Hello

Hi everyone, and welcome to the new look Hampshire Vegetarians and Vegans website/blog.

I am looking for more writers to be part of HVV, so if you are a vegetarian or a vegan living in Hampshire and are interested, please email me at vegankate@hotmail.co.uk :-)

The blog posts can be about anything vegetarian or vegan related, so I was thinking reviews of products, cafe's/restaurants in the Hampshire area (and outside the Hampshire area), animal rights information, nutritional information (sources will need to be included), and anything really that is related.

I would like to build this up to be a great resource for new vegetarians and vegans, and to be a happy friendly group. I would also like to arrange events once interest starts to rise, including get togethers, fundraising events and fayre's selling good veggie and vegan food and eco items (handmade/upcycled, etc).

I am also going to have a Hampshire Vegetarians and Vegans business listing on here, so if you are a vegetarian or a vegan in the Hampshire area and would like your business included, please email vegankate@hotmail.co.uk with a little bit of information about yourselves and your business and I will add you :-)

I received so much support from other vegans when I went from a vegetarian to a vegan (especially from Hannah at Hannah Banana Bakery (Southampton based vegan bakery) that I would like to give something back and help others as much as I can. Also where I live, I don't know many people that are vegetarians or vegans, so it would be nice to see how many of us are out there, and to also offer support to new veggies or vegans that are struggling with whatever issues :-)

It would be awesome for others to get involved :-) please email me if you are interested ♥

Redwood Food's 'Vegi Deli' Gourmet Meat Free Chicken Style Pieces

Last night, I decided to try Redwood Food's Vegi Deli, Gourmet Meat Free Chicken Style Pieces for the first time. We decided to have a salad and baked potato with them, so I decided to marinate the chicken style pieces in a BBQ sauce (I used Morrisons Sticky BBQ Marinade).

I put them in a bowl and marinated them in the BBQ sauce for about 3-4 hours.

 I then put them on a baking sheet and cooked them for about 10-15 mins

They were absolutely out of this world!!! They were really succulent and even looked just like meat. My husband said this was the kind of thing he had been missing since he went Vegetarian. I am now a Vegan and I have to admit, it freaked me out a bit eating them, because they were SO similar to meat. But they are totally guilt free and no animal has had to die for it! They truly are delicious :-)

I would challenge ANY meat eater to a taste challenge between these and pieces of chicken thigh meat (bleurgh!) marinated in the same sauce. I truly believe no one could tell the difference!!

I am a huge fan of Redwood foods and have placed a large order this afternoon for Christmas and the New Year, that is, if we don't eat it all before that!! haha

If you are looking for a GOOD meat replacement, especially if you are a new Vegetarian or Vegan, you seriously cannot go wrong with these chicken style pieces.

Kate
My Personal Blog - Stinky Boo

Any Vegans in/around Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK?

Hi everyone, we had a message on our Facebook page from a lady doing a dissertation on Vegans, looking for Vegans to interview. Is there anyone out there that can help? If so, please contact her by replying to the thread on Hampshire Vegetarians and Vegans Facebook Page and she will get back to you.

Thank you,
Kate xx

Capers - Marmion Road, Southsea

I initially avoided Capers for quite a while after they opened as they took over what used to be a Vegetarian and Vegan cafe, The Greenhouse Kitchen, which was the only completely Vegetarian/Vegan cafe in Southsea. When the new owners took it over, they changed the name to Capers and re-introducted meat to the menu.

A few months later, I decided to give it a go and was surprised at the choice of Vegetarian options on their menu. Since they opened in January, I have eaten in there countless times, and it has always been a lovely meal, cooked by clearly very talented chefs.

On my last visit, which was Tuesday 18th October 2011 and I had the Sunblushed Tomato, Rocket and Brie Quiche. Capers quiches really are fantastic, very creamy and lots of flavour, it was absolutely delicious. The Quiche came with a lovely salad with sunblushed tomatos and peppers, new potato salad, gorgeous home made coleslaw and Caper's amazing croutons (which they sell bags of on their counter). The only disappointing thing about my meal at Capers on Tuesday, was that the new potato salad was a bit too vinegary, however, it isn't normally like that, I know because I have eaten their Quiches many many times haha and have even asked for the receipe for their new potato salad before.

I also had a Latte, which came with a small shortbread biscuit, which, again, was delicious.

They have many Vegetarian options on their menu, from breakfasts, to quiches, to sharing platters.

Since my visit to Capers on Tuesday, I have started making the transition from Vegetarian to Vegan, so I am not sure what Vegan options Capers have, or whether they serve Soya milk Lattes, thats something I will have to find out on my next visit, but I know from chatting to the staff before that they are very adaptable with their menu, and have been told that they can adapt dishes, so I'm hoping that on my next visit, I will be able to have a Vegan meal and drink. I will update with how that goes ♥

Capers Menu:

My overall experience (out of 10):

Food: ********* (9)
Drink: ******* (8)
Atmosphere: ******* (7) (can get a little loud in there at times when very busy)
Friendliness of Staff: ******* (7)
Cleanliness: ******** (8)

Capers have their own Facebook page: Capers - Facebook

Sainsbury's Cafe - Farlington, Portsmouth

I've eaten in Sainsbury's Cafe quite a few times so thought I would pop in and do a review before I made a start on my shopping.

They used to have a puy lentil and goats cheese salad that was lovely, but that is no longer on the menu. They had a mediterranean vegetable lasagne and macaroni cheese, but with both over 1000 calories per dish (AAGGGHHHH!!) I thought better of it.

I decided on mushroom soup and a poppy seed bread roll and a large latte.

I sat down and started drinking my latte and having a chat with my Mum. 30 minutes later (and about 20 minutes after finishing my latte), my soup turned up! They actually have a sign in there to say 'We don't serve fast food, just great tasting food as fast as we can.' Fair enough, I expect to wait a bit longer for decent food, but 30 minutes for a soup?!?! Are you having a laugh? Thats a bit ridiculous if you ask me.

The soup itself was actually quite nice, it had a hint of garlic in it and was quite peppery and creamy. I reminded me of the New Covent Garden Wild Mushroom Soup (not that I buy those soups anymore, after finding meat in them!)

It wasn't until I started to get to the bottom of the bowl that I realised that there were small bits of sliced mushrooms in the soup. They tasted quite watery and tasteless unfortunately. The roll was nice and crusty (and I love poppy seeds) However it was warm on the outside and ice cold in the centre! The roll was also served with a portion of butter straight out of the fridge.

The latte wasn't great in all honesty. Served in a cappuccino cup, it got cold very quickly and although it wasn't the weakest latte I've had, it was a bit blah :-/ quite weak and the milk tasted like it was skimmed as it had no creaminess to it.

My Mum had a childs portion of pasta with a cheesy tomato sauce with broccoli. I didn't taste it, but she said it was ok. It looked like sick on a plate to me (sorry Sainsbury's, but look at it!)

Anyway, the food filled a hole, it wasnt awful, but it didn't impress and neither did the service particularly.

I do have to say that at least Sainsburys do seem to try to offer more vegetarian options than alot of other places. I'll never forget the time I asked at the Tesco's food counter cafe in Havant if they had vegetarian sausages as an option and I was looked at like I was a Martian!

My overall experience (out of 10):

Food: **** (4)
Drink: *** (3)
Atmosphere: ***** (5)
Friendliness of Staff: ***** (5)
Cleanliness: ****** (6)

Smile Cafe - Marmion Road, Southsea

I've been meaning to try Smile for quite a while (ooo that rhymes haha) as I saw that they do Vegan food in their window.

I managed to get a parking space outside today, so decided to go in and try one of their Vegetarian Breakfasts.

Being a big girl, I decided on the Big Vegetarian Breakfast:

The sausages were Linda McCartney sausages (my favourite!) which are also Vegan. As you can see from the picture, I had 2 of those, 2 Hash Browns, a fried egg, mushrooms, beans and toast. All of which were very nice and arrived piping hot.

Looking at their menu, I was very impressed to see that they did a Vegetarian option for practically every meal they do! There is also a note to say that they may be able to make some Vegetarian options Vegan and to please ask. There were a few Vegan listings in their own right on the menu, the Vegan Breakfast and a Jacket Potato with soya spread, rather than butter. The fact that they are offering this I think is fantastic! You're ok to eat out in Southsea if your Vegetarian, you'll always manage to get something everywhere you go, but as a Vegan, it would be hard work! So I appreciate Smile making an effort and thinking of Vegans as well as Vegetarians. I wish other places tried harder.

My breakfast came to £5.50 and this included a cup of Nescafe coffee. It was a very tasty breakfast, served with great customer service and a smile.

For my taste, the only way it could be improved would be better quality bread and the choice of wholemeal rather than just white, and butter rather than spread. I would have also liked the choice of scrambled egg, rather than fried. Tiny little niggles though and nothing that would put me off going back there again. I'm looking forward to trying their Vegetarian Lasagne and Cottage Pie at a later date. They also make homemade coleslaw (which I love, I can't stand shop bought stuff) so I will be going back and having a cheese and coleslaw jacket potato at some point too :-)


My overall experience (out of 10):

Food: ******** (8)
Drink: ****** (6)
Atmosphere: ******* (7)
Friendliness of Staff: ******** (8)
Cleanliness: ******** (8)

Smile don't seem to have a website, or I would have put it on here. If anyone knows differently, please let me know and I will add it x

The Spring Cafe - Arts and Heritage Centre, Havant

I had to collect a parcel today from the Post Office in Havant, so decided to try out The Spring Cafe at the Spring Arts and Heritage Centre, East Street, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1BS which is opposite.

The Spring Cafe used to be called Red Mango which used to be a Vegetarian Cafe. Unfortunately, they decided to put meat back on the menu, however they do offer more Vegetarian meals than meat from what I could see today.

I have been in here before and spoke to an employee about their reason to introduce meat to the menu and was told that, because of the recession, they have to cater to the wider audience. I can understand this, although, as a Vegetarian, I would much rather go to a completely Vegetarian cafe, and would specifically go out of my way to do so. I imagine alot of Vegetarians and Vegans would feel the same?

You can choose a meal from their menu, or select one of their specials of the day.

The Vegetarian specials of the day were a Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche, a Aubergine and Cheddar Quiche or a Spinach and Emmental Pastry (that my Mum raves about!)

I was going to have the Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche, but it looked a bit dry, so I decided on the Aubergine and Chedder Quiche.

Although it was very tasty, I think it was a little overcooked, there also wasnt alot of filling, but I feel it didnt really need it as the pastry base was a nice thickness which didnt over power the filling. The edge of the pastry was a little dry though.

I think this is only the second time I have ever eaten Aubergines, but it wont be the last as they were delicious and work really well in a quiche. The cheese was vey tasty, but it had gone a bit hard where it had been in the heated display I imagine. It also seems that the cheese was added after the quiche was cooked and then put under the grill? as it wasnt actually mixed inside the quiche filling. If it had been, I dont think it would have gone hard :-/

Served with a simple mixed leaf salad, with chopped cucumber, tomato, spring onions and a serving of homemade coleslaw (delicious!!)

I decided on a Latte as a drink (I have to admit, its pretty much always a Latte or a Diet Coke with me!)

This had quite a nice taste to it, not too strong, but not too weak either. Im a bit of a coffee nazi and this did taste a bit 'machiney' to me as I really like the roasted strong taste of a good freshly brewed coffee, so I think that is me just being a bit of a coffee snob. They also used Cravendale milk, which I thought for a cafe with a high milk turnaround, was a bit odd. I also think their drink sizes are a bit on the small side. I had a diet coke here about a month ago and I thought they had given me a childs size.

My meal was £5.95 and my Latte was £2.00 so in total = £7.95 which I think is a fair price.

My overall experience (out of 10):

Food: ******* (7)
Drink: ***** (5)
Atmosphere: ******** (8)
Friendliness of Staff: ******* (7)
Cleanliness: ******* (7)

Taken from their website:

The Spring Café & Bar is a great place to meet friends, enjoy a range of light breakfasts, homemade lunches or grab a sandwich and coffee to takeaway.  The café serves delicious cakes and Fair Trade tea & coffee from 9.30am till 3pm, breakfast is available from 9.30am till 11.30am, lunches are served from 11.30am till 2.30pm Monday to Saturday.  For any enquiries please call 02392 249065 or email: rachelc@thespring.co.uk