

Açai is pretty rare in Italy and the açai bowl was a real winner. You can top it with honey, granola and peanut butter for free. The granola is delicious and crunchy, but not too sugary. The bowl was finished off with berries and coconut.

The Botanical Bowl comes with lettuce, carrot, avocado broccoli, mushrooms, cucumber, edamame beans and beetroot hummus with sesame and chia seeds on top. The veg were nice and crispy, not overdone, but the bowl was not overly large.

Next, we had the best, most crispiest sweet potato fries I’ve ever been served – along with some paprika aioli, which was plant based. The sweet potato fries were super crispy, but not oily at all. The dipping sauce had a really mayonnaise-y kind of texture which perfectly matched the hint of paprika powder.

Finally, we had the guilt free brownie to share. The brownie is vegan, but it is still super chewy. On top it was layered with crushed walnuts and powdered sugar.

The little things that make the difference

The bathroom is full of cute avocado paintings.  We love!

The bill

Avo Toast    €5.50
+ scrambled egg  €1.50
Açai  €8
Botanical bowl (Large) €12
Sweet potato fries  €4
Guilt free brownie  €2.50
Raspberry chai latte with oat milk €3
Butterfly blue latte €3

 

 

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East Village, Café Bristol

If you’re looking for a vegetarian café in Bristol, then why not head for beautiful Clifton? The stylish and airy East Village Café is 100% vegetarian with plenty of vegan and GF options. They also serve a mean pitaya latte.

The setting

East Village Café is in the heart of beautiful Clifton Village, surrounded by independent shops and cafés. It’s five minutes walk from Brunel’s iconic Suspension Bridge, the Observatory and the Zoo.

The space

The café is in a quiet courtyard under an arch. Outside there’s a large selection of pastel blue chairs and tables. Indoors is equally as light with high ceilings, wall sized windows and white walls. There are two large eating areas decorated with plants and pale wooden furniture and a serving bar featuring delicious cakes lines one wall.

It has feels relaxed and a retreat from the busy city centre.

 

What else?

The staff are helpful, you order at the bar and they serve at your table. They use paper straws and provide complimentary decanters of tap water.

The fresh juice test

East Village Café has fresh OJ, kombucha and a range of smoothies. We decided to review the Hula Hoop Shake – a light refreshing blend of pear, strawberry, ginger, hemp and apple juice. It was delicious. We also couldn’t resist one of their signature superfood lattes. The choice includes Blue Skies, Red Velvet, Matcha and Turmeric.

We went for the Pink Pitaya which was not too sweet and sprinkled with pretty rose petals.

What we ate

The plant-based menu is extensive. It features shakshouka, açai bowls, porridge and salads. We went for brunch and ordered the Maple and Coconut Pancakes with fresh berries and the Savoury Corn and Quinoa Waffle with extra eggs. . The pancakes were light and fluffy and packed with fruit. The waffles were crunchy and topped with perfectly cooked poached eggs.

The bill

Pink pitaya latte £4.00
Hula Hoop Shake  £4.95
Pancakes with extra fruit £8.50 + £2.50
Waffles with extra egg  £10 +£1.50

For more inspiration in Bristol click here. 

 

 

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Stem and Glory, Barbican

Looking for a plant-based meal in the Barbican? “Delicious enough to turn anyone vegan” is how Stem and Glory describe themselves. Voted best vegan restaurant in the capital by Design My Night, Stem and Glory is a must visit vegan café.

The setting

A short walk from either Barbican or St Paul’s tube station, Stem and Glory is tucked away in Barts Square. Mid-week it is popular with city workers.  At the weekend, it’s a great spot for a quiet and relaxed brunch or lunch with friends.

The space

Take a seat at one of the tables for two along the roadside or relax indoors.

You will find light grey washed tables, minimalist furnishings and lots of greenery decorating the ceiling and bar area.

The interior is modern, light and airy and the floral pattern on the windows accentuates the plants. There’s a large choice of tables and you can also unwind near the bar where they serve fine vegan cocktails, mocktails, craft beer and wines.

What else?

Stem and Glory also have an award winning restaurant in Cambridge.

The fresh juice test

We decided to review the Classic Detox Juice – one of four juices and smoothies on the menu.

It’s a bright and vibrant blend of cucumber, ginger, lime and apple.

Not too sweet and not too tangy,  it’s served with a paper straw and an edible flower. We also tried the more indulgent Chocolate Mocha – a clever cross between a smoothie and an iced coffee. The blend of banana, espresso, cacao and almond milk creates a really smooth and creamy drink finished with coffee beans.

What we ate

Everything at Stem and Glory is made fresh on the premises by a talented team of chefs. They change the dishes regularly to make the best of seasonal ingredients. We visited on a Saturday and the weekend brunch menu has some extra dishes that you won’t find mid-week. We tried their Vegan English Breakfast on the waitress’s recommendations. It was full of comforting vegan breakfast essentials- sticky sweet and smoky tempeh bacon, soft scrambled tofu, house-made baked beans, guacamole and crispy mushrooms served with toasted sourdough bread.

We also chose the RainBowl. It was packed with a rainbow of colours: green spiralised cucumber, smashed avocado, orange and purple carrot sticks, roasted beetroot slices, black and salty nori tapenade, baked butternut squash pieces and a watercress salad drizzled with a chipotle mayonnaise.

The star of the bowl was the crispy and thin seedy crackers packed with chia seeds, linseeds and pumpkin seeds.

What we’d go back for…

The service at Stem and Glory was great, with very attentive and knowledgeable staff. Next time, I will try one of the four desserts on offer which inclulde Chocolate Almond Cake, Triple-Layered Raspberry Cheesecake, Mango Cheesecake with Rich Cashew base and Ice Cream with Fruit Coulis.

The bill

Vegan English Breakfast  £12.50
RainBowl  £10.50
Classic Detox Juice  £5.00
Chocolate Mocha  £6.00

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Paradise Plantbased

Paradise Plantbased began as a raw food stall in 2014, before setting down roots in Kensal Rise in 2018. Lithuanian-born Egle owns and runs the café. She avoids using refined flours, sugars, oils and salts as well as offering an extensive range of raw and gluten-free options. Her motto is “Freshness and soul are at the heart of all that we do.”

The setting

You can find it just a short walk from either Kensal Rise or Kensal Green station and close to one of our favourite flower shops, Scarlet and Violet which is well worth a visit on the way. The pretty pastel exterior of Paradise Plantbased stands out so you won’t miss it.

The space

Walking into Paradise Plantbased is like stepping into a tropical haven . Palm trees are splashed across the walls, green plants hang from the ceiling and vast plant pots dot the café. The furniture, wall hangings and cutlery trays are all upcycled and painted by hand.

You’re greeted with a gorgeous display of raw and baked cakes, a salad buddha bowl station and a snack shelf for the chocoholics.

You’ll also find a well-stocked fridge full of gut-healthy fermented foods, drinks and waters as well as a pantry wall, packed with gluten free flours, nut butters, chocolate spreads and cereals for sale.

 

The fresh juice test

The smoothie menu at Paradise Plantbased is extensive.  We had two. The Ziggy Smoothie was packed with mango, papaya, ginger, turmeric and coconut water – a vibrant and smooth drink. Then the Green ‘N’ Mean Smoothie which was surprisingly light and refreshing. It was made with kale, spinach, pear, avocado, celery, lime, mint and coconut water but didn’t taste very “green” despite the abundance of raw vegetables and fruit.

What we ate

From açai bowls to burgers, raw pizzas to posh mac ‘no’ cheese and with any combination of smoothies and hot drinks, you’re spoilt for choice.

We had the Apple Pancakes with chocolate sauce which were delightfully light and fluffy thanks to the Khorasan flour. We had to review their signature Paradise Breakfast plate, which features with home-made sunseed sausages, a baked bean filled avocado rose, mushrooms, sourdough toast and umami rich silky scrambled ackee. The ackee was definitely a highlight.

We also tried their Bagel and Beans – a wholemeal bagel loaded with home-made smoky beans, crunchy spicy coconut chip clusters, fresh tomatoes and slices of avocado.

The creamy cashew cheese sauce on top was a real winner here. We also sampled a small buddha bowl of sweet potato wedges, crunchy chickpeas and garlicky green beans which was great.

The dessert fridge was fully stocked with raw cheesecakes, baked cookies and protein balls and truffles. We tried the Chocoholic Raw Cheesecake which was a quadruple layered cheesecake of nutty hazelnut base and a creamy rich chocolate cashew-based cheesecake layer. We also tried their baked Chocolate Brownie Cake complete with edible flowers – delicious!

What we’d go back for

We would definitely go back for the original and homemade touch to each dish, the striking interior and the amazing array of handmade vegan bakes and raw cakes.

The bill

Apple pancakes  £8.50
Paradise breakfast  £11.00
Bagel and beans  £9.00
Small buddha bowl  £4.00
Ziggy smoothie  £6.00
Green ‘N’ Mean smoothie  £6.00
Chocolate brownie  £4.50
Chocoholic raw cheesecake  £4.60

 

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Meet the Glowgetter, Alexi von Eldik, Cru8

Since we first discovered Cru8 Paleo ‘bread’ packed with almonds and flaxseed at Planet Organic we have not stopped buying it. Gluten free, dairy free and sugar free it ticks all our healthy eating boxes but above all tastes totally delicious. Curious about who had created such delicious ‘bread’, we tracked down the founder and creator Alexi Von Eldik to find out more about the story behind the brand.

What was your lightbulb moment?

In 2011 was suffering from pre-diabetes symptoms as well as depression. A friend suggested a diet change whilst another advised me to read Clean by Dr Alejandro Junger. I started incorporating high raw food and vegetables into my diet and I began to feel better.

At the time I was working in Mayfair as a business consultant. I loved feeding people and ultimately wanted to help people.

New York was my inspiration where I saw lots of detox and food delivery companies growing.

Back in London, I began making and delivering food after work. My clients were my friends at first and I offered them a 5 day detox. They were a big hit. One friend lost 3 stone over 6 weeks. I was getting up at 5am to deliver the detoxes while working.  But in 2012 I quit my job to do it full time from my kitchen.

My clients loved the detoxes but after they finished wanted to continue the healthy lifestyle with healthy snacks. They asked me to make them and looking back that was my lightbulb moment.

How did you get started?

I started packaging Paleo bread and snacks very simply. The Farmers’ market on the Kings Road was opposite my house and they gave me a stand. In 2014 I rebranded to my current branding and packaging. We were quickly spotted by Whole Foods and Planet Organic and the Cru8 brand took off really quickly.

Branding is everything. The product has to taste good but eye appeal is the initial hook. Another friend in the food business recommended a tiny team with a branding agency who came up with our brand look.

 

What were the next steps?

In 2016 we opened the deli just off the Kings Road .We have a production kitchen in Battersea. I used to make everything myself at home but now we are growing. I’m self-funded to date but now looking for investment.

What are the highs and lows of being a nutripreneur?

It takes persistence knocking on doors day after day. The highs are influencing clients positively and getting great results. Other highs are getting emails from people who love the brand and can literally taste the difference our products make to their health. People need access to food that is helpful and benefits them.

The food industry has designed food to be addictive but people also have to take responsibility.

It’s so important for people to take control of what they eat. The minute they do then they start to feel inspired. I think your taste buds change. I can’t eat the sweet stuff anymore. Once you do a detox your palette gets cleansed.

What is the future?

We are currently fund raising to grow the business. We are focusing on getting SALSA certified so we can sell through supermarkets like Ocado.

Why Paleo?

Paleo is low carb, no grains and no legumes and no dairy. Carbs come mainly from vegetables.

It’s an anti-inflammatory diet so you lose any puffiness in your body. Inflammation is the start of disease. It balances out hormones and blood sugar. It’s also gut healing because they are now finding grain causes inflammation in the gut.

If someone wanted to try a Paleo lifestyle where should they start? Run us through a daily meal plan.

Breakfast

Cru8 Paleo granola which is packed with nuts and seeds with Plenish almond milk.

Lunch

Salmon and a big salad and lots of raw food.
Snack on nuts

Dinner

Soup, a veggie soup. 75% of plate has to be veggie. Flaxseed crackers or protein bread. Or chicken and broccoli.

What are your favourite books?

Clean – Expanded Edition: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body’s Natural Ability to Heal Itself by Alejandro Junger (Author), Amely Greven (Contributor)

Sarah Ballantyne: The Paleo Approach: Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body

Fat for Fuel: A Revolutionary Diet to Combat Cancer, Boost Brain Power, and Increase Your Energy by Joseph Mercola (Author)

Paolo Coehlo- The Alchemist

Eckhart Tolle – The Power of Now

For someone who wants to make one change towards a healthier lifestyle what would you recommend?

I’d say start eating more nutritionally dense foods, foods that are full of nutrition and are actually going to benefit your body rather than deplete it.

To buy Cru8 products click here for our shop.

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Organic Market, Marbella

Organic Market is Marbella’s top destination for a plant-powered brunch. They promote plant-based, organic eating and a chemical free approach to food. You can pick from their colourful superfood smoothies, or pile your plate high with nutritious veg from the salad bar, or simply pop in for a vegan cacao brownie and a quinoa croissant.

 

The setting

Located off the main road in the heart of Marbella, Organic Market is near the hip Marbella Club Hotel. You will find stylish hotels and cafés. The area is fairly quiet for most of the year but turns into a buzzing hotspot for tourists during summer.

The space

At Organic Market we loved the interior.

Matching green plants are printed on the wallpaper, sofas and cushions. There are mirrors, fresh greenery and wooden tables everywhere.

We sat outside on the bamboo-style wicker chairs to make the most of the Spanish sunshine. There are shady umbrellas and plenty of indoor seating too. The table service is fast and friendly and the WiFi connection allows you to get your laptop out and tap away while sipping on a matcha latte and soaking up the tranquil atmosphere.

What else?

Loved by tourists, you’ll overhear at least a few different languages being spoken at Organic Market – lots of English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. In peak Summer season, it gets very busy, so you should make a reservation to be on the safe side. Although, the sizeable amount of seating means you’ll probably manage to get a table.

The fresh juice test

We decided to review also their signature green juice- the Victoria’s Secret. It  was made on-site from a refreshing blend of courgette, cucumber, apple, spinach, kale and lemon. You will love it!

What we ate

Organic Market has a range of organic plant-based, meaty, gluten-free and dairy-free options, catering for anyone and everyone.

We ordered the smashed avocado with edamame beans on seeded protein bread, as well as the Eggs Florentine – onions, potatoes and poached eggs served on a bed of spinach pancakes. Both dishes were delicious and beautifully presented on wooden boards. The Choco-nuts brownie was crammed with pecans and pistachios and was equally yummy.

The little things that make the difference

You can enjoy browsing the BioShop inside.You will find health food products from a variety of established and emerging brands.

Stock up on delicious raw chocolate, gluten-free cereals, olive oils, energy bars, kale chips, seeded crackers and so much more.

Plus, there’s a choice of healthy snacks such as raw chocolate, nut butters and gluten-free granola.

The bill

Victoria’s Secret  €8
Cappuccino  €3.50
Choco-nuts brownie  €6
Eggs florentine  €11
Avocado toast  €7

To book your trip to Marbella with our partners Expedia click here. 

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Wave, Hackney

WAVE stands for We Are Vegan Everything and is the brainchild of cupcake queens Cait and Soph. Their company ‘Cupcakes and Shhht’ is renowned for frosted cupcakes and cookie sandwiches. The duo created WAVE to offer good, honest and delicious food. The café is proudly fully vegan and on a mission to prove that vegan food is the future.

The setting

WAVE is a 5-minute walk from Hackney Central overground station. Set in a private courtyard with wide, bright glass doors and windows, the café has a large indoor and outdoor seating area.

The space

Outdoors the wooden tables are surrounded by small stools as well as a gorgeous ground seating area covered in patterned rugs, comfy cushions and cosy throws. Or you can relax in their numerous hanging egg chairs.  There are two outside and two hammock chairs inside too.

The light and airy nature of the café has a chilled-out Bali beach vibe.

There are cosy wooden sofas, plush pillows and lots of greenery – plants in vases, flowers on the tables and green foliage dotting the seating areas.

Inside you are welcomed with a well-stocked counter top of fresh sourdough cheese stuffed sandwiches, vegan cream and faux-salmon bagels as well as a selection of bakes, raw bakes and power snacks.

The fresh juice test

All the juices at WAVE are made in house. The Goodness Gracious Green is a vibrant  mix – a not too sweet blend of spinach, apple, spirulina, cucumber, lemon and ginger. It is a real refresher and feels packed with goodness.

We also had the Himalayan salted coffee which comes with oat milk as standard, as do all the hot drinks at WAVE. It tasted just like caramel. Served like a latte, rich and creamy, it tasted unique!

What we ate

The menu at WAVE is extensive with every dish sounding – and looking – delicious.

Decorated with edible flowers, fresh herbs and nuts and seeds, each dish is presented in beautiful stoneware crockery.

We chose the famous Brekky Bowl – a buddha bowl style breakfast feast. It’s filled with organic turmeric scrambled tofu with chives and black salt, basil toasted plum tomatoes, garlic and parsley fried mushrooms, smoky aubergine and avocado served with a fresh wedge of lemon, chilli flakes, mixed seeds, walnuts and rocket.  The dish is gluten-free and packed with flavour. The sticky glazed aubergine was the real highlight of the bowl.

We also had the Mac and Cheese – a creamy and light macaroni pasta in a vegan cheesy sauce topped with roasted tomatoes and broccoli, crispy kale, rich umami coconut bacon and fresh micro herbs.

We spotted slices of pink frosted strawberry and pistachio cake, thickly-stuffed cookie sandwiches, raw berry cheesecakes and peanut butter chocolate slices.

We chose the sticky and generously glazed cinnamon roll. It was subtly sweet and filled with so much cinnamon. Light and fluffy with a silky-smooth glaze, this bun is the perfect afternoon delight.

What we’d go back for

The staff are really friendly and informative, adding an inviting touch to the already incredible eatery.

The bill

Greens juice £5.00
Brekky bowl  £12.50
Mac and cheese £10.00
Salted coffee £3.50
Cinnamon roll £3.50

 

 

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Peloton Supershop, Bali

Know what a Peloton is? It’s a group of cyclists who bike together to build speed and conserve energy. They share the effort and strive to reach their goal as a group. The Peloton Supershop café has the same aim. It’s a café where people come together, share their journey and eat delicious plant-based food. Plus, it’s a restaurant and a bicycle store in one.

The location

The café is on the busy road Jl. Pantai Berawa, which connects Canggu and Seminyak. The easiest way to reach it is by taxi.

The space

From the outside, Peloton Supershop has huge, inviting windows. There’s no ground floor outside area, but it does have a second floor roof terrace. There’s a large sitting area (featuring bikes), and they have a communal table where you can sit on with a group or just by yourself. I chose the welcoming blue, soft couch with a wooden table. They also have super cute graphite blue tables. The service is very quick, even when it’s busy. I arrived around 4pm and it was still super crowded. There’s very strong working wifi, and it’s a great spot to work on your laptop!

The fresh juice test

Peloton Supershop have six juices and a selection of smoothies and shots.

I decided to review the Minty Magic juice. For me, it wasn’t really a juice, but more like a home-made lemonade with lemon, ginger and mint. The taste was mellow, but the juice still had a lot of flavour. They also have a choice of warm up, cool down and Ayurvedic drinks.

What we ate

Almost all their food is organic and made with local produce. They don’t use any palm oil in their kitchen and their used oils are donated to the Green school to fuel their Bio bus.

After eating a lot of rice and nasi, I was craving fresh salad so I picked the Powerhouse bowl with some sweet potato fries as a side and a carrot cake muffin as dessert.

The powerhouse bowl was filled with  greens, roasted pumpkin, broccoli, crunchy brown rice, marinated tempeh, carrot, cashews and hummus.

I also got toasted sourdough bread with garlic and an infused balsamic dressing for my salad. The salad bowl was huge and filling. The toast was deliciously toasted and the spread on it really finished everything off nicely.

The sweet potato fries were not super crunchy, but were still delicious. They were served with a homemade BBQ sauce which gave the perfect finishing touch to the dish and they came in a woven basket.

The carrot cake muffin was gluten free and huge. It was filled with grated carrot and a lot of raisins. On top was a huge layer of “cream cheese” and a walnut. The frosting made the muffin very sweet, but the cake itself was not too sweet and packed with flavour.

The bill

Sweet potato fries  35K IDR
Powerhouse bowl   75K IDR
Carrot muffin  45K IDR
Minty magic juice (Large)  30K IDR

 

 

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Cafe Organic, Bali

Café Organic base their menu and environment around wellbeing and sustainability. They support local farmers and they have also become a Bali Instagram sensation. They specialise in vegetarian and health-conscious meals with a farm to table concept. So, I had to check them out!

The setting

Café Organic has three locations- Seminyak, Canggu and Umalas. We went to the one in Seminyak which is near the famous beach club Potato Head and KYND Community. It’s on the main road which leads to all the hotels.

The space

They’ve surrounded their terrace with lush plants and palm tree parasols to create a more secluded, jungle vibe. Outside are picnic tables and inside the restaurant is split into two halves. On the left is a small lounge with wooden and bamboo chairs and a striking “garden gangsta’s” mural on the wall. There are homemade cakes and pies on display and the bar where they make all the fresh juices and coffees.

The café is surprisingly large. It has a central wall with soft sofas and a selection of tables.

The walls are full of art giving the restaurant a very modern look.

They have good working wifi, but I would advise against lingering at rush hour, since it gets very crowded. Café Organic is an Australian concept cafe, so expect a lot of tourists, Instagrammers and influencers. It’s well known so is always busy from around 10am.

The little things that make the difference

Even though the Seminyak location is in the busiest part of town, Café Organic feels calm with their lush terrace planting.

The fresh juice test

There is a good choice of juice options and they will also create one for you if you don’t like what’s on offer. We decided to review the Heart beet juice which was packed with apple, carrot, beetroot, ginger and lemon and had a pretty slice of pineapple on top of the glass. It had quite a savoury flavour, but the apple, ginger and lemon added enough sweetness.

The juice had a very beautiful deep purple and red colour and came with a metal straw. Go zero waste!

What we ate

Cafe Organic serves vegetarian and plant based food with several gluten free options. Each dish is made with the finest organic ingredients supporting local farmers, conscious agriculture and environmentally friendly products. Expect one of the longest menus you’ve ever seen with an insane amount of options.

Two of their smoothie bowls are served in a coconut shell, so obviously we had to try them. We ordered the Açai coco with an extra dot of homemade peanut butter, also we had the Troppo chia pudding, a mermaid latte and the Chocotella coffee tart.

The Açai coco was the most beautiful bowl that has ever been served to me.

The base was made of açai berries, raspberries, cranberries, banana and mango. It was beautifully topped with fresh banana, mango slices, strawberry slices, super crunchy granola, toasted coconut, almonds and blueberries. The toppings added the perfect finishing touch. The peanut butter (we added extra) was delicious, it had a super crunch and was not solid at all!

The Troppo was a chia pudding soaked in coconut yoghurt with stunning, purple homemade pitaya nice cream on top made out of pitaya, banana and cashew mylk. On top of this was another layer of Coyo,, house made crunchy granola and banana slices. The granola gave a perfect crunch to the dish.

The Chocotella coffee tart was one of their raw vegan treats and a very good choice. They decorated the cake with some shaved coconut, almonds and chocolate.

We also ordered a mermaid latte with almond mylk. The colour of the latte was a very earthy blue/grey colour and it had a different flavour than I expected, but the almond mylk did not really foam up sadly!

The bill

Heart beet 39K RPH
Açai coco  75K RPH
+ Homemade peanut butter 10K RPH
The Troppo  50K RPH
Chocotella coffee tart  45K RPH
Mermaid latte  40K RPH
+ Almond mylk

 

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Crussh, Kensington

Crussh is the capital’s original juice and healthy fast food grab and go café. It launched back in 1998.

We love them for moving healthy food hotspots into a hospital, a sports centre and a university. With 35 stores across London,  Crussh continues to innovate including becoming this month the first food outlet on the high street to offer CBD oil boosters in lattes and coffees. We paid a visit to one of the original locations on Kensington High Street.

The setting

Crussh Kensington is located at the Kensington Gardens end of Kensington High Street, a short stroll from the tube, Whole Foods and Hyde Park. It’s a handy location to pick up a healthy picnic for the park.

The space

Crussh is primarily a take-away, but in the back room there are four large tables and a handful of small tables if you want to eat in. The rest of the café is minimal with crisp white tiles and open fridges full of salads and sandwiches. Plus there is a smoothie bar where they blend smoothies in front of you as you wait. We visited mid-afternoon which was was quite busy, although there were a few empty seats.

We decided to grab and go, as Kensington Gardens, with its boating lake and stunning sunken garden, is just across the road.

 

The little things that make a difference

The packing is totally sustainable and recyclable straws are on sale at the till. Crussh  also uses strong paper straws rather than single use plastic.

The fresh juice test

Crussh has an impressive selection of fresh juices and boosters, but we picked a smoothie. We decided to review the The Crusshberry Blast. The mix of low fat yoghurt, apple juice, raspberries, blueberries and bananas hit the spot. It was admittedly pretty sweet, due to the apple juice, but the staff are happy to tailor make if you ask to leave out the apple juice.

Crussh has brought CBD oil to the High Street.  For an extra £1.50, you can now add a CBD booster to your coffee or latte.

We tried the turmeric latte version. You couldn’t taste the CBD oil.  It was a perfect partner to the bittersweet chocolate and peanut butter protein balls.

What we ate

There’s a good selection of vegan and plant-based food on the menu. From protein pots to super salad boxes and from a daily warm selection to their signature healthpots. We chose the Lentil and Herb Healthpot and the Butterbean Tomato and Parsley Healthpot. The former has always been a huge favourite of ours. This good sized, well priced, pot contains green lentils, cucumber, feta cheese, red peppers, mint and parsley.

It’s fresh and filling and the mint and parsley add a kick to the velvety lentils and cheese.

The second pot was a combo of cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes butter beans, shallots and parsley. It was creamy and filling. Finally, we tried a desert pot. The Crussh Key Lime Pie was a  lime and avocado mousse with a cacao nut base. It was pretty sweet with a massive kick of lime, but not as sweet as a traditional key lime pie. The crunchy cacao base evened out the sweetness and added texture.

What we’d go back for…

The convenience, the multiple locations, the filling smoothies and the amazing lentil health pot. The reasonable prices for healthy food in central London are also a hit with us.

The bill

(take away prices)

Crusshberry blast smoothie (S) £3.60
Lentil and herb healthpot   £2.80
Butterbean and and cherry tomato healthpot  £2.80
Key lime pie £2.75
Turmeric latte £2.50
+ CBD oil  £1.50

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Seed and Soil, Singapore

Seed and Soil is a must visit grab and go in Central Singapore. They make all their food and drinks fresh each day and avoid the use of dairy, gluten, chemical additives and preservatives. We couldn’t wait to review their signature smoothie bowls and test the large, cold-pressed juice selection.

The setting

Seed and Soil is in a tiny space in Tanjong Pagar Plaza near Chinatown. Take the green line to Tanjong Pagar or Outram Park.

The space

Seed and Soil is in a little open area set back from the traffic. You are welcomed with a large glass door featuring the Seed And Soil logo. Inside, there’s not a lot of space. There are two tables, four chairs and two wooden benches, as they’re essentially a take away. It wasn’t very busy when we sat down, although there was a stream of grab and go customers.

Seed and Soil blend the smoothie bowls fresh at the bar in the shop, which can be noisy.  There isn’t any wifi, but there is a public wifi signal to use.

The fresh juice test

What I liked about the large juice menu is that they divide the juices into four categories-rest and destress, protect and strengthen, care and preserve and detox and heal.

I got the 350ML Golden Palm juice which was a blend of Manuka honey, pineapple, orange, lemon, ginger and basil leaves from the rest and destress category.  The juice was a little spicy, because of the lemon and ginger, but the Manuka honey made it very smooth and soft on my throat.

What we ate

Seed and Soil serve 100% plant based smoothie bowls. Their best selling dish is the açai bowl. We ordered the large Morning Glory chia pudding and the large Green Glow smoothie bowl.

The chia pudding was soaked in some unsweetened soy milk and came with some fresh fruits, seeds, coco chips and nuts. We added some extra peanut butter on top.

The chia pudding wasn’t sweet, which meant the flavours were very pure.

However, although we ordered a large bowl, it was still quite small in terms of the toppings, especially as we paid more for extra peanut butter.

 

 

We also ordered the Green Glow which is a blend of spinach, banana, pineapple and coconut water. The bowl came with the same toppings as the Morning Glory: fresh fruits, seeds and coconut chips. Both the bowls had some hidden ground flaxseed as a first layer, which added a nice texture. The bowl wasn’t too sweet, but it was also a small portion.

The little things that make the difference

Seed and Soil also do cleanse packages featuring the juice range.

The bill

Morning glory (large) 12SGD
Green glow (large) 12SGD
Toppings top up 1SGD
Golden palm 350ml  10SGD

 

 

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Feya, Marylebone

Feya is famous for its pastel décor, butterflies, white blossoms and glistening fairy lights. It’s such a must-visit for locals, bloggers and tourists alike that Amy and I decided to visit and do Glowcation’s first joint review.

It’s run by Zahra Khan, a chef and graduate of Gordon Ramsay’s Tante Marie Culinary Academy. The impressive brunch menu was designed by Virpi Mikkonen, a Finnish author and the blogger behind Vanelja.

The setting

Feya is on St. James Street in Marylebone, just a stone’s throw from St Christopher’s Place and Selfridges. It’s a peaceful escape from the busy crowds of Oxford Street.

The space

From the outside, you can’t miss the iconic cherry blossom trees and glass cake stands in the window.

The floral theme continues inside, with golden butterflies on the pastel pink walls.

Dusky pink chairs and velvet couches add to the elegant atmosphere. There are small marble-top tables and golden cutlery. The quick turnaround of tables means you’re likely to get a seat. But don’t expect to get your laptop out and spend the day there. In particularly busy times, you can choose grab and go. We love the aqua algae or emerald matcha with your choice of dairy or plant-based milk.

 

The fresh juice test

Feya has a selection of cold-pressed juices and smoothies. With so many options to choose from, we eventually decided to review the the layered Mermaid Smoothie. It features dragon fruit, zucchini and blue spirulina and it was delicious. We also had to try one of their six speciality lattes – the pretty Pearl Rose latte with oat milk.

What we ate

The brunch menu has the most choice.

We ordered the Be Gentle – pink oats, caramel chia pudding, mashed rose raspberries, banana flowers and rose petals.

In addition, we tried the Pastel Rainbow Smoothie – a two-tone smoothie bowl with pineapple, banana, spirulina, pitaya and coconut milk, topped with crunchy granola, edible flowers and fresh fruit.

 

While there are several vegan and gluten-free options to choose from, the menu also caters to non-vegans, with dishes such as chicken cobb salad, pesto pasta and a goat’s cheese quiche. The signature dish is avocado toast where the avocado is carved into roses on a bed of hot pink hummus dyed with beetroot. However, the bread which it comes on does contain dairy. The food at Feya is relatively pricey, but is very good quality and stunningly presented.

The little things that make the difference

The decoration is undoubtedly the most outstanding factor of Feya and is what draws people in from near and far.

The bill

Be Gentle  £8.50
Pastel Rainbow Smoothie  £10.70
Mermaid Smoothie  £8.50
Pearl Rose Latte  £5.50

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Zest, Ubud

Zest has amazing views, an uber cool space and they are 100% plant-based. They use “locally grown tasty fruits, shoots and roots” to create their innovative dishes. The restaurant sources produce from local organic farmers, artisans and even their own staff.

The setting

Zest is a little uphill walk from the centre of Ubud, near the stunning Campuhan Ridge walk .

The space

Although Zest is on a busy road, as soon as you enter you instantly feel a sense of calm.  You pass a Buddha and it looks like you’re entering a temple, not a restaurant.

The space is built around a tree. There are relaxing sofas, and tables with an amazing view of Campuhan Ridge and modern art on the interior walls .

They have a very strong WiFi and you can work. However, if it’s busy they politely ask you to move to quieter area of the restaurant.

You can reserve tables (and it does get busy at lunch and dinner time), sit in or get a take away. When I came to review it was around 9 am and pretty peaceful. The food comes fast and the service is super friendly.

The little things that make a difference

This menu is interesting. It promotes native superfoods such as moringa, soursop, starfruit,  jackfruit, cassava, and turmeric. Plus, we were impressed by their commitment to being an eco-conscious establishment. They aim for zero waste by using cloth drink coasters, cloth napkins and glass and metal straws.

The fresh juice test

They have a great drinks menu including warm infusions, elixirs, shots, shakes, smoothies and freshly squeezed juices.

I had a carrot, beetroot, jicama and ginger juice. It had a very earthy taste because of the vegetables and the ginger gave it a strong spice kick.

The juice was freshly made and came with a metal straw. Next, I had fresh moringa shot with pineapple, as I wanted to sample a local superfood.  Most of the Balinese people kick start their day with a moringa shot. The beautiful green shot tasted of the pineapple, but I felt great afterwards.

What we ate

Zest serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have a lot of vegan options on the menu from Indonesian food, to tapas to raw pizzas. I had the Zest pancakes and the smoothie bowl, which are two of the famous breakfast dishes at Zest.

The smoothie bowl was a blend of banana, moringa and katuk leafs and was topped with dragon fruit, papaya, granola, shaved coconut, cashews, granola and mint leaves.

It looked beautiful and was very tasty. The pancake was stacked with mango, coconut, caramelised banana and topped with a rich chocolate sauce and dragon fruit.

What we’d come back for…

The view over Ubud is amazing. Incredible plant-based food and that view of nature- what’s not to love!

The bill

Zest pancakes  70K RPH
Green smoothie bowl  78K RPH
Fresh moringa and pineapple shot  25K RPH
Carrot, beetroot, ginger, jicama juice  50K RPH

 

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It’s Pleat, White City

Mention H&M and you would be forgiven for thinking fast fashion and hot homeware. But now the Swedish trendsetter is taking on plant-based brunch and super lattes at their Westfield flagship store with It’s Pleat.

It’s Pleat, is an in-store café serving healthy breakfasts, lunches and treats throughout store opening hours. Plus everything is packaged in plant based, decomposable materials.

The setting

Set in the heart of the Westfield White City shopping centre, It’s Pleat adds a corner of  serenity the shopping mall. The café is H&M’s first in the UK, and their fourth globally. The first was launched in Stockholm in 2018.

Once inside, you’d have no idea that you were in a mega shopping centre. The café is kitted out with plants, marble and blush pink furniture and feels very calm.

The space

Even though this is a grab-and-go style set up, the café is well equipped for  eating in. They have super comfortable chairs and beautiful interiors and they also provide bronzed cutlery and stunning crockery for you to transfer your food onto, so you’re not eating out of a take-away box.

The little things that make a difference

They have seeded crackers by the counter for you to try whilst you’re paying. You can’t go wrong with a pre-lunch snack!

I also loved the fact they have a range of cookery and Lagom (move over Hygge) books dotted around for customers to flick through whilst enjoying their lunch.

The fresh juice test

I decided to review the green juice. It was really refreshing and contained 40% cucumber and so it wasn’t too sweet. As well as the cucumber,  it was loaded with apple, spinach, lemon and ginger. For me,  it could have done with a little bit more ginger for a real kick, but other than that it was very delicious.

What we ate

We had the rainbow salad which was beetroot tri-colour quinoa, with roasted turmeric cauliflower, three different types of hummus (sweet potato, beetroot and herby hummus), avocado and picked carrots and onions.

The salad was packed with a load of spices, textures, colours and flavours.

It was thoroughly enjoyable and well flavoured. I would definitely order it again. They also have a range of soups, sandwiches, salads and wraps meaning there really is something for everyone.

We also got the seaweed seeded cracker topped with beetroot hummus, which aside from being very aesthetically pleasing was absolutely delicious. The smooth hummus worked really well with the crunchy cracker.

Finally, we got a matcha latte. As a self-confessed matcha addict, I’ve tried my fair share of matchas around London and if I may go so far as to say this is one of the best I’ve had. It’s Pleat also offer a golden latte and a blush latte.

We passed on the sweet treats, although they had a large selection of energy balls, cakes, cookies and snacks to grab and go.

What we’d go back for…

If you’re an interior nerd, then you’ll be blown away by the bathrooms. They’re kitted out with blush pink floor tiles and pink walls. The plants are also a really soothing addition. The chilled music was a lovely edition to the calm vibes and quiet setting. I would really recommend visiting especially if you want a healthy option in Westfield and can’t wait to go back!

The bill

Rainbow salad  £7.90
Matcha latte  £3.90
Green juice  £3.70
Flatbread with beetroot hummus  £1.90

For more WestLondon inspiration click here. 

 

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Rainbow Rawfood, Tokyo

Rainbow Rawfood’s owner, Keiichi Kato had his healthy lightbulb moment when he dropped out of high school at 16 and left Japan for the US. There he began a new health regime of fruit for breakfast and fasting with enzyme juice. Next, he enrolled in cookery school to learn how to make raw vegan food. In 2010, he returned to Japan to open Rainbow Rawfood in Hamamatsucho. Now he’s relocated to Ebisu. I couldn’t wait to review this rare raw food gem.

The setting

Rainbow Rawfood is in Ebisu, a five minute walk from the metro station.  It’s on the eighth floor of the building and in the evening, after 5 pm, it becomes the Hemp Café and the menu changes. At this height, there’s a really  cool view of the area. Healthy hotspots KO-SO cafe and Marugo Deli Ebisu are nearby.

The space

Rainbow Rawfoods has menu boards outside, but you need to take the stairs or the elevator to its eighth floor location. The café has a Hawaiian theme and plays Hawaiian music. The chairs and tables are wooden with black padding and the wall is decorated with Hawaiian ornaments and a surfboard!  They also have a little balcony where you can sit.

The service is very quick and you could definitely get your laptop out to work, as I did. They have strong wifi.

The fresh juice test

The juice of the day was green and so thick- it was more like a smoothie. It changes daily depending on local market produce. Mine was made of pineapple, apple, spinach and fruit from Okinawa. I loved the taste, because I’d never tried the famous Okinawa fruit before.

What we ate

For lunch they offer set menus. The mains are raw sushi rolls or wraps with a juice of the day and a side dish.

Their whole menu is raw and vegan which is rare in Tokyo, especially with sushi  rolls.

I picked the raw sushi set, curry as a side dish and a raw pie as dessert. The raw sushi was mock monkfish liver, carrots, lettuce, avocado and cucumber. On the side was a raw pad thai salad of cabbage, a sour sauce and some toasted chopped walnuts. The curry was mini, but perfectly sized. It came with brown rice and was nice and warm.

I was full, but not bloated after my meal which I really liked, as I still had some room left for dessert. They have a selection of three raw pies, ice cream, pancakes and also a lava cake. I chose the hempseed cheese cake, with a strawberry and beets sauce. The flavour was very light and simple and the pastel pink sauce added a special vibe

The little things that make the difference

I loved the interior and the music, it gave all the Hawaiian vibes you need! It’s important to know they only accept cash.

The bill

Lunch menu 1350¥
Dessert 980¥

 

 

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Kombucha on tap at London cafés

Where can you find the best kombucha in London? The 2000 year old fermented tea drink is packed with probiotics and said to support gut health. And you know kombucha’s gone mainstream when Pret-a-Manger bring out their own version. Cafés are now busy brewing their own craft versions where you can get it on tap. Here’s our top three Glowcations in London for a home brewed fermented fix.

Plant Hub, Hackney

The ever innovative David Bez now runs the Plant Hub and Academy with  chefs Lauren Lovatt and Antonio Alderuccio. Not only is it a community hub and café for all things plant-based, it’s now east London’s hotspot for the beverage.

Plant Hub offers four delicious flavours on ice – lavender, blood orange, thyme and turmeric.

In addition, there’s a tempting selection of kombucha based mocktails. This includes the Kombuchito (thyme kombucha, coconut sugar, mint, lemon and ice) and the Floral (lavender kombucha, grapefruit and ice). We can’t resist.

To read more about Plant Hub click here.

High Mood Food, Marylebone and Spitalfields

High Mood Food is the first grab-and-go café in London to focus on gut health.

Their salads, bread, drinks and deserts are all made from natural, fermented, living food.

So, it’s not surprising that amongst their array of live fermented foods, kombucha takes centre stage. High Mood Food stocks several craft varieties: Momo, Wild Fizz, Fix 8 and Boo Chi. Interestingly, they also have several home-brewed kombucha products on sale. This includes a kombucha vinegar and the newly launched raspberry kombucha sorbet.

To read more about High Mood Food click here.

Caravan, Bankside

Caravan Bankside is the third branch of Caravan and is the one to visit for a house-made immune boosting ferment.

Bankside brew their own immune boosting kombucha and shrubs as part of their Ferments and Sodas menu.

The pro-biotic soda range of ginger and galangal soda, beetroot and clementine shrub, lacto rhubarb and vanilla soda and coconut and lime water kefir makes decision making tricky.

 

To read more about Caravan, Bankside click here.

 

 

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Our favourite Glowcations, Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of our favourite cities. It’s packed with canals, art galleries, flower markets and museums. However, what attracts us most is the cool vibe and the huge choice of plant-based food. The selection of vegetarian and vegan cafés can be quite daunting. Luckily, two of our Glowstars, Fabienne Dobbe and Fleur Maat are local and Dutch, so we can really narrow down your hit list. Here’s our top three must visit vegan and vegetarian cafés in Amsterdam.

Lavinia Good Food, Centrum

Lavinia Good Food is a hidden gem in the historic centre of Amsterdam. Sat on the pretty Kerkstraat, between two canals, it is charming, laid back and serves a mean gluten-free pizza. The food is mostly vegetarian and vegan, but they also have some salmon dishes if you eat fish.

Lavinia has an all day brunch and lunch menu with lattes, juices, cocktails, beers and organic wines.

We suggest  ordering The Lavinia bowl with whole grain cous cous, roasted sweet potato, chickpeas, pickled red cabbage and home made hummus. Model Fabienne thinks the vegan vanilla pie is “a must! ”

To read more about Lavinia Good Food click here.

Juice Brothers, several locations

Our favourite spot for a vitamin packed juice is Juice Brothers. Founded in 2015 by four friends on a canal holiday, it’s now a huge success and has  several branches in Amsterdam, plus two in New York. We love their Haarlemmerbuurt branch with its view of the iconic ”Willemsbrug”. The café and grab and go is modern and minimal. You order at the bar and the eating area is upstairs.

Juice Brothers have a mega choice when it comes to drinks: ten juices, three tonics, three mylks, six shots and ten smoothies! We suggest the Unicorn’s Blood – a fresh and spicy mix of watermelon, pineapple, ginger and lemon.

And there’s the smoothie bowls… all the smoothie and açai bowls are made with made with non dairy organic products. We love their signature bowl the Almond açai.

Finally, they sell Van Leeuwen the vegan ice-cream brand. Fabienne and Fleur suggest grabbing one to go. Plant-based heaven.

To read more about Juice Brothers click here. 

The Meets, De Pijp

The Meets is in the Pijp, one of Amsterdam’s coolest neighbourhoods, packed with cafés and home to  the Albert Cuypmarkt street market.
This brick walled café focuses on locally sourced produce, using organic ingredients as much as possible and staying away from refined sugars . The menu is international.  It includes açai bowls and kimchi toast for breakfast, fresh spring rolls, beetroot balls for lunch (a healthier vegan alternative for the famous Dutch ‘bitterbal’ which is a deep fried ball of minced meat)  and Sicilian eggplant stew or Pad Thai for dinner.

On the drinks front, student Fleur loves their fresh coconuts with lime juice,

“I have tasted many fresh coconuts in my life (in Vietnam, Malaysia and Bali), but I must say this was one of the best coconuts I ever had!”.

Also, don’t miss their blue smoothie. The ‘Samui Blue’ consists of banana, mango, coconut water, whey protein, spirulina and bee pollen.

To find out more about The Meets click here.

 

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Beriwell, Singapore

The trend for açai is running high in Singapore. So much so, it’s now home to a dedicated açai café. Based in the beachside East Coast Park, Beriwell joins two other açai hotspots in the area (An Açai Affair and Project Açai), but takes the Amazonian berry to the next level. Not only is Beriwell soft-serve, it’s all natural, dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan friendly.

The setting

Beriwell is near the East Coast Park, the mainland beach area in Singapore. Get your açai fix straight off the beach or take buses 10, 10e, 12, 14, 14e, 32, 40 and 47 to stop App Roxy Sq. If you are coming from downtown take the east west metro line to Eunos.

 

The space

Like many cafés in Singapore, Beriwell has a large outdoor counter where you order your food and drinks. It connects to the inside area of the café and there’s also an undercover outdoor eating space with benches and  tables with painted palm tree murals on the pillars adding topical vibes.

Inside, a sea blue banquette lines one wall with cushioned wooden chairs on the other.  You could easily get your laptop out and work, as the WiFi is really strong.

The little things that make a difference…

Beriwell is run by two women who are passionate about their café. They are passionate founders and helped me with my order and made sure I was OK.

The fresh juice test

Beriwell serves vegan mylkshakes and smoothies.

I had a small Vitamin Sea Smoothie which was a blend of mango, pineapple, orange and passionfruit with a dash of turmeric and a squeeze of lime.

I added an extra black pepper boost for my immune system. The smoothie was very sweet, but it contained all my favourite fruits, so I found it delicious.

What we ate

Since Beriwell is known for their açaï soft serve, obviously I had to review one. I had the “Twist” which was a blend of Açaï and Coco Majik soft serves. The açai element is a blend of Amazonian berries and the Coco Majik is soft serve made of Thai coconuts and spirulina. They come in three sizes, small, large and super size. I had the large, which was a perfect for me. I topped it off with mango, pineapple, goji berries, vegan granola and almond butter. Delicious.

What we’d go back for…

Beriwell organises many events  and it’s a perfect place for a post dinner treat as they are open until 11pm.

The bill

Twist large  9.90 SGD
Almond butter  +0.80 SGD
Vitamin sea small  6. 50 SGD

To book your trip to Singapore with our partner Expedia click here.

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Wild Food Café, Islington, North London

Wild Food Café in Islington is a far cry from the cosy, rustic feel of their Neal’s Yard location, but it’s just as inviting and a short walk from Highbury and Islington tube on Upper Street.

Wild Food Café strive to find the most nourishing and inspiring ingredients available. Their sources include wild crafted and foraged foods from pristine eco systems, small organic farmers and ethical and local suppliers.  Everything is raw, plant based and, I think, delicious.

The space

The interiors feel sleek and millennial. There is also much greenery, with marble tabletops and pink detailing to round off the beautiful, open space.

Founders Aiste and Joel have created the most aesthetic, innovative feel to their second location, which is reflected in the food served.

The little things that make a difference

From the plants to the open kitchen, the stylistic details are what make the open space so magnificent. I’m a sucker for an open kitchen, complete with pizza oven and breakfast bar, as it allows for an element of transparency. There is no fear in presenting the labour behind the food, the ingredients and process behind every dish.

Whilst there are plugs and yes, there is WiFi, Wild Food Café will always first and foremost be a restaurant. You could sit for the odd hour or so with your laptop, especially as the environment feels ever so calming, but I wouldn’t stay more than that. There are so many other options on Upper Street to set up camp for the afternoon, save Wild Food for a magic elixir with friends, or a blowout brunch date.

The fresh juice test

I’ve had many a green juice at the Neal’s Yard branch. The Vibrant Green I decided to review contains celeriac, sea beet, watercress, nettle, sea purslane, mint and apple. However, it is the smoothies and hot elixirs that I urge you to try. From a rose hot chocolate to the cacao ecstasy I guzzled, they are every so dreamy.

What we ate

Each plate can only be described, as a masterpiece in its own right. Every dish as different in structure, flavour and finish as a row of art works in a gallery.  In my opinion, there is nowhere in London quite like it. It’s the main reason I keep coming back. The menu combines both the healing nature of food with the taste and presentation of a Michelin star restaurant.

The menu changes with the seasons introducing new ingredients, medicinal plants, adaptogens and herbs.

 

We had the Italian pizza  made with marinara sauce, cashew cheese sauce, cherry tomatoes, wild leaf pesto, sun-blushed artichokes, pink olives, rocket, basil and nori and the Fawaffle.

It was a falafel waffle served with cashew and mint cream, sweet chilli sauce, red cabbage slaw, pepper and tomato salsa and sprouted lentil hummus.

They were both part of the weekend lunch menu. The menu during the week varies. Then we shared the limited edition Easter egg, part of the Easter weekend specials. This dessert was the star of the show. The white chocolate cream was gloriously fluffy and decadent and formed a lovely sweet bed for the double-layered chocolate egg to sit on, filled with hazelnut praline. This was seasonal, but it’s worth saying that there’s always an amazing selection of raw desserts year round.

What we’d go back for…

Dessert. I won’t stop until I’ve tried every sweet dish on the menu.  Plus, the staff themselves who greet you so warmly as you walk through the door and serve each plate with love are another reason to return.

The bill

Vibrant green juice  £8
Italian pizza  £15.50
Fawaffle  £12.50
Desserts from  £7.50

 

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The Happy Balance, Megan Hallett

Megan Hallett is a Superfood Superstar – nutrition coach, wellness enthusiast, recipe developer and content creator. Oh and did we mention she also writes a hugely successful blog called The Plant-Based Londoner? And that she has also written several Glowcation reviews? When we heard she had written The Happy Balance, a book about hormone health, we had to find out more.

Megan wrote The Happy Balance to explain how hormone health works. From painful PMS to stubborn acne, mood swings to bloating, these are all signs your endocrine system could do with a little love. But where do you start if you want to live your best hormone healthy life? We caught up with Megan to chat hormone health.

Why did you decide to write the book?

Megan I became obsessed with my own hormone health after a PCOS diagnosis left me feeling very confused. Living your best hormone healthy life consists of a number of different principles. From supporting your liver through its detoxification of metabolised hormones, to strategically balancing your blood sugar throughout the day. The food on your plate plays a vital role in both ensuring your body is not only producing the right quantities and quality of different hormones, but that they are sufficiently hitting the target cells to do the job they are supposed to.

The Happy Balance starts putting these puzzle pieces together, making hormone health a little bit less confusing for anyone suffering with various symptoms.

 

We all hear about the importance of balancing blood sugar for our hormone health, but what does that mean?

Megan “The easiest way to approach your blood sugar curve is to take it meal by meal.

Every plate of food in front of you should primarily focus on a quality protein source, then a healthy fat source.

These two macronutrients are essential is preventing an instant blood sugar spike. In excess this can stress out the body and heighten symptoms of both endocrine syndromes (such as PCOS and hypothyroidism) and your everyday annoyances, such as energy slumps.

You’ll also want to ensure you’re getting in a hefty portion of dietary fibre and greens.

This formula is especially important at breakfast time and the easiest way to go about it is a smoothie. You need to make sure it contains at least two tablespoons of fat (nut butters, avocado, MCT oil), a scoop of clean plant-based protein, two tablespoons of chia or flax seeds, and a handful of greens.

What else do you advise?

Alongside balancing blood sugar, it’s so important to focus on supporting your liver too.  In my book, I talk about my everyday super foods for hormone health, more often than not they’re super easy to pack into your meals. And I highly encourage eating seasonally as it is not only the best thing for our planet, but our bodies too.

One of the most reached for staples include liver-supporting leafy greens. Spinach, kale, cavolo nero, chard and mustard greens are all great sources of folic acid, magnesium and calcium.

What about seasons and gut health?

Megan Eating seasonally and locally means your veg is at the very peak of its performance and will nourish your body in the most amazing way.

Ensuring you’re on top of your gut health can do a world of good too. Regular bowel movements can be overlooked, but is absolutely essential to our hormone health. They are the way we dispose of any metabolised hormones that no longer serve us, preventing them from building up (which is the cause of oestrogen dominance, which is more common than you may think).

Take more time over your meals and establish a healthy environment in your gut with fermented and probiotic rich foods that feed the good bacteria, such as sauerkraut, kimchi and coconut yogurt.

What are your favourite recipes in the book?

Megan

My favourite recipes from the book have to be the chocolate heavy ones.

There is a sweet potato chocolate mousse made from only four ingredients, as well as a lovely nut-free salted chocolate tart. I love the ayurvedic dahl recipe, as it is something I make a good few times a week without fail. Finally,  the beetroot and Portobello stew with celeriac mash is a great hearty winter dish. The blueberry and almond loaf with lemon cashew icing is a real winner for me, as it’s low in sugar but ridiculously more-ish – I think I ended up eating the whole thing on the book shoot day!

Can we try your sweet potato chocolate mousse recipe at home?

Megan Sure! I might be biased, but there is a high chance this going to be the most more-ish, drool-worthy dessert you will ever make. With its thick and creamy consistency, it will take every ounce of your willpower to resist scraping it from the blender and straight into your mouth. It’s also not overbearingly sweet, allowing you to eat as much as your heart desires.

This particular chocolate mousse recipe is packed full of nourishing, nurturing ingredients such as skin saviours sweet potato (vitamin E) and raw cacao (antioxidants), plus rich coconut cream that promotes healthy hormone production.

Serves 2–4
Prep: 10 minutes, plus 1 hour soaking and 30 minutes chilling
Cook: 20 minutes

1 sweet potato (about 315 g/11 oz), peeled and chopped into small chunks
4 tbsp cacao powder
3 medjool dates, stoned (soaked for at least
1 hour in warm water)
400 ml (14 oz) can full-fat coconut milk (all the cream on top plus up to 4 tbsp of the coconut milk)

1. Steam the sweet potato until completely soft, in a steaming basket, this should take around 20 minutes or so.

2. Once soft, place the sweet potato in a food processor or blender along with the cacao, soaked dates and all of the cream on top of the can of coconut milk. Gradually add up to 4 tbsp of the thinner coconut milk until your desired consistency is reached. This may take a few minutes to achieve a smooth yet thick mousse.

3. Spoon the mix into ramekin dishes, dividing into either two hefty or four slightly smaller portions. Leave to set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

To buy your copy of The Happy Balance click here. 

For more on Megan click here.

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Wild Beets, Ibiza

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Away from the clubs, beaches and hippy markets, Ibiza is undergoing a lifestyle shift towards healthy food. At the forefront of this is Cliff Grubin -the man behind the island’s first juice bar on Benirras Beach and the iPurify juice brand.  He also runs Wild Beets, a gem of a plant-based café in Santa Gertrudis. The food is fresh, organic and seasonal and the eatery is dedicated to innovative vegan cooking.

The setting

Wild Beets is in pretty Santa Gertrudis, one of Ibiza’s loveliest villages in the centre of the island. The village is known for gourmet food and upmarket shops.

The space

Wild Beets is a stylish white cube of a building set back from the road. It’s fronted by a mini-jungle of bamboos and palms in planters that surround a sunny terrace. Inside is equally white and light with warm woods and pot plants. It’s busy when we arrive on an April day.

The fresh juice test

Wild Beets is home to the iPurify juice brand.

The range of 15 juices promise to energise the body by providing an instant and intense shot of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and enzymes. So, there’s a pretty impressive choice.

We decided to review the green Vitality. It was packed with spinach, chard, romaine, carrot, cucumber, celery, parsley, lemon, dandelion greens and ginger. It was refreshing and super tasty. There are also fruit and superfood smoothies and elixirs on offer. We chose a Mango Tango fruit smoothie. It was a zingy mix of mango, banana and orange.

What we ate

Wild Beets has quite an extensive vegan menu.

We eventually went for the tacos – a raw combination of cabbage slaw, guacamole, pico de gallo and cacao mole in two vegetable tortillas.

Plus a Veggie Burger – a veggie pattie with buckwheat millet bread, guacamole, caramelised onions, roast potato, sweet potato, miso gravy and homemade ketchup. It’s worth noting that the kitchen is dedicated to creating as nutrient rich food as it can – all based on scientific evidence and the extensive research of the founder Grubin.

What else?

The iPurify range of cold-pressed juices can be also be packaged as systemised cleanses for home delivery or collection. You can also get in touch to discuss tailor-made programmes. If you visit Benirras beach, make sure you visit the sister establishment Sejuiced for juices and smoothies.

What we’d go back for…

The setting, the food and the juices.

Next time we want to leave room for the extensive and picture perfect dessert menu…

The bill

Juice  €11.50
Medium fruit smoothie  €6
Tacos  €15.50
Veggie Burger  €17.50

 

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Vegan Bowls, Barcelona

Vegan Bowls is plant-based, plastic free and popular throughout Barcelona. It may be tiny, but it certainly packs a punch when it comes to serving up plant-based food.

The setting

Vegan Bowls is centrally placed near Plaça Catalunya and the shopping district. You can take the L2 metro to Universidat or the bus D50 to Ronda Universitat.

The space

The baby pink payment desk is stacked with their delicious plant-based doughnuts and famous cookies. Inside, they only have two tables with four chairs in total. They are mainly take away.

The white painted walls are made of wood with their colourful logo on either side. They have a good working wifi. However, I would definitely not recommend lingering with your laptop. There’s basically no space for it!  It’s very popular with all ages, so you may have to queue for a while.

The fresh juice test

I loved the green detox juice.

They made it fresh in front of me.  It had pineapple, organic apple juice, mint ginger and kale in it.  It was sweet, but you could taste the hint of veg in it, a very good mix!

What we ate

Vegan bowls has a surprisingly large menu for such a small take away spot. They specialise in bowls like smoothie bowls, toasts and savoury bowls but they also have a huge selection of plant based treats, healthy (and unhealthy).

Their food is super colourful!

I decided to review the Red curry, one of their muffins and their famous vegan chocolate chip cookie.

The curry was warm and filling and made of coconut milk, chickpeas, sweet potato and tofu. It comes with brown rice and beautifully topped with kale, sliced almonds, edible flowers and sprouts! The curry had a very thick coconut flavour and was packed with chickpeas.

The waitresses suggested I try the cookie.  It’s not very healthy, but it’s definitely worth a go. You won’t believe that it is plant-based, because it’s so incredible. The outside is super crunchy, but when you break it open the inside is still soft and moist.

Finally the muffins. They have four kinds of muffins: with nuts, banana, blueberry and apple. All the muffins are sugar and gluten free. The outside is crispy and well baked, the inside is a softer texture.

The little things that make the difference

They offer a delivery service via Deliveroo and Glovo.

The bill

Curry  €9,40
Muffin  €2,80
Cookie  €2,70
Green detox juice  €5,00

 

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Trueberry, Tokyo

Trueberry is a rare thing in Tokyo, as it’s 100% plant-based. The founder, Naoko Nishimura, wanted to provide organic food and build health awareness in Tokyo, so began to work with organic and natural farming farmers in Japan to make cold-pressed juices. The motto of the restaurant is to Enjoy Your Health and Conscious Life!’

The setting

Trueberry has two locations. One in Nakameguro (close to the cherry blossom area) and one in Ometosando, the shopping district. Nakameguro is mostly focussed on take away, so I decided to review the one in Ometosando, so I could to sit in and brunch.

The space

It’s a compact space. There’s a large bar to sit at, or on there’s also a counter against the wall. So you can’t face each other or be at a table. We sat down at the bar so we could see the food being made.

Trueberry is on a side street, so it’s nice and quiet and there’s outside seating if the weather is good.

Everything in the café is wooden- the bar, the shelves, the chairs and the floor. In the background, they softly play quiet music, which is very peaceful!

The little things that make the difference…

If you visit at the beginning of April it will be Sakura season, so visit Trueberry Nakameguro which is really close to one of the most famous cherry blossom  Instagram points in Tokyo.

 

What we ate

We chose the spirulina matcha parfait, a dahl soup and the hot beet smoothie-bowl. A warm smoothie bowl?

The hot beet smoothie was a combo of beetroot, apple, strawberries, bananas, dates and raw cashews all topped off with oats, banana, dried fig, cacao nibs, coconut and goji berries. The base was super creamy and thick and it was a perfect bowl for a cold winter days. It wasn’t too sweet and you could still really taste the beets.

Trueberry have a choice of soups, so we chose the Dahl one. It was a warming blend of yellow mung and mansoor mixed with turmeric, ginger, salt, cumin seeds and coconut oil. It was quite simple: warm, but not hot, so we could eat it straight away, which was very nice.  You could still savour the texture from the beans, as they were not overcooked and pureed which we really enjoyed!

The spirulina matcha parfait had a pretty, dark green base made out of bananas, spirulina, matcha powder, coconut milk, dates, raw cashews and almonds.

It was topped with oats, goji berries, banana pieces, cacao nibs and homemade cashew cream. The cashew cream was very stiff, but a perfect topping on the bowl. I just wish they had toasted the oats or used granola, so that the parfait had a bit more crunch.

The bill

Hot beet smoothie bowl  1430¥
Dahl soup  450¥
Matcha smoothie parfait  1580¥