JUST when you thought you’d exhausted the plant-based opportunities afforded by Veganuary along comes one of its real showcases.
We’re not saying you’ll be converted by the latest incarnation of GRUB ExtraVEGANza (Friday-Sunday, January 25-27) at the Fairfield Social Club but it may prove a catalyst for your personal Flexitarian February.
And if you need convincing veganism is too much about tofu and pulses let us tempt you with the delicious fat-free cake, pictured above, from That Vegan Bakery.
They’re part of a star-studded trader line-up that also includes Plant Based Sundays stalwarts such as Yakumama (Latin American), Seitan’s Kebab, Little Orange & Co (arancini) Wallace and Sons (Asian-inspired baos, below) and Wholesome Junkies (vegan junk treats), who recently featured on BBC2’s My Million Pound Menu. In addition to That Vegan Cafe, sweet temptations come from Sugar Spun Sisters (fresh waffles and Chou Choux (patisserie).
Testimony to the inexorable rise of veganism, this year’s 100 per cent animal product-free feast has been expanded across three days. Otherwise the hugely successful formula will remain the same with a special attention to the drinks too. So expect 14 lines of 100% vegan beers from local breweries on cask and keg plus the usual selection of wines, ciders, hand made sodas, soft drinks, hot drinks and spirits.
According to recent reports a third of all British people are now vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian (a largely vegetable-based diet supplemented occasionally with meat) and the ‘Veganuary’ campaign has more than doubled in size every year with over 250,000 people signing up to take part in 2019.
Manchester has become a vegan hotspot in recent years with an array of 100 per cent vegan eateries popping up and GRUB themselves launched the first ever weekly vegan street food market ‘Plant Powered Sundays’ two years ago. Alongside this mainstream restaurants and grocers are embracing/capitalising on then trend.
The GRUB ExtraVEGANza, Fairfield Social Club, Archway 6, Temperance St, M12 6HR. Fri Jan 25, 5pm-10pm; Sat Jan 26, 12pm-10pm; Sun Jan 27, 12pm-6pm. Free entry. Families and dogs welcome. Full event details here.
