Roots Vegetarian Cafe George Street Lancaster - 9th August 2016

On a trip to Morecambe, we decided to stop off in Lancaster on the way, after I found Roots Vegetarian Cafe, whilst looking for places to stop for a coffee and cake.  

Roots is bright, airy and modern inside, with a lovely relaxed feel to the place and an open kitchen, which I really like.

The menu includes breakfast and lunch choices, with vegan and gluten free options, as well as takeaway and a specials board.

I had an Americano coffee and a piece of vegan, gluten free carrot cake, it was absolutely delicious, so moist, yet so light, I could do with the recipe it was that good.

I had a quick chat with owner Dawn, a very friendly lady, who was busy preparing that day's lunchtime salads and soups, so everything is made fresh on site.   I will definitely return, as I would like to try some of the other vegan options.   Highly recommended.

Palm Heart Tortilla Wraps

I bought palm hearts, as I thought they would make a good alternative, when I could not find any jackfruit.   They smell a little like artichoke, are very low calorie and count towards one of your five a day, so all good on the nutrition front.  

400 g can of palm hearts
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp chilli powder
2 tbsp rapeseed oil
1 garlic clove crushed
Few drops of liquid smoke
4 tbsp tomato sauce (homemade or bought)
Salt and pepper

Serves 2

Drain the palm hearts, which look a little like large sticks of pale yellow cheese, but when pressed with your fingers, shreds quite easily.

Saute the garlic in the oil for 2-3 mins, add the paprika, ginger and chilli powder and cook for 2-3 mins, making sure you stir to avoid burning.   Add the liquid smoke and stir for another minute.

Add the tomato sauce and cook for 5 mins, to combine the flavours, then season well with salt and pepper.

Add the shredded palm hearts and cook on quite a high heat, stirring continuously, to avoid sticking, you want the palm hearts to caramelise and brown, which takes about 10 mins.

I served the palm hearts in tortilla wraps, with cashew cream, chillies, tomato, sweet potato and spring onion hash and chilli sauce.   I really enjoyed this dish, the palm hearts are maybe not as fibrous as jackfruit, but certainly make a fantastic replacement.

Superdrug Mint Flavoured Dental Whitening Tape

I have to confess I am an obsessive flosser, but finding good vegan alternatives is difficult, as most floss uses beeswax.   I have tried various products and most shred during use.   The number of times, I have ended up with shredded floss stuck between my teeth is countless.

I was wandering round Superdrug, when I spotted their dental whitening tape, not sure how it whitens, but it sure does floss well, without any shredding.

The mint flavour hits you, as soon as you open the pack, smells really fresh and the tape glides between your teeth smoothly.  

I read recently, that American guidelines now advise, that flossing does not prevent tooth decay or gum disease.   I would disagree, as on visiting the hygenist, she attributes my clean teeth, with no plaque and no gum issues, down to my obsessive flossing.   I for one will continue using Superdrug tape, as it certainly makes the job much easier.

Vegan Town Chocolate Store

Vegan Town sells the world's best 100% vegan treats and I was lucky enough, to receive a box for my wedding anniversary.

Vegan Town sell chocolate truffles, chocolate bars, hampers, novelties, every sweet treat you could imagine, in fact as their website says 'Guaranteed to put a gigantic smile on any vegan's face'.   You can subscribe and have vegan goodies delivered on a monthly basis, heaven if you have a sweet tooth.

My box included my favourite Vego bar, golden crunch cinder toffee, white chocolate buttons and small treats like raspberry ruffles, sherbet tubs and Vegolino, as well as numerous bars of chocolate.

I have recommended Vegan Town to several friends, who have all been very pleased with not only the fast, efficient service, but the selection of products.   Highly recommended.

Pot Kettle Black Barton Arcade Manchester - 3rd August 2016

Pot Kettle Black is an independent coffee house, which I prefer to support, than the big chains and has a great location in Barton Arcade.   I love the signage on the windows outside, so had to take a photo.

The place has had a refurbishment, since my last visit and looks fantastic, a cool kind of place for a coffee and cake, with friends or chilling on your own.

They had vegan brunch options on the menu, sadly one of my photos came out blurry, but vegans are happily catered for.

I ordered a large Americano and I managed to bag the last vegan brownie, shows how popular vegan options are for sure.

The brownie was chocolate city, with lots of pecans and yet it was not dense at all, a really light texture, no idea who makes them, but a big thumbs up.

I will definitely visit PKB again, as places offering vegan options, deserve our support, so highly recommended.

Lunya Barton Arcade Manchester - 3rd August 2016

Lunya Manchester has a sister restaurant in Liverpool, where I had an excellent vegan experience earlier this year (see here).   The Manchester branch is in Barton Arcade, just off  Deansgate and is bright and inviting from outside, with a great bar area downstairs for pre dinner drinks.

Lunya have an extensive vegan menu and let me know which wines were vegan friendly, when I enquired, so I have listed them here.

We called in for lunch to celebrate our 32nd wedding anniversary, had a warm welcome and were shown to our table upstairs.   Its a very cosy place inside, chilled and relaxed, perfect for eating lovely vegan tapas.

The vegan menu has so many options, I was spoiled for choice, but kicked off with Empeitre olives and cornichons and as I absolutely love sherry, the Tio Pepe En Rama I ordered, was a fine example

To follow I had patatas bravas, Moroccan spiced chickpeas with butternut squash, apricots and almonds and Verduras a la Romana, a light tempura kind of dish, of vegetables coated in Spanish frying flour, with Mojo Picon sauce.   It would have been rude not to have a nice glass of red, so I chose the Organic Fuenteseca Bobal Cabernet, a perfect accompaniment for the tapas.

All the dishes were spot on, full of flavour, fresh ingredients and great presentation, you just wanted to dive in and eat.   Our waiters were Sofia from Greece, herself a vegan of ten years, so it was great to meet her, as I do not meet many vegans and Monica from Spain, who both looked after us so well, it made our visit all the more enjoyable.

I loved the whole experience and when places offer vegan menus, they deserve our support, so when I want tapas in Manchester or Liverpool, Lunya is my choice every time.   Maybe at some point they will clearly label vegan wines and sherries on their menu, as they do the food.   Highly recommended and so good, I cannot wait to make a return visit, probably in the evening.

Vegan Wines At Lunya Manchester & Liverpool

Lunya in Manchester and Liverpool have a vegan menu and prior to a visit to Manchester, I enquired about vegan friendly wines, receiving a speedy reply, so I have listed them below, along with tasting notes.

Sherry

Tio Pepe En Rama is bottled annually in April and En Rama literally means 'off the branch', highlighting how fresh this Fino sherry is.   This is the cream of sherries and totally delicious.   As with previous releases the 2016 is bottled in its most natural state, unfiltered and unclarified and is ideal for vegans and vegetarians.

I adore sherry and Tio Pepe En Rama is a fine classic example and although not cheap, it was worth the premium, I loved it.

Sparkling Wines

Loxarel Saniger Brut Reserve's lengthy ageing in the bottle, gives this vintage Cava elegance, balance and complexity of soft fruits, with hints of biscuit on the finish.   An astonishing bubbly that could rival many major champagnes.

Loxarel 999 Rosado Cava this elegant rose made with Pinot Noir and Xarel.lo.Vermell, is a pale bright strawberry colour, with a fresh intense summer fruit aroma.   On the palate it is fresh and light, with dominating raspberry flavours and an elegant creamy long finish.

Loxarel Reserve Familiar uses only the vineyards best grapes (Xarel.lo.Macabeo and Chardonnay) and is matured for four years before bottling, producing lovely biscuit notes and ripe apple aromas.

White Wines

Utiel Requena Fuenteseca Blanco is a crisp blend of Macabeao and Sauvignon Blanc.   This is a very clean and refreshing organic wine, with elegant citrus and gooseberry fruit, gentle mineral overtones, with a well rounded and lingering finish.

Red Wines

Vallemayor Tinto is an easy drinking Rioja with vibrant, but rounded blackcurrant fruits and soft tannins, great value and a huge crowd pleaser.

Vallemayor Gran Reserva 2005 is a Classic Rioja full of silky charm.   Ripe and mature blackcurrant fruits entwine with soft tannins and hints of vanilla on the lingering finish.   Superb value for money.

Jumilla Honoro Vera this organic red is packed full of the flavour of dark fruits, with an attractive and intense ruby colour.   100% Monastrell grapes, derived from 30 year old bush vines, ensure this wine is chunky, warm and spicy, ripe and generous, but with heaps of backbone too

Fuenteseca Bobal Cabernet is a great, robust red, made from organic grapes, grown in southern Spain, with lots of bramble and cherry fruit, with hints of chocolate, that add depth and friendliness.   A well structured palate, firm tannins from the Bobal component, is tempered by the Cabernet and finishes with a burst of fruit at the end.

I chose this wine, to accompany my vegan tapas lunch and it was a classic match, served at room temperature, nothing worse than cold red wine, it was delicious and warming.