Post Punk Kitchen Forum

I'm headed to the UK this weekend for my first business trip (yay!) and I'm afraid I'm going to miss London's best vegan restaurants. But more importantly, I'm afraid I'm going to come home without buying any of the vegan products that only the UK has (now that US stores carry speculoos spread, I don't have any must-buys).
Are there vegan places I must eat? And what do I need to buy at the supermarket to mail home?
Can any of you amazing UK ppk-ers help me by imparting your insider knowledge? I'll be forever grateful.

it's a good thing, because we don't get it here.

can't think of any supermarket items off the top of my head, aside from biscuits (hobnobs and some store brand digestive biscuits are vegan) and some stuff in the free-from section, but there are lots of good things in health food shops. Moo Free "milk" chocolate, Booja Booja truffles, Montezuma praline eggs (you're just in time for the easter candy!), Seed & Bean chocolate bars, Plamil chocolate spread... i have a massive sweet tooth, so that's where my head is. also Sheese if you're into fake cheese that's not particularly melty but is good on crackers.
oh, and if you can get down to south London, Ms Cupcake is a short walk from the Brixton tube station. in addition to freshly baked goods, the have a whole array of other vegan items.

Mildred's is a good restaurant to try - not fully vegan, but plenty of vegan options. Tibits has a mostly-vegan buffet with great food, nice ambiance, and a large selection of drinks. there's also Itadaki Zen, which i haven't been to, but have heard good things about.

Oh no! I thought you did have speculoos spread.

I love sweets, so your list has made me very excited. I probably wouldn't have found those restaurants on my own, so thank you very much!

no problem! i have a little Google map of vegan-friendly places in London, but it's a bit out of date. http://www.veganlondon.co.uk/ and quarrygirl are good resources to check out. i'd recommend calling ahead to restaurants because they can close on very short notice.

buy all of the Bonsoy. because omg.

beyond that, maybe hit up some Redwoods meaty things, people talk about the Frys peppermint cream (though, they're Cadburys so I tend to avoid), aaaand I'm drawing a blank on top of everything else already suggested. Vegemite? :)

I'm keen on hitting Manna when I get back (their baked goods at G&T London are impeccable).. apparently it's pretty tasty times :)

Marmite! If you like savoury stuff, then take back a jar of this :)

I have a London eating guide section on my blog. My must eats are probably InSpiral Lounge in Camden, Mildred's in Soho & Ms Cupcake in Brixton. I haven't been yet but Cookie Scream just opened a vegan cookie bar in Camden market so if you're there definitely check it out. I also really like Tibits.

As for supermarket stuff I'd find an M&S (Marks & Spencer - they're often in stations) and buy the Iced & Spiced Buns (they come individually wrapped or in a 2 pack), Bourbon Biscuits (these are definitely also vegan in Sainsburys & The co-op) and a Raspberry or Peach Melba jelly.

Jammie Dodgers. That is all.

Stuff to look out for in corner shops (convenience stores?), Frys cream chocolate bars (I like the one in the blue pack the best - they also do peppermint & orange) & Love Hearts. You might want to try Jelly Tots & Starbursts but I avoid them because they're Nestlé / Mars.

And lemon puffs!

Vegemite. seriously. I'm stocking up on Vegemite in London, because it's like € 6,- for a small jar (instead of £2). and it's better than Marmite.. *ducks*

Becca is coming to the UK - Marmite is British...

Vegemite is a poor australian cousin of Marmite... :)

Although I don't think there is even an equivalent in the US is there?? so I reluctantly concede Becca couldn't fail by buying either... buy both, make you own mind up :D

Vegemite IS better than Marmite, but Marmite is still very good.

I'm trying to remember what my New Yorker friends asked me to bring over when I visited, but it was mostly codeine and lemsip and other drugs which are over-the-counter here. Nuttolene! My friend Nicole always asks for Nuttolene, which is a kind of peanut meat. It's only okay, but I think she likes it for it's rarity as it's not something she could find in the US or in Germany, where she lives now. And Sainsbury's cheap chicken noodles, which are vegan. Soy-free Cheezly is pretty nice. Hmm. Oh! Ma Baker cakes and flapjacks and energy bars are all vegan, I think, and are so good you'll faint with unbridled delight. Pink Panther biscuits! They are just awesome. I buy them when I'm ill to cheer myself up. The gluten-free ones are nicer, but more expensive.

Vegemite is moderately better than marmite. Having said that I think they're both rank.

I'll take it ;D

This is fabulous! I knew the ppk would know where to go and what to do. And the best part is that while I'm working, I can send my boyfriend out to do the shopping so it's all waiting at the hotel when I get back!

Marmite sounds like it could be scary, but it might be a risk I'm willing to take. Maybe.

Oh, you had me at "peanut meat."

Its a love hate thing, their whole ad campaign is you either love it or hate it.

Its good for spreading on toast (or any toasted product) with butter and mixing a dollop into any dish that needs an extra hit of savouriness, like stews and casseroles.

and it contains vit B12 which we all know is what folk worry about us vegans missing out on - are you sold yet? :)

I do love my vitamin B12!

Dont do it to yourself becca. marmite is a jar of sadness.

Sadness & evil.

Yes. sorry I forgot the evil for a moment there.

Yes. sorry I forgot the evil for a moment there.

Uh oh. Now I'm torn... do I do it just so I can taste how horrible it is, or do I eat it because I genuinely want to try it? Or do I pretend I didn't see it anywhere and don't buy it at all?

Choices, choices.

ignore them. There really is no in-between with marmite, its love or hate. Try it and then you will know. And its available everywhere, as its sooooo popular :)