quarrygirl

i’m so excited about today’s video with masa of echo park! as you probably know, i’m a huge pizza fan, and masa makes my all time favorite vegan version—an authentic chicago deep dish with teese soy cheese. we caught up with owner rob rowe and learned what makes the deep dish special, why it takes so long to bake, and which menu items everyone can enjoy at masa. check it: 

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today quarrygirl presents goes global as we travel to london to check out ms. cupcake, the uk’s first entirely vegan bakery! 

i wish i could be more like owner mellissa morgan aka ms. cupcake. disappointed in the lack of british vegan baked goods when she moved to england from canada, she took matters into her own hands and started making treats in her tiny flat and selling them at a market stall. just three years later, ms. cupcake is a world famous bakery in brixton with over 150 different cupcake varieties, several other dessert lines, savory items, and a cookbook on the way. 

we sat down with mellissa to chat about why she started baking, why all people (not just vegans!) enjoy her desserts, and how cupcakes can provide an inclusive experience. when in london, be sure to check out ms. cupcake—-you won’t regret it! 

i can’t believe it’s already time for another vegan beer fest! the last three events have been nothing short of epic, so be sure not to miss the 4th LA Vegan Beer and Food Fest on may 4th! tickets go on sale TODAY at 10:30am. buy now because we always sell out!

if you haven’t been to one of our fests before, you’re in for a treat. presented by the roxy, tony’s darts away, and yours truly the LA Vegan Beer and Food Fest provides unlimited craft beer for the price of entry from several breweries plus musical entertainment and access to LA’s best vegan vendors and food trucks. for a little bit extra, you can get a vip ticket with early entrance and access to the on the rox lounge.

general admission is from 1-5pm, vip from 12-5pm. get your tickets today!

in this week’s edition of our new vegan video series, we catch up with mollie englehart, the owner of sage vegan bistro and kindkreme dairy-free ice cream parlors. sage has been open less than 2 years, but has already gained a reputation as one of the best vegan spots in los angeles, and is definitely one of my personal favorites. similarly, kindkreme is the go-to place in LA for vegan dessert and has already opened 3 locations! in this video, mollie, who was born and raised vegan, fills us in on what inspired her to open kindkreme and why all foodies should check out sage. 

i’m beyond excited about LA’s latest culinary super group, hot dish supper club! chefs antoanet “toni” aburto (of chica vegan), denise vallejo (of twice baked vegan), and genise castañeda (of plant food for people) are coming together to create a vegan latin themed pop-up dining experience that will tantalize the tastebuds of herbivores and omnivores alike. their first multi-course dinner and wine pairing will be held on valentines day, and the menu looks phenomenal. check it:

to make a reservation, email hotdishgourmet@gmail.com, and do it soon because space is limited! an intimate get-together at a private home with fantastic food cooked by three lovely ladies…sounds like a perfect valentines day to me! 

follow hot dish vegan on twitter, instagram, and facebook!

what a time to be alive! london now has it’s very own vegetarian pub—-and i’m not talking about new age hippie stuff—-it’s a proper old traditional pub with meatless versions of traditional pub food! norman’s coach and horses in soho has been well known in the west end for years, and in 2012 the new owner decided to give it an all vegetarian menu with lots of vegan options. we had the “tofush and chips” with vegan tartar sauce…unbelievable! i have eaten vegan fish and chips a few times in my life, and this was by far the best. it even had nori mixed in with the tofu to give it a sea-like flavor. 

be warned, coach and horses is still getting their act together when it comes to serving lunch. on one occasion we arrived and were informed food wouldn’t be served until the evening because of a chef scheduling issue. the owner was very apologetic though, and offered to make it up to us on our next visit. definitely try this place out if you’re ever in london. eating tasty vegan food in a lovely old pub was one of the culinary highlights of my life and i can’t wait to do it again. 

hey guys! for this week’s edition of our new vegan video series (subscribe on youtube if you haven’t already!), we’re featuring one of our favorite mexican food joints: hugo’s tacos.

unfortunately, vegan mexican cuisine can be hard to find, thanks to traditionally prevalent ingredients like lard and chicken stock…but hugo’s tacos eschews those animal-based additives in favor of healthier alternatives. an offshoot of the popular hugo’s restaurants brand, the taco stand has two los angeles locations specializing in authentic fare with a fresh vegan twist. we sat down with owner tom kaplan who filled us in on his favorite dishes, the inspiration for the menu, and why everyone loves the vegan food at hugo’s tacos.