The Veggie Cafe Leeds Road Ilkley - 23rd March 2016

The Veggie is in the centre of Ilkley and since my last visit, has had a major makeover, is bigger and better and has great kerb appeal, with its carrot signage.   Inside it is modern, but has a welcoming warm feel and on an overcast Wednesday lunchtime was so busy, we just managed to get the last table.

There is a large menu on offer, a special boards, which included two soups and so many vegan options, it was difficult to choose.

I decided on a houmous, avocado and carrot wrap, a side of potato wedges and Earl Grey tea.   The waitress was really friendly and when I enquired if their wraps were soya free, she was happy to help.

The potato wedges were worth the trip on their own, proper wedges, perfectly cooked, sprinkled with sea salt and piping hot.

The wrap was delicious, with great presentation on the plate, with lovely fresh salad and a small dish with olives, sunblush tomato, caperberry and paprika sprinkled houmous.  

The Veggie serves quality fresh produce, used with creativity and flair and every time a dish came out the kitchen to one of the other tables, I was licking my lips.   The portobello mushroom burger, with optional vegan cheese, looked like a cracking dish and will be my choice next visit and on the way out, I spotted their vegan chocolate cake!!

Beau's Kitchen High Street Skipton - 17th March 2016

Beau's Kitchen at the top end of the main street in Skipton, previously known as Wild Oats Cafe, incorporates a wholefood store, cafe and takeaway, which I have been visiting for more years than I can remember.   Beau's Kitchen has had a makeover and looks so much better for it, I love its colourful blue frontage, where you can sit out on a sunny day like today.

There is an extensive menu, with a specials board once inside, with plenty of vegan options, all clearly highlighted.

I chose houmous and roast pepper salad bowl, with three of their homemade salads comprising of carrot and sesame, red cabbage and spring onion and quinoa, sun dried tomato and mixed peppers, with a big dollop of delicious houmous.   The dish was so colourful and vibrant, you wanted to dive in and eat and with a cafetiere of Columbian coffee, it was a really tasty lunch.

The place was packed at lunchtime and shows how popular vegan and vegetarian food is and I will definitely revisit, when next in Skipton.

Filmore & Union High Street Skipton - 17th March 2016

Filmore & Union have several locations in major towns in Yorkshire, with Skipton branch on the main street, so is easy to find.   I like the fresh, modern design and interiors, but particularly like they cater for so many dietary requirements, including vegan.

I only stopped in for a coffee, but as soon as I saw this on the cake display, I could not resist.

The brownie was delicious, not dry with a full on chocolate hit and the fruit compote served with it, cut through the richness of the brownie, what a treat.   The Americano coffee I had with it was top notch too.

Vegan options are clearly marked on the menu, which is fantastic and they have lunch and evening choices too, so I will definitely revisit soon.

Superdrug Vitamin E 360º Spray On All Over Body Lotion

I wanted to try this Superdrug product, as I thought it would be easy to apply and great for taking on holiday.

The lotion contains Vitamin E and Argan oil, which has excellent moisturising properties and is ultra light, absorbs well and does not cause any greasiness on my skin.

However the reason I will not be buying this product again, is how frustrating it was, getting the product out of the can and using it at 360º was impossible.  I found it extremely awkward and difficult to press the spray nozzle down, to release the lotion and I am no wimp, I lift weights three times a week, but even I found it hard work.   I much prefer my tub of Vitamin E All Over Body Cream.

A week on from writing this review, I take it all back, the spray nozzle has loosened off, with the pressure I was applying and now works fine and sprays the lotion are in a thin layer at whatever angle.   So I would buy this product again.

Superdrug Vitamin E All Over Body Cream

I am amazed at the choice of vegan products in Superdrug and love that this vegan friendly cream comes in a big tub, so will last a long time.

The cream is rich in Vitamin E, coconut oil and horse chestnut, excellent ingredients known for their moisturising properties.   The cream is lightly perfumed, non greasy, easily absorbed and a little goes a long way, during application.   The big plus point for me though is definitely the tub it comes in, much easier to get every last bit of cream out, whereas a tube can be difficult and I usually end up cutting the end off to try and avoid waste.

I really like the benefits of using the cream, my skin feels soft and smooth, so will definitely buy it again.

Superdrug Intensive Moisture Hand Cream

I use hand cream throughout the day, as I have dry skin due to dermatitis, so this Superdrug vegan intensive cream for softening and smoothing very dry skin, had to go in my shopping basket.

The cream is enriched with shea butter, to nourish dry skin and is gently perfumed, which gives it a lovely clean smell, which I really like.   The hand cream is non greasy, easily absorbed and leaves my hands feeling soft and smooth, just as it says on the tube.   I will definitely be buying this product again.

Superdrug Dry Skin Cream

I suffer from dermatitis on my skin, which I think is related to my food allergies and this week it has been really bad on my hands and legs, as I have had some bad reactions to things I have eaten.   I have not found any vegan friendly dry skin creams, so when I walked into Superdrug and found this cream, I was ecstatic.

The product is really creamy, not too thick, but is easy to apply and rubs in well and is fragrance free.   I have already seen an improvement and I have only been using it for one day, so this has been a really good purchase.

Superdrug The Little Protecting Pink Tin

I real love Superdrug vegan products, but I really wish they would make it clear on their website, what products are vegan.   If I want to check whether a product is vegan or not, I have to go to a store, which is inconvenient and when I recently shopped online, I bought products elsewhere, because of this issue.

I wanted a lip balm, as my lips were so dry and chapped from the dry cold weather we have been having and the first thing that attracted me to this product, besides being vegan, was the gorgeous pink tin, which fits easily in my make up bag or handbag.

The product has an SPF of 15 and is the best lip balm I have used, it has a lovely texture, not too thick, not too thin and not gooey like some products and is easy to apply.   My lips have already improved and I have only been using it for one day, so this will be my lip balm of choice in future.

1847 Vegetarian Bistro Mosley Street Manchester - 11th March 2016

I went to 1847 Vegetarian Bistro with meat eating friends, who were won over with its vegetarian and vegan dishes, they loved it, which proves just how good the cooking is.   This is not your average vegetarian restaurant and looks very welcoming from the outside and cosy on the inside, although the low lighting at our table, was not ideal for my food photos which are not as clear as I would like.

There are plenty of vegan choices on the menu and many of the dishes can be made vegan and lucky for me, there were options that accommodated my food allergies.

I chose parsnip soup to start served with rosemary persillade, black sesame seeds and sesame oil, it was a good sized portion, a lovely smooth consistency and very filling, it was delicious.

Main course was leek and bulgur stuffed mushrooms, braised red cabbage and roasted carrots, with a side order of chips.   The dish was substantial and I had to leave one of the mushrooms, but the dish was very tasty and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The wine list has clearly marked vegan wines and I really wish other restaurants would do the same, it makes life so much easier.   I chose a white Les Girelles Picpoul De Pinet, which I have had before, but not by this wine maker, it was excellent.

The whole experience was very enjoyable, great service front of house from our waiter, excellent food and I will definitely revisit.

Gino D'Acampo My Restaurant Corn Exchange Manchester - 11th March 2016

This was my second visit to Gino D'Acampo My Restaurant and luckily for me, there was a 50% off food promotion on, so off I went armed with my allergen sheet, which I had been emailed a week or two ago.

The place was buzzing and I found out why, Gino himself was there, going round speaking to diners and obviously promoting sales of his many recipe books.

The place is very modern, lovely bright colours but very low lighting, so not ideal for taking photos, so my food photos taken with my mobile phone, do not do the food justice.

I had studied their comprehensive allergen list and knew they had a good number of vegan or vegan possible dishes and even better non of their bread contains soya, which I am allergic to, so if I fancy a pizza or bruschetta sometime, it is no problem.

I ordered the giant Apulian olives to start, which were some of the best I have eaten, large, juicy and full of flavour.

Main course was orecchiette pasta (known as little ears due to the shape) with broccoli, pinenuts, chilli, garlic and loads of olive oil.   I love the simplicity of the ingredients, but what a delicious dish, it was just the kind of thing I often make at home and I would definitely order it again.

To accompany my pasta I ordered spinach and chickpeas, which I thought may be cooked with butter, but the waitress quickly confirmed it was cooked with olive oil, garlic and chilli.   This dish was so good I could easily eat a large portion with some bread and I loved it, especially as it had a good kick of chilli.

Service throughout my time there was very friendly, efficient and professional and even though the place was very busy, there were no long waits for food or drinks.   Gino came to the table and I got the usual European two cheek kiss, it was nice to say a quick hello, before he dashed off to say hello to other diners.

I will definitely be returning to Gino D'Acampo My Restaurant, it is a great addition to the Corn Exchange.

Blueberries Cafe New Market Street Clitheroe - 9th March 2016

Blueberries is a small independent cafe, in the historic market town of Clitheroe, located on the edge of the market area, off New Market Street.   It is not the most attractive of places from the outside, but was lovely and cosy inside and really busy on a cold Wednesday lunchtime, always a good sign.

Vegan options on the extensive menu and specials board are few and far between, made even worse by my allergy issues, as my go to dish, pre-allergy days would be jacket potato with baked beans.  I had a chat with the lady behind the counter, whose name was Annalise, explaining I was vegan with allergies and my concerns about bread and wraps, which all seem to have soya in these days.   She was so helpful and brought me the wraps to check and between us we created a roast vegetable, caramelised onion and sunblush tomato wrap with salad and chips.

I ordered an Americano coffee with an extra shot, it was fabulous and a great accompaniment to the wrap, which was one of the tastiest I have eaten in a long time, made fresh to order, so much better than the chains.

Annalise said they were always happy to accommodate any diet or allergy requirement and would always try to make something to suit, which I think is fantastic and one of the reasons I prefer to support small independents.

Addendum:  I returned to Blueberries yesterday on a cold miserable rainy day and a hot lunch was in order.   A huge jacket potato with roast vegetables, sunblush tomatoes, avocado, salad, a dish beetroot and a pot of Earl Grey, was just the ticket, tasty and satisfying.  

Blueberries obviously love to look after their customers and I will definitely return, as I prefer to support independents, who go the extra mile.

The Parkers Arms Hall Gate Hill Newton - 4th March 2016

My first visit of 2016 to The Parkers Arms, but it will not be the last, it was that good.   There are more photos on my review than normal, as making a decision as to which to post, was nigh impossible.

To begin I was given some delicious canapes, comprising delicate mushroom and fava bean crostini, drizzled with herb oil, fabulous and so tasty, an excellent amuse bouche to begin.

I ordered a bottle of  vegan Tabali Cabernet Sauvignon wine, to accompany the meal, this is a cracker and one of my favourites.

My starter was aubergine caviar on homemade flatbread, with loads of oil and herbs, this was a heavenly dish, in fact its the best starter I have had in a long time, I could eat this time and time again.

Main course was roasted cauliflower, rice and tahini dressing, a perfectly cooked dish and I loved the rice, which had a little wild rice running through it, with the dressing bringing the whole dish together.

I had a rest in between mains and dessert, to finish the Tabali red wine and then ordered oat cream posset with blood orange, rhubarb, pistachios and edible flowers, a light, refreshing dish to finish.

Finally I was given some tasty crystallised orange pieces, to complete what was a fantastic, very well balanced meal.   I am not a big eater, its rare I would order three courses, but the portion sizes were spot on, so I left a full but very happy vegan.

I love chef Stosie's style of cooking, her use of local ingredients and combinations on the plate, which all work together.  Service front of house is always friendly and efficient, with plenty of banter with AJ and Ben.   Throughout the entire meal, I was comparing to a recent visit to a fine dining restaurant in Manchester, which I reviewed last month, such a different experience.   I will definitely return to the Parkers Arms, in fact I cannot wait.