Mildreds’ are original restaurateur pioneers in bringing plant-based dining to London and they’re kickstarting 2023 with a Veganuary celebration inspired by the Vietnamese Lunar New Year across all five locations. Honouring Vietnam’s festival of têt, the new limited edition dishes experiment with traditional Vietnamese cuisine with a touch of Mildreds’ signature plant-based flare. Enjoy Tempeh Rice Cracker Cups, fragrant Lemongrass Chick’n Goi Ga and Char Siu Mushroom Bánh Mì which is distinctively meat-like, washed down with mocktails that takes flavours from the cult destination of Vietnam, Ha Long Bay!
atis, the flavourful, healthy and nutritious salad bar concept in London has created a new limited-edition selection of vegan salad bowls to be enjoyed across all of its sites. New for January is The Plant Therapy and The Vegan Winter Bowl, both nourishing bowls of perfectly seasoned veggies, that will most definitely leave you feeling satisfied, ideal for a weekday lunch!
To see in Veganuary, Riding House Cafe’s will offer the ‘Green Line’ Vegan tasting menu created by chef-patron Henry Omereye. A completely plant-based version of their much loved Tour De Carte tasting menu, the Green Line will be available just for January at Fitzrovia, Rail House Victoria and the newest edition to the bunch, Riding House Bloomsbury.
For January Local & Wild restaurant group, helmed by dynamic brother duo Richard and Oliver Gladwin has introduced a new Veganuary tasting menu at each of its restaurants across the UK; The Shed, The Fat Badger and Sussex. Highlights wild, foraged and locally grown ingredients the menu includes an exquisite line-up of Seaweed and Ponzu Broth with caramelised kohlrabi, BBQ Leek Hearts, Mushroom and Bulgur Wheat Celeriac Lasagne and Black and White Chocolate with rhubarb.
Inspired by the cuisines of Japan, Brazil and Peru, SUSHISAMBA has introduced vegan dishes at both the Heron Tower and Covent Garden’s menus in light of Veganuary. Guests can feast on the incredibly fresh Samba salad, grilled eggplant with sweet soy, plantain moqueca and Kappa Maki. Those taking a break from the booze can sip on mocktails alongside these delicious veggie-packed dishes.
This Veganuary, award-winning plant-based drinks brand Plenish is collaborating with renowned London restaurant Wild By Tart, to celebrate delicious cooking using only the finest natural ingredients and nutritious seasonal produce. For two weeks, the residence in Belgravia will bring unique plant-based desserts to the menu by Plenish ambassador, Le Cordon Bleu chef and former Wild By Tart pastry chef, Ravneet Gill, which may be sampled alongside Wild By Tart’s most loved A La Carte vegan dishes.
This Veganuary, Holy Carrot in Knightsbridge, brings you an exclusive ‘meaty’ four-course set menu in partnership with Cowspiracy, the American documentary film which made headlines in 2014 and challenged the agricultural industry. Highlights include ‘Steak Tartare’ with Ox heart tomato, crispy crackling, Pommery mustard, cornichons and a ‘Shepherd’s Pie’ croquette with smoked beets, crunchy onion hay, black lentils and thyme sauce.
For your sweet tooth cravings, Crosstown has launched three limited edition vegan doughnuts and one dough bite flavour. The Veganuary flavours including Rhubarb & Jasmine, Strawberry Cheesecake and Blood Orange, will be joining Crosstown’s core range of vegan doughnuts. Alongside their delicious vegan sweet treats, Crosstown also has a dedicated vegan store in London’s Marylebone, serving up exclusive vegan versions of its popular Homemade Raspberry Jam and Sri Lankan Cinnamon Sugar flavours.
Premium wellness brand, Dr Watson, has partnered with plant-based restaurant, Wulf & Lamb to offer the ultimate Veganuary menu at their restaurants in Marylebone and Chelsea. The menu features Dr Watson’s health-boosting Mushroom Complexes; Lion’s Mane and Reishi, within a delicious vegan Creamy Mushroom Pasta, alongside a Dry January Lion’s Spritz drink.
Get your pizza fix this Veganuary at Crust Bros with the “Little Miss Sunshine” vegan pizza special at their Waterloo and Battersea restaurants. Vegan pizza can get a bad rap but this rendition completely changes the game! The happiness-inducing pizza has a tomato base, topped with oozy, melted Veganarella, sweet yellow Datterini tomatoes and Belazu’s delicious Ve-du-ja derived from fermented Calabrian chillies…it packs a flavoursome punch! Year-round, Crust Bros offer plant-based pizzas on their one-of-a-kind personalised menu, making it a great spot for dining en mass with vegans and meat-eaters alike!
London’s buzziest food hall which brings together the latest cult street food-style vendors under one roof, is taking a spin at Veganuary. Anyone who still needs convincing that plant-based food can be just as, if not more, delicious than its meaty counterpart need only lay eyes on what’s on offer, from Thai, Mexican, Indian and much more!
If you’re looking for a truly exceptional vegan culinary experience, Michelin star chef Niklas Ekstedt has curated a vegan-tasting menu at his restaurant, Ekstedt at the Yard, which presents his distinctive Nordic approach to cooking. In the plant-based offering, the focus remains on Scandinavian technique and wood fired cooking, married with the finest British produce the seasons have to offer. Dishes include Smoked Aubergine with pickled shallot, spinach oil and juniper smoked apple; Wood-Oven Roasted Artichokes with smoked turnip puree, pickled chanterelles, lovage, fermented cep foam and Wild Blueberry Pie with tonka bean ice cream, all of which show immense culinary excellence.
words by Isabelle Shury